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We can say Intel and Lenovo’s collaboration has always been great. When Intel launched its new “Core Ultra Series 2” processor, Lenovo proudly launched the Yoga Slim 7i laptop, calling it