RTX 20-series graphics invade Lenovo's gaming laptops at CES 2019

Lenovo showcased several new and refreshed devices targeting gamers during the CES 2019 show in Las Vegas. The lineup includes two updated laptops, two new monitors, four updated desktops, two headsets, and several peripherals. This list doesn’t include all the other mainstream devices displayed during the show, which we threw into a separate post.

Laptops

Legion Y740

Lenovo refreshed its Legion Y700 series for 2019 with Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 20 Series discrete graphics for laptops. While the Intel Core processors appear unchanged, you’ll now see models shipping with up to 32GB of system memory clocked at 2,666MHz, whereas the previous Y730 shipped with a maximum 16GB. Other options include configurations with Corsair memory overclocked to 3,200MHz, a Dolby Vision HDR 400 screen with a 500-nit brightness, and a Full HD screen with G-Sync technology running at 144Hz.

Lenovo’s refreshed Legion Y740 packs a Corsair iCUE backlit keyboard and system lighting supporting over 16 million colors, though you won’t see loads of visual bling. Lenovo also improved the battery’s performance, promising up to six hours on a single charge. Other notable changes include an improved cooling system, an improved display hinge, and narrow three-sided bezels measuring a mere 0.26 inches in thickness.

The Y740’s port complement consists of one Thunderbolt 3 connector, three USB Type-A ports (10Gbps), one Mini DisplayPort connector, HDMI output, gigabit Ethernet, and an audio jack. Storage consists of up to 512GB on a PCIe-based SSD, up to 512GB on a SATA-based SSD, or up to 2TB on a hard drive.

Lenovo will offer the Legion Y740 in two variants. The 15.6-inch version will measure 0.78 inches thick, weigh 4.8 pounds, and rely on a 57WHr battery. It will have a starting price of $1,749.99 in February.

The 17.3-inch version will measure 0.86 inches thick, weigh 6.3 pounds, and rely on a 76WHr battery. It will have a starting price of $1,979.99 also in February.

Legion Y540

Similar to the Y740 update, Lenovo refreshed this 15.6-inch gaming laptop with NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 20 Series graphics for notebooks. Lenovo also improved the battery for a duration of up to six hours, improved the cooling system to handle the new GPUs, and improved the display hinge. This revision increases the maximum out-of-the-box system memory from 16GB to 32GB as well.

This laptop is based on an IPS screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution at 60Hz or 144Hz. For storage you’ll see up to 256GB on a PCIe-based SSD, up to 512GB on a SATA-based SSD, or up to 2TB on a hard drive. This model supports Intel’s Optane memory as well, which helps speed up systems that rely on hard drives.

The laptop features three USB Type-A (5Gbps), one USB Type-C (5Gbps), one HDMI output, one mini DisplayPort, gigabit Ethernet, and an audio jack. Other features include Wireless AC and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and white backlighting illuminating the keyboard.

The Y540 will measure around 0.95 inches thick and weigh at least five pounds, depending on the configuration, when it ships in May with a starting price of $929.99.

Desktops

Lenovo didn’t provide any information about its desktop refreshes save for upgrading to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 2060 graphics cards. Desktops receiving the upgrade include the Legion T730 and T530 towers and the C730 and C530 cubes. Lenovo will reveal pricing and availability at a later date.

Displays

Legion Y44w

Want an insane monitor for gaming? Look no further than Lenovo’s Legion Y44w. It measures 43.4 inches diagonally with an 1800R curvature, packing a 32:10 aspect ratio, a four-millisecond response time, and a super-wide 3,840 x 1,200 resolution at 144Hz. It even supports AMD’s FreeSync 2 technology, which synchronizes Radeon-branded GPU framerates with the monitor’s refresh rate. That means you won’t see visual tearing or stuttering on PCs with AMD graphics.

Lenovo’s display includes a detachable Harman Kardon speaker mounted at the base, two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort connector, one USB Type-C port at 5Gbps, one USB Type-C port at 10Gbps, an audio jack, and a USB hub with four Type-A ports (5Gbps). It’s a DisplayHDR 400-certified device, meaning it’s compliant with VESA’s specifications for high-quality HDR.

As for other specs, this display is based on a WVA panel supporting 178-degree viewing angles, 99 percent of the sRGB, BT.709, and DCI-P3 color spaces, and a maximum brightness of 450 nits. It will be available in April for a hefty $1,119.99.

Legion Y27gq

If you need something smaller and more affordable, this display measures only 27 inches in diameter. The big selling point is the display’s 2,560 x 1,440 resolution paired with a high 240Hz refresh rate. It even includes NVIDIA’s third-generation G-Sync technology, which synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output of a GeForce-branded GPU.

As for other features, it’s based on a TN panel providing a high brightness level and an unusually fast 0.5ms response time. It also includes a detachable Harman Kardon speaker at its base along with one HDMI port and a DisplayPort connector. The Y27gq is a TÜV Eye certified device due to its low blue light level and flicker-free viewing.

The Legion Y27gq arrives in April for $999.99.

Stay tuned for more CES coverage and let us know what you think of the announcements!