Lenovo Yoga Book i9 Review

Since its launch, the Lenovo Yoga Book i9 has sparked the creativeness and want of numerous PC customers. It was the primary true OLED dual-screen laptop computer, which rivals have since copied. The laptop computer has a removable Bluetooth keyboard, a stylus pen, and a mouse. It additionally features a folio stand.

We have speculated about this laptop computer’s potential, however after utilizing it for some time, we are able to lastly draw real-world conclusions and share our findings and opinions. Are the twin screens value it? Find out now.

Specs Highlights

• thirteenth Generation Intel Core i7-1355U Processor
• Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• 16 GB LPDDR5X 6400MHz
• 512GB PCIe SSD Gen 4 (as much as 1TB)
• 80Wh battery capability
• 2 x 2W + 2 x 1W Bowers & Wilkins audio system
• WiFi 6E* 802.11AX (2 x 2)
• Starting at 1.34kg / 2.95lbs
• Bluetooth keyboard and mouse included. Lenovo Digital Pen 3 stylus included.

Design

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is outstanding for its sustainability and design ingenuity. It has a Carbon Neutral Certification, using eco-friendly supplies like 90% recycled plastic within the energy adapter case and 100% recycled aluminum within the high cowl. The putting Tidal Teal (metallic blue) colour provides vibrancy, departing from the standard gray or silver tones.

Like Lenovo’s Yoga 9i sequence, the Yoga Book 9i options curved edges for enhanced grip and luxury. Its groundbreaking dual-screen design, a world-first for 2-in-1 laptops, improves productiveness with multitasking capabilities. At 0.63 x 11.8 x 8 inches (15.95mm x 299.1mm x 203.9mm) and 2.95 lbs (not counting the included mouse and keyboard), it balances portability and performance.

As you may think about, the twin screens facilitate seamless multitasking and different prospects, however we’ll get to that later. The included system’s stand doubles as a canopy for the removable keyboard and stylus. It’s essential to notice that the kickstand supplies stability solely on flat surfaces like desks or tables. You can, in fact, use the pc as an everyday clamshell laptop computer in fact.

The inclusion of the Tidal Teal folio/stand enhances the system’s aesthetics whereas offering sensible assist and safety.

Keyboard, Pen, Mouse and digital inputs

The Yoga Book 9i’s Bluetooth keyboard supplies customers a compact but useful typing expertise. Despite its compact measurement, the keyboard retains important Function keys, making certain customers can entry key options and instructions conveniently.

There’s an undersizing of the up and down arrow keys, a deliberate adjustment to accommodate the system’s general chassis. This design resolution maintains the system’s smooth profile whereas offering tactile suggestions and value for directional inputs. In addition to the keyboard, the Yoga Book 9i features a compact mouse, akin to a journey mouse.

I discovered the bodily keyboard inferior to the built-in keyboards on high-end Yoga laptops. Lenovo wished to make this one as skinny as doable, so it won’t have one of the best key switches and tactile suggestions. If you’re in search of a high-performance journey keyboard, take a look at the Logitech MX Mechanical Mini.

The Lenovo Digital Pen 3 included with the Yoga Book 9i presents customers a cushty and responsive stylus expertise. It works on each screens and is great for taking notes or fundamental sketching. You would possibly want one thing else for skilled functions, however it’s not apparent if fancier Lenovo pens are suitable with these screens.

Both Pen and Mouse require AAA and AA batteries, respectively, and aren’t rechargeable. The Keyboard has a USB-C connector for charging.

A digital keyboard and digital trackpad can be found when not utilizing the bodily keyboard. Each can occupy as much as half of the underside display screen, whereas content material is offered on the highest display screen. That’s rather more display screen area than you’ll get on even the biggest pill. The digital keyboard expertise was positive, however the trackpad doesn’t really feel pretty much as good and correct because the bodily one. Instead of the trackpad, I want utilizing the twin touch-screens at any time when doable.

Lenovo has customized software program known as Yoga Book 9 User Center to tweak varied consumer expertise settings, from Window administration and dual-screen gaming to digital keyboard settings. It might help make the laptop computer yours.

Ports

The laptop boasts three USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 connectors, a flexible function providing high-speed knowledge switch, extensions, and charging capabilities. All three ports assist charging, making certain handy energy entry wherever you go. One Thunderbolt 4 connector is positioned on the left edge, whereas the remaining two are situated on the precise, offering flexibility for peripheral connections.

Notably absent are conventional USB-A ports and a headphone jack. Fortunately, the 65W AC energy provide connects to USB-C, streamlining energy administration and decreasing muddle. Depending in your wants, you would possibly take into account a USB-C HUB with extra ports comparable to USB-A, HDMI, and extra. They are moderately cheap.

Sound high quality

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i integrates Dolby Atmos know-how with Bowers & Wilkins audio system, providing a stellar audio expertise. Its 360-degree rotating sound bar delivers immersive sound high quality. The system impresses with better-than-average bass and clear sounds on different frequencies.

The Dolby Access software program provides versatility with music, films, video games, dynamics, and voice presets, together with an equalizer for customized changes. With its loud, bass-heavy audio output, the Yoga Book 9i guarantees an awesome leisure expertise, making it a best choice for customers who prioritize superior sound efficiency of their multimedia gadgets. The sound bar is positioned proper in entrance of the consumer, the very best location to maximise the accessible sound vitality.

Displays

This laptop stands out for its wonderful efficiency and visible expertise. Featuring two an identical 13.3-inch OLED touchscreens with a decision of 2.8K (2880 x 1800), customers can anticipate gorgeous readability and element of their content material.

