Lenovo continues to expand its product line with a new Lenovo LOQ laptop equipped with an Intel Core i5-12450HX CPU, providing the robust performance of the HX chip line but still keeping a more affordable price of only about $669, thanks to the RTX 2050. Is the overall performance of LOQ 15IAX9 enough for you to confidently accompany you throughout 4 years of university and even when entering real work later? Let’s explore more through this Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 review article!
Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop under $700 with a beautiful design, a powerful HX CPU, and an RTX 2050 graphics card suitable for students and new business entrepreneurs.
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 Review
Design and Build: Durable & Compact
One of the factors leading to the success of the Lenovo LOQ laptop in the market is mainly due to the design of the computer, a true Legion mini. Although in the cheaper price segment, Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 possesses the familiar design language of the Legion line, such as firm edges and a minimalist surface, it still exudes a gentle gaming netbook look.
The entire body feels sturdy and solid, not flimsy when held or used daily. The hinge also shows good finishing, is easy to open with one hand, and can open up to 180 degrees, similar to Legion models in the higher segment.
Another plus point is the reasonable arrangement of heat dissipation slots and connection ports. Lenovo continues to keep the vital port cluster (LAN, HDMI, USB-C, power…) on the back of the device, helping to free up space on both sides, for a neater experience when used on a small desk or work table, a perfect home laptop computer.
Although not as thin and light as Ultrabooks, with a moderate weight and thickness, the LOQ 15IAX9 is still flexible enough to carry around every day, especially if you prioritize performance and durability over ultra-thinness.
15.6″ FHD 144Hz: Mainstream Display
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 is equipped with a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080) screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, providing a smoother experience when surfing the web or playing FPS games like Valorant, CS2, or Apex Legends.
The 15.6″ laptop screen uses an IPS panel for wide viewing angles and stable colors in many positions. The brightness of 300 nits may be limited when used in bright light, but if you mainly use the laptop in a classroom, library, or cafe, it is still completely satisfactory.
The designers made the screen bezels on both sides relatively thin and designed the camera edge to protrude, making it easier to open the device with one hand. Although the color coverage is quite good at 100% sRGB, it can meet the needs of design and video editing. With what it brings, this 15.6″ display laptop is a massive plus in the price range of $700.
Keyboard: Perfect for Study and Gaming
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 still retains the familiar keyboard style of the LOQ and Legion lines: full-size layout with a complete numeric keypad, clearly separated arrow keys, providing a comfortable feeling for both studying and gaming.
The key travel is deep with a travel of 1.5mm, reasonable feedback force, not too hard or too soft, very suitable for those who often have to type text, do homework, or code for many hours continuously. The keys are large and not close together, so typing mistakes are rare.
The included touchpad has a moderate area, a smooth surface, and good accuracy. Although if you play games, you will use an external mouse, this touchpad is perfect enough for basic daily operations such as navigation, surfing the web, or editing text.
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 review test
How Well Will the RTX 2050 Perform in 2025?
Hearing the name RTX 2050, many people will immediately think of a “pioneering” GPU in the gaming world, but the reality on this Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 review model is different. This laptop is equipped with the Intel Core i5-12450HX processor, a high-performance CPU line typically found in more expensive laptops, and features 24GB of RAM with a 512GB SSD. This Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop is still capable of handling everyday needs, from studying and working to gaming.
CPU Performance via Benchmark
In terms of performance, the Intel Core i5-12450HX processor on the Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 delivers impressive results for its price range of $700. With a multi-core score of 9,045 on Cinebench R23 and more than 9,222 multi-core points on Geekbench 6, this HX Core i5 CPU shows superior power compared to conventional P or H series CPUs in the mainstream segment.
However, since it only comes with an RTX 2050 GPU, the overall performance will be more suitable for advanced learning tasks, office work, light photo/video editing, or eSports gaming. This is a reasonable balance between strong CPU performance and an accessible price.
GPU Performance via Benchmark
In terms of GPU performance, the RTX 2050 performs exceptionally well in its segment. In graphics performance tests, the Lenovo gaming i5 device scored 45,648 GPU points on Geekbench 6, 4,254 points in 3DMark Time Spy, and 1,933 points with Time Spy Extreme.
Other tests, such as Night Raid (32,421 points), Steel Nomad Light (3,943 points), or Speed Way (368 points), reflect mid-range graphics processing capabilities, suitable for playing eSports games at moderate settings or supporting light content creation tasks.
