The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7 (starting at $1,449, $1,929 as tested) takes one of the best 2-in-1 laptops to the next level. New features include a powerful 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, a higher resolution camera and a bigger touchpad. Though it doesn’t have the same battery life as its predecessor, the 2-in-1 retains the same stylish design and unique rotating soundbar that impressed us before. The new OLED makes the entire package all the more enticing.
This is an overall solid laptop that’s ideal for work and play. It’s light enough to comfortably carry wherever you go and its 2-in-1 functionality makes it double as a competent, if somewhat cumbersome, tablet.
In this Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7 review, I’ll go over the key features and updates. More importantly, I’ll compare it to last year’s model and some of the competition to see how it stacks up.
Price and configuration
- $1,449 starting price
- $1,929 for top-end model
The Lenovo Yoga 9i retails for $1,449 but currently has a starting price of $1,229 on Lenovo’s website. This model features a 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, Intel Iris Xe GPU, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and comes with Windows 11 Home. The laptop also comes with three free months of Xbox Game Pass.
Our review unit configuration features a Core i7-1260p CPU, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and Windows 11 Pro. It came with a Lenovo 14-inch sleeve and the Lenovo E-Color pen. This configuration sells for $1,929.
Design
- Slim profile
- Rotating soundbar
- Looks great in any environment
The Yoga 9i has a slim aluminum unibody chassis, measuring 12.52 x 9.06 x 0.6 inches and weighing 3.09 pounds. Discreet Yoga and Lenovo logos adorn the lid and blend nicely with the overall design. Ports are located on either side of the device while the heat vents are situated on the underside.
The laptop’s interior is every bit as elegant as its exterior. Large palm rests lie just underneath the spacious backlit keyboard. Thin bezels flank the screen’s left and right, while the thicker top bezel houses the laptop’s webcam. You’ll find the rotating soundbar resting on the hinge below the screen.
The basic clamshell design isn’t attention-grabbing but it’s certainly stylish. The Yoga 9i meshes well with almost any environment, whether it’s your living room or office desk. The 2-in-1 also looks great in tent mode, which is what you’ll likely use when watching videos or movies.
Display
- Vibrant OLED display
- Vivid colors
- 16:10 aspect ratio
The 14-inch touchscreen OLED display is perfect for watching videos in either laptop or tent mode. Thanks to the 16:10 aspect ratio, you’ll have extra vertical space when scrolling through web pages or viewing documents.
Content like the Thor: Love and Thunder teaser trailer looks stunning thanks to the OLED screen. I was particularly impressed by the contrast between light and dark elements, such as the bright orange alien sunset and the deep shadows it created. The moody Moon Knight also looks fantastic.
Lenovo says the 2-in-1 is capable of reaching 400 nits of peak brightness. Our Tom’s Guide brightness test revealed an average brightness of 351 nits. Though that falls a bit short of the claim, it surpasses its predecessor’s 334 nits and topples the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360’s 264 nits. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio’s average of 487 nits outshines them all.
Per our colorimeter test, the Yoga 9i produced 197.9% of the sRGB color gamut (the closer to 100%, the better). This not only trounces last year’s model (107.3%), but also bests the Galaxy Book Pro 360 (120.2%) and Surface Laptop Studio (105.6%).
4K displays are all the rage now and I’m sure some will be upset that the Yoga 9i doesn’t reach that lofty resolution. But in my estimation, Full HD displays are perfectly fine for 14-inch laptops. Furthermore, the gorgeous OLED display more than makes up for the standard HD pixel count.
Audio
- Loud speakers
- Dynamic sound
- Great for movies and music
Laptop audio isn’t always the greatest but the Yoga 9i’s Bowers and Wilkins speaker system produces quality sound via its two speakers located within the screen hinge and two subwoofers on the sides. Dolby Atmos software does its share to boost the overall experience. Because of the rotating soundbar design, the 2-in-1 produces fantastic sound whether it’s in laptop or tent mode.
Ports
- Only four available ports
The Yoga 9i keeps things minimal when it comes to ports. You’ll find a power button, a USB-C port, and a headphone/mic combo jack on the device’s right side. A USB-A port and two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports are on the left.
Ports are placed as far back on the sides as possible. That means you won’t have to worry about cables getting in the way while you’re working. You could say this laptop doesn’t have enough ports, but considering how you can pair optional devices like keyboards and mice via Bluetooth, I don’t think this is an issue.
Read More: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/lenovo-yoga-9i-gen-7-review