Lenovo Legion 7a, Legion 5a, Legion 5i – new 2026 Legion notebooks

The majority of the Lenovo Legion lineup carries on into 2026 with the existing 2025 models, including the Legion 9i, Legion Pro 7i, Legion 7i, and Legion Pro 5i models we’ve tested over the last few months. That’s no surprise, given there’s no new Intel HX, AMD HX or Nvidia RTX hardware launch that would justify or trigger an update.

However, Lenovo are updating some of their mid-range models with the hardware that is released at the beginning of 2026, mostly AMD Gorgon Point Ryzen AI 400 and Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 processors. These are implemented in the Legion 7 premium-tier chassis, in the Legion 5 mid-range models, and in the budget-friendly LOQ 15 lineups, all of them offering good value in their segments.

And btw, looks like Lenovo decided to update the naming of their lineups to make it easier to distinguish between the AMD and Intel variants. The AMD models get an “a” appendix now (Legion 7a, Legion 5a), while the Intel models keep the “i” already used over the last years (Legion 7i, Legion 5i). It was about time they did something about it.

Update: As of March 2026, a Legion 7a 15-inch compact model was introduced as well, built on AMD Strix Halo hardware.

So let’s see what to expect from these new 2026 Legion launches.

Lenovo Legion 7a gen11 (Ryzen AI 400 alternative for the Legion 7i)

Here’s the specs sheet for the Legion 7a series, a new launch for 2026, next to the existing Legion 7i lineup.

	Lenovo Legion 7a 16, gen 11	Lenovo Legion 7a 15, gen 11	Lenovo Legion 7i, gen 10
Display	16-inch, 16:10, glossy, non-touch, OLED QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px , 165Hz or 240Hz, 1ms, 500 nits SDR, 100% DCI-P3 colors	15.3-inch, 16:10, glossy, non-touch, OLED QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px , 120Hz ??, 1ms, 500 nits SDR, 100% DCI-P3 colors	16-inch, 16:10, glossy, non-touch, OLED QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px , 165Hz or 240Hz, 1ms, 500 nits SDR, 100% DCI-P3 colors
Processor	AMD Gorgon Point, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, up to 5.6 GHz Max Turbo	AMD Strix Halo, AMD Ryzen AI 9 MAX+ 395, up to 95W TDP	Intel Arrow Lake HX, Core Ultra 9 275HX, 8PC+16Ec/24T, up to 5.4 GHz Max Turbo
Video	Radeon + up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 (up to 115W with Dynamic Boost) with MUX, Advanced Optimus, GSync	Radeon 8060S, 40 CUs	Intel Graphics + up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (up to 115W with Dynamic Boost) with MUX, Advanced Optimus, GSync
Memory	up to 64 GB LPDDR5x-8000	up to 128 GB LPDDR5x-8533	up to 96 GB DDR5-6400 (2x DIMMs)
Storage	1x M.2 PCIe 5.0, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots	1x M.2 PCIe 5.0, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots	1x M.2 PCIe 5.0, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots
Connectivity	WiFi 7 (Mediatek MT7925) 2×2 with Bluetooth 5.4	WiFi 7 (Mediatek MT7925) 2×2 with Bluetooth 5.4	WiFi 7 (Mediatek MT7925) 2×2 with Bluetooth 5.4
Ports	Left: 2x USB-C 4.0 (PD 140W, DP), 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, audio jack Right: 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, SD card reader, eShutter button Rear: HDMI 2.1, DC-In	Left: 2x USB-C 4.0 (PD 140W, DP), 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, HDMI, audio jack Right: 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, 1x USBC, SD card reader, eShutter button Rear: no	Left: 1x USB-A 3.2 gen2, 1x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-C 3.2 with PD, audio jack Right: 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, SD card reader, eShutter button Rear: HDMI 2.1, DC-In
Battery	84Wh, 245 W power adapter, USB-C charging up to 140W	??Wh, 180W USB-C power adapter	84Wh, 245 W power adapter, USB-C charging up to 140W
Size	362 mm or 14.24” (w) x 263 mm or 10.37 (d) x 15.5- 16.9 mm or .65″ (h)	tbu	362 mm or 14.24” (w) x 263 mm or 10.37 (d) x 17.9 mm or .7″ (h)
Weight	from 1.85 kg (4.06 lbs), .72 kg (1.6 lbs) 245W power brick and cables, EU version	from 1.65 kg (3.65 lbs), + charger	from 1.95 kg (4.35 lbs), .72 kg (1.6 lbs) 245W power brick and cables, EU version
Extras	clamshell 16-inch format with 180-degree screen angle, Glacier White or Nebula colors without RGB, rubber-dome 24-zone RGB backlit keyboard with NumPad, 1.6 mm travel, PTP touchpad, 5MPx camera with IR, 6x speakers, dual-fan dual-heatsink cooling module	clamshell 15-inch format with 180-degree screen angle, more compact and lighter weight than the 16 inch variant, Nebula color without RGB, rubber-dome keyboard without NumPad, 1.6 mm travel, PTP touchpad, 5MPx camera with IR, 2x speakers ??,  dual-fan dual-heatsink cooling module	clamshell 16-inch format with 180-degree screen angle, Glacier White color without RGB, rubber-dome per-key RGB backlit keyboard with NumPad, 1.6 mm travel, PTP touchpad, 5MPx IR camera, dual speakers, dual-fan dual-heatsink cooling module

