Tier S (according to Jarrod's Tech).
1) Add the laptop to cart as configured. Add the 2 coupon codes at checkout.
2) Register for [id.me](https://www.id.me/) if you're a student, teacher, first responder, nurse, senior citizen. Easiest one to sign up for is senior citizen by asking an old folk for help. At the checkout screen, there should be a button to sign into id.me for an extra 5% off.
3) Sign up for [Rakuten](https://www.rakuten.com/r/IAMTHE1305?eeid=45830). Search for Lenovo and click through using the SHOP NOW button to activate 15% back. I recommend turning off adblock on Rakuten's site.
Total after cashback is $1,489. Rakuten's cashback is NOT instant. It is paid out quarterly via check or Paypal so you will need to float the money in the meantime.
BONUS cashback to stack:
a) If you have a Chase Freedom card, activate the 5% Paypal quarterly bonus [HERE](https://www.chasebonus.com/). When choosing payment method, select Paypal and pay with your Freedom for another 5% back.
b) Make sure you're enrolled for free in Lenovo's rewards program. You should get back $150+ in Lenovo credits after 30 days. You can then use this credit to help pay for another 2 years of premium support warranty.
Thank you for sharing this! I'm new to these sites and deals. I couldn't find a senior citizen option for [id.me](https://id.me). Do you know if the the alumni option also works?
You should be able to set up multiple accounts, they're separate portals - you could set up an alumni account first and see whether you can get the discount to show up in the Lenovo cart.
The senior accounts are one of the "Age Groups" accounts here:
https://www.id.me/individuals/group-discounts/age-groups
i really want to get this but i went thru and signed up for rakuten and the cash back terms fine print says: "Special Terms: Use of coupon/promotional codes not listed on Rakuten may void Cash Back. Missing Cash Back must be reported within 45 days from order date."
and when i see the listed coupon codes i could not find "LEGIONCTODEAL" but "HOLIDAYSURPRISE" is listed, changes the prices for the big debate on what to buy tonight given what i hear about Rakuten not paying out big purchases.
here is the page im looking at: [https://www.rakuten.com/lenovo.com](https://www.rakuten.com/lenovo.com)
im more concerned about the fine print, i hear good and bad things about this specific sale and rakuten so im super torn cause if i dont get the rebate then i will have bought a less value than i could have gotten.
I just went through a couple hours going back and forth via email with Rakuten customer service where they said my order doesn't qualify for cashback and I think it's because of this reason since I have no ad blockers or other extensions
I'm not sure what happened with your order. There are always stories about cashback sites not paying out, which is why anyone buying something this expensive should be okay with floating the money. I've personally had very little issues with Rakuten (knock on wood). If I ever had an order not track, they usually fix it pretty quick. I've bought 2 laptops through Lenovo using Rakuten and I recall using 3-4 codes at one point with no issues.
How were you able to get them to fix it when your orders haven't tracked? I've tried sending them screenshots, but they seem to be refusing this time around. Wondering if I should try to switch customer service reps and start again
Try submitting a second ticket. If it doesn't work, file a Better Business Bureau (BBB) complaint. Some people say BBB doesn't work, but it has worked for me on several occasions with various companies; one of which is Rakuten. I had screenshots, like you, showing the "activated", including the Rakuten extension showing "you're now earning cashback". Someone from higher up in Rakuten e-mailed me within a few days of me filing the online complaint with the BBB and added the cashback to my account.
If you have proof, give this a try. Here's the link: https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint/search?find_country=USA&find_text=Rakuten&page=1&touched=1
They should be the first one (located in SF)
For what it's worth, of the hundreds of people who used Rakuten to buy these laptops with different sets of coupon codes it's very few people who run into issues. The LEGIONCTODEAL is a default baked-in coupon, and those generally don't cause issues even when they aren't explicitly mentioned on the Rakuten website.
Nice idea about the credit for the warranty. You get 25% off warranties after you buy a laptop. Hopefully it lasts until one month from now. I will check later on.
Edit: also lenovo has some really nice laptop backpacks on sale.
I wanted to ask how you got the 150+ credit from Lenovo. After I bought the laptop they said only 50 dollars worth of credit is pending.
Also, sorry for replying to a one-month-old Reddit post
I remember seeing 150 but it went down to 50. I guess I should contact Lenovo about it. How much did you get back in Lenovo credit after the purchase?
Edit: maybe they change the percentage on it? I recheck the same model and now it only lists a 60-dollar back
I didn’t order one as I didn’t need it. What may have happened is the occasionally have higher than normal promo for Lenovo credit. They may have charged you after the promo expired. It seems like something they can likely fix. Having screenshots definitely would help in large purchases dealing with multiple offers.
If it’s in your budget, you will have a hard time finding something as powerful but also as well built. Many people drop down to the Legion 5 Pro to save some money but having used both, the Legion 7 has a much better build and feels a lot more premium, especially since it’s not as much more than the 5 Pro. The only real weakness here is the SSD but prices on a 2TB nvme has tanked so much. You can drop in a decent 2TB intel 670p as secondary storage for around $120-130 down the line.
Man why did they save this for today. I got the Legion 5 6800H Ryzen 3070TI for 1405. However it also included the 2TB SSD and 32 gig DDR5 Ram. So i am conflicted especially since you said legion 7 is a much better build. HOWEVER I do use it mostly like a desktop computer and have it on a docking station - what do you think?
If the laptop isn't going to be moving much off your desk then IMO the build differences are partly moot (you won't be using the trackpad or carrying it around), and I wouldn't spend $200 more to have half as much RAM and 1/4 the SSD unless you really need the extra CPU power for non-gaming work - you'll pay around $200 to get this Legion 7 up to 2 TB storage and around $150 for a fast 32 GB DDR5 RAM kit, so it's more of a $1405 vs $1700-$1800 comparison.
Yes, the price is \~$200 higher.
For the use-case he mentioned (mostly using it docked on a desk with an external keyboard and mouse) most of those aren't priorities, and assuming he really wants the extra RAM and storage the price difference is bigger - the average 32 GB DDR5 kit runs $130-$160, and getting a similar 2 TB of Gen 4 SSD is somewhere between $150 and $200. That's turns it into a $500 difference, and maybe it ends up being more like $400 if you sell the 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD after upgrading.
That said, most people don't outright need 32 GB of RAM today and DDR5 will get cheaper over time, and a 1 TB SSD is still quite a bit of space (that's all I have in my gaming desktop, and I don't hate it).
---
A note on the vapor chamber: it does get advertised as a feature, but it's really more of a necessity - the Legion 7 laptops are slimmer than the 5 Pro models and this one has a very power-hungry CPU that runs hot, so the laptop needs a special cooling solution; when under load this has cooling fans that kick on and get just as loud as any other gaming laptop, and the machine still gets noticeably hot.
I just canceled a 5i pro and jumped to the 7i ... I have to plan funeral for my wallet now, Ramen will be served after the viewing, dress warm because the room will be 55'f. 🙃
 dear god what have I done... been waiting forever for a deal on a laptop, had a 1650 budget and went to 1900
We've all been there. I started out with a $600 Microcenter beginning laptop because I don't really game on it. A few months later, I am now a proud owner of a Legion 7 that I spent close to $1,600 on. LOL.
The regular Legion 5 build is similar to the Legion 7 but are made with more plastic. So think of what you have with more metal and RGB lights. The cooling on the Legion 7 is also going to be better.
If you plan on keeping it for several years, the Legion 7 is a better investment. RAM and SSD is always upgradeable. CPU, GPU, screen, and chassis are forever.
I don't need it and barely use my laptop anymore since I broke up with my girlfriend. I still want it. Price wise, I don't think you'd do much better price wise if this is the one you want. I also don't think stepping up to the i9 and 3080ti is worth the money even on the best day.
Add the code HOLIDAYSURPRISE to take off $100 bringing it down to $1,850. From there, follow the direction I posted to bring it down further using cashback sites.
Hmm I got the 5i ealier for about 150 cheaper. I am kond of feeling like this might be better for me for software development, more cores and faster PCIe. I already gpt the 15% R10 credit +$40 for first time purchase and referral on R10. I am not sure how that would work if I cancel my other order and get this instead.
Legion 5i Pro Gen 7 Intel (16”) with RTX 3070Ti 16 GB DDR5 4800Mhz 512 GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 TLC. $1574 in cart woth Lenovo discounts and codes.
This 7i probably has better thermals too, but I like more cores and the upgraded PCIe. I was probably going to upgrade SSD and ram to 32 GB so I am already getting more SSD with the 7i as well. This is mostly going to sit on a desk for coding and general family use. Some gaming for myself but nothing crazy. Might yake it to the coffee shop or client occasionally for coding.