With a brightness of 400 Nits, the shows guarantee vivid and vibrant colours, even in well-lit environments. The 16:10 side ratio presents a wider viewing space, perfect for productiveness and multimedia consumption. Moreover, the show covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, producing correct and lifelike colour for professional-grade content material creation and multimedia modifying.

The inclusion of Dolby Vision HDR additional enhances the visible expertise by delivering richer distinction and deeper blacks.

The solely factor we’d instantly ask Lenovo to “improve” right here is to construct a 16″ and even 18″ model of this laptop computer to extend the show space additional, which is the first worth of the revolutionary laptop computer.

The different factor Lenovo ought to take into account is video enter through USB or mini-HDMI. This laptop computer may very well be a standalone dual-display for one more laptop, console, and many others. It would possibly lose a few of its computing worth because it ages, however the show’s lifespan might be 4X longer than its computing one.

Dual-Display User Experience

The distinctive twin show setup can be utilized in some ways, some apparent and a few… “creative. ” Lenovo has performed an awesome job pitching what it thinks you are able to do with it, and I’ve embedded a video under. Here, I’ll deal with use circumstances that resonate with me: productiveness and Entertainment.

We can in all probability all agree that having a 100% additional show floor is an efficient factor, and we already know it can make everybody extra productive. Less Window and Task switching, info accessible at a look, and many others. Amazing. Sign me up.

I additionally usually do mild work, comparable to catching up with emails or searching for info whereas having YouTube, music, or a TV present taking part in on the opposite display screen.

Finally, taking written notes with the Stylus throughout on-line assembly calls has by no means been simpler and extra comfy. I sometimes try this on an iPad mini 6, however the 13.3 display screen(s) is so much higher due to the digital paper measurement.

Generally, I take into account this laptop computer finest utilized in a set location, comparable to your lodge room, cafe, and many others, throughout your travels. Its compact measurement and light-weight weight make it straightforward to move even with an exterior mouse and keyboard. If you want to use the laptop computer for 10 minutes right here and there, you would possibly wish to take a look at the ThinkPad X1 nano gen2 (which is phenomenal) or a Lenovo Android pill.

Here are extra use circumstances as Lenovo envisions them. See in the event you join with a few of them:

Webcam

This 5MP webcam has handy options and high-quality efficiency within the laptop computer market. It might be turned OFF utilizing the bodily shutter button for added privateness, making certain the webcam received’t by accident activate.

In portrait mode, the webcam is completely positioned in entrance of the consumer’s face: the very best angle. Its microphone delivers clear audio, complementing its good video capabilities. Unsurprisingly, a bigger standalone microphone would ship larger recording efficiency if you want to seem on podcasts.

With a video decision of as much as 1440p and 30 frames per second, it ensures moderately sharp and easy video even in reasonably lit environments. The built-in Windows Hello facial recognition assist allows seamless biometric login, including a layer of comfort and safety for customers. Unfortunately, there isn’t any fingerprint reader.

System Performance

Equipped with an Intel Core i7-1355U (1.70 GHz), 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, this laptop can deal with workplace productiveness and multimedia duties with ease and quietly. Conceptually, it is also an excellent net improvement system due to the big show floor. However, in the event you rely closely on Docker containers, you may want a system with extra RAM.

The U-series Intel core processors are designed for energy effectivity somewhat than efficiency. With two shows utilizing a big quantity of energy, one thing needed to give, and general, it’s an excellent tradeoff between growing usability and acceptable efficiency.

The similar factor is true for storage efficiency. It’s nice for the use circumstances we suggest (productiveness, leisure) with this laptop computer, however within the grand scheme of issues, benchmarks comparable to 3DMark Storage Benchmark classify this laptop’s storage efficiency as barely under common.

Geekbench 5: 1743 (Single). 7202 (Multi), 18751 (OpenCL)
Geekbench 6: 2457 (Single), 8171 (Multi), 14454 (OpenCL)
3DMark TimeSpy: 1679

Battery Life

The 80Wh battery capability is comparatively giant for a sub 3 Lbs laptop computer, and with it, this laptop computer can final ~9 hours in an ordinary benchmark comparable to PCMark 10 trendy workplace.

Obviously, having two screens will not be a bonus concerning battery life benchmarking, particularly if mentioned screens have a 2.8K decision. While yow will discover laptops that rating larger (14+ hrs) in that exact benchmark, it’s apparent that absolute battery life isn’t a precedence for potential patrons who’re doubtless to make use of this laptop on a desk.

However, if you wish to apply it to the go (in-flight, and many others.), you continue to have a good battery life, because of the low-power CPU alternative.

Conclusion

The Lenovo Yoga Book i9 satisfies a selected want: maximizing the accessible show space to extend consumer productiveness. Countless research have confirmed that having extra screens results in drastic productiveness positive aspects, and we all know this very properly since we journey with a SupposeVision M14 / M14D or SupposeVision M15.

This Yoga Book i9 makes lugging a transportable show a factor of the previous, or it might take our present setup to the following degree by working alongside one in every of these cell shows. This depends upon how a lot tools you wish to carry. Additionally, its 360-degree hinge permits extra use circumstances, making it a really versatile laptop.

This dual-display emphasis has a value: that is not an inexpensive laptop or one that gives wonderful computing worth (efficiency per greenback spent). If that’s what you need, there are higher choices elsewhere, with Lenovo or in any other case. But in the event you really feel cramped inside your present laptop computer show, this laptop might unlock your productiveness instantly.

Filed in Computers. Read extra about Dual-screen, Laptop Reviews, Laptops and Lenovo Laptops.