Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD vs Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 Comparison

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Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD

17.3 inches | January 2021

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Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7

15.6 inches | January 2022

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Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD vs Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7, two laptops by Lenovo. Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD was introduced to market in January 2021 and Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 was launched in January 2022. There is 12 months difference between Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 so it would still give an advantage to younger Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 are members of Lenovo's Legion 5 series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Lenovo Legion 5 Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Lenovo Legion 5 15ARP8	January 2023	15.6"	358.8 x 262.35 x 19.9-24.05 mm	2.4 kg (5.29 lbs)
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Gen 7 2022 AMD	January 2022	16.0"	359.9 x 262.4 x 19.9 mm	2.49 kg (5.49 lbs)
Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7	January 2022	15.6"	358.8 x 262.3 x 19.9-24 mm	2.4 kg (5.29 lbs)
Lenovo Legion 5i Pro Gen 7 2022 Intel	January 2022	16.0"	359.9 x 264.4 x 19.9-26.6 mm	2.49 kg (5.49 lbs)
Lenovo Legion 5 15-inch 2021 AMD	June 2021	15.6"	363 x 259.6 x 23.5 mm	2.4 kg (5.29 lbs)
Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch 2021 Intel	May 2021	15.6"	363 x 259.6 x 23.5-26.1 mm	2.4 kg (5.29 lbs)
Lenovo Legion 5i 17-inch 2021 Intel	May 2021	17.3"	398.6 x 290 x 24.3-26.2 mm	2.98 kg (6.57 lbs)
Lenovo Legion 5i Pro Gen 6 2021 Intel	May 2021	16.0"	356 x 264.2 x 21.7-26.8 mm	2.3 kg (5.07 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
398.6 x 290 x 24.3-26.2 mm (15.69 x 11.42 x 0.96-1.03 inches)
Weight: 2.98 kg (6.57 lbs)

Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 12450H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB
16GB Ram
358.8 x 262.3 x 19.9-24 mm (14.13 x 10.33 x 0.78-0.94 inches)
Weight: 2.4 kg (5.29 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD over Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~71.4% vs ~71.3%	Larger screen area ratio
Display Size	17.3 inches vs 15.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
CPU Fabrication Process	7 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
Number of USB-A Ports	4x USB 3.2 vs 3x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader

Reasons to choose Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 over Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD

Weight	2.40 kg vs 2.98 kg	0.58 kg lighter
Side Bezel Thickness	6.7 mm vs 7.8 mm	1.1 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	165 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	141 ppi vs 127 ppi	More pixels per inch
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Faster RAM Type
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Bluetooth	v5.2 vs v5.1	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port

Common Strengths of Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 and Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD

Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
HDR Support	Yes, Dolby Vision vs Yes, Dolby Vision	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Bluetooth Standard	v5.1 vs v5.2	Fast and Reliable Bluetooth Connections
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 and Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD vs Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and the Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.98 kg (6.57 lbs)	2.4 kg (5.29 lbs)
Surface Area	1156 cm2 (179.2 inches2)	941 cm2 (146 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~71.4%	~71.3%
Side Bezel Thickness	~7.8 mm	~6.7 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.17 kg/inch	0.15 kg/inch
	0.374 lbs/inch	0.33 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Blue	Gray
Cover Opening Angle	180Â°	180Â°

Comparison of the Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and the Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 External Dimensions

Weight

Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD weighs 2.98 kg (6.57 lbs), whereas the Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 weighs 2.4 kg (5.29 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD 2.98 kg

Avg: larger than 17.0" 2.74 kg

Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 2.40 kg

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 1.95 kg

Thickness Comparison

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD 24.30 mm

Avg: larger than 17.0" 24.26 mm

Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 19.90 mm

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 20.17 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD is 0.17 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 is 0.15 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD vs Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	AMD Ryzen 5 5600H AMD Ryzen 7 5800H	Intel Core i5 12450H Intel Core i5 12500H Intel Core i7 12700H
Base Frequency	3.3 GHz	2.0 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.2 GHz	4.4 GHz
Number of Cores	6	8
Number of Threads	12	12
L3 Cache	16 MB	12 MB
Integrated GPU	Radeon RX Vega 7	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (48EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	7 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1426	1642
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	6579	8498
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1371	1587
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	9758	10024

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 12450H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile 8GB
Base Clock Frequency	1065 MHz	1065 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1343 MHz	1343 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	45 W	45 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	5.501 TFLOPS	5.501 TFLOPS
Memory Size	4 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	2048	2048
TMUs	64	64
ROPs	32	32

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD has a FLOPS value of 7.12 TFLOPS whereas the Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 ' has a FLOPS value of 7.12 TFLOPS.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB	16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	3200 MHz	4800 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	32 GB	32 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

The Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Lenovo Legion 5 17” (2021, AMD)	Lenovo Legion 5i 15” Gen 7
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	80 Wh	80 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Bottom
Charge Power	230 / 300 W	230 W
AC Adapter Weight	1057 gramm

Furthermore, both laptops have the same battery capacity of 80 Wh, ensuring comparable battery performance.

Battery Comparison

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD 80 Wh

Avg: larger than 17.0" 76.88 Wh

Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 80 Wh

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 62.1 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and the Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 have similar max. storage capacities of 1 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB	512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD vs Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD has a display size of 17.3".On the other hand, Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 has a smaller 15.6" display.The total usable screen area of the Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD is 825cm² / 128inch² whereas the Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7's total usable screen area is 670cm² / 104inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 features a higher pixel density with 141 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD 127 PPI

Avg: larger than 17.0" 141 PPI

Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 141 PPI

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 144 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 offers a higher refresh rate of 165 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
Both Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 offer the same maximum brightness of 300 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD 300 nits

Avg: larger than 17.0" 368 nits

Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 300 nits

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 319 nits

Lenovo Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD vs Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 have USB-A ports. Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD has 4x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 have USB Type-C ports. Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD has 2x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 has 3x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Legion 5 17-inch 2021 AMD and Legion 5i 15-inch Gen 7 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.1	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	4x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	No	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes