The quest for the ultimate gaming laptop often involves a delicate balance of raw power, portability, and sophisticated thermal management. For enthusiasts who have already viewed the comprehensive analysis above, the deeper dive into the nuances of the new Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) reveals a compelling narrative about trade-offs and triumphs in the mid-range gaming segment. It is understood that selecting the ideal configuration, particularly when juxtaposing AMD and Intel architectures, necessitates a thorough understanding of each platform’s distinct advantages.
This year, the Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) has undergone a significant transformation, shedding approximately 20% of its weight and integrating a vibrant OLED display. Such enhancements certainly contribute to its allure as a portable powerhouse. Yet, as with any high-performance device, the chosen specifications can profoundly influence performance metrics, battery longevity, and thermal characteristics. This detailed examination aims to contextualize these choices, drawing from the direct comparisons highlighted in the video and expanding upon their implications for the discerning user.
Lenovo Legion 5 (2025): Design and Portability Reimagined
In the realm of gaming laptops, portability often proves to be a critical differentiator. The new Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) marks a substantial stride in this regard, with its more svelte chassis translating to a machine that is eminently more transportable than its predecessors. Weighing in at approximately 4.3 pounds (2 kilograms) for the laptop itself, increasing to nearly 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) with the necessary 245-watt charger, this model represents a noticeable reduction in heft compared to the previous generation, which was reportedly 26% heavier.
The Eclipse Black finish, adorned with an aluminum lid and a plastic base, presents a premium aesthetic while maintaining a robust build quality. Minor flex in the keyboard and lid is observed under significant pressure, though daily usage scenarios are not impacted. A thoughtful design choice is evidenced by the slightly protruding lid front, facilitating effortless, single-finger opening, and the display’s ability to recline a full 180 degrees. While the hinges exhibit smooth operation, caution is advised against forcing the screen beyond its natural resistance to prevent undue stress. The dark finish, while elegant, is susceptible to fingerprints, though regular cleaning with a microfiber cloth maintains its pristine appearance.
Input Devices and Ergonomics: A Familiar Feel
The tactile experience of a gaming laptop’s input devices is paramount for prolonged usage. The Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) continues the brand’s tradition of offering a highly satisfying keyboard, characterized by a responsive, clicky feedback mechanism. This particular configuration is equipped with 24 zones of RGB backlighting, providing ample customization and visibility, though a white-only lighting option is also available.
Brightness adjustments for the keyboard are managed exclusively through the Legion Space software, a centralized control panel for the laptop, distinguishing it from higher-tier Legion models that often incorporate dedicated shortcut keys. The integrated plastic touchpad, which registers clicks across its entire surface, functions reliably for navigation and gestures. For those accustomed to the Legion ecosystem, the overall ergonomic experience remains largely consistent and comfortable.
Connectivity and Port Placement: A Mixed Bag
A comprehensive port selection is critical for a gaming laptop, accommodating external peripherals and displays. The Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) offers a commendable array of ports, though their forward-biased placement on the sides is noted. This configuration, despite ensuring that no hot air is exhausted onto the user’s hands, can lead to cables interfering with mouse movement or desk space.
A curious omission for the lower-tier Intel model, featuring last-generation 13th or 14th gen processors, is the absence of Thunderbolt support. Furthermore, the rear port icons, a convenience feature present in previous iterations, have been inexplicably removed. It should be noted that a sporadic USB connectivity issue was observed with the AMD variant, where a USB mouse on the left-side Type-A port occasionally ceased functioning until re-plugged. While this was not reproducible consistently and did not manifest on the Intel version, it represents a data point worth acknowledging for potential AMD adopters. Display outputs are robust, offering flexibility to connect to either the discrete GPU for maximum gaming and VR performance, or the integrated GPU for quieter operation during less demanding tasks.
Upgradeability and Internal Components: Future-Proofing Your Investment
The ability to upgrade internal components significantly extends a laptop’s lifespan and value proposition. Accessing the internals of the Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) requires the removal of ten Phillips head screws, with four shorter screws located at the front. The process is straightforward, easily accomplished with standard pry tools.
Once inside, a well-organized layout is revealed: the battery is positioned at the front, two RAM slots are situated centrally, the primary SSD occupies the right M.2 slot, and a secondary M.2 slot is available on the left—both supporting PCIe Gen 4. The Wi-Fi card, positioned above the storage slots, is also upgradeable. While Wi-Fi 7 is implemented, its performance, particularly with MediaTek options, was observed to be approximately half the speed of comparable Intel-based alternatives, though still more than sufficient for gigabit-level throughput for most users. Both review units were equipped with 1-terabyte PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, though model variations suggest potential regional or supply-chain differences. Overall, the upgrade score for this Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) is commendable for a gaming laptop of its size, offering two full-sized, double-sided M.2 storage slots and dual RAM slots.
