Lenovo's new Legion 7a 16 gaming laptop is even lighter than before, but sacrifices performance

Last year's Lenovo Legion 7 16 G10 was already a very light 16-inch gaming laptop, but Lenovo reduced the weight of the new G11 model even further. The AMD version is 200 grams lighter, which means the total weight drops below 1.8 kg. The stability of the aluminum chassis is very good, despite the diet, and Lenovo still implements very comfortable input devices as well as an excellent OLED screen with 240 Hz, VRR & G-Sync. You will have a hard time finding a gaming laptop with a better screen right now and fans of HDR games will be very happy about the peak brightness of 1100 nits.

However, the lower weight requires some compromises in terms of performance and maintenance options. While the previous G10 model was equipped with the powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX as well as upgradeable RAM, you now get a slower AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX470 in combination with 32 GB soldered RAM. The GPU is still the mobile version of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5060 and the G11 model supports Advanced Optimus GPU switching, but the maximum TGP in Performance mode was reduced from 115 to 95 Watts. There is a manual mode where you can adjust the TGP to 115 Watts, but you always have to activate it manually via software, which is impractical. As a result, the CPU, GPU and gaming performance are lower compared to last year's model.

Considering the low weight, the overall performance is still okay and the new Legion 7a 16 G11 is once again a very stylish gaming laptop, so you have to decide whether you prioritize the mobility or the performance. The price is another problem. Our review unit retails for $2279, which is quite expensive, especially considering you can get the faster G10 model for less than $1800 at Amazon, for example. Please see our comprehensive review for more information about the new Legion 7a 16 G11.