Lenovo Legion Y545 Review: Practical Gaming on a Budget

Editor note: This English review is an original adaptation of the source material published by Notebook-Center.ru.

Overview

The Lenovo Legion Y545 is a 15.6-inch gaming notebook built for buyers who want capable hardware without moving too far into premium pricing. In the tested configuration, it combines a six-core Intel Core i7-9750H processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, 16 GB of DDR4 memory, and a dual-drive setup with both SSD and HDD storage. That makes it a practical choice for mainstream gaming, everyday work, and media use, though it still carries the usual trade-offs of a budget-conscious gaming machine.

Technical Specifications

Design and Build

Lenovo gives the Legion Y545 a black chassis with an aluminum lid and plastic base panels. The surfaces are matte, which helps reduce visible fingerprints, though dust is still easy to spot. The design stands out without becoming too flashy, and the illuminated Y logo on the lid adds some gaming character. Build quality is generally decent, but not perfect: the lid and keyboard area feel stable, while the lower part of the chassis can produce light creaks when handled. At 361 x 268 x 27 mm and 2.3 kg, it is reasonable for a gaming laptop, but still heavy for users who plan to carry it every day.

Display, Audio, and Webcam

The 15.6-inch IPS display uses a matte Full HD panel, so the screen is suitable for gaming and daily work and avoids strong reflections. According to the source review, brightness is comfortable indoors and still usable near a window, while color reproduction looks natural and saturated. Viewing angles are wide, as expected from IPS. The tested version uses a 60 Hz panel, although higher-end versions can offer 144 Hz. Audio is another positive point: the stereo speakers support Harman tuning and Dolby Atmos, delivering sound that is loud and clear enough for games and films. The weak point here is the 720p webcam, which sits below the display and produces an awkward angle along with a grainy, dull image.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The full-size island keyboard is slightly recessed into the deck and includes a numeric keypad, full-size arrow keys, and white backlighting with two brightness levels. The 1.7 mm key travel and clear feedback should appeal to both typists and players who spend long sessions at the laptop. The touchpad is medium-sized, offset to the left, and supports multitouch gestures. It is described as smooth and responsive, and Lenovo Vantage can disable the touchpad and Windows key before gaming to prevent accidental input.

Performance and Gaming

This configuration uses the Intel Core i7-9750H, a six-core Coffee Lake processor with 12 threads and a 2.6 GHz base clock that can boost up to 4.5 GHz. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 handles routine tasks, while the GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB of GDDR5 takes care of games. Combined with 16 GB of DDR4-2400 memory, a 256 GB SSD, and a 1 TB hard drive, the hardware gives the Y545 a balanced setup for work and entertainment. The source review also reports playable results in demanding titles such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Need for Speed Heat, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Far Cry New Dawn, which supports the laptop's position as a competent mid-range gaming system rather than a top-tier one.

Ports, Battery, and Heat

The port layout is practical for a gaming notebook. Users get three USB 3.1 ports, USB Type-C, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, RJ-45, and a combined audio jack, with several connectors moved to the rear edge for cleaner cable management. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0. The main omissions are a card reader and Thunderbolt. Battery capacity is 57 Wh, and the source review estimates around five hours for streaming video or web browsing, while gaming reduces runtime to roughly one and a half to two hours. Cooling performance appears effective overall, but the center of the keyboard can become noticeably warm under load, even if the WASD zone and palm rest stay more comfortable.

Verdict

The Lenovo Legion Y545 makes sense for buyers who want a gaming laptop with a strong processor, usable GTX 1650 graphics, plenty of memory, and flexible storage without paying for a higher-end class. Its strengths are the balanced hardware, the matte IPS display, the comfortable keyboard, and a good port selection. The compromises are also clear: the webcam position is poor, there is no card reader, the chassis is not fully premium, and the keyboard area can heat up during heavy use. For practical mid-range gaming, however, it covers the essentials well.