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| Lenovo's latest Legion 5 is smaller than its Gen 10 predecessor. |
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Lenovo’s gaming laptop lineup, you already know the company has been quietly rolling out its next‑generation Legion 5i across the globe. Towards the end of last month, the new Legion 5i started popping up in Australia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Now, Lenovo has finally brought the same machine to North America—though early adopters will find it’s a somewhat limited release, at least for the moment.
Before we dive into what’s new (and what’s missing), let’s set the stage. The model we’re talking about is the Legion 5i 15IAX11, and it replaces the Raptor Lake‑based Legion 5i we reviewed back in October 2025. That older model is still floating around on Amazon for about $1,735, but the Gen 11 version is a very different beast.
A Smaller Footprint, But a Bigger Screen
Right off the bat, Lenovo has reshaped the Legion 5i’s chassis. The new 15IAX11 is roughly 10 mm shorter than its predecessor, and depending on how you measure, it’s between 5% and 16% thinner. That might not sound like a huge difference, but when you’re hauling a gaming laptop to LAN parties or between classes, every millimeter counts.
What’s interesting is that Lenovo didn’t shrink the display to match the smaller body. In fact, they went the other way. This year’s model packs a larger 15.3‑inch OLED panel with a glossy finish. The resolution sits at 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, and the 165 Hz refresh rate keeps motion looking smooth in fast‑paced games. Brightness is a standout feature: you get 1,000 nits peak brightness in HDR mode (perfect for HDR gaming and movies) and 500 nits for standard SDR content. That’s genuinely impressive for a laptop in this class.
Ports on Three Sides (Because Why Not?)
One of the little quirks of the new Legion 5i is its port layout. Instead of cramming everything onto the back or the sides, Lenovo has spread ports across all three sides of the chassis. You’ll find USB‑C, USB‑A, HDMI, Ethernet, and a power connector—each placed where it makes sense for cable management. It’s a small touch, but it shows Lenovo is paying attention to how people actually use their laptops on a desk.
Under the Hood: Core Ultra 7 251HX and RTX 5060
Here’s where things get a bit complicated for North American buyers. Internationally, Lenovo teased a range of CPU and GPU options, including a top‑tier Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and an RTX 5070. But in the US, at least for now, Lenovo is launching the Legion 5i 15IAX11 with a Core Ultra 7 251HX processor and a GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU.
The Core Ultra 7 251HX is a 3 nm chip that actually has four more efficiency cores than the Core i7‑13650HX found in the previous Gen 10 model. However, it also has two fewer threads. In real‑world usage, that trade‑off means better power efficiency and cooler operation during lighter tasks, while still delivering strong gaming performance. We’ll need to run benchmarks to see how it stacks up against the older chip, but on paper, it’s a modern, well‑balanced CPU.
The RTX 5060 runs at the same 115 W TGP as the previous generation’s RTX 4060—no surprise there, as NVIDIA’s laptop GPU power targets have stayed relatively consistent. But the 5060 benefits from architectural improvements and faster GDDR7 memory, so you should see a decent uplift in frame rates, especially with DLSS 4 enabled.
The bad news? Lenovo is currently asking $2,959 for this configuration. That’s a significant premium over the older model’s current street price, though it’s worth remembering that the Gen 10 model launched at a similar MSRP before discounts kicked in.
Memory, Storage, and Battery Life
On the memory front, the Legion 5i 15IAX11 supports up to 32 GB of DDR5‑5600 RAM. However, Lenovo’s US configurator is only offering 16 GB at launch. Hopefully, that changes in the coming weeks as inventory stabilizes.
Storage is handled by two SSD slots: one M.2 2242 running at PCIe 5.0 speeds, and one M.2 2280 on PCIe 4.0. That’s a smart design—you can put your operating system on the faster PCIe 5.0 drive and use the larger 2280 slot for game storage.
Powering everything is an 80 Wh battery, which is standard for a 15‑inch gaming laptop. Don’t expect all‑day battery life when you’re gaming, but for productivity and media consumption, the efficient Core Ultra 7 and OLED panel (with its variable refresh rate) should get you through a few hours unplugged.
Where to Buy and What’s Coming Next
If you’re ready to take the plunge, Lenovo is selling the Legion 5i Gen 11 exclusively through its own website for now. You can check out the exact configuration and pricing here:
Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 11 (15″ Intel) – Official US Store
That link will take you to the model page, where you can see the latest availability and any limited‑time launch offers.
For those who want more power, Lenovo has confirmed that GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB and Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus options should arrive later in 2026. There’s no firm date yet, but if history is any guide, we’ll likely see those higher‑end SKUs in the fall, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
Early Verdict: Should You Buy Now or Wait?
The Legion 5i Gen 11 is an intriguing update. The OLED display is a major upgrade—brighter and more vibrant than any IPS panel Lenovo has used in this series. The thinner, shorter chassis makes it more portable, and the port placement is genuinely thoughtful.
But the $2,959 price tag for a mid‑range RTX 5060 configuration is hard to swallow, especially when you consider that last year’s model can be found for nearly half that. If you absolutely need the latest CPU architecture and OLED goodness, and you don’t want to wait for the RTX 5070 version, then go ahead and grab the current US model. Otherwise, it might be wise to hold out for a price drop or until the higher‑tier options become available.
We’ll have a full review of the Legion 5i 15IAX11 on LaptopsCheck as soon as we get a review unit in house. In the meantime, you can read our deep dive on the laptop’s specifications and regional availability here:
LaptopsCheck: Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 11 (15IAX11) Goes Global
And if you’re still considering the previous‑gen Legion 5i (Raptor Lake model), it’s currently available on Amazon:
Check Price on Amazon
Stay tuned—we’ll update this article once Lenovo unlocks the 32 GB RAM option and announces firm release dates for the RTX 5070 and Core Ultra 9 versions. For now, the Legion 5i Gen 11 is officially on North American soil, and that alone is worth getting excited about.
