Save Yourself $1000 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Vs Legion 5i Pro

Summary

In this detailed comparison between the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5, the reviewer highlights key differences in build, performance, and pricing. Despite the X1 Extreme's higher price, the Legion 5i Pro offers superior performance in benchmarks and real-world tasks like 3D modeling and video editing. The X1 Extreme excels in color accuracy, battery life, and professional features like an SD card reader, making it ideal for creative professionals. Ultimately, the Legion 5i Pro offers the best value for money, while the X1 Extreme caters to specific user needs with its premium design.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro offers better performance for a lower price compared to the more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme.
• 😀 The ThinkPad X1 Extreme is thinner, lighter, and features a premium carbon fiber design, making it more portable and stylish.
• 😀 The Legion 5i Pro excels in connectivity with more ports, including a network port, USB Type-A, and multiple USB Type-C options.
• 😀 The ThinkPad X1 Extreme includes an SD card reader, ideal for photographers and video editors, which the Legion 5i Pro lacks.
• 😀 Both laptops have high-quality builds, with minimal screen flex and a solid assembly, showing attention to detail from Lenovo.
• 😀 While both laptops feature webcams, the X1 Extreme offers better sound quality due to its upward-facing speakers.
• 😀 The X1 Extreme offers a slightly better screen, with improved color accuracy, color gamut, and brightness, suitable for creatives.
• 😀 The X1 Extreme has poor battery life compared to the Legion 5i Pro, mainly due to its less efficient power management settings.
• 😀 Thermal management is good on both laptops, but the X1 Extreme tends to run slightly cooler due to better thermal regulation.
• 😀 Benchmarks show the Legion 5i Pro consistently outperforms the X1 Extreme in CPU-heavy tasks like Cinebench and 3D modeling.
• 😀 The Legion 5i Pro is the better choice for video editing, with significantly faster 4K and 6K export times, making it a superior bang for the buck.

Q & A

What is the primary difference in performance between the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme?

The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro outperforms the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme in most benchmarks, including Cinebench, Autodesk 3ds Max, and After Effects. The Legion 5i Pro provides better overall performance, especially for tasks like video editing and 3D modeling.

Why is the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro considered a better value for money?

The Legion 5i Pro offers superior performance at a significantly lower price point (around $2,100), compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme which retails for around $3,600. This makes it the better choice for users seeking high performance without breaking the bank.

How do the design and build quality compare between the two laptops?

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme features a thinner, lighter design with a premium carbon fiber aesthetic, making it more portable and professional-looking. On the other hand, the Legion 5i Pro has a bulkier aluminum build but offers more ports, including an ethernet port and multiple USB-A and USB-C ports.

What are the key differences in connectivity between the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme?

The Legion 5i Pro provides more expansive connectivity, including an ethernet port, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports on the back. The X1 Extreme, while having fewer ports, includes an SD card reader, making it a better choice for content creators who need fast access to media files.

Which laptop has a better display for professionals working with color-sensitive tasks?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme offers a better display in terms of color accuracy, color gamut range, and brightness. It is ideal for photographers, graphic designers, and video editors who need precise color matching and high-quality visuals.

How do the battery life and power management systems compare between the two laptops?

The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro offers better battery life due to its more efficient power management system, particularly with its hybrid GPU mode that turns off the dedicated GPU to save power. In contrast, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme has less efficient power management, resulting in poorer battery life.

Which laptop is better for gaming and intensive workloads?

The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is better suited for gaming and intensive workloads, thanks to its superior performance in benchmarks like 3D modeling and video editing. It delivers more power for tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, and heavy computational work.

How do the speakers compare on the two laptops?

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme features upward-facing speakers, providing a better audio experience. In contrast, the Legion 5i Pro lacks this feature, resulting in a less immersive audio output.

What kind of cooling performance can you expect from each laptop?

Both laptops perform well in terms of cooling, with the ThinkPad X1 Extreme running slightly cooler due to its thermal management system. However, with manual adjustments in the Legion 5i Pro's Lenovo Vantage Center, you can achieve similar thermal performance.

Which laptop is the better choice for creative professionals, such as photographers and digital artists?

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme is the better choice for creative professionals due to its superior display, SD card reader, and premium design. These features make it more suitable for those needing accurate color representation and specialized connectivity for media work.