Lenovo Yoga Book 9i review

Lenovo has a historical past of experimental dual-screen laptops.

The present vary consists of the ThinkPad X1 Fold‘s versatile, folding OLED show and ThinkBook Plus Twist‘s has an additional e-ink display screen on the display screen. Wanting additional again, 2009’s ThinkPad W700ds had a slide-out second show.

The Yoga E book 9i builds on these concepts to ship a flexible, practical 2-in-1 that packs most show actual property right into a 13.3in chassis. It’s a captivating gadget, albeit not one many individuals can purchase proper now. Right here’s our full overview.

Design & construct

• Distinctive dual-screen design
• Very versatile
• Premium construct

The Yoga E book 9i’s exterior appears to be like similar to common Yoga Slim 9i (simply Yoga 9i in North America) when unfolded, with the one exception being an attention-grabbing blue possibility. It’s a refreshing change from the standard black, gray or silver.

A mix of brushed aluminium and chrome edging make for a really premium feel and appear. The curvature of the gadget offers the gadget an uncommon aesthetic, but in addition makes it extra comfy to carry.

As quickly as you open the Yoga E book 9i, although, issues get a bit bizarre. Twin shows imply each the highest and backside halves of the gadget are screens. Each help contact and have a shiny end, making it an actual magnet for fingerprint smudges and different filth.

Whereas troublesome to get used to at first, this design affords some actual perks when used as a 2-in-1.

Firstly, there’s loads of flexibility by way of the way in which the gadget is used and held. The Yoga E book 9i’s backside half can fold 360° to be used as an ordinary pill, or be held like a e-book with each shows in use without delay.

Different choices embody is ‘tent’ mode, the place the underside half turns into a kickstand, or laying it flat on a desk to turn into a big touchscreen canvas. After all, it may be used as an everyday clamshell laptop computer when you’d desire.

After which there’s Lenovo’s occasion trick: the Yoga E book 9i’s stand. In any other case used as a canopy for the removable keyboard and the stylus, it may well fold right into a form that props each shows up in an open place. You then place the keyboard beneath each screens, supplying you with a complete display screen space that’s bigger than a traditional 16in laptop computer.

It is a genuinely helpful possibility for travellers, who typically have many apps open without delay however don’t need the additional measurement and weight of an even bigger laptop computer. Simply be warned: the kickstand solely works on a secure, flat floor corresponding to a desk or desk.

The Yoga E book 9i’s design is definitely uncommon, however it doesn’t really feel like a gimmick. Packing two touchscreens right into a 13in laptop computer makes it a compact but practical 2-in-1.

It’s very best for engaged on paperwork, doing analysis or modifying spreadsheets. The massive shows and included stylus will enchantment to digital artists, whereas it makes for an outstanding digital pocket book.

Keyboard, trackpad & ports

• Irritating Bluetooth keyboard
• Annoying digital touchpad
• Solely USB-C ports

After all, the part above misses out a key a part of the Yoga E book 9i’s design: the keyboard and touchpad. In change for the engaging and versatile dual-screen design, each are considerably compromised.

The bundled wi-fi keyboard connects to the gadget through Bluetooth. When used as a laptop computer, the keyboard is positioned able just under the principle show. But it surely can be used on a desk, connected magnetically to the kickstand or shifted to the underside half of the decrease display screen.

Whereas the flexibleness is good, however the typing expertise as an everyday laptop computer is awkward. The keyboard is raised noticeably above the palm relaxation floor, which means your wrists are merely left to dangle with out help.

IDG / Matthew Smith

Whereas the keyboard is uncomfortable at occasions, the touchpad is downright annoying. There’s no bodily touchpad of any description, with a digital model showing beneath the keyboard when in laptop computer mode.

But it surely’s troublesome to know in case your fingertip is throughout the touchpad floor with out wanting, as there’s no tactile suggestions. Typically, the cursor additionally ended up hidden beneath the keyboard or fully unresponsive.

Nonetheless, at different occasions there have been loads of unintentional presses. That included the right-click possibility, which was onerous to regulate and regularly opened issues I didn’t ask it to.

These issues are maybe an inevitable consequence of the Yoga E book 9i’s design, however necessary to notice nonetheless. For those who plan on utilizing it primarily as an everyday clamshell laptop computer, and solely sometimes as a dual-screen pill or with pen enter, you’ll be disenchanted by the keyboard and touchpad.

