Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) vs Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)
VS
30.7Performance59.9
26.5Display55.5
33.3Battery73.3
76.6Portability29.1
2 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)7 spec wins — Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)
InnoReviews verdict
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) wins this laptop face-off, 56.2 to 38.5, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+40) and performance (+29). 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 29
- 48% lower weight: 1.3 kg vs 2.5 kg
- 32% lower thickness: 18.5 mm vs 27 mm
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $1,499
Reasons to pick the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9)
- Stronger performance score: 60 vs 31
- Stronger display score: 56 vs 27
- Stronger battery score: 73 vs 33
- 400% higher charging: 300 W vs 60 W
- 300% higher Refresh rate: 240 Hz vs 60 Hz
Display
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion Pro 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 (PureSight) |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 | 2560x1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 240 Hz+300% |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits | 500 nits+25% |
Performance
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics (1 Xe3 core, up to 2.3GHz) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop |
| RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| 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 Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | — | 2,889Top 48% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | — | 18,126Top 29% |
Battery
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 80 Wh+60% |
| Charging | 60 W | 300 W+400% |
Design
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.3 kg+48% | 2.5 kg |
| Thickness | 18.5 mm+32% | 27 mm |
| Material | Overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over plastic with an internal metal structure | Aluminum lid, plastic (PC-ABS) base |
Connectivity
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Lenovo Legion Pro 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 (one with 140W PD, both with DisplayPort 1.4), 4x USB-A 5Gbps, HDMI 2.1, RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet, 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 Pro 5i Gen 9 (16IRX9) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) | Windows 11 Home |
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