A small CPU refresh to what was one of the best 50-series laptops of 2025, the 2026 model is very similar to the 2025 model in almost all other ways. However, because of the competition catching up in this segment of the gaming laptop market, the big price hikes on the 2026 model and also on the 2025 models with a lack of big sales on them, and the much more significant sales of similar or even more premium competitors such as the MSI Raider 16 and especially HP's 2026 HyperX lineup, specifically the Omen 16 and more premium Omen Max 16, the Legion Pro 7i is outclassed.

The Legion Pro 7i does keep a lot of what made the 2025 model good, such as its bright and high refresh rate OLED screen, its comfortable keyboard with full-sized arrow keys, and great performance for its components when compared to similar devices.

Unfortunately, its drawbacks from the 2025 model remain, and its higher price make those drawbacks more noticeable. It still gets a bit warm on the keyboard deck when compared to the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 and HP HyperX Omen Max 16, the ports remain in poor placements for external mouse users, the cheap feeling plastic touchpad is getting long in the tooth for the price, and no Windows Hello IR camera or fingerprint sensor makes little sense when competitors, even cheaper ones, generally have at least one biometric option.

If the Legion Pro 7i is a few hundred dollars cheaper than its competitors like the HP HyperX Omen Max 16 and the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 laptops, then it can be worth considering, but be aware of the price.