Audio Experience: A Point of Contention
The audio experience delivered by integrated speakers on gaming laptops can often be a compromise. In the case of the Lenovo Legion 5 (2025), the speakers, located towards the front on either side, were found to be somewhat lacking. They tended to sound “tinny” and exhibited diminished clarity above half volume, with some discernible vibration at higher levels. Intriguingly, it was noted that a lower-tier Lenovo LOQ laptop surprisingly offered a superior audio profile, highlighting an unexpected area where the premium Legion 5 could see improvement.
Battery Life: AMD Dominance in Endurance
Battery longevity remains a crucial factor for a portable gaming laptop, especially when untethered from a power outlet. The review units were powered by a four-cell 80-watt-hour battery, with a smaller 60-watt-hour option available for lower-spec configurations. The Legion Space software provides intelligent power-saving features, such as automatic refresh rate reduction to 60 Hz when unplugged, and options within the Vantage software to limit maximum charge to 80% or enable slower overnight charging, both designed to mitigate battery degradation.
Across testing, battery life was generally impressive for both configurations, though the AMD version distinctly outperformed its Intel counterpart. In YouTube video playback tests, the AMD model achieved a remarkable 47% longer runtime, and while gaming, it extended endurance by 30%. This stark difference is particularly noteworthy given the otherwise identical specifications of the two laptops. Even the Intel model, despite trailing AMD, still delivered above-average runtime when compared against other laptops equipped with Intel HX processors. This makes the AMD Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) a standout for users prioritizing maximum unplugged usability, achieving the longest runtime observed in any Lenovo gaming laptop to date.
Thermals and Performance Modes: Managing the Heat
Effective thermal management is indispensable for sustaining peak performance in high-powered gaming laptops. The Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) employs a standard cooler design, featuring a shared heat pipe for the CPU and GPU. The Intel variant incorporates a slightly larger cooler, likely to accommodate its chipset or other components, which contributes to its marginally increased weight.
Air intake is facilitated by perforations on the bottom panel, with hot air efficiently exhausted from the rear, preventing discomfort to the user’s mouse hand. The Legion Space software offers a granular control over performance modes: Quiet, Balanced, Performance, and Custom. Both Performance and Custom modes automatically engage a GPU overclock, with Custom mode further allowing for ‘extreme mode’ or bespoke profiles to fine-tune power and temperature limits. The power button’s color conveniently indicates the active performance mode, enabling quick status checks.
During a combined CPU and GPU stress test, representing a worst-case full-load scenario, the Intel laptop’s internal temperatures were well-managed, though extreme mode and manually maxed settings resulted in warmer operation. It is important to acknowledge Nvidia’s thermal throttle limit of 87 degrees Celsius for the GPU; operating the laptop with the lid closed brought temperatures notably close to this threshold, potentially impacting performance depending on ambient conditions. Counter-intuitively, the use of a cooling pad sometimes led to thermal throttling, as the increased airflow appeared to divert GPU power towards the CPU. In custom mode, the RTX 5070 on the Intel model achieved near its 115-watt power limit, with the CPU consuming a respectable 65 watts concurrently. This speaks volumes about the power delivery capabilities of this compact chassis.
Conversely, the AMD variant exhibited slightly cooler GPU temperatures but warmer CPU temperatures during stress tests. Despite the AMD CPU appearing hotter internally, the Intel laptop registered warmer keyboard surface temperatures. Like its Intel counterpart, the AMD version also experienced a significant increase in temperatures with the lid closed, necessitating operation with the lid open for optimal cooling. Interestingly, the AMD laptop consistently pushed its RTX 5070 to full power (115 watts) in custom extreme and performance modes, unlike the Intel model which peaked at 90 watts in extreme mode and 85 watts in performance mode. The AMD CPU also maxed out at 55 watts, compared to Intel’s 65 watts, a difference potentially attributable to the AMD chip having fewer cores to power. Both laptops demonstrated quieter fan operation than many competitors, and a significant reduction in noise compared to the previous generation Legion 5.
Gaming Performance: A Close Contest
The core appeal of a gaming laptop lies in its ability to deliver an immersive gaming experience. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p Ultra settings, the Intel version showed a slight edge, with its 1% lows being 18% higher, indicating more consistent frame delivery. At 1440p, closer to the screen’s native resolution, the performance gap between the two narrowed considerably. In Alan Wake 2 at 1080p, the Intel model maintained a marginal lead in average FPS, though the difference was less than 4 FPS, a negligible amount in practical gameplay.
Black Myth Wukong at 1080p high settings revealed almost no discernible difference between the Intel and AMD variants. At the higher 1440p resolution, both configurations benefit significantly from DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) to achieve frame rates above 60 FPS. Even with ray tracing enabled, combining it with DLSS often resulted in better overall performance. The 8 GB of VRAM on the RTX 5070 is identified as a potential future concern for gaming at the native 2560 x 1600 resolution of the OLED panel, particularly for upcoming, more demanding titles. Should future-proofing for VRAM become a paramount concern, upgrading to a Legion Pro 5i, which offers the RTX 5070 Ti with 12 GB of VRAM, becomes a viable consideration. Notably, 3DMark scores were also quite competitive across both platforms.