Although not a GPU that delivers overrated performance in 2025, the RTX 2050 is still enough for basic to average learning and entertainment needs.
SSD Performance
With a score of 1,319 in the 3DMark Storage Benchmark test, the 512GB PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD equipped on the Lenovo LOQ delivers stable performance. Although higher-end SSDs on high-end models outperform this result, the SSD still handles data reading and writing tasks well in actual use, ensuring stability and speed sufficient for daily learning, work, and entertainment needs.
Gaming Performance
Valorant
With FPS eSports games like Valorant, the Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 continues to show stable processing capabilities. At the highest graphics settings, the Lenovo i5 gaming laptop maintains an average frame rate of over 170 FPS. In some rare situations, the FPS can drop to around 120, but it does not significantly affect the gaming experience.
Valorant harnesses more power from the CPU than the GPU. The i5-12450HX typically consumes up to 45W, while the RTX 2050 consumes less than 20W. The temperature while playing remains stable around 75°C, showing that the machine’s cooling system is working effectively, maintaining stable performance throughout the game.
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
Switching to the game Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), although still an eSports title, it has been significantly upgraded in terms of graphics, requiring a higher hardware configuration to ensure a smooth experience. During this Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 review with High Setting, the average FPS remained above 140 FPS, providing a feeling of fast and stable response.
The RTX 2050 GPU operates at almost maximum capacity, consuming about 40W of power, but the temperature is still well controlled, only about 67°C. Meanwhile, the i5-12450HX CPU consumes about 45W and maintains an average temperature of 80°C. Overall, the performance and cooling capacity of the machine still ensure stability when handling heavier eSports titles like CS2.
Black Myth: Wukong
With the AAA game Black Myth: Wukong, the Low Setting provides the most stable gameplay experience with an average FPS of around 59 FPS. During gameplay, the gaming netbook maintains stable performance, sometimes reaching 70 FPS in some less detailed scenes.
The RTX 2050 GPU runs at full power, consuming around 40W of power, while the i5-12450HX CPU also consumes around 40W. Even though both components are working hard, the temperature is still well controlled, with the GPU operating at around 62°C, while the CPU averages at 75°C. This is a very cool temperature for a laptop in this price range when handling a heavy game like Black Myth: Wukong.
Efficient Cooling with a Clean Look
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 is equipped with a cooling system consisting of 2 cooling fans combined with 4 copper heat pipes, ensuring effective cooling for both CPU and GPU during continuous operation. Gaming has proven the good cooling performance; the Lenovo LOQ laptop always keeps its temperature below 80 degrees and rarely exceeds this threshold.
Notably, the system pushes all the hot air out the back of the body, creating a more seamless design for the two sides and also avoiding blowing hot air into the user’s hands during use. This is a new design detail, similar to higher-end models such as the Legion 5 2025 or Legion 7 (REVIEW), also from Lenovo.
With this cooling system, even when running at high capacity, the Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop remains cool, produces minimal noise, and does not cause discomfort when used for a long time. This is a big plus for a computer in the segment under $700.
Battery Life
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 comes with a 60Wh battery. In the test with PCMark 10 software in Modern Office mode, the device lasted about 3 hours and 50 minutes of continuous use with everyday office tasks such as typing, surfing the web, and online meetings.
This is not a very outstanding number, but it is enough to meet the basic work or study needs if you need to take the device out without a charger. For a gaming netbook with an HX CPU and a discrete GPU, such battery life is reasonable, especially when the device prioritizes performance over long-term use.
Final Line
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 is one of the rare options priced from $670, featuring a sturdy design, 144Hz screen, and a powerful Intel Core HX processor. Although only equipped with an RTX 2050 GPU, with good optimization from Lenovo and an effective cooling system, the Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop is still enough to meet the needs of studying, office work, and light to medium entertainment, especially eSports games.
With a price starting from $669 on Amazon, the Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 is a highly reasonable choice for students, new entrepreneurs, or business professionals looking for a versatile, durable laptop for business that can accompany them for a long time.
While the Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 offers excellent value, it does have some drawbacks. The battery lasts less than 4 hours, making it difficult to use all day without charging. The RTX 2050 GPU may struggle with the latest AAA games, and the 300-nit display is dim in bright environments. These trade-offs are essential to consider if battery endurance or high-end gaming performance are priorities for you.
