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| The Lenovo Legion 5 with the RTX 5070 or RTX 5060 is currently available at a discounted sales price |
If you blinked and missed last week’s flash sale on the RTX 5070 Ti-powered Legion Pro 5, don’t beat yourself up—it sold out faster than a limited-edition Steam Deck drop. But here’s the good news: gamers hungry for an upgrade without breaking the bank now have another shot at scoring a seriously capable gaming laptop. This time, the more budget-friendly Lenovo Legion 5i just got a hefty price cut at a major retailer, and it’s turning heads for all the right reasons.
Specifically, B&H Photo Video is currently offering the Legion 5i equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU for just **$1,299 with free shipping**. That’s a cool $400 off (roughly 24% savings) compared to its usual $1,699 price tag. For anyone hunting for a 15-inch gaming machine that doesn’t sacrifice modern features, this deal is worth a serious look.
👉 Check the latest price of the Lenovo Legion 5i at B&H Photo Video →
What You’re Getting for $1,299
Let’s break down the specs, because this isn’t your average budget gaming laptop. The Legion 5i on sale packs:
- Display: 15-inch OLED, 2560 x 1600 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate – yes, OLED at this price is rare.
- Memory: 32GB DDR5 RAM – plenty for multitasking and modern AAA titles.
- Storage: 1TB SSD – fast load times and enough space for a solid game library.
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX – a capable 16-core chip for both gaming and productivity.
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU – the latest generation, with DLSS 4 support.
For context, finding a gaming laptop with an OLED screen, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 50-series GPU under $1,500 is becoming a unicorn in today’s market. Most competitors at this price still ship with IPS panels and 16GB of memory. So the Legion 5i deal stands out—provided you can live with a few quirks.
But There’s a Catch: That OLED Display Flickers
Before you smash that buy button, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. We’ve reviewed the immediate predecessor to this Legion 5i, and spoiler alert: the gorgeous 1600p OLED screen comes with PWM flickering. That’s pulse-width modulation, a method some displays use to control brightness. For sensitive users, it can cause eye strain or headaches during long sessions.
The good news? The chassis, keyboard, and overall performance haven’t changed much from last year’s model, so our comprehensive review of the previous Legion generation still applies. Here’s what we loved—and what gave us pause.
The Pros (and They’re Significant)
- Bright, vibrant OLED: Colors pop, blacks are truly black, and HDR content looks stunning. For single-player RPGs or cinematic games, it’s a treat.
- Solid performance: The Core Ultra 7 + RTX 5060 combo handles 1440p gaming smoothly. Esports titles easily hit the 165Hz refresh rate.
- Excellent keyboard: Lenovo’s Legion series consistently delivers one of the best laptop keyboards—good travel, tactile feedback, and per-key RGB.
- Connectivity: Plenty of ports, including USB-C with DisplayPort, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet. No dongle life here.
The Cons (Be Honest With Yourself)
- Loud fans under load: When you’re pushing Cyberpunk 2077 or a demanding shooter, the Legion 5i sounds like a tiny jet engine. Headphones are recommended.
- PWM flicker on OLED: As mentioned, not everyone notices it, but if you’re sensitive, test it before committing.
- No G-Sync: The OLED panel lacks variable refresh rate, which can lead to tearing in some games.
Want More Power? The RTX 5070 Version Is Also on Sale
If you’ve got an extra $150 burning a hole in your pocket, B&H is also discounting the **Lenovo Legion 5 with an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU**—same display, same RAM and storage, but a beefier graphics card. That model has dropped to **$1,449**, representing a 28% or $550 discount off its original price. For gamers eyeing 1440p ultra settings or light 4K gaming, the 5070 is a noticeable step up from the 5060.
So which one should you choose? At $1,299, the RTX 5060 variant is arguably the better value for 1080p/1440p high settings. But if you plan to keep this laptop for 3-4 years, spending the extra $150 on the 5070 future-proofs you a bit more.
Why This Deal Matters in Today’s Crazy Market
Let’s zoom out for a second. Gaming laptop prices have gone haywire. With desktop GPU prices still inflated and new AAA games demanding more VRAM, finding a truly capable machine under $1,500 is like hunting for a reasonably priced graphics card in 2021. Many brands are pushing their RTX 5060 laptops to $1,600 or higher, often with only 16GB of RAM and a mediocre IPS screen.
The Legion 5i deal at $1,299 flips that script. You’re getting 32GB of RAM (which most prebuilts skimp on), a premium OLED panel, and the latest-gen CPU/GPU combo. Yes, the fan noise and PWM flicker are real drawbacks. But for the price? It’s one of the better laptop deals we’ve seen all quarter.
Looking for more options? Check out our curated list of the best 16-inch gaming laptop deals right now →
Who Should Buy the Lenovo Legion 5i?
- College students or apartment dwellers who need a single machine for classes, coding, and gaming.
- Casual to mid-core gamers playing titles like Valorant, Apex Legends, Baldur’s Gate 3, or Call of Duty.
- Content creators who want the OLED color accuracy for photo/video editing on the side.
- Anyone tired of 16GB RAM bottlenecks – 32GB is genuinely future-proof.
Who Should Skip It?
- Competitive esports pros who need the absolute lowest input lag and no PWM interference.
- Silence-obsessed users – this laptop gets loud under load.
- People with PWM sensitivity – try before you buy, or stick with an IPS model.
Final Verdict: Grab It Before It’s Gone
Last week’s Legion Pro 5 deal evaporated within hours. This Legion 5i sale might not last much longer either. At $1,299 for an RTX 5060, 32GB RAM, and a 165Hz OLED display, it’s a rare sweet spot in a market full of compromises. Yes, the fans scream and the screen flickers (technically), but for hundreds less than competing builds, many gamers will happily accept those trade-offs.
And don’t forget to protect your investment. A capable laptop deserves a solid backpack—especially if you’re hauling it to LAN parties or between classes.
🎒 Grab a fitting Lenovo Legion gaming laptop backpack on Amazon →
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are based on independent research and testing.
