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In this article we’re discussing the 2023 updates of the Lenovo Legion Slim series of thin-and-light gaming/performance laptops.
For this year, the Legion Slims are available as either the premium Slim 7/7i models, with a thinner and lighter premium format, or the mid-tier Slim 5/5i models that haven’t been offered in the past. These are a bit more confusing, as you’ll see down below.
The Legion Slim 7 lines are updates of the previous generations (reviewed here and here), as slimmer and lighter alternatives for the full-size Legion Pro 7s, with the same premium metal builds and most of the same features, but a slight reduction in power resulting from the more portable chassis.
The Legion Slim 7 models are available with either Intel or AMD specs and mid-tier Nvidia RTX 4000 graphics. The Legion Slim 5 models are also available with AMD/Intel platforms, but bundle lower and mid-tier GPUs in thicker and heavier designs.
Update: Looks like a Legion Slim 5 14 will also be available at a later date in the year, around Fall 2023 (source), with a 14-inch OLED screen and built on an AMD platform that hasn’t been launched yet. This is definitely worth following, as Lenovo don’t have yet a proper 14-inch all-purpose model at this point, to compete against popular devices such as the ROG Zephyrus G14, the Alienware X14, or the Razer Blade 14.
We’ll touch on the important features of these 2023 Lenovo Legion Slim 7 and Slim 5 models down below, and follow up with updates and detailed reviews in the weeks to come. These laptops are expected in stores around April/May 2023, starting at $1200 for the Slim 5 and $1770 for the Slim 7 variants.
2023 Lenovo Legion Slim 7/7i and Legion Slim 5/5i Specs
But first, here’s a full specs sheet of the 2023 Lenovo Legion Slim lineups.
| 2023 Lenovo Slim 7 (AMD) and Slim 7i (Intel) | 2023 Lenovo Slim 5 (AMD) and Slim 5i (Intel) | |
| Screen | 16-inch, 16:10, non-touch, matte 3.2K 3200 x 2000 px IPS, 165Hz VRR 3ms response, 430-nits, 100% DCI-P3 QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px IPS, 240Hz VRR 3ms response, 500-nits, 100% sRGB QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px IPS, 165Hz VRR 53ms response, 350-nits, 100% sRGB |
16-inch, 16:10, non-touch, matte QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px IPS, 240Hz VRR 3ms response, 500-nits, 100% sRGB |
| Processor | AMD Phoenix 7000, up to Ryzen 9 7940S on Slim 7 Intel 13th-gen Raptor Lake Core H, up to Core i9-13900H on Slim 7i |
AMD Phoenix 7000, up to Ryzen 9 7840S on Slim 5 Intel 13th-gen Raptor Lake Core H, up to Core i7-13700H on Slim 5i |
| Video | Intel/AMD + RTX 4000 graphics, up to RTX 4070 8GB 125W with MUX, GSync support, Advanced Optimus (only on Intel models) |
Intel/AMD + RTX 4000 graphics, up to RTX 4070 8GB 140W Intel/AMD + RTX 4000 graphics, up to RTX 4050 8GB 115W on the thinner version with MUX, GSync support, Advanced Optimus (only on Intel models) |
| Memory | up to 32 GB DDR5-5600 (16GB onboard, 1x DIMM) | up to 64 GB DDR5-5600 (2x DIMMs) |
| Storage | PCIe gen4 – 2x slots ?? | PCIe gen4 – 2x slots? |
| Connectivity | Wireless 7 with Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1, Gigabit LAN |
| Ports | Left: 2x USB-C 3.2 with DP 1.4, 140W charging (1x USB 4.0 on AMD model), 1x audio jack Right: SD card reader, 1x eShutter button Back: 3x USB-A gen2 (one always one 5V2A), HDMI 2.1, DC-In |
Left: 2x USB-C 3.2 with DP 1.4, 140W charging (only one), 1x audio jack Right: SD card reader, 1x eShutter button Back: 2x USB-A gen2 (one always one 5V2A), HDMI 2.1, LAN, DC-In |
| Battery | 99Wh, up to 230W charger, USB-C charging up to 140W | up to 80Wh, up to 230W charger, USB-C charging up to 140W |
| Size | 357.7 mm or 14.08” (w) x 259.3 mm or 10.21″ (d) x 17.6 – 19.9 mm or .69″ – .78” (h) | 359.7 mm or 14.16” (w) x 260.3 mm or 10.25″ (d) x 19.7 – 25.2 mm or .78″ – .99” (h) or 359.7 mm or 14.16” (w) x 260.3 mm or 10.25″ (d) x 19.7 – 21.9 mm or .78″ – .86” (h) on the thinner version |
| Weight | from 2 kg (4.4 lbs) + power brick | from 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs) + power brick |
| Extras | white or per-key RGB keyboard with NumPad, 1.5 mm travel, WASD switchable keycaps, glass clickpad, 2x 2W stereo speakers, FHD webcam with eShutter and Tobii Horizon, available in Storm Grey or Glacier White colors |
white or per-key RGB keyboard with NumPad, 1.5 mm travel, WASD switchable keycaps, plastic clickpad, 2x 2W stereo speakers, HD/FHD webcam with eShutter, available in Storm Grey or Misty Grey colors |
Lenovo Legion Slim 7, 7i – Design, screens, and inputs
The 2023 Legion Slim 7s are the same premium all-metal boxy chassis of the previous Slim 7s, and one of the best designs and builds in this space of thin-and-light performance laptops.
