Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (2022) Review: A Balanced Gaming Powerhouse

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (2022) Review: A Balanced Gaming Powerhouse

Lenovo continues to impress with the Legion 5 Pro (2022), a gaming laptop that strikes a solid balance between performance, display quality, and portability. Building on the strengths of its predecessor, this iteration brings notable improvements while retaining its core appeal.

Design and Build

The Legion 5 Pro sports a refined design with a simplified "Legion" text replacing the previous glowing logo, giving it a sleek and minimalist aesthetic. The hybrid plastic and anodized aluminum construction feels durable and premium, though the large 300W power brick remains a cumbersome companion for frequent travelers. Despite this, the laptop’s compact 15.6-inch chassis houses a full 16-inch display, a clever space-saving design choice.

Display

One of the standout features is its 16-inch QHD IPS panel, boasting a smooth 165Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, and impressive 500 nits brightness. The display covers 100% of the sRGB gamut and supports VESA HDR 400 and Dolby Vision, making it ideal for both gaming and content creation. With an anti-glare coating and a 16:10 aspect ratio, it provides excellent visibility and viewing comfort.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The TrueStrike keyboard offers a satisfying tactile experience with full-size, backlit keys available in 4-zone RGB or white lighting. While the plastic trackpad performs adequately, it falls short of the glass surface found in higher-end models like the Legion 7, though it remains responsive and precise.

Performance

Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H CPU and an RTX 3060 GPU, the Legion 5 Pro handles demanding games and multitasking with ease. Benchmarks show competitive performance, though Intel’s 12th Gen processors still hold a slight edge in raw processing power. Gaming tests reveal smooth averages in titles like CS:GO and GTA V, with notable frame rates in Cyberpunk 2077 and Control when using appropriate settings.

Cooling and Battery

Lenovo’s enhanced Coldfront 4.0 cooling system keeps temperatures in check during extended gaming sessions, with fans that remain relatively quiet under most conditions. The 80Wh battery provides 4 to 6 hours of typical use, extendable to over 6 hours with reduced settings, though the bulky 300W charger is a trade-off.

Audio and Webcam

Dual stereo speakers deliver decent audio for a gaming laptop, with manageable bass and mids. However, the 720p webcam remains a dated feature for video conferencing in 2022, though it includes a camera shutter for privacy.

Verdict

The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (2022) is a compelling choice for gamers seeking strong performance and a premium display without breaking the bank. While it has minor drawbacks like the large power adapter and plastic trackpad, its overall package, including improved thermals and battery life, makes it a worthwhile purchase in the competitive gaming laptop market.