I’ve reviewed the Legion 7i in this article, if you’re interested in my full thoughts on this chassis, as the Legion 7a and 7i are nearly identical in design, build, and ergonomics.

That means both are a premium 16-inch chassis, fairly compact and lightweight at under 2 kilos. The 2026 Legion 7a gen11 is a little lighter and thinner than the gen10 Legion 7i of 2025.

I do’t know whether this refreshed chassis transitions onto the Intel model as well, or is exclusive to the AMD version – could be AMD only, since this is a lower-power platform with onboard memory. The other extras of the gen11 chassis is the fact that it can be bought in either Glacier White or Nebula (dark blue) colors, while the 2025 Legion 7i was only available in white.

These aside, both designs offer good inputs, good IO, and OLED displays. However, the gen11 gets 6x speakers, while the gen10 only got two, so better audio coming down from the Pro 7i series.

Here are some real images of the Legion 7i chassis.

And a few more of the Legion 7a variant in the Blue variant.

The other differences are on the inside, where the Legion 7a is built on AMD’s latest Gorgon Point Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor, while the Legion 7i is built on Core Ultra HX hardware – no Panther Lake refresh was announced at this point, but that might happen later in the year.

That means the AMD variant is significantly slower in multi-threaded loads, but at the same time runs more efficiently on battery power. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 is just a marginally refreshed iteration of the Strix Point Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which is a platform implemented on similar products by other brands, such as Asus on the ProArt P16 or Razer on the Blade 16.

Compared to the Intel model, the Legion 7a comes with LPDDR5x memory, so the memory is onboard. This translates to a weight reduction, but limits upgradeability long term, so make sure you’re getting the needed amount of RAM from the get-go. The series can be specced with up to 64 GB of memory.

Another particularity of this Legion 7a iteration is the limited choice in GPUs, with the series only offered with an RTX 5060. The Legion 7i goes up to a 5070, so not much faster, as none of these can be specced with higher-tier RTX GPUs. That’s a potential deal-breaker compared to the alternatives mentioned earlier, which range from RTX 5060 to RTX 5090. At the same time, the 5060 is a competitive mid-level and well-priced chip, a fair option for the majority of buyers.

Speaking of prices, the Legion 7a starts at $1999, with availability scheduled from April 2026. I expect this to drop later in the year, allowing the Legion 7a to become a popular contender in its space of all-purpose mid-specced premium 16-inch notebooks.

Update: The more compact 15-inch Legion 7a gen11 was introduced later in the year, and comes in a smaller and lighter package, starting at 1.65 kg. This offers a 15.3-inch OLED display, similar to the one implemented so far on several Lenovo Yoga premium products, and implements a more minimalist keyboard without a NumPad section.

