Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) vs Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)
VS
30.7Performance54.1
26.5Display39.9
33.3Battery73.3
76.6Portability35.7
3 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)6 spec wins — Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)
InnoReviews verdict
Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) wins this laptop face-off, 51.5 to 38.5, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+40) and performance (+23). Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)
- Stronger portability score: 77 vs 36
- 45% lower weight: 1.3 kg vs 2.36 kg
- 27% lower thickness: 18.5 mm vs 25.2 mm
- 14% higher Peak brightness: 400 nits vs 350 nits
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $1,399
Reasons to pick the Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)
- Stronger performance score: 54 vs 31
- Stronger display score: 40 vs 27
- Stronger battery score: 73 vs 33
- 283% higher charging: 230 W vs 60 W
- 175% higher Refresh rate: 165 Hz vs 60 Hz
Display
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 12.2 ″ | 16 ″+31% |
| Panel type | LCD (glass, convertible touchscreen, MPP 2.0/USI 2.0 stylus support) | IPS |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 | 2560x1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 165 Hz+175% |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits+14% | 350 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core i7-14650HX |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics (1 Xe3 core, up to 2.3GHz) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB, 140W) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM type | DDR5-6400 (SO-DIMM) | DDR5-5600 (2x SO-DIMM) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1,024 GB+100% |
| Storage type | M.2 2230 NVMe SSD | PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (2 slots) |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | — | 2,856Bottom 51% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | — | 17,201Top 34% |
Battery
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 80 Wh+60% |
| Charging | 60 W | 230 W+283% |
Design
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.3 kg+45% | 2.36 kg |
| Thickness | 18.5 mm+27% | 25.2 mm |
| Material | Overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over plastic with an internal metal structure | Aluminum lid, PC-ABS base |
Connectivity
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 4x swappable Expansion Cards (2x rear Thunderbolt 4, 2x front USB 3.2 Gen 2; USB-C/USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, microSD/SD options), 3.5mm combo jack | 2x USB-C 10Gbps (both with DisplayPort 1.4, one with 140W power input), 3x USB-A 5Gbps (one always-on), HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, microSD card reader, 3.5mm combo jack |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel BE213) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| Webcam | 1080p 30fps (2MP OmniVision OV02C sensor, 80° FOV), hardware privacy switch | 1080p with e-shutter |
| Biometrics | None on this configuration — fingerprint reader is bundled only with the Core 5 320/Core 7 350 pre-built tiers, not Core 3 304 | None |
Software
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) | Windows 11 Home |
Related comparisons
Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)vs Acer Nitro V 15VSFramework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)vs Chuwi NeoBookVSFramework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)vs Asus Vivobook 15VSFramework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)vs ASUS Vivobook S14 Flip (TP5408QA)VSLenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch)VSLenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)vs Lenovo Googlebook 15VSLenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)vs LG Gram 17 (2025)VSLenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)vs Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Gen 11 (14-inch)VS