Ports are additionally very restricted, with simply three USB-C connections. All help Thunderbolt 4 and you should utilize any of them for charging, however the lack of USB-A or devoted video output means you’ll most probably want an adapter or hub.

The distinctive design may also restrict entry to the USB-C ports at occasions. Within the vertical dual-display mode, the place the screens are side-by-side in portrait orientation, you’ll be able to’t entry no less than certainly one of them.

Show & audio

• Twin 13.3in OLED shows
• Nice for every type of content material
• Excellent audio system

The Yoga E book 9i’s twin shows are mirror photographs of each other. Each are 13.3in, 2880×1800 OLED panels, and appears wonderful in all conditions.

Choosing OLED means distinction is excellent, with deep inky blacks and nice shadows. Colors are additionally very correct, with good protection of all the standard gamuts. Lenovo has gone for a vivid, hyper-saturated look right here, which ought to be to most individuals’s liking.

IDG / Matthew Smith

With round 255 pixels per inch (ppi), sharpness can be wonderful. That’s greater than Apple’s 2023 MacBook Professional, and means you’re getting near a 4K panel throughout each shows. With over 10.3 million pixels in whole, it’s really round 2 million greater than your common 4K display screen.

In keeping with my measurements, the Yoga E book 9i really barely exceeded its promise of 400 nits of max brightness – that’s greater than sufficient for a house workplace.

Nonetheless, the shiny end of each shows means there’s loads of glare in shiny lighting circumstances – together with exterior. The shows are additionally a top-tier fingerprint magnet, to allow them to get very soiled after solely a day or so of use. If travelling, be sure to pack a microfibre fabric.

Audio high quality is an surprising spotlight. The Yoga E book 9i has a strong Bowers & Wilkins sound system constructed into the show hinge. It offers loud, clear audio which is impressively balanced and affords a shocking quantity of bass.

Given the sound on many laptops is comparatively tinny, the depth and readability of the audio you get right here is refreshing. In consequence, the Yoga E book 9i is effectively fitted to music, motion pictures, and video games. It may possibly simply fill a house workplace with sound. 

Webcam, microphones & biometrics

• Spectacular 1440p webcam
• Respectable microphones
• Face unlock works effectively

Lenovo affords one other shock win with the webcam. When utilizing as a clamshell laptop computer, it’s situated above the highest show in its conventional place.

The 5Mp sensor is able to recording video at as much as 1440p decision and 30 fps. Even with out a lot lighting, video appears to be like very sharp. Webcam colors are correct and effectively saturated, making the Yoga E book 9i a terrific possibility for video calls.

An array of noise-cancelling microphones ship audio that’s clear and crisp, however fairly tinny. In consequence, I wouldn’t advocate it for recording podcasts or making movies. However when you simply want to leap on a video name, it’s completely superb.

There’s one biometric possibility, with the webcam and separate IR sensor enabling Home windows Hey facial recognition. This offers a fast, hands-free strategy to entry the gadget.

The Yoga E book 9i additionally helps zero contact login and locking, which use the digicam to detect when you find yourself current on the laptop. When on, these options mechanically wake the gadget if you sit down in entrance of it and mechanically lock it if you step away. They’re genuinely helpful, and largely correct, however will be turned off when you’d desire. 

Specs & efficiency

• Intel Core i7-1355U and 16GB RAM
• No discrete GPU
• Respectable on a regular basis efficiency, however restricted elsewhere

The Yoga E book 9i isn’t a very giant gadget, one thing that has penalties for its efficiency.

It’s powered by Intel’s Core i7-1355U processor, which affords a complete of 10 cores and most turbo increase of 5GHz. That may sound good, however solely two of these cores are centered on efficiency, with the remainder primarily about effectivity.

Lenovo has additionally opted for Intel Iris Xe built-in graphics, slightly than a discrete GPU of any variety. 16GB of DDR5x RAM and a 512GB SSD are spectacular, however efficiency specs aren’t essentially the most high-end.

IDG / Matthew Smith

PCMark 10 (above) paints a disappointing image of the Yoga E book 9i’s efficiency. Its mixed rating is decrease than many current laptops, together with the Floor Laptop computer 5, regardless of Microsoft’s gadget utilizing the older Intel Core i7-1255U processor. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

The modest efficiency continues in Cinebench R15 (above), the place the Yoga E book 9i’s multi-core rating is decrease than many rivals.

IDG / Matthew Smith

Handbrake (above) is extra encouraging, however the gadget nonetheless lags behind many laptops of an identical measurement. Clearly, the Yoga E book 9i is tuned to focus extra on portability than efficiency.

IDG / Matthew Smith

3DMark Time Spy (above), a graphics check, additionally delivers disappointing outcomes. The Yoga E book 9i as soon as once more finds itself behind the competitors, together with laptops that additionally use Intel Iris Xe graphics.

You’ll be able to improve efficiency barely by enabling the ‘Excessive Efficiency’ mode. The Cinebench R15 rating rises from 1,211 to 1,439, whereas 3DMark Time Spy improves from 1,681 to 1,289.

Nonetheless, total efficiency stays mediocre, and also you get the additional fan noise and better exterior temperatures.

The Yoga E book 9i feels snappy in day-to-day use, however benchmarks make its limits clear. It’s not a tool for high-resolution content material creation, streaming, gaming or different demanding duties.

That shouldn’t come as a giant shock given the scale of the Yoga E book 9i, however lacklustre efficiency undoubtedly reduces its total worth. Most similarly-priced Home windows machines provide higher efficiency.

With solely USB-C ports on the gadget, Lenovo clearly needs you to embrace wi-fi equipment. With each Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1, that shouldn’t be a difficulty. Wi-Fi connectivity was dependable in my time with the gadget, and I had no points with Bluetooth connectivity.

Battery life

• 80Wh capability
• Respectable battery life

The Yoga E book 9i’s dual-screen design put a pressure on the battery, which has to energy twice as many pixels as typical.

To assist with this, Lenovo has included a sizeable 80Wh cell. You’ll be able to anticipate acceptable battery life, however nothing excellent.

I recorded 10 hours and 23 minutes of runtime in our customary 4K video playback check, with the outcomes proven in minutes beneath. That is akin to laptops and 2-in-1s of comparable measurement and worth: the Lenovo Slim 7 Professional lasted over an hour extra, however the HP Dragonfly Professional lags by a half-hour. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

Any of the three USB-C ports can be utilized for charging, making it suitable with a variety of chargers. Something 65W and above will make sure you’re not ready too lengthy.

Third-party GaN chargers that ship no less than 65 watts will cost the laptop computer with out situation.

Worth & availability

As you may think, the Yoga E book 9i doesn’t come low cost.

It begins at $2,000/£2,200 for an Intel Core i7-1355U processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. However for a 1TB, you’ll pay no less than $2,100/£2,290.

The gadget is out there from Lenovo or Finest Purchase within the US and Lenovo or Currys within the UK.

That makes it some of the costly 2-in-1 gadgets you should buy. Most individuals will probably be higher off with the Microsoft Floor Professional 9, Samsung Galaxy E book 3 Professional 360 or iPad Professional 12.9in, however none can match the vary of performance the Yoga E book 9i affords.

Verdict

The Yoga E book 9i is a profitable experiment in dual-screen PC design that raises the bar for Lenovo’s rivals.

Its slim profile, 360° hinge and engaging OLED screens are well-suited for each contact enter and use with the included stylus. This versatility is a key power, particularly when mixed with a terrific webcam, strong microphones and spectacular audio system.

Nonetheless, the wi-fi keyboard and reliance on a digital keyboard make the Yoga E book 9i irritating to make use of as an everyday laptop computer. Its excessive price ticket virtually means most individuals will probably be higher off with one thing extra custom.

However when you’re a frequent flier who’d like the flexibleness of an additional monitor, or just take pleasure in utilizing a stylus, the Yoga E book 9i may very well be the correct of bizarre for you.

Specs

• CPU: Intel Core i7-1355U
• Reminiscence: 16GB LPDDR5
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Iris Xe
• Show: 2x 13.3-inch 2,880 x 1,800 OLED touchscreens
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Webcam: 1440p 
• Connectivity:  3x Thunderbolt 4/USB-C
• Networking: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
• Biometrics: IR Digicam for Home windows Hey facial recognition 
• Battery capability: 80Wh
• Dimensions:11.84 x 8 x .63 inches
• Weight: 3.51 kilos (1.59kg)