The IO is slightly revamped, without any ports on the rear edge, and without a dedicated DC-In square plug, as this variant charges exclusively via USB-C. A 180W charger in included, the higher power via USB-C being possible thanks to the implementation of USB Power Delivery 3.1 Extended Power Range technology, which allows for higher voltage levels – 36V 5A for 180W.

Internally, the Legion 7a 15 is built on Strix Halo hardware with a TDP of up to 95W and a mid-level cooling design. Configurations mention up to an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 with 10 CPU cores and the full Radeon 8060S iGPU with 4 CUs. That’s going to be most likely paired with 32 GB of RAM, but configurations with 64 GB or even higher might be offered in some markets as well.

Stay tuned for our reviews. I expect this Legion series to be one of the more popular Strix Halo implementations later in the year when available. It’s expected in stores from June 2026, starting at $2000 EUR over here in Europe.

Lenovo Legion 5a and Legion 5i gen11

These are both refreshed for 2026, in mid-range AMD and Intel flavors.

	Lenovo Legion 5a, gen 11	Lenovo Legion 5i, gen 11
Display	15.3-inch, 16:10, glossy, non-touch, OLED QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px , 165Hz 1ms, 500 nits SDR, 100% DCI-P3 colors
Processor	AMD Gorgon Point, up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 465, 10C/20T	Intel Panther Lake, up to Core Ultra 9 386H, 16C/16T
Video	Radeon + up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 (up to 115W with Dynamic Boost) with MUX, Advanced Optimus, GSync	Arc + up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 (up to 115W with Dynamic Boost) with MUX, Advanced Optimus, GSync
Memory	DDR5, 2x DIMMs
Storage	2x M.2 PCIe gen4 slots
Connectivity	up to WiFi 7 2×2 with Bluetooth 5.4, Gigabit LAN
Ports	Left: 2x USB-C 4.0 (PD 100W, DP), 1x RJ45 Right: 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, audio jack, eShutter button Rear: HDMI 2.1, DC-In, 2x USB-A 3.2 gen1	Left: 1x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 (PD 100W, DP), 1x USB-C 3.2, 1x RJ45 Right: 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, audio jack, eShutter button Rear: HDMI 2.1, DC-In, 2x USB-A 3.2 gen1
Battery	80Wh, 245 W power adapter, USB-C charging up to 100W
Size	344 mm or 13.54” (w) x 246 mm or 9.66″ (d) x 18.95- 19.95 mm or .79″ (h)
Weight	from 1.88 kg (4.1 lbs), .72 kg (1.6 lbs) 245W power brick and cables, EU version
Extras	clamshell 15-inch format with 180-degree screen angle, Eclipse Black color without RGB, rubber-dome 24-zone RGB backlit keyboard with NumPad, 1.6 mm travel, PTP touchpad, up to 5MPx camera with IR, stereo speakers, dual-fan dual-heatsink cooling module

The Legion 5a/5i is a mid-range chassis, fairly compact due to its 15-inch footprint, but at the same time average in thickness and weight. It doesn’t aim at the premium segment in the same way as the Legion 7 models do, but sells for significantly less at the same time.

Both the 5i and the 5a of this generation start at $1499 at launch, with availability from April 2026 – that’s most likely for a 5050 configuration, though.

The two variants share the same chassis and features, with a 15.3-inch OLED display, a full RGB keyboard, fair IO (although the ports are positioned rather weirdly), and weak audio with only stereo speakers. Both are available in the same black color, so beware of smudges.

What potentially sets them apart is the main hardware platform inside, either Intel Panther Lake for the Legion 5i or AMD Gorgon Point for the Legion 5a. However, the AMD version tops at a Ryzen AI 9 465 configuration, so the Intel version has a potential edge in sustained performance. It might sell for more, though, in the Ultra 9 386H variant, so there’s that part to consider as well.

It’s also worth mentioning that some of the 5a variants start at Ryzen 7 200 configurations, which is older hardware based on the Hawk Point platform with Zen4 cores. So not as fast or as efficient, but still competitive for the right price (these variants start at $1299, $200 less than the Gorgon Point options).