Strong pieces of aluminum are used for everything, in either the Sortm Grey color illustrated below, or a lighter Glacier White variant. We’ve discussed the grey finishing in depth in this previous review, and consider it one of the most versatile designs in the segment.
That version weighed 2.2 kilos, but Lenovo claims the 2023 update starts at 2 kilos. Not sure how that’s possible, so take it with a grain of salt. In fact, I noted in that review that the Slim 7 is not quite as lightweight or as compact as other options in this space, and I don’t see how that has changed for the 2023 update.
Looks and build quality aside, this Slim 7 is also a practical notebook, with a spacious armrest and friendly lips and corners, sturdy rubber feet that provide good grip on a desk, a screen that leans back flat to 180 degrees, and a good set of ports lined around the edges.
Most of the major connectors are on the back edge, hidden behind the display. There’s HDMI 2.1 here, a full-size SD card reader, USB-C ports with charging and video, an audio jack, a camera shutter, etc. The only thing missing is a LAN port, but is compensated by the fast wireless (WiFi 6E or optional Wifi 7) and Bluetooth.
The inputs haven’t changed from the previous Legion Slim 7 generation, with the standard Legion layout and the excellent glass clickpad.
Lenovo are, however, offering a few extra panel options for this generation, with either an IPS 240Hz 3ms or a 3K 165Hz 5ms variant with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage. There’s still no mini LED panel option for some reason, despite that being offered by many competitors in this space today. Mini LED panels are offered on the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i models of premium thin-and-light performance notebooks.
Lenovo Legion Slim 7, 7i- Hardware, performance, and cooling
As mentioned in the specs section, these Legion Slim 7 notebooks are available with the latest mid and top-tier hardware specs from Intel, AMD, and Nvidia.
On one side, the Lenovo Legion Slim 7i can be specced up to an Intel Core i9-13900H processor with 6PC+8EC and 20 Threads, and up to an RTX 4070 Laptop 8GB dGPU at 125W TGP.
On the other, the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 can be specced up to AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor with 8 Cores and 16 Threads, and up to the same RTX 4070 Laptop 8GB dGPU at 125W TGP.
The total design power for this series is 140W, with up to 125W on the GPU. That’s a bump in power from the 2022 Slim 7i model, which only allowed for 125W total power and 100W on the GPU. I’m looking forward to learning how this is possible in what looks like pretty much the same chassis.
The specs are completed by support for up to DDR5-5600 memory (up to 32 GB, with 16 GB onboard and one memory DIMM), 2TB of storage (2x gen4 drives), and a 99 Wh battery. There’s also a MUX and GSync support on the internal display on all variants, but Advanced Optimus is only supported by the Intel platforms.
For the cooling module, Lenovo mentions that a Legion’s ColdFront 5.0 advanced thermal system is implemented here, featuring quad copper hybrid heat pipes, phase-change thermal compound, a new air intake, and a 90-blade 12V fan system, paired with the Lenovo LA Ai onboard chip. Looking forward to testing these in our reviews and finding out how the higher TDP copes with this Slim chassis.
Lenovo Legion Slim 5, 5i
The Legion Slim 5 series is not as straightforward as the Slim 7s.
For now, this will be offered in two variants, both 16-inch designs, but one being thinner and lighter than the other. Both variants come with Intel or AMD specs, but the thinner version (up to 22 mm) can be specced to an RTX 4050 GPU 115W, while the thicker version (up to 25 mm) comes with RTX 4060/4070 chips at up to 140W TGP.
Thing is, this latter variant ain’t exactly slim, at almost the same size and weight as a 2023 Lenovo Legion Pro 5. At the same time, the thinner Legion Slim 5 is only a mid-tier hardware configuration, but it should be at least quite competitively priced.
Update: Later in the year Lenovo will also offer a smaller Legion Slim 5 14, somewhere around October 2023, with a 14-inch OLED screen and built on a yet-announced AMD Ryzen 8000 platform. Definitely worth keeping a tag on this model.
Otherwise, the overall functionality of this Slim 5 sub-series is a mix of elements from the Legion Pro 5 and Legion Slim 7 series, with the standard Legion design lines and two color schemes (darker or lighter grey), with standard Legion inputs and a good set of ports, most of them tucked behind the display. Unlike the Slim 7, this series offers a LAN port as well, alongside the USB-A and USB-C connectors, HDMI 2.1, card reader, etc.
