Lenovo Yoga 7i Review

The Lenovo Yoga 7i received a top to bottom update in 2022. All of these changes significantly improve the user experience. The 3-pound, metal body is lighter and easier to carry. The 16:10 screen has a higher resolution and a 100% sRGB gamut. This makes it easier to stream video and more useful for basic content creation. Thunderbolt 4 is supported by the two USB-C ports. There’s also an HDMI available.

Either the fingerprint reader or facial recognition can be used to sign in. Your video chats will be more detailed thanks to the 1080p webcam. The webcam performs well for its class, and the battery life was very good. We tested it for close to 13 hours. The speakers also sound great.

The Yoga 9i is a higher-end model with fun features such as a rotating soundbar hinge or an OLED display option. It also has faster processors from the Intel P-series. The Yoga 7i is smarter and more affordable for those who require a reliable laptop for schoolwork or office work, particularly if they are concerned about battery life.

This year’s pricing and availability of laptops has been a bit unpredictable. Although things are starting to settle down, you should still be vigilant about prices. Lenovo regularly puts laptops on sale. Wait a few weeks if possible to check again. The blue 14-inch Yoga 7i configuration that I tested costs $1,200 at Best Buy. It’s also available on Lenovo’s website for $865 in Silver and offers twice the storage — 1TB, compared to the original 512GB. The price is very reasonable at $1,200, but it’s a great deal at $865. To get the best configuration, make sure you check the specifications and pricing on Lenovo’s website. Prices start at $1100.

If you have the budget, I recommend 16GB. The memory is soldered to the mainboard, and there is no way to add more. For basic productivity and entertainment, the Yoga 7i can handle 8GB. However, 16GB is recommended if you need more. You can increase storage later by purchasing a larger solid state drive. It’s better not to compromise on storage than you are on memory.

The configuration we tested performed better than a similar configured and priced Dell Inspiron 14, 2-in-1, and a pricier HP Spectre x360 13 two-in-one. The Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 7 was able to stream video at 50% brightness and audio through earbuds at 50%. It took 12 hours, 45 minutes.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 7’s rest is simply excellent. Although the body is a little dated, it looks great. The curved edges make typing and carrying easier than with previous Yoga models and even rivals like the Dell Inspiron14 2-in-1. The 2.2K resolution display is a compromise: It’s a better option than 1080p, but without the larger price tag and 4K battery drain. Although the screen supports pen input, one is not included in the package.

You’ll enjoy the higher resolution webcam (1080p), the microphones, and the full-sounding four speakers if you spend more time in video conference calls. There’s also a microphone mute and a physical shutter that will block the webcam if you don’t wish to be heard or seen by it. To speed up signing in, an IR camera is available for facial recognition, and a fingerprint reader is located below the keyboard to the right.

Ports are well-selected, with two Thunderbolt 4 USB C ports, a microSD slot and an HDMI on the left and a headset adapter and USB-A port to the right. I wish that laptop manufacturers would make it easier to separate USB-C ports so there is at least one for each side. It makes it easier to connect adapters and docks. While it’s not an issue, it can be annoying.

Apple’s MacBook Air is our top choice for a laptop that is both powerful and affordable. When it comes to convertibles, the Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 7 wins a similar vote. It’s an excellent choice, from its design to its features to the performance and battery life, to its performance. It’s also a great value if it costs less than $1,200.