Generally you get a laptop computer that exceeds your expectations in shocking methods. The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (simply Yoga 9i from right here on out) does precisely that. Have a look at it and also you may suppose it’s simply one other 2-in-1 laptop computer folds round to pill mode. However this laptop computer has a celebration trick that I completely love.

That isn’t to say the Yoga 9i is ideal, in fact. What you’ve, as is the case with each laptop computer, is a bundle of compromises. A tool that asks: What’s most necessary to you? If it’s gaming, you surrender battery life. If it’s productiveness, you surrender enjoyable. And if it’s smooth portability, just like the Yoga 9i, you surrender ports and spacious keyboard.

Additional studying: Finest laptops 2024: Premium, finances, gaming, 2-in-1s, and extra

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Specs

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

When you’re going to spend $1,500 on a laptop computer, you undoubtedly wish to get one thing good on your cash, and total the Yoga does ship that. An Intel Core Extremely 7 155H processor powers this man, which by now could be a well-recognized entry on this period of the laptop computer world. In contrast to the Lenovo Yoga Professional 9i, a suspiciously equally named laptop computer, this really is a 2-in-1, which suggests you may fold the show all the way in which again.

The truth that you get a decently high-resolution OLED show with a quick refresh charge is a lift to the 2-in-1 function. A pill mode is fairly pointless with a subpar display screen in any case. At this value you’ll get 16 GB of RAM, however if you wish to spend extra you may bump that as much as 32 GB and max the show decision out at 3840×2400. You do get a few bonuses as effectively, a slim pen that fees over USB-C and a sleeve. The pen will magnetically connect (however not cost) to the lid, and the sleeve features a pen loop. The pen does the job, however with out inside storage, I’m sure I’d lose it briefly order.

Specs as examined:

• CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 155H
• Reminiscence: 16GB LPDDR5-7467
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc built-in graphics
• Show: 2880×1800 OLED Contact 120 hz
• Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 2242 M.2 SSD
• Webcam: 2.5K IR webcam
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 PD 3.0 DP 1.4, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1 Lenovo Slim Pen
• Networking: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: Fingerprint reader, IR Webcam
• Battery capability: 75 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 12.44x 8.66 x 0.64 inches
• Weight: 2.91 kilos
• MSRP: $1,449

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Construct high quality and appears

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Lenovo ThinkPads have a (deserved) repute for a bland enterprise look. The Yoga line, nonetheless, tends to be a bit extra enjoyable with out taking too many dangers. And that’s the case right here.

You’ll discover some acquainted particulars like the identical webcam jut-out discovered on virtually all of Lenovo’s laptops. And a few attention-grabbing tidbits like that speaker grill hidden within the hinge. However that grill is the very first signal that this can be a laptop computer for extra play than work and it shines. I just like the Cosmic Blue colorway, however you may go together with a extra conventional Luna Gray if that’s your jam. The blue is far darker than photographs may counsel, however it shimmers a bit as you lean left and proper with a metallic sheen that provides only a contact of whimsey.

I admire that there are not any creaks or squeaks as I exploit the system, the whole lot feels very sturdily put collectively. That’s generally not the case with 2-in-1 laptops that function a 360 hinge, however even that’s fairly sturdy. As I kind, the show barely bounces (if in any respect), and after I do fold the factor to tent or desk mode, it feels pure with simply the correct amount of resistance.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Keyboard, trackpad, and pen

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

The keyboard, nonetheless, leaves a bit to be desired. Particularly, extra room. Lenovo locations a column of buttons on the correct edge to offer you theoretically useful little options, like a fast sound profile, a favourite app button, a solution to shortly change between audio profiles, and a fingerprint reader However meaning the whole lot else shifts to the left and shrinks to make room for the additional buttons. Likewise the cursors are scrunched and squeezed collectively.

Key journey is okay all issues thought of, however typing remains to be a little bit of a ache. I’ve to carry my thumbs simply so to keep away from bumping them collectively, which isn’t nice for long run ergonomics. And equally the arrow keys, notably up and down, are small and thus more durable to make use of.

The trackpad itself is okay, and maybe due to the considerably awkward place I maintain my palms in to make use of the keyboard, I didn’t discover myself unintentionally brushing it. Since this can be a Yoga collection laptop computer, you received’t discover the Pink dot within the keyboard or additional buttons on the high of the trackpad, or any devoted buttons in any respect actually. The corners do click on although, and in a satisfying method.

This Yoga additionally comes with a Lenovo Slim Pen, which might be useful for those who choose handwriting in pill mode or wish to draw sometimes. It has 4,096 ranges of stress sensitivity, which is sweet sufficient to do some sketching. I’m no artist, however I did discover myself wishing for a bit extra management after I tried the pen out in drawing apps. The pen fees over USB-C, which is mildly inconvenient and appears to empty whether or not or not you’re utilizing it.