That aside, both iterations offer identical specs: dual RAM and SSD slots, and RTX 5050/5060 GPUs at 115W max TGP, paired with a mid-level thermal module.

Overall, the Legion 5 series isn’t fancy, just a solid value all-rounder. Just be careful on the specifics of each configuration, such as the equipped WiFi module or camera, as some of the lower-tier options might cheap out on those – you can get these with WiFi 7 and the 5MP IR camera, but not on all variants.

Lenovo LOQ 15APH11 and LOQ 15IPH11

These are the entry-tier Lenovo daily driver/gaming notebooks, more affordable and more basic 15-inch mid-range laptops. Here’s what to expect from these in 2026.

	Lenovo LOQ 15APH11, gen 11	Lenovo LOQ 15IPH11, gen 11
Display	15.3-inch, 16:10, matte, non-touch, IPS QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px , 180Hz 3ms, 400 nits SDR, 100% sRGB colors
Processor	AMD Hawk Point, AMD Ryzen 7 250, 8C/16T	Intel Panther Lake, up to Core Ultra 7 356H, 16C/16T
Video	Radeon + up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 (up to 115W with Dynamic Boost) with MUX, Advanced Optimus, GSync	Arc + up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 (up to 115W with Dynamic Boost) with MUX, Advanced Optimus, GSync
Memory	DDR5, 2x DIMMs
Storage	2x M.2 PCIe gen4 slots
Connectivity	up to WiFi 6E 2×2 with Bluetooth 5.3, Gigabit LAN
Ports	Left: 1x USB-C 3.2 (PD 100W, DP), 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, audio jack Right: 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, eShutter button Rear: HDMI 2.1, DC-In, 1x USB-A 3.2 gen2, 1x RJ45	Left: 1x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 (PD 100W, DP), 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, audio jack Right: 1x USB-A 3.2 gen1, eShutter button Rear: HDMI 2.1, DC-In, 1x USB-A 3.2 gen2, 1x RJ45
Battery	60Wh, 245 W power adapter, USB-C charging up to 100W
Size	345 mm or 13.58” (w) x 255 mm or 10.03″ (d) x 20.9- 23.25 mm or .92″ (h)
Weight	from 2.1 kg (4.4 lbs), .72 kg (1.6 lbs) 245W power brick and cables, EU version
Extras	clamshell 15-inch format with 180-degree screen angle, Luna Gray color without RGB, rubber-dome 1-zone RGB or 24-zone RGB backlit keyboard with NumPad, 1.6 mm travel, PTP touchpad, up to 5MPx camera with IR, stereo speakers, dual-fan dual-heatsink cooling module

The 15-inch LOQ chassis has been available for a few years now and hasn’t seen a major rehaul for this generation either. It’s a mid-range plastic build with decent quality and good ergonomics. It’s not as nice or as portable as a Legion 5 chassis, but LOQs are more affordable options.

Of course, comparing the two is difficult since you’re not getting quite the same features on the two: the LOQs are only available with mid-quality IPS matte displays, get a smaller 60 Wh battery, and generally lower-tier hardware. That’s especially the case for the AMD variant that is only available with Ryzen 7 200 hardware, while the Intel variant gets much more compelling mid-range Panther Lake Ultra 7 specs.

Otherwise, both offer 2x RAM and 2x SSD slots, RTX 5050/5060 GPUs at 115W TGP, and mid-range cooling modules. In fact, the overall graphics capabilities are where these LOQ units excel, matching the Legion 5 models in performance and with better thermals due to the thicker plastic construction.

However, Lenovo aren’t offering these LOQs everywhere. For instance, they plan on bringing the AMD option to the NA market, starting at $1149, but the Intel version will only be available in Europe and Asia. Given that is Panther Lake, I expect it to sell at a premium over the AMD variant where the two are both available. All things considered, though, you’d have to shop on a really tight budget and/or find these for a good bargain to justify a LOQ over a Legion 5 model.

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