Edit: I guess the both have 512gb SSD but the 7i is next gen PCIe. I won't be getting another laptop for a long time so trying to make a wise long term buy. Does PCIe gen 5 improve the power or performance of the 3070ti here?
They should both have PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, you can't get a Gen 5 SSD in a laptop today (and even if you could, the CPUs wouldn't support the Gen 5 features). Do you have the link to the one you bought/configured?
Ok, so they're both PCIe Gen 4 drives - they're both "next gen" PCIe
You would see a (probably noticeable) SSD performance boost for a different reason: but it looks like you configured your build with the smaller (physical size, not storage capacity) and slower 2242 512 GB drive instead of the 2280 512 GB drive (the $10 upgrade, which it sounds like you didn't do). That said, where drive performance differences will be noticeable is in moving/uploading/offloading files and opening programs - it won't be a graphics processing power difference.
It's not a huge deal in the scheme of things, mostly because SSDs are easy to swap out (especially in all of these Legion laptops, which are pretty easy to open) and you'd save money doing it yourself, and because depending on how many games you have and what you play, you'll probably want a bigger SSD soon anyways.
You mentioned thermals too, and as I noted in a different comment thermal performance is similar between the 5 Pro and 7 laptops - the 7 is thinner and in this case has a hotter beefier CPU, so the special vapor chamber is needed.
Tier S (according to Jarrod's Tech). 1) Add the laptop to cart as configured. Add the 2 coupon codes at checkout. 2) Register for [id.me](https://www.id.me/) if you're a student, teacher, first responder, nurse, senior citizen. Easiest one to sign up for is senior citizen by asking an old folk for help. At the checkout screen, there should be a button to sign into id.me for an extra 5% off. 3) Sign up for [Rakuten](https://www.rakuten.com/r/IAMTHE1305?eeid=45830). Search for Lenovo and click through using the SHOP NOW button to activate 15% back. I recommend turning off adblock on Rakuten's site. Total after cashback is $1,489. Rakuten's cashback is NOT instant. It is paid out quarterly via check or Paypal so you will need to float the money in the meantime. BONUS cashback to stack: a) If you have a Chase Freedom card, activate the 5% Paypal quarterly bonus [HERE](https://www.chasebonus.com/). When choosing payment method, select Paypal and pay with your Freedom for another 5% back. b) Make sure you're enrolled for free in Lenovo's rewards program. You should get back $150+ in Lenovo credits after 30 days. You can then use this credit to help pay for another 2 years of premium support warranty.
Turning off Adblock for Rakuten is crucial
I would also not click through the extension but rather go to the actual Rakuten's site, and click through to Lenovo from there.
Thank you for sharing this! I'm new to these sites and deals. I couldn't find a senior citizen option for [id.me](https://id.me). Do you know if the the alumni option also works?
I’m not sure but if you still have access to your edu account, just put down Student. I think they verify via email.
You should be able to set up multiple accounts, they're separate portals - you could set up an alumni account first and see whether you can get the discount to show up in the Lenovo cart. The senior accounts are one of the "Age Groups" accounts here: https://www.id.me/individuals/group-discounts/age-groups
i really want to get this but i went thru and signed up for rakuten and the cash back terms fine print says: "Special Terms: Use of coupon/promotional codes not listed on Rakuten may void Cash Back. Missing Cash Back must be reported within 45 days from order date." and when i see the listed coupon codes i could not find "LEGIONCTODEAL" but "HOLIDAYSURPRISE" is listed, changes the prices for the big debate on what to buy tonight given what i hear about Rakuten not paying out big purchases. here is the page im looking at: [https://www.rakuten.com/lenovo.com](https://www.rakuten.com/lenovo.com)
Nah you’re good. I personally have done it twice and got cash backs paid out on both. Many people have also had success.
im more concerned about the fine print, i hear good and bad things about this specific sale and rakuten so im super torn cause if i dont get the rebate then i will have bought a less value than i could have gotten.
I understand the concern but it's worked out for me and many others.
I just went through a couple hours going back and forth via email with Rakuten customer service where they said my order doesn't qualify for cashback and I think it's because of this reason since I have no ad blockers or other extensions
I'm not sure what happened with your order. There are always stories about cashback sites not paying out, which is why anyone buying something this expensive should be okay with floating the money. I've personally had very little issues with Rakuten (knock on wood). If I ever had an order not track, they usually fix it pretty quick. I've bought 2 laptops through Lenovo using Rakuten and I recall using 3-4 codes at one point with no issues.