You received’t discover a storage slot within the laptop computer both, as a substitute it’s going to magnetically “clip” to the laptop computer lid. That’s higher than nothing, however not essentially the most safe choice. I can see myself shedding the pen shortly.

It’s in all probability value mentioning the Yoga additionally comes with a sleeve. It’s wonderful for a sleeve. I do admire that it has a pen loop, in order that’ll assist with stylus storage. However whereas I don’t thoughts included equipment, I’m undecided I’d personally rely upon a sleeve to guard my laptop computer.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Audio system and show

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Normally about now I’d supply the same old recommendation that typically laptop computer audio system are horrible, and it’s virtually unhealthy that they’re included. However the Yoga… the Yoga is so completely different. These audio system are, dare I say it, good! Like excellent! The Yoga not solely will get impressively loud, but in addition sounds good at these louder ranges.

Someway there’s bass and treble, and songs sound like what you’d anticipate to listen to. I didn’t really feel the necessity to get away headphones for as soon as, and even films had some surprising punch. The Yoga is primarily meant as a media system and thank goodness it has the speaker system that stands as much as that promise. It’s in all probability as a result of Lenovo primarily buried a sound bar within the hinge, which you may argue detracts from the clear look, however I say is value it for sound like this.

This Yoga additionally contains an OLED show and it seems to be nice. Blacks are inky and darkish, which makes films look all the higher contemplating it looks like darkish scenes are the norm today. The show will get decently shiny too, although not as shiny as different non-OLED shows. With its 120hz refresh charge, it’s a clean show that might make it ok for gaming if this system had a devoted graphics card. Alas it doesn’t, however you may at all times do some informal gaming because of modern-day built-in graphics.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Webcam, microphone, biometric choices

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Alongside the highest fringe of the show you’ll discover the Yoga’s webcam, with an built-in privateness shutter. I like that it’s a {hardware} shutter with a shiny purple shade to that cowl so you understand for certain the webcam is blocked. As for the webcam itself, it’s nothing particular. The angle from this digicam is especially “up the nostril” much more so than different laptops I’ve labored with currently.

The colours are washed out, and the element is simply ok to be satisfactory. Basically, it’ll serve its goal for a Zoom name, however it received’t make you look that flattering alongside the way in which. It’s an IR digicam although, so it really works with Home windows Howdy to log you into your profile.

The microphone, additionally, isn’t one of the best or the worst. It will get the job achieved and nothing extra. When you’re in video calls day-after-day, you might wish to get an exterior microphone that do a greater job of noise cancelling and reproducing the total high quality of your voice. However this isn’t actually a piece productiveness system, and customarily microphones work higher with headphones on, in order that’s one thing to bear in mind. When you’re sometimes in video calls, the {hardware} will do the job total. Simply perhaps elevate the laptop computer as much as eye degree for a extra flattering look.

As I discussed above, you may log in along with your face utilizing the digicam, however for those who’d somewhat use a fingerprint reader that’s an choice as effectively. It really works effectively sufficient, though in my expertise my face unlock is a bit sooner. Extra choices is normally higher, although I don’t love that the devoted additional button row to the facet, which incorporates the finger print reader. This results in a squashed keyboard format. The upshot to that alternative is the fingerprint reader is a pleasant sized button.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Ports and connectivity

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

The Yoga’s port state of affairs is a little bit of an odd duck. On the one hand, there’s the USB-C ports which make me comfortable. You have got three of them, two Thunderbolt 4 ports and one 3.2 Gen 2 PD 3.0 DP 1.4 port. Even higher, they’re not all on the identical facet. The USB-C ports double as energy, so it’s a pet peeve of mine after they’re all on left facet of the laptop computer. Right here you’ve selections once you determine to plug in your laptop computer and that’s nice.

The singular USB-A port can be good too, contemplating it’s a quick 10Gbps port, however it’s very oddly positioned. It’s as near the hinge as you will get. Every thing technically works there, however it feels and appears odd. Once I go to blindly insert a flash drive, I by no means fairly get to the correct spot and find yourself having to look.

I’m certain with time I’d get use to it. I’d in all probability default to a unique USB-A port, however that merely isn’t an choice. You solely get the one. And also you received’t discover any HDMI, SD Card, or Ethernet ports both, so I hope you don’t want these. I do know I’ve talked about this can be a media PC and so I’ve given passes right here and there, however it’s more durable right here to miss on this case. Simply bear in mind entering into that if you wish to use an exterior monitor, you’ll need one thing that works with Thunderbolt ports.

