Lenovo Legion Y7000P review

The Y7000P might not be quite the most powerful computer on the market, but it’s not too far behind. The review model boasts an eighth generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics, and 16GB RAM, which are more than enough to handle any current gaming needs. It also comes with a 256GB SSD and optional additional drive for any gamer who likes to keep a lot of games installed at once.

AAA games run with ease on most settings, only really experiencing any performance issues on the highest settings and only with the more recent games. When running Assassin's Creed Odyssey on the highest setting, for example, frame rates average 38 frames per second (fps), which include fluctuating fps with a low in the 17 to 18 fps. And while the frame drops aren’t terrible, this computer really performs at its best when the settings are set to the next highest setting. Another example would be the included benchmark of Shadow of the Tomb Raider which clocked in at 48.3 fps on the highest setting.

We also tried other graphics hungry games like Dirt Rally 2.0 and Far Cry 5, and found the experience to be relatively seamless. However, if you do want to keep close to 60 fps, you’ll want to dial down the settings just a tad.

Battery Life 

We didn’t expect much from the Y7000P. Battery life on gaming laptops is notoriously short, and we had no reason to expect any different from this one. After running the PCMark 8 Battery Life benchmark, the laptop came in at an unsurprising 2 and a half hours. However, running our movie test, the Y7000P actually lasted 4 hours and 11 minutes. 

This is not going to outperform a Chromebook any time soon, but it does nearly every other gaming laptop we’ve encountered.

Usage will vary, of course, as gaming will drain the battery a lot quicker (not to mention typical performance issues). However, the extra battery life does offer a little more versatility for use on the go.

Software and Features 

Most gaming computers come with some sort of suite of customizable apps for cooling, overclocking and all the other fun stuff, but the Y7000P likes to keep it simple. There are really only two apps that you’ll need to be familiar with: Lenovo Vantage and Dolby Audio. 

The Lenovo Vantage software gives a snapshot of the computer as a whole such as CPU, GPU and RAM usage, and how much storage is left on each hard drive. It also lets you enable and disable different settings, such as rapid charge, touchpad lock and optimizers such as Network Boost and Auto Close, which can automatically close other apps when launching a game. The Vantage software can also be used to get quick access to system tools, updates and even camera and microphone fine tuning.

The Dolby Audio software offers five presets (Dynamic, Movie, Music, Game, and Voice) as well as a ‘Personalize’ tab. This app automatically switches presets for different uses, but the differences aren’t terribly noticeable.

Final verdict 

The Lenovo Legion Y7000P is a worthy option for anyone who wants to do some serious gaming and is on a budget. It cuts back on the features other gaming laptops usually offer and focuses instead on what’s important. It sticks with its no frills approach that’s reflected in its minimalist gamer look, keeping the cost down – not the performance.

There are some flaws to be aware of, such as strange port placements, the backlighting seeping through on the screen (which could be specific to the review model) and its mediocre soundstage. However, it also outshines other gaming laptops in terms of battery life and cooling.

This is definitely a contender for budgets around $1000/£1,000. Just do your research, as the Legion Y7000P is only available through some select retail outlets.