Content Creation Capabilities: Beyond Gaming
Beyond its gaming prowess, the Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) presents a compelling option for content creators on a budget, especially when paired with its OLED screen. In Adobe Photoshop, the AMD version exhibited a performance lead, while Intel took the lead in DaVinci Resolve, indicating a slight workload specialization. Blender performance was essentially identical, largely attributable to both laptops utilizing the same 115-watt RTX 5070 laptop GPU. The absence of an SD card slot is noted as a minor inconvenience for photographers and videographers who frequently transfer media.
Display Options and Visual Fidelity: OLED Brilliance
The display is arguably one of the most impactful features for both gaming and content creation. The Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) offers two primary screen options: the 15.1-inch OLED panel featured in the review units and a slightly larger 15.3-inch IPS panel, which was unavailable for testing in the reviewer’s region. The OLED panels are, as expected, visually stunning, delivering vibrant colors, profound blacks, and exceptional contrast, characteristics inherent to OLED technology.
Advertised at 500 nits, the OLED panels largely met this brightness specification in SDR mode, with HDR content registering slightly brighter. This represents a decent improvement over previous Legion 5 generations and generally surpasses the brightness of most other OLED laptops tested. For significantly higher brightness, Mini LED remains the go-to, but the Legion 5’s OLED is a strong contender. Lenovo’s Vantage software includes basic features to mitigate OLED burn-in, though only dark mode was enabled by default. PWM flickering, a common OLED trait that can cause discomfort for some users, was significantly less pronounced on this new 15.1-inch panel compared to larger 16-inch OLED displays. The glossy finish, while enhancing visual pop, does introduce reflections in brightly lit environments. Screen response times were exceptionally fast, with most transitions occurring in less than a millisecond, making it ideal for competitive gaming, though it should be noted that the 15.1-inch OLED panel specifically lacks support for Advanced Optimus, G-Sync, FreeSync, or Adaptive Sync. This is a peculiar limitation given that even lower-tier Lenovo LOQ models incorporate these features. While screen tearing was not overtly apparent during gameplay, it remains a theoretical possibility.
Webcam and Linux Compatibility: Notable Differences
Webcam quality and operating system flexibility are often secondary, yet important, considerations. The AMD version of the Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) is equipped with a 1080p camera that includes IR for Windows Hello face unlock, complemented by a physical privacy shutter. The Intel variant, however, features a higher-quality 5-megapixel camera capable of 1440p video recording, though a 720p option is also available. Curiously, the Intel version omits the IR functionality for Windows Hello, despite retaining the privacy shutter. Linux support proved to be a mixed experience; the Intel laptop functioned well, aside from Bluetooth, while the AMD model encountered issues booting from a live CD, repeatedly freezing on a black screen. This suggests a more streamlined Linux experience on the Intel platform for this particular generation.
The Verdict: AMD vs. Intel and the Legion 5’s Overall Value
Deciding between the AMD and Intel versions of the Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) ultimately hinges on individual priorities. For a price difference of approximately $60 for comparable RTX 5070 configurations (based on observed deal prices), distinct performance profiles emerge.
The Intel version undeniably excels in raw CPU horsepower, delivering 75% better multi-core performance and 13% better single-core performance. Critically, Intel maintains significantly superior performance when operating on battery power. However, the AMD version stands out for its exceptional battery longevity, lasting 47% longer in video playback and 30% longer in gaming, a likely consequence of more aggressive power limiting. The AMD model uniquely includes Windows Hello face unlock, while the Intel counterpart may offer a higher-resolution camera. Gaming performance is largely similar across both platforms, with Intel sometimes holding a minor edge, though these differences are often imperceptible during actual gameplay. The AMD laptop generally runs slightly cooler to the touch under heavy load, but both remain within comfortable operating temperatures, and fan noise is commendably low for both, a significant improvement over the previous generation.
In essence, the AMD version of the Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) is the preferred choice for users who prioritize maximizing battery life and desire the convenience of Windows Hello facial recognition. Conversely, the Intel version is tailored for those who demand peak CPU performance, both plugged in and on battery, even if it entails a slight reduction in unplugged endurance. Considering its smaller, lighter form factor, enhanced portability, full upgrade options, and robust performance, the new Lenovo Legion 5 (2025) stands as an excellent mid-range gaming laptop that adeptly balances performance, battery life, and price. Prospective buyers should, however, remain cognizant of the 8 GB VRAM limitation with the RTX 5070 and the absence of G-Sync/Advanced Optimus on the 15.1-inch OLED panel. For users concerned about the VRAM ceiling, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i, which features the 12 GB RTX 5070 Ti, presents a compelling alternative, offering both increased graphical headroom and additional premium features.