You do get Wi-Fi 6E, which isn’t bleeding edge, however is futureproof sufficient for extra houses. When you don’t have a Wi-Fi 6E router, you’ll need one to get essentially the most out of this laptop computer and trendy smartphones. Bluetooth 5.3 is as new because it will get, which is a pleasant bonus for those who determine to go together with wi-fi headphones.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Efficiency

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9i packs an Intel Core Extremely 7 155H processor. We’re fairly acquainted with this processor by now, however that doesn’t robotically imply we are able to assure good efficiency out of each machine. Cooling makes a significant distinction, and we’ve seen some laptops from Lenovo throttle early. You possibly can normally anticipate fairly nice battery life out from the most recent Core Extremely 7 laptops, however we’ll must make a particular word regarding this mannequin.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

The Yoga 9i begins off sturdy in our total PCMark check, coming in second solely to the ThinkPad Carbon, which isn’t too stunning. PCMark offers us a normal thought of total efficiency and the outcomes would counsel a powerful displaying. Actual life utilization matches as much as that as effectively. Whereas I by no means tried to recreation with it, in my on a regular basis utilization it by no means slowed down or struggled to maintain up.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

The Yoga places one other sturdy displaying in our Cinebench 23 check, really topping the checklist this time. Cinebench 23 is a closely multithreaded check that runs fairly shortly, and that may generally give a bonus to CPUs with extra cores a bonus. We’re working Cinebench 24 on new laptops as effectively, however don’t have sufficient outcomes but for good comparisons. Total, this can be a sturdy end result and sure as a result of Lenovo is tuning this system for its meant goal: enjoying media.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Lastly, with the Handbrake check, we begin to see the boundaries of this Yoga and its give attention to content material consumption versus productiveness. The Handbrake checks consists of encoding a big file over an extended time frame, which taxes the system. The Yoga drops all the way in which to the underside of the checklist in our comparability chart, and once more that’s no shock. You don’t purchase a 2-in-1 like this hoping to create films. You purchase it to look at films.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

To get a good suggestion of graphical capabilities, we run Time Spy and right here once more the Yoga shines. In opposition to the opposite built-in graphics laptops on this checklist, it shoots straight to the highest. Bear in mind although that even with trendy built-in graphics, you may’t anticipate an excessive amount of out of those techniques. Some mild Photoshop is definitely attainable and perhaps even primary film modifying, however making an attempt to play a triple-A recreation on max settings or creating a sophisticated Adobe Premier venture can be a lesson in frustration. It’s in some ways spectacular how far built-in graphics have come, however they nonetheless don’t maintain a candle to devoted GPUs.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Battery life

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

A word of transparency earlier than we get into the total battery life outcomes for our Yoga. The primary assessment unit I obtained had severe points in testing. We loop a regionally saved copy of Tears of Steal at half brightness till the laptop computer dies. We’ll do that two to a few instances to doublecheck consistency and that’s the place the primary mannequin they despatched me fell down.

I’d get so long as 18 hours of playback or as little as two and the whole lot between. After a bunch of troubleshooting, Lenovo despatched me a brand new one below the shared assumption that I had a faulty unit.

The assessment unit I’m testing now doesn’t exhibit any of the identical points, however I point out this as a result of I did see one unit with odd outcomes. The Yoga in my palms now offered dependable constant checks. At a mean of 803 minutes, the Yoga is center of the street at finest for out slate of laptops with an identical processor. That might be right down to the OLED contact show, the 75 watt battery, or simply inefficient cooling. I’d blame the loopy audio system, however for my very own sanity after so many checks, I had headphones plugged in throughout these loops.

However put aside comparisons for a second and it’s sort of an odd world we reside in how the place 13 hours of playback is taken into account center of the street. And that’s assuming you play a video continuous for 13 hours. You’ll undoubtedly get by way of the common aircraft flight within the US and even some worldwide journeys. In day-after-day use, I simply made it by way of a complete work day with loads of juice to spare. Standby time was equally longer than I’d realistically want. Might it’s higher? Sure, clearly. Is it unhealthy? Probably not.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: Conclusion

Anytime you purchase a laptop computer or any gadget actually, it’s best to begin with a easy query: What do I would like this for? As a result of not each laptop computer is for a similar goal. If you wish to play video games, you want one thing heavy, loud, and with the strongest GPU you may afford. If you need a productiveness machine, you may in all probability skip the touchscreen and 2-in-1 type issue. However laptops don’t must be for gaming or work, generally they’re the factor we use to unwind and revel in a great film.

That’s the Yoga 9i in a nutshell. Are you in search of one thing to function a music participant, a film watcher, and an web browser that’s extra highly effective than an iPad however nonetheless able to getting used like a pill? You then’ve discovered your laptop computer. For the audio system alone, I’ve to offer this specific 2-in-1 the thumbs up for media consumption. Everybody in my dwelling was shocked the primary time we fired up music. The Yoga 9i isn’t good by any means, particularly that lack of ports and odd USB-A placement. However for its meant goal, it’s an excellent entry and worthy of your consideration.