Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16 gaming laptop in review: Convincing even with AMD Ryzen

The Slim 7 faces competition from other 16-inch gaming notebooks featuring the RTX 4060, including models like the Asus ROG Flow X16 GV601V, Alienware m16 R1, Acer Predator Helios 16 PH16-71-731Q, as well as Lenovo's own Legion Pro 5 16IRX8 and Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 notebooks.

With the exception of a few minor differences, the case is the same as the Intel version with the Core i9-13900H and GeForce RTX 4070 that we have already examined. Therefore, we will just go over the casing, features, and input devices briefly in this article.

One of the standout features is the stylish body. The 16-inch device features a sleek design, premium materials, and excellent stability. Weighing just 4.6 lbs, it falls on the lighter end of the scale compared to its competitors.

Despite the absence of an RJ45 port, the Slim 7 offers a generous array of connections. On the right-hand side, you'll find a medium-speed card reader and a privacy shutter for a decent webcam. The left-hand side features an audio socket and two USB ports (1x USB 4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2), both of which support DisplayPort 1.4 and 140-watt power delivery. Additionally, there's an HDMI 2.1 port, allowing for the connection of up to three external monitors. At the rear, there are three USB 3.2 Gen2 ports and the connection for the included 230-watt power supply unit.

For wireless connectivity, the laptop uses a Wi-Fi 6E chip (MediaTek RZ616), which performs slightly below average during transmission but above average during reception.

Although the Intel model and our test device's display share comparable fundamental features, they are not the same. Our model featured a BOE panel labeled NE160QDM-NZ3.

The GeForce RTX 4060 positions the Legion in the mid-range category of gaming notebooks. With 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD, it should be enough for the majority of buyers for the time being. Those seeking higher performance can opt for the RTX 4070 version. But Lenovo does not currently offer an RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 for the Slim 7.

The Ryzen 7 7840HS is an eight-core processor equipped with 16 MB of L3 cache and the ability to handle up to 16 threads simultaneously, thanks to SMT. Additionally, the 4 nm chip features a relatively fast integrated GPU, the Radeon 780M, responsible for image calculations and display, for less demanding tasks like office work, video streaming, and web browsing. During benchmark tests, the CPU performance ranks between the Core i7-13620H and the Core i7-13700HX. One notable advantage of the AMD processor lies in its consistent performance improvement, a trait not fully applicable or only partially true for many Intel counterparts, as evident in benchmarks such as the Cinebench loop.

In terms of system performance, the Slim 7 easily competes with its rivals, scoring 7,502 points in PCMark 10. The DDR5 memory, known for its exceptional speed, outpaces the average. Moreover, the computer exhibits a pleasant and swift response in practical usage scenarios.