Lenovo Legion Lenovo - Legion Pro 5 16" 2.5K Gaming Laptop - AMD Review
The Legion Pro 5 packs a desktop-class CPU and a gorgeous 240Hz screen into a chunky frame. It's a performance beast, but you'll pay for it in portability and battery life.
Overview
This Legion Pro 5 is a powerhouse that's surprisingly easy to recommend, but there's one big caveat. It's a desktop replacement that's not trying to be anything else. The AMD 8945HX processor is a monster, and the RTX 5060 GPU is plenty for modern games at that sharp 2.5K resolution. Just know you're not buying a thin-and-light; this thing is built for performance, not portability.
Performance
The raw CPU power here is genuinely impressive. That 93rd percentile ranking isn't just a number—it means this laptop chews through creative workloads and CPU-heavy games without breaking a sweat. The RTX 5060 is solid, landing in the 83rd percentile, which translates to smooth 1440p gaming at high settings. The real surprise is the screen. At 500 nits and 240Hz, it's bright, fast, and makes everything look fantastic.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The AMD 8945HX CPU is an absolute beast for the price. 100th
- The 2.5K 240Hz screen is stunning for both games and movies. 97th
- You get a crazy amount of ports, including Thunderbolt and five USB-A. 93th
- Build quality feels solid and the keyboard is great for typing and gaming. 86th
Cons
- It's heavy and chunky. That 15th percentile compact score is no joke. 15th
- The battery life with that hardware and a 240Hz screen won't last long off the charger.
- 16GB of RAM feels a bit light for a 'pro' machine in 2024, especially next to the 59th percentile ranking.
- The touchscreen is a weird addition on a gaming laptop and probably just adds cost.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX |
| Cores | 16 |
| Frequency | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | RTX 5060 |
| Type | discrete |
| VRAM | 8 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 16" |
| Resolution | 2560 (QHD) |
| Panel | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 240 Hz |
| Brightness | 500 nits |
Connectivity
| USB Ports | 5 |
| Thunderbolt | DisplayPort 2.1 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Ethernet | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 2.4 kg / 5.3 lbs |
| Battery | 80 Wh |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
Worth it, but only if you buy it on sale. With prices swinging from $1250 to over $2000, your decision is easy. At the lower end of that range, it's a steal. At the high end, you're overpaying. Shop around, because the specs are great, but the price needs to be right.
vs Competition
Compared to the more expensive Legion Pro 7i, you're giving up some GPU power and maybe a bit of build polish, but you're keeping that fantastic CPU. It's the smarter buy for most people. The ASUS Zenbook Duo is its polar opposite—all about portability and a dual-screen gimmick, with less raw power. And while the MSI Vector and Gigabyte AORUS are direct competitors, this Legion often undercuts them on price for similar specs, especially with that killer screen.
| Spec | Lenovo Legion Lenovo - Legion Pro 5 16" 2.5K Gaming Laptop - AMD | Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M4 Max, Space Black) | ASUS Zenbook ASUS 14" Zenbook Duo UX8406CA Multi-Touch Laptop | Lenovo Legion Pro Series Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 (16 83F50019US | MSI Vector MSI 16" Vector 16 HX AI Gaming Laptop | Gigabyte AORUS GIGABYTE AORUS ELITE 16 Gaming Laptop - 165Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX | Apple M4 Max | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| RAM (GB) | 16 | 128 | 32 | 64 | 32 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 1024 | 4096 | 1024 | 2048 | 2048 | 2048 |
| Screen | 16" 2560x1600 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 14" 2880x1800 | 16" 2560x1600 | 16" 2560x1600 | 16" 2560x1600 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 | Apple (40-Core) | Intel Arc Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | 2.4 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| Battery (Wh) | 80 | 72 | 75 | 99 | 90 | 99 |
Verdict
If you want a no-compromise gaming and creative workhorse and you don't plan to carry it much, this Legion Pro 5 is an easy recommendation. Just make sure you get the 16GB RAM model for a good price, and maybe plan to upgrade that RAM down the line. For pure desktop replacement power, it's hard to beat.