Lenovo Legion 5i vs Lenovo Legion 7a (Gen 11)
The Lenovo Legion 7a is the better laptop on paper: it has more memory, has more storage and has a smoother screen. Pick the Lenovo Legion 5i only if it matters to you that it has Ethernet.
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Key differences
- Memory Lenovo Legion 7a wins
The Lenovo Legion 7a has 32 GB of memory against 16 GB, so it has more room for big projects and heavy multitasking.
- Storage Lenovo Legion 7a wins
The Lenovo Legion 7a has twice the storage: 1 TB against 512 GB.
- Smoothness Lenovo Legion 7a wins
The Lenovo Legion 7a's 240 Hz screen is smoother than the Lenovo Legion 5i's 165 Hz one, which shows in fast games.
- Ports Depends on you
Only the Lenovo Legion 5i has Ethernet, while only the Lenovo Legion 7a has Thunderbolt or USB4 and an SD card reader.
- Extras Lenovo Legion 7a wins
Only the Lenovo Legion 7a has Copilot+ AI features.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Lenovo Legion 5i if…
- You plug things in: it has Ethernet (for wired internet).
- You might want more memory later: you can add it yourself.
- You do demanding work: its Intel Core i7 14th gen HX is built for heavy creative work.
Choose the Lenovo Legion 7a if…
- You keep lots of tabs and apps open: 32 GB of memory gives it more room.
- You store lots of photos, videos or games: it has 1 TB of storage.
- You play fast games: its 240 Hz screen keeps motion smooth.
- You plug things in: it has Thunderbolt or USB4 (for fast docks and drives) and an SD card reader (for camera cards).
- You want Copilot+ AI features, handy for Windows' newest AI tools.
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe Lenovo Legion 7a leads on performance and the screen; elsewhere the two are closely matched. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
Each laptop has its strengths on performance.
The Lenovo Legion 5i can be upgraded, while the Lenovo Legion 7a has more memory and has more storage.
| Spec | Lenovo Legion 5i | Lenovo Legion 7a (Gen 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-14700HX | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 |
| Graphics memory | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Graphics power (TGP) | 115 W | 115 W |
| AI engine (NPU) | — | 55 TOPS |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory type | DDR5-5600 | LPDDR5X-8533 |
| Maximum memory | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Upgradeable (slots) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1 TB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2242 | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2242 |
| Storage slots | 2 | 2 |
Screen
The Lenovo Legion 7a is ahead on the screen.
The Lenovo Legion 7a has a slightly bigger screen: 16" against 15.1". It has a smoother screen and has a slightly bigger screen, and the Lenovo Legion 5i doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Lenovo Legion 5i | Lenovo Legion 7a (Gen 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 15.1" | 16" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Panel | OLED | OLED |
| Refresh rate | 165 Hz | 240 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Colour range | 100% DCI-P3 | 100% DCI-P3 |
| HDR | VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600, Dolby Vision | DisplayHDR True Black 1000 |
| Finish | Glossy | Glossy |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
Battery and size
The Lenovo Legion 7a is ahead on battery and weight.
It is a little lighter and is slimmer, and the Lenovo Legion 5i doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Lenovo Legion 5i | Lenovo Legion 7a (Gen 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 9 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 80 Wh | 84 Wh |
| Charger | 245 W | 245 W |
| Charges via | Slim-tip (rectangle) barrel; USB-C PD also charges | USB-C (PD 65-140W) and slim-tip barrel |
| Fast charging | 0-30% in 10 min, 0-70% in 30 min, 0-100% in 80 min | — |
| Weight | 1.9 kg | 1.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 344.9 x 255.35 x 19.95-21.54 mm | 361.35 x 254.16 x 15.5-16.9 mm |
| Materials | Aluminium (top), PC-ABS + 15% Talc (bottom) | Aluminium (top), aluminium (bottom) |
| Colour | Eclipse Black | Glacier White |
| Colours available | Eclipse Black | Glacier White |
Ports and wireless
On ports and wireless, it comes down to what you need.
The Lenovo Legion 5i has Ethernet, while the Lenovo Legion 7a has Thunderbolt or USB4 and an SD card reader.
| Spec | Lenovo Legion 5i | Lenovo Legion 7a (Gen 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps; 1 always-on), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, charging USB PD 95-100W, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Ethernet RJ-45, 1x 3.5 mm headphone/mic combo | 2x USB-A (USB 5Gbps, one always on), 1x USB-C USB4 40Gbps (charging up to 140W PD, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x USB-C USB4 40Gbps (charging up to 100W PD, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x HDMI 2.1 (up to 8K/60Hz), 1x 3.5 mm headphone/mic combo, 1x SD card reader, 1x slim-tip power connector |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | None | USB4 40Gbps |
| External displays (max) | 3 | — |
| Card reader | None | SD |
| Ethernet | 1 GbE RJ-45 | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Mobile data | None | None |
Features
The Lenovo Legion 7a is ahead on extras.
It has Copilot+ AI features, and the Lenovo Legion 5i doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Lenovo Legion 5i | Lenovo Legion 7a (Gen 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 5MP | 5MP + IR |
| Webcam privacy | E-shutter (electronic kill switch) | E-shutter (electronic privacy shutter) |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | 24-zone RGB backlight, 1.6 mm key travel, numeric keypad, Copilot key | 24-zone RGB backlit, UK English, Copilot key |
| Login | — | Face |
| Number pad | Yes | Yes |
| Touchpad | Buttonless Mylar multi-touch, 75 x 120 mm, Precision | Buttonless glass multi-touch touchpad, 80 x 135 mm, Precision |
| Speakers | 2x 2 W, HARMAN, Nahimic Audio | 4 stereo speakers, 2W x2 woofers + 2W x2 tweeters, HARMAN, Nahimic Audio, Smart Amp |
| Microphones | dual-array | 2x array |
| Pen | No | No |
| Security | Firmware TPM 2.0, E-shutter, BIOS power-on/supervisor/HDD passwords, Self-healing BIOS | Microsoft Pluton TPM 2.0, E-shutter camera privacy |
Software and model
The Lenovo Legion 7a is ahead on software and updates.
It is newer, and the Lenovo Legion 5i doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Lenovo Legion 5i | Lenovo Legion 7a (Gen 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Update promise | None | — |
| Model number | 83LY000LUS | 83Q80008UK |
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |