When it comes to computers, you start to wonder if there’s really a ceiling on how expensive they can get. The answer seems to be: not really—just pile on more power. Think extreme AMD Threadripper-style CPUs, dual or even triple high-end GPUs.
Add massive, fast RAM, plenty of SSD storage, top-notch connectivity, a premium array of high-quality displays, and a bunch of other niceties, and you’re burning serious cash. Laptops have some limits—you still need to be able to carry them—but it’s fun to see what manufacturers can do when they’re not holding back.
Enter the Lenovo Legion 9 18IAX10. Not the absolute most expensive laptop on the market, but at $6,900, it’s the priciest PC I’ve tested so far. Is it the best? Let’s see.
Solid Build
This is a massive 18-inch laptop with an angular design prioritizing cooling, nearly 3 cm thick, and weighing just under 3 kg. It’s marketed primarily for high-end gaming but also works as a mobile workstation for development, 3D modeling, and creative work. With maxed-out specs and quality components, it delivers the best of both worlds.
The one thing it sacrifices is portability. The battery is only enough to move it between rooms—but let’s be honest, no one buys this kind of machine expecting ultra-portability.
Raw Performance
Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, the 275HX isn’t Intel’s absolute top mobile CPU, but the difference versus the 285HX is minor. It’s the same chip found in other flagship laptops from Asus and HP this year. It outperforms most mobile CPUs, except Apple’s M4 and M5 chips in single-core performance.
More Than a Fast CPU
The configuration I tested includes 192 GB of RAM, the maximum supported. That’s enough to handle large coding projects, massive video files, and even run LLMs locally. If you want to save some money, you can get the same laptop with 32 or 64 GB—but it’s still pricey.
The RTX 5090 is the best GPU you can put in a laptop today. It handles every demanding game with silky-smooth framerates and fast response times, all without sounding like a steam engine.
A quick keyboard shortcut cycles through three cooling profiles, indicated by a colored ring around the power button: blue for quiet, white for balanced, and red for maximum performance. The red mode is louder but offers no measurable advantage over balanced, though it can help if you’re pushing hardware hard. The cooling system is excellent and surprisingly quiet, though it starts spinning even under light load, so a completely silent experience is nearly impossible.
Ready for Heavy Work and AI
The GPU also benefits creative workloads. These Intel CPUs have minimal integrated NPU (just 13 TOPs), but the GPU delivers plenty of compute power for AI tasks, generative AI, and video rendering.
High brightness and resolution, combined with a 4K+ 18-inch display, do draw a lot of power. It’s an IPS panel with quantum-dot tech, HDR support, DCI-P3 coverage, and Pantone validation. Preinstalled X-Rite software allows professional calibration and scaling for the 4K panel.
Gaming features are strong: Lenovo advertises fast response times and high refresh rates. Default is 75 Hz, but you can bump it to 240 Hz in 4K with a shortcut, or even 440 Hz at 1080p through a BIOS setting. Not the smoothest process, but effective.
Few Drawbacks
Everything else is high-quality too. The keyboard is flat, premium-feeling, with per-key RGB and an RGB strip along the front edge. The large touchpad is precise and responsive. The laptop includes strong speakers, fast Wi-Fi 7, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, dual Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), a sharp 1440p webcam, and competent microphones.
The main downsides are price and weight.
You can control brightness and cycle through effect presets via keyboard shortcuts, just like performance profiles. Lenovo’s Legion Space software offers more granular control, including cooling and per-key settings. Everything is presented cleanly but remains powerful.
A mini-LED or OLED panel for deeper blacks would be nice, but the current IPS screen performs very well. You can also upgrade to a glasses-free 3D display, though that costs extra. At this price point, few would hesitate.
Specifications
- Product Name: Lenovo Legion 9 18IAX10 (83EY0014MX)
- Tested: November 2025
- Manufacturer: Lenovo
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (8 P-cores up to 5.5 GHz + 16 E-cores up to 4.6 GHz)
- NPU: Intel AI Boost, 13 TOPs
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, 24 GB
- RAM: 192 GB DDR5
- Storage: 2 TB SSD, SD card slot
- Display: 18-inch glossy IPS, 3840 × 2400, 240/440 Hz, 500 cd/m²
- Webcam: 1600p, 3D, IR, lens cover
- Ports: 2 × Thunderbolt 5, USB-C 3.2 Gen2, 3 × USB-A 3.2 Gen2, HDMI, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, headset jack
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
- Other: RGB keyboard, 3 empty PCIe4 M.2 slots
- Noise: 0–43 dBA
- Battery: 99.9 Wh, 40 min max load / 2 hr 30 min low load
- Dimensions: 40.3 × 29.69 × 2.79 cm
- Weight: 3.75 kg
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