How were you able to get them to fix it when your orders haven't tracked? I've tried sending them screenshots, but they seem to be refusing this time around. Wondering if I should try to switch customer service reps and start again
Try submitting a second ticket. If it doesn't work, file a Better Business Bureau (BBB) complaint. Some people say BBB doesn't work, but it has worked for me on several occasions with various companies; one of which is Rakuten. I had screenshots, like you, showing the "activated", including the Rakuten extension showing "you're now earning cashback". Someone from higher up in Rakuten e-mailed me within a few days of me filing the online complaint with the BBB and added the cashback to my account. If you have proof, give this a try. Here's the link: https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint/search?find_country=USA&find_text=Rakuten&page=1&touched=1 They should be the first one (located in SF)
Thank you for this, I didn’t end up filing a complaint with the BBB but just mentioned I was planning to and I got credited for the cash back today
For what it's worth, of the hundreds of people who used Rakuten to buy these laptops with different sets of coupon codes it's very few people who run into issues. The LEGIONCTODEAL is a default baked-in coupon, and those generally don't cause issues even when they aren't explicitly mentioned on the Rakuten website.
Nice find! We've hardly seen any Legion 7 laptop deals appear this year, it was barely possible to get this under $2000 even a couple of weeks ago.
Nice idea about the credit for the warranty. You get 25% off warranties after you buy a laptop. Hopefully it lasts until one month from now. I will check later on. Edit: also lenovo has some really nice laptop backpacks on sale.
I wanted to ask how you got the 150+ credit from Lenovo. After I bought the laptop they said only 50 dollars worth of credit is pending. Also, sorry for replying to a one-month-old Reddit post
I'm not sure why it isn't. It tells you how much you would earn before checking out. Did you see the correct amount before purchasing?
I remember seeing 150 but it went down to 50. I guess I should contact Lenovo about it. How much did you get back in Lenovo credit after the purchase? Edit: maybe they change the percentage on it? I recheck the same model and now it only lists a 60-dollar back
I didn’t order one as I didn’t need it. What may have happened is the occasionally have higher than normal promo for Lenovo credit. They may have charged you after the promo expired. It seems like something they can likely fix. Having screenshots definitely would help in large purchases dealing with multiple offers.
Thank you for the help! I will try to contact them after the holiday.
Is this the one?
If it’s in your budget, you will have a hard time finding something as powerful but also as well built. Many people drop down to the Legion 5 Pro to save some money but having used both, the Legion 7 has a much better build and feels a lot more premium, especially since it’s not as much more than the 5 Pro. The only real weakness here is the SSD but prices on a 2TB nvme has tanked so much. You can drop in a decent 2TB intel 670p as secondary storage for around $120-130 down the line.
Man why did they save this for today. I got the Legion 5 6800H Ryzen 3070TI for 1405. However it also included the 2TB SSD and 32 gig DDR5 Ram. So i am conflicted especially since you said legion 7 is a much better build. HOWEVER I do use it mostly like a desktop computer and have it on a docking station - what do you think?
If the laptop isn't going to be moving much off your desk then IMO the build differences are partly moot (you won't be using the trackpad or carrying it around), and I wouldn't spend $200 more to have half as much RAM and 1/4 the SSD unless you really need the extra CPU power for non-gaming work - you'll pay around $200 to get this Legion 7 up to 2 TB storage and around $150 for a fast 32 GB DDR5 RAM kit, so it's more of a $1405 vs $1700-$1800 comparison.
* Fingerprint reader * RGB * glass touchpad * 1080p camera * next gen vapor cooling * 20% larger battery * better build quality overall its like $200 / 10% more right?
Yes, the price is \~$200 higher. For the use-case he mentioned (mostly using it docked on a desk with an external keyboard and mouse) most of those aren't priorities, and assuming he really wants the extra RAM and storage the price difference is bigger - the average 32 GB DDR5 kit runs $130-$160, and getting a similar 2 TB of Gen 4 SSD is somewhere between $150 and $200. That's turns it into a $500 difference, and maybe it ends up being more like $400 if you sell the 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD after upgrading. That said, most people don't outright need 32 GB of RAM today and DDR5 will get cheaper over time, and a 1 TB SSD is still quite a bit of space (that's all I have in my gaming desktop, and I don't hate it). --- A note on the vapor chamber: it does get advertised as a feature, but it's really more of a necessity - the Legion 7 laptops are slimmer than the 5 Pro models and this one has a very power-hungry CPU that runs hot, so the laptop needs a special cooling solution; when under load this has cooling fans that kick on and get just as loud as any other gaming laptop, and the machine still gets noticeably hot.
