Lenovo Yoga 9i review: Possibly 2022’s best 2-in-1

Lenovo was one of many first firms to essentially nail 2-in-1 design, and ever because it’s been refining the formulation for its top-notch convertibles. And whereas there are a pair small variables I am not absolutely on board with for this 12 months’s version, there is no doubt the brand new 14-inch Yoga 9i is constant Lenovo’s glorious monitor file. You get excellent battery life, intelligent (and surprisingly) highly effective audio system, good efficiency, loads of ports and even an non-compulsory OLED show. Briefly, when you’re searching for a lightweight, long-lasting and really adaptable 360-degree hybrid, this factor belongs on the high of your listing.

Design

Now I’ve to confess, once I first unboxed the Yoga 9i, there was one thing about its design that simply didn’t look proper to me. And after occupied with it for a pair days, I spotted Lenovo’s try and create a luxurious aesthetic does not fairly go far sufficient. A lot of the laptop computer is constructed out of matte aluminum together with its lid, deck and backside, whereas different parts like its keyboard and touchpad have been painted to match. Lenovo calls this explicit coloration oatmeal, which is not particularly flattering, although I need to say the addition of delicate brown tones seems higher in individual than its identify suggests. Nothing actually uncommon to this point.

The problem is that for 2022, Lenovo rounded out the Yoga 9i’s sides to make the laptop computer extra comfy to carry, which is and it feels nice. However then the corporate polished these edges to a mirror-like shine which, when seen subsequent to its satin end, feels very mismatched. Then you definitely add in the truth that the one different little bit of shiny metallic on all the system is its combo hinge/speaker bar, and also you’re left with one thing that does not fairly give off the identical vibes as high-end jewellery, and likewise lacks the attraction of extra minimalist rivals like a Floor or MacBook. After all, magnificence is within the eye of the beholder, so if you assume the 9i seems nice, be happy to disregard me. (That stated, I preserve a lot of Lenovo’s older Yogas trying higher than the brand new one.)

Except for its look, the Yoga provides nice construct high quality with little or no flex throughout its chassis. Different small enhancements embrace a bigger touchpad, some helpful new media and video calling keys on the correct, and a delicate notch across the webcam that makes the lid only a contact simpler to open. I additionally respect the devoted fingerprint reader within the backside proper. My solely remaining nitpick is the texture of the keys. They do not have numerous journey and their gentle actuation weight leaves the entire affair feeling a bit lifeless, which is form of a disgrace. And having used numerous ThinkPads through the years, I do know Lenovo can do higher.

On the intense facet, the 9i features a stylus that options 4,096 ranges of strain sensitivity. It additionally comes with a built-in USB-C for straightforward charging. And whereas there isn’t a spot to stash the pen within the laptop computer like on some earlier Yogas, you’ll be able to throw each the stylus and the laptop computer in Lenovo’s bundled journey sleeve.

Show, sound and webcam

By default, the Yoga 9i ships with a 14-inch 1,920 x 1,080 LCD show with a brand new and barely taller 16:10 side ratio (up from 16:9 on the earlier mannequin). However our $1,500 evaluate unit has a 2,880 x 1,800 OLED display screen that is brilliantly punchy. Not solely does it characteristic VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification, it pumped out simply shy of 400 nits of brightness. So that you get wealthy, vivid colours along with glorious display screen readability, whatever the circumstances. In case you have a bit wiggle room in your price range, this can be a nice part to improve.

As for audio, the Yoga 9i options Lenovo’s signature speaker bar hinge. So along with boasting an progressive design that ensures sound is directed at you in virtually any mode (you realize, as an alternative of away from you or down right into a desk like some laptops love to do), the Yoga pumps out nice audio with a few of the deepest bass I’ve heard from a laptop computer this measurement. Look, you are not going to rattle your neighbor’s china cupboard, however that is one the few occasions I am not going to complain a couple of pocket book missing low-end thump.

In one other small, however very welcome improve, the 9i comes with a brand new 1080p webcam that helps Home windows Howdy. I’ve stated it earlier than and I am going to say it once more: 1,920 x 1,080 ought to be the naked minimal for cameras on trendy laptops. And whereas I admit its picture high quality is usually a bit grainy in low gentle, it is nonetheless loads sharp for all of your video calling wants. And when you look shut, you may discover there’s even a bodily shutter you’ll be able to slide closed when it isn’t in use. That is a pleasant contact for some further peace of thoughts.

Efficiency

The Yoga 9i packs a brand new Twelfth-gen Intel Core i7-1260P CPU, as much as 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, promising loads of velocity for all of your commonplace productiveness wants. Amongst ultraportables with out discrete graphics, it posted top-tier scores in Geekbench 5, PCMark 10, and Cinebench. Nevertheless, its Intel Iris built-in GPU signifies that despite the fact that it posted a stable time of 37 seconds in our 4K video encoding benchmark in Handbrake, you are still gonna need one thing a bit extra substantial when you’re trying to do numerous heavy picture or video enhancing.

My one small criticism concerning the 9i’s efficiency is that once you’re actually pushing it, it’s possible you’ll hear a high-pitched whine from the followers. I solely encountered this whereas gaming, and also you won’t discover all of it that distracting. However even when you do, you’ll be able to change the laptop computer’s mode to decrease the noise, although which will end in some thermal throttling.

Battery life and ports

Transferring on to battery life, even with its above common efficiency, the Yoga 9i nonetheless turned in a superb time on our native video rundown take a look at. It lasted 14 hours and 22 minutes, which is the second longest mark we have seen this 12 months, solely behind the Floor Laptop computer Go 2’s time of 14:43. And in the true world, I had no issues making it by way of a complete work day on a single cost.

On high of that, as a result of the laptop computer helps charging through USB-C, even when you overlook your energy brick at residence, there is a good probability you’ll be able to borrow an adapter from a good friend or colleague in a pinch. Lastly, I need to give credit score to Lenovo for locating room for 4 USB ports (one Sort-A and three Sort-C) together with two with Thunderbolt 4. Quite a lot of laptop computer makers have began equipping techniques with simply two or three ports – even on commonplace clamshells – so it is good to see that the nook slicing hasn’t hit the Yoga line but.

Wrap-up

Not counting my admittedly subjective complaints concerning the Yoga 9i’s design, this factor is an almost ideally suited 2-in-1. It provides good efficiency, nice sound and even higher battery life in a well-built and adaptable chassis. Heck, Lenovo even consists of an lively stylus and a laptop computer sleeve within the field, the latter of which you should utilize to stash the stylus whereas touring. Its show is now 16:10, which supplies you a bit bit of additional display screen area for productiveness, and due to its curvy edges, this factor is noticeably nicer to carry than final 12 months’s mannequin. You even get two totally different choices for biometric login.

The one actual challenge is its considerably shallow and mushy keyboard. However given the remainder of the 9i’s strengths, that is in all probability not a dealbreaker until you are a really discerning typist. And whereas its beginning value of round $1,250 is not low cost, our evaluate mannequin with its OLED display screen prices simply $1,500 which kinda looks like a steal. I also needs to point out that at the very least within the US, the OLED mannequin is a Greatest Purchase unique. Nevertheless, no matter which model you go for, you are getting a top quality product. Contemplating the pedigree of Lenovo’s Yoga line, it is hardly a shock that this 12 months’s 9i fares nicely by nearly each metric. So when you’re searching for a premier all-rounder with nice longevity, there aren’t numerous techniques that do it higher than this.