For the screens, the Slim 5s are available with 16-inch 16:10 panels, topping at the QHD+ 240Hz 3ms with 500-nits and 100% sRGB colors option that’s been offered on the past Legion 5 Pro and Legion 7 models. It’s a good display, just not as color-rich as some of the other options available today.
As for the specs, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i can be configured up to an Intel Core i7-13700H processor, and the Slim 5 is available with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 7840HS processor. Both are paired with either RTX 3050/4050 115W GPUs on the thinner SKUs, or RTX 4060/4070 140W on the thicker variants.
The thinner designs are a 135W combined TDP design, while the thicker ones go up to 160W crossload TDP.
The specs are completed by support for up to DDR5-5600 memory (up to 32 GB by default, with support for up to 64 GB – 2x DIMMs), 2TB of storage (2x gen4 drives), and an 80 Wh battery. There’s also a MUX and GSync support on the internal display, with Advanced Optimus on the Intel models.
What to expect
The Legion Slim 7/7i 2023 models are straightforward updates, as mostly hardware bumps of the existing Slim 7 chassis, with the latest specs from Intel, AMD, and Nvidia, and some updated display options. However, Lenovo bumped the power settings for this 2023 series, and I’m curious how is that possible, given our experience with the 2022 model that already ran pretty hot under load.
Both the Intel and the AMD variants are expected to start at $1769 MSRP in the US, with availability around April/May 2023.
The Legion Slim 5/5i series, on the other hand, is a bit more confusing. These devices are not as compact or as lightweight as the Slim 7 models, and are available in two variants: a slimmer SKU with lower-power GPUs and affordable pricing, and a thicker SKU with 140W mid-tier RTX 4000 GPUs that comes close in size and functionality to the Legion Pro 5 models of this 2023 generation.
The Legion Slim 5/5i lineups are expected around April/May as well, starting at $1199 for the AMD model and $1349 for the Intel variant, most likely with RTX 3050 graphics at this level.
Anyway, that’s about it for now, but look for our detailed reviews in the near future. In the meantime, get in touch down below in the comments section and let me know what you think about these 2023 Lenovo Legion Slim 7 and Legion Slim 5 lineups.
john
March 24, 2023 at 8:48 am
I hope Lenovo will make a touch version of legion slim 7i.perfect laptop for almost anything like asus x16.waiting for your review of 2023 model of x16
Marcus
March 28, 2023 at 2:10 am
I found the Lenovo Legion Slim 7i 16"(16IAH7) Grey Keyboard to be more like the IdeaPad 3 than the full Legion 7 wth softer keys that randomly repeated while typing. Will these newer Slim 7's have the same keyboard or more like the FULL Legion7?
Andrei Girbea
March 28, 2023 at 8:19 am
Hard to say without having touched them. They're 1.5 stroke-depth so the same as on the 2023 Legion Pro 7s. However, I think the previous Legion 7 keyboards were a little different.
Tim
November 12, 2023 at 5:32 am
I will be interested to see your review on the 7i. I'm setting one up now, coming from a 2022 Flow X16. The Flow was very nice, especially the screen, but the keyboard was a weakness for me. After a couple of years of moderate use I had two keys which needed to be hit down and to the right to register – just didn't come across as robust enough. I also missed the Insert key (which I sometimes use in editing code, and in some games e.g. Fallout 4) and the numpad (like many lefties I map movement and other keys to the numpad while I mouse with the left hand). The keyboard on the 7i feels better, and even with the numpad the keys are a good size. The keyboard extends farther to the left and right compared to the X16, which had large spaces beyond the keyboard. So far so good. No repeats when I'm typing. Screen is good, build quality is excellent, weight about 4.7 pounds. Easy to access the insides for memory and the two SSD slots.
Andrei Girbea
November 12, 2023 at 1:51 pm
I don't think I'll be able to get a Slim 7i for review this year. Lenovo don't have a sample over here, and it's already late in the year and not worth for me buying one just for the review.
Bummed to hear about the X16 keyboard wearing off so quickly. Have you contacted Asus about it? Unfortunately this sort of long term wear is not something I can properly cover in a shorter-term review
Ragul Chandrasekaran
March 3, 2024 at 11:29 am
Hows does Legion Slim 5 16, 4070, 160hz, version compare to Zyphreus G16 2023, 13900H, 4070, 1TB, 240 HZ? The current offer is a later model EUR 300 more expensive than the slim 5 16 version. Is it worth it?
Andrei Girbea
March 5, 2024 at 12:09 pm
they're different in many ways, but in broad lines, the zephyrus is more powerful, better built, offers better inputs, IO, speakers. Better screen as well, although that's arguable. I'd get the Zephyrus at that price difference.