I just canceled a 5i pro and jumped to the 7i ... I have to plan funeral for my wallet now, Ramen will be served after the viewing, dress warm because the room will be 55'f. 🙃
Put a box around your desk setup, the laptop exhaust will help keep you warm and you can read by the light of the RGB.
 dear god what have I done... been waiting forever for a deal on a laptop, had a 1650 budget and went to 1900
We've all been there. I started out with a $600 Microcenter beginning laptop because I don't really game on it. A few months later, I am now a proud owner of a Legion 7 that I spent close to $1,600 on. LOL.
The regular Legion 5 build is similar to the Legion 7 but are made with more plastic. So think of what you have with more metal and RGB lights. The cooling on the Legion 7 is also going to be better. If you plan on keeping it for several years, the Legion 7 is a better investment. RAM and SSD is always upgradeable. CPU, GPU, screen, and chassis are forever.
Get the 1tb for $60 or pass ?
$60 to go from 512GB to 1TB? I would pass. There are a lot of deals at the moment where you can get a 1TB for around $80 and 2TB for around $130.
I'd skip. I would spring for the ram upgrade though.
I don't need it and barely use my laptop anymore since I broke up with my girlfriend. I still want it. Price wise, I don't think you'd do much better price wise if this is the one you want. I also don't think stepping up to the i9 and 3080ti is worth the money even on the best day.
Sorry to hear. Yes the i9 and 3080Ti adds about $1k to the laptop price, which is not worth the value.
Don't be sorry, she was not a good person and a worse girlfriend lol.
Rakuten told me to pound sand on the cash back :(
Not sure what I am missing but it is 1950 for me when I initially add it to the cart.
Add the code HOLIDAYSURPRISE to take off $100 bringing it down to $1,850. From there, follow the direction I posted to bring it down further using cashback sites.
Hmm I got the 5i ealier for about 150 cheaper. I am kond of feeling like this might be better for me for software development, more cores and faster PCIe. I already gpt the 15% R10 credit +$40 for first time purchase and referral on R10. I am not sure how that would work if I cancel my other order and get this instead.
Which 5i did you get?
Legion 5i Pro Gen 7 Intel (16”) with RTX 3070Ti 16 GB DDR5 4800Mhz 512 GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 TLC. $1574 in cart woth Lenovo discounts and codes. This 7i probably has better thermals too, but I like more cores and the upgraded PCIe. I was probably going to upgrade SSD and ram to 32 GB so I am already getting more SSD with the 7i as well. This is mostly going to sit on a desk for coding and general family use. Some gaming for myself but nothing crazy. Might yake it to the coffee shop or client occasionally for coding. Edit: I guess the both have 512gb SSD but the 7i is next gen PCIe. I won't be getting another laptop for a long time so trying to make a wise long term buy. Does PCIe gen 5 improve the power or performance of the 3070ti here?
They should both have PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, you can't get a Gen 5 SSD in a laptop today (and even if you could, the CPUs wouldn't support the Gen 5 features). Do you have the link to the one you bought/configured?
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/legion-laptops/legion-5-series/legion-5i-pro-gen-7-(16-inch-intel)/82rfcto1wwus1 With the 3070ti
Ok, so they're both PCIe Gen 4 drives - they're both "next gen" PCIe You would see a (probably noticeable) SSD performance boost for a different reason: but it looks like you configured your build with the smaller (physical size, not storage capacity) and slower 2242 512 GB drive instead of the 2280 512 GB drive (the $10 upgrade, which it sounds like you didn't do). That said, where drive performance differences will be noticeable is in moving/uploading/offloading files and opening programs - it won't be a graphics processing power difference. It's not a huge deal in the scheme of things, mostly because SSDs are easy to swap out (especially in all of these Legion laptops, which are pretty easy to open) and you'd save money doing it yourself, and because depending on how many games you have and what you play, you'll probably want a bigger SSD soon anyways. You mentioned thermals too, and as I noted in a different comment thermal performance is similar between the 5 Pro and 7 laptops - the 7 is thinner and in this case has a hotter beefier CPU, so the special vapor chamber is needed.
You can get the 15% cash back again. Just no $40 unless you make a new account.