At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Attractive, skinny design
• Excellent OLED show
• All USB-C ports help show, energy
• Touchscreen with bundled energetic pen

Cons

• Underwhelming graphics efficiency
• Only one USB-A port 
• More costly than 2022 mannequin

Our Verdict

The Lenovo Yoga 9i is a top-tier Windows 2-in-1 that pairs engaging design with competent efficiency and an outstanding OLED show.

Price When Reviewed

$1,700.00

Best Prices Today: Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8

Lenovo’s Yoga 9i, the corporate’s client laptop computer flagship, is generally unchanged for 2023 however receives a couple of notable upgrades together with Intel Core Thirteenth-gen processors and a regular OLED show (which was an choice earlier than). These enhancements hold tempo with the competitors, although additionally they result in the next price ticket.

Looking for extra 2-in-1 choices? Check out our roundup of the best 2-in-1 laptops accessible right this moment.

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Specs and options

The Lenovo Yoga 9i is powered by Intel’s new Core i7-1360P processor accompanied by 16GB of LPDDR5 reminiscence and Intel Iris Xe graphics. This is among the first Intel Core i7-1360P laptops to reach for evaluate, so I’m wanting to see the way it performs.

• CPU: Intel Core i7-1360P
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Iris Xe (96 EUs)
• Display: 2880×1880 OLED 16:10 90Hz
• Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Webcam: 1080 with IR 
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and Power Delivery, 1x USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and Power Delivery, 1x 3.5mm audio 
• Networking: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
• Biometrics: Windows Hello Facial Recognition, Fingerprint Reader
• Battery capability: 75 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 12.52 inches x 9.06 inches x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 3.09 kilos
• MSRP: $1,700

Lenovo additionally improves the bottom show to a 2880×1880 OLED, which was an elective improve on the prior mannequin. A 3840×2400 OLED is offered as an improve. That’s good to see, however making the OLED show customary will increase the bottom MSRP: the earlier mannequin was accessible beginning at simply $1,230.

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Matthew Smith

I had excessive reward for 2022’s Lenovo Yoga 9i, which I known as “the pinnacle of design,” and this extends to the almost an identical 2023 mannequin. Lenovo’s specs recommend the brand new Yoga 9i is barely thinner and smaller than its predecessor, in addition to a tad heavier, however I couldn’t discover a distinction. 

What I did discover is the 2-in-1’s glossy, svelte, and stylish exterior. The Yoga 9i pairs a sexy silver exterior with a chrome end that traces the perimeters of the gadget. This offers a contact of sophistication and luxurious, but doesn’t look gaudy. Lenovo’s design selections are sensible, too, with curved surfaces and edges that show nice to deal with. 

The Yoga 9i is a 2-in-1 with 360-degree hinge, which suggests the laptop computer’s show can fold again till it converts right into a pill. Lenovo opts for a sturdy, clean hinge that extends almost the whole width of the show. It’s simple to maneuver into pill mode and may help the laptop computer in “tent” mode, which makes use of the keyboard as a kickstand. 

The gadget is simply too heavy to make use of as a real iPad various (it’s roughly thrice heavier than the bottom iPad), nevertheless it’s a suitable substitute briefly bursts. It helps that Lenovo bundles an energetic stylus, giving each proprietor entry to Windows’ surprisingly good handwriting recognition. 

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Keyboard, trackpad, pen

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Yoga 9i has a wonderful set of keys with good key journey, taut key motion, and refined however noticeable tactile suggestions as keys attain their activation level. The structure is spacious, too, because the keys span almost the whole width of the keyboard. Lenovo places the additional house to work with an extra row of perform keys, which features a fingerprint reader, on the keyboard’s proper flank.

The touchpad is excellent. It measures about 5 inches vast and three inches deep. That’s enormous for a 14-inch Windows laptop computer and equal to Apple’s MacBook Pro 14. The touchpad’s floor is clean, responsive, and offers loads of room for utilizing Windows’ glorious multi-touch gestures. It’s positively among the many finest touchpads at the moment accessible on a 14-inch laptop computer.

Lenovo bundles the Yoga 9i with an energetic stylus that helps 4,096 ranges of strain sensitivity, tilt detection, and the WGP, AES 2.0, and MPP 2.0 protocols. It additionally has a built-in rechargeable battery. The pen felt nice when writing notes and appeared acceptable for digital artwork and illustration (although my creative abilities are missing). The Yoga 9i doesn’t embrace a spot to retailer the pen, nonetheless, so it could show simple to lose. A substitute will set you again $59.99.

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

The 2023 Yoga 9i upgrades the bottom show choice from a 1920 x 1200 IPS LCD touchscreen to a 2800 x 1800 OLED show. This is the show that arrived in my evaluate unit. Lenovo additionally gives a 3840×2400 OLED for simply $100.

Image high quality is great. The OLED display offers superb distinction, very good luminance uniformity, and vivid coloration throughout a variety of content material. Everyone will get pleasure from its efficiency when streaming reveals, enjoying video games, or watching motion pictures. Content creators will recognize the show’s vast coloration gamut, which spans 99 % of DCI-P3, and exact coloration accuracy. 

Sharpness is nice, too, with a pixel density of 323 pixels per inch. Fine textual content seems crisp and refined with no signal of pixelation. The elective 3840×2400 OLED’s meager price ticket makes it a tempting improve for content material creators who wish to view and edit 4K content material at native decision.

The show has a 16:10 facet ratio, which is a bit taller than a 16:9 widescreen. This offers extra vertical show house and makes multitasking simpler. Snapping paperwork to every fringe of the show offers a usable view of every. Nearly all laptops and 2-in-1s within the Yoga 9i’s value bracket have moved to a 16:10 facet ratio, so this isn’t a bonus over the competitors—nevertheless it stays a perk.

HDR is supported and works fairly properly, however the Yoga 9i’s OLED display maxes out round 410 nits fullscreen. That’s not sufficient to disclose the complete vary of luminance element that HDR can present. It’s a good expertise, although, and I’d typically advocate utilizing HDR when it’s accessible from streaming reveals, motion pictures, and video games (although not on the Windows desktop). The Yoga 9’s brightness can be a difficulty when touring. 410 nits isn’t dangerous, however the OLED show is very reflective and a vibrant mild supply can overpower its luminance. 

Interestingly, the 2880×1800 OLED show has a 90Hz refresh fee, which is faster than most OLED laptops (the elective 3840×2400 OLED is simply 60Hz). This gives a smoother expertise even on the Windows desktop, the place scrolling via net pages and shifting home windows feels a tad extra responsive. It’s a minor distinction, however I discovered it noticeable. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

Lenovo delivers a top-notch audio expertise with a miniature soundbar constructed into the hinge. It packs a pair of two-watt tweets and a pair of three-watt woofers. The result’s loud, voluminous sound with physique and heft usually unavailable from a laptop computer. It’s so loud, in reality, that utilizing it at most quantity can change into a bit odd—you’ll really feel the bass pumping via your palms! It’s simply the perfect audio I’ve ever heard from a 13-inch to 15-inch class laptop computer.

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Yoga 9i has a strong 1080p webcam. Video high quality is sweet with crisp presentation and engaging coloration. Exposure stays a difficulty, as any combined lighting will confuse the digicam, and the picture can nonetheless seem grainy in low mild. Lenovo gives a built-in background blurring utility that may be turned on with a keyboard shortcut. It’s a helpful solution to rapidly blur your background in video calls. 

Lenovo additionally delivers on microphone high quality with an awesome dual-microphone array. It offers loads of quantity and crisp dialogue. Repetitive background noises are properly subdued, as properly, permitting solely the loudest and most irregular noise via. The microphone high quality is nice for a laptop computer and higher than most standalone webcams beneath $100.

Biometric login is offered via each Windows Hello and a fingerprint reader on the correct aspect of the keyboard. Windows Hello is faster and dependable in most conditions, however each biometric login strategies work properly. 

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Connectivity

The Lenovo Yoga 9i goes all-in on forward-thinking connectivity. It has three USB-C ports, all of which help Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode. The two USB-C ports on the left aspect additionally help Thunderbolt 4. These are joined by a single USB-A port and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.

Leaning closely on USB-C has its issues. Those hoping to hook up with older USB-A units, or to an HDMI gadget (like a TV or projector) might want to purchase an adapter or, extra probably, a USB-C hub or dock. 

On the plus aspect, all three USB-C ports can energy the laptop computer, and all three can deal with DisplayPort Alternate Mode. This is the easiest way to strategy USB-C. Users shouldn’t have to fret about whether or not they’re utilizing the proper USB-C port.

Lenovo offers nice wi-fi connectivity with help for Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6E, the newest Wi-Fi customary. Most properties don’t but have a Wi-Fi 6E router, however those who do ought to expertise glorious Wi-Fi efficiency. Wi-Fi 6 efficiency can also be wholesome, with good connectivity and the flexibility to succeed in gigabit speeds when utilized in shut proximity to a router.

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Performance

All present Lenovo Yoga 9i variants include Intel’s Core i7-1360P processor, a 12-core CPU with 4 efficiency cores and eight environment friendly cores. My evaluate unit paired that with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB PCIe Gen4 strong state drive, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. This is a typical setup for a high-end Windows 2-in-1 and it delivered sturdy but unsurprising outcomes. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

PCMark 10, a full-system benchmark that leans closely on CPU efficiency, reported a really sturdy rating of 6194. That’s the perfect rating of all of the laptops included for comparability, although the HP Dragonfly Pro comes relatively shut. This end result reveals the Core i7-1360P is an effective alternative for common use, and that the Yoga 9’s RAM and SSD selections don’t let the laptop computer down.

IDG / Matthew Smith

Next up is Cinebench R15, a closely multithreaded benchmark that scales properly as extra cores are added. The Yoga 9i does properly however doesn’t excel. 

The HP Dragonfly Pro, powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7 7736U, scores a assured win over each the Yoga 9i and Samsung Galaxy Book3, each of that are Intel Core i7-1360P laptops. The Ryzen 7 7736U has fewer cores however doesn’t use much less succesful “efficient” cores.

Asus’ Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED, powered by an Intel Core i7-12700H, accelerates previous the pack. This is to be anticipated, because the Core i7-12700H has two extra “performance” cores (six efficiency and eight environment friendly cores). It additionally attracts extra energy.

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Handbrake video encoding check tells an identical story. The HP Dragonfly Pro and Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED retain a bonus over Yoga 9i, however by a a lot smaller margin. The Yoga 9i’s end result stays sturdy, although, as evidenced by the far slower Microsoft Surface Laptop 5.

IDG / Matthew Smith

3D graphics efficiency is a weak spot. The Yoga 9i scored simply 1,917 in 3DMark Time Spy. That’s about equal to the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360, which additionally has an Intel Core i7-1360P processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics. The HP Dragonfly Pro squeezes out a victory, nonetheless, because of its Radeon 680M built-in graphics. Asus’ Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED with Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti discrete graphics is in one other league totally. 

I additionally tried the Lenovo Yoga 9i in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p decision and Highest element settings. The sport ran at an unplayable 19 frames per second. To be truthful, Highest is a demanding setting, and the sport turns into playable at Medium element. The Yoga 9i additionally scored 4,655 within the Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker benchmark. That signifies playable efficiency (roughly 30 FPS, although this sport varies considerably relying on the scene), however solely at 1080p and medium to low settings. 

The Lenovo Yoga 9i’s total efficiency is typical for a premium Windows 2-in-1 with a 14-inch show. Better efficiency could be discovered from laptops of this dimension, just like the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED, however laptops that thump the Yoga 9i are typically bigger, heavier, and don’t final as lengthy on a cost. 

The HP Dragonfly Pro ought to give Intel purpose to fret, although. This AMD-powered various beat the Yoga 9i in a number of benchmarks, but it’s just like the Yoga 9i in dimension and weight. AMD’s Ryzen 7000 sequence might show a critical risk to Intel’s Thirteenth-gen Core.

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Battery life

The Lenovo Yoga 9i has a 75 watt-hour battery which powered the laptop computer for 10 hours and 39 minutes in our customary battery check, which loops a 4K file of the quick movie Tears of Steel. This is a good end result for a 2-in-1 laptop computer. It can deal with a full day of sunshine to reasonable use (like writing in Microsoft Word or shopping the net).

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Yoga 9i’s battery life is consistent with the options. It’s outperformed by the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360, which has a bigger display, however squeezes out a win in opposition to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5. The Yoga 9i additionally defeats the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED.  

Lenovo Yoga 9i: Should you purchase it?

The Lenovo Yoga 9i maintains its place as a top-tier 2-in-1 laptop computer. It boasts glossy design, glorious OLED show, and top-notch audio. The Yoga 9i additionally offers strong efficiency respectable battery life for its class. 

Available beginning at $1,700, the Yoga 9i is considerably costly however delivers good worth for cash. Lenovo even bundles a laptop computer sleeve and energetic stylus. Anyone on the lookout for a Windows 2-in-1 in 2023 ought to place the newest Yoga 9i on the prime of their listing.