Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I – A familiar face
I first saw the Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 last January of this year. Grant also wrote about it during his recent Bangkok trip. This device really piqued my interest because of how unique it was configured by Lenovo.
It packs the latest Intel Arc A530M despite having an older processor – a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450HX processor. The combination is unique and fitting as Lenovo always brings a good blend of power, efficiency, and affordability to their Lenovo LOQ devices.
The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that packs the right amount of punch with its impressive features. Here are the top five features that make this laptop stand out:
Intel Arc A530M Graphics
The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I is one of the few laptops in the market that comes equipped with Intel’s latest Arc A530M graphics card. With 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM, this GPU offers a significant performance boost over integrated graphics, making it a great choice for casual gaming and content creation.
With the amount it asks, the LOQ 15IAX9I has the necessary specifications that leverage the advantages of the new Arc Graphics A530M over the RTX 3050.
While it may not match the raw power of high-end GPUs, the Arc A530M is capable of running many modern games at respectable frame rates, especially when combined with Intel’s XeSS upscaling technology. This feature uses AI to intelligently upscale games, resulting in higher frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.
144Hz FHD Display
The LOQ 15IAX9I features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. This high refresh rate ensures a buttery-smooth gaming experience, eliminating screen tearing and providing a more responsive feel during fast-paced action sequences.
The display also boasts 100% sRGB color coverage, making it an excellent choice for content creators who require accurate color representation for tasks like photo and video editing.
Powerful 12th Gen Intel Core i5 Processor
Powering the LOQ 15IAX9I is a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450HX processor, which combines four Performance cores and four Efficient cores for a balanced blend of performance and efficiency. With a maximum boost clock speed of 4.4GHz, this processor can handle demanding tasks with ease, whether you’re gaming, video editing, or multitasking.
Some of you are probably wondering – why would Lenovo pick a slightly dated chipset for this model? Apart from the fact it still works flawlessly out of the box, the LOQ 15IAX9I is upgradeable up to 32GB RAM, and works well with the Intel Arc A530M, it is an ingenious way of managing the cost. This allows Lenovo to bring premium overall performance by Intel to more consumers in the Philippines.
Versatile Connectivity and Ports
The LOQ 15IAX9I is well-equipped with a variety of ports and connectivity options, ensuring seamless integration with your peripherals and accessories. It features three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery support, an HDMI 2.1 port, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Additionally, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1, allowing for fast and reliable wireless connectivity.
AI-Powered Features
One of the standout features of the LOQ 15IAX9I is its AI-powered capabilities. The laptop comes equipped with Lenovo’s LA1 AI chip, which enables a range of intelligent features and optimizations.
Whether you’re going to use the LOQ 155IAX9I for productivity or play, I had a fair share of satisfaction from using it for editing videos using CapCut, compressing videos using Handbrake, and even using AI applications for text and image AI generation.
The AI chip can dynamically adjust settings such as power allocation, fan curves, and performance profiles, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency based on your usage scenario.
Additionally, the LOQ 15IAX9I supports AI-powered features like voice recognition, facial recognition, and even AI-generated content creation, opening up a world of possibilities for creative professionals and content creators.
Bonus: Gaming Capabilities
Yes, it kinda looks like my Lenovo Legion Pro 5i laptop and there is somewhat a reason for that: it is a gaming laptop too! I was able to play my favorite games on this laptop like Oddsparks and Bellwright. Some older Triple A titles also play well here like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Hitman 3. Of course, most, if not all, of these games play better when Xess Performance Mode is enabled. I highly recommend doing this to further improve the performance of games at the very minimal cost of graphics fidelity.
The LOQ 15IAX9I definitely passes as an entry level gaming laptop. Its combination of the Intel Arc A530M GPU and 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor makes it a capable gaming machine for casual and entry-level gaming. With the right settings and expectations, you can enjoy a decent gaming experience on this budget-friendly laptop.
The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I is a well-rounded and feature-packed laptop that offers excellent value for its price point of PhP48,995. Whether you’re a student, content creator, or casual gamer, this laptop has something to offer for everyone.
With its powerful hardware, versatile connectivity, and AI-powered features, the LOQ 15IAX9I is a compelling choice for those seeking a budget-friendly yet capable laptop.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
