ZDNET Highlights
- Lenovo’s Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is on sale for $630
- Its solid performance, comfortable keyboard, and long-lasting battery make it an excellent machine for the office.
- Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of the display.
More Buying Choices
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Lenovo’s new Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 It’s not meant to dazzle you with flashy features or a flashy display. Instead, it focuses on what matters most for a work computer: delivering reliable performance with the flexibility provided by a 2-in-1 design.
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I’ve been testing the Yoga 7i for the past few weeks and it reminded me a lot of the Dell 14 Plus, a laptop that recently won ZDNET’s Editors’ Choice award. There are many similarities between the two, although Lenovo’s machine has a few features that give it an edge over its contemporary. And I would argue that these differences make the Yoga 7i better for some people.
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top level productivity
The similarities start with its performance. Inside the Lenovo laptop is an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, 16GB of RAM, and an integrated Intel Arc graphics card. I ran my usual set of benchmark apps to see how the Yoga 7i fares in certain situations. Below is a list comparing the devices to the aforementioned Dell 14 Plus and the Lenovo Yoga 9 2-in-1 Aura Edition – Lenovo laptops from the same family.
|
geekbench 6 |
pcmark 10 |
cinebench 2024 |
|
|
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 |
8,918 |
7,453 |
547 |
|
dell 14 plus |
10,812 |
7,271 |
554 |
|
Lenovo Yoga 9 2-in-1 Aura Edition |
7,743 |
6,562 |
394 |
Looking at the numbers, you’ll see that the Yoga 7i’s performance isn’t too far off from the Dell 14 Plus, even beating it in PCMark 10. This program tests the computer’s ability to handle jumping between apps, browser windows, and social media pages, among other things.
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These numbers were reflected in my 50-tab tests. Lenovo’s laptop was previously able to handle multiple 4K live streams, GIFs, and Amazon listings. When I reached 35 open tabs the device slowed down significantly and hardware performance also dropped significantly. I should also mention that Lenovo’s model came close to beating the Dell machine in Geekbench AI, which tests how well a computer can support LLMs (large learning models).
It earned the highest score of 27,858, while other devices reached a peak of 27,912. What’s interesting about these numbers is that my Dell 14 Plus review unit has better hardware, with an Intel Core Ultra 258V and 32GB of RAM. Despite the difference in hardware, both these laptops perform at the same level.
It’s possible that the larger size enables more thermal headroom, as my review unit didn’t overheat during testing. Nonetheless, I thought the Geekbench AI results were worth highlighting. Battery life was also pretty solid. It lasted about 17 hours on a single charge under Best Power Efficiency mode before tapering out.
pure comfort
True to its name, the Lenovo Yoga 7i features a 16-inch, 2K touchscreen. The size provides users with a larger workspace and view for multimedia content. However, its output is slightly less. Apart from 45% NTSC Dolby Vision, it lacks robust visual enhancement software, and brightness is stuck at a maximum level of 300 nits.
On the plus side, the screen supports TÜV Low Blue Light, which reduces the amount of harmful blue light emitted.
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Traveling with the device can be difficult. The Yoga 7i is quite thick, weighing in at 4.23 pounds. However, it’s only 0.69 inches thick, so it fits comfortably inside most bags. Lenovo has also given rounded edges to its machine, which makes it more comfortable to carry.
Plus, it is quite durable, as it is primarily made of aluminum. The metal allows the laptop to handle the rigors of the road.
Design-wise, I like what Lenovo did with the keyboard. It was designed with speed and comfort in mind. The keys have a travel distance of 1.5 mm, which helps in faster typing as well as reduces hand fatigue. I typed for a few hours and didn’t feel any strain on my fingers.
Each keycap is concave, meaning it guides your fingers towards the middle for maximum comfort. Plus, each is protected by an “anti-oil and abrasion-resistant silk touch coating,” keeping the keyboard pristine for years to come. I can say with confidence that the Yoga 7i has one of the best laptop keyboards I’ve tested this year.
Notable Features
Other design features I liked include the larger trackpad, as it makes multitasking across multiple apps easier. As for sound, four Dolby Atmos speakers are strategically placed at the top and bottom to deliver immersive audio output.
Above the display is a Full HD infrared camera, which makes video calls crisp and clear due to its high resolution. But color output is a different story; Objects on the screen appear desaturated. The pink sweater I wore while testing the webcam lost a lot of brightness. It’s not the highest quality camera, but it gets the job done.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
my version of Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Can be purchased from Best Buy for $1,200. If you want to save money, Lenovo has a lower-priced model on sale $630 on its official websiteI would recommend either of these configurations to anyone looking for a large-screen laptop, If you want something small, dell 14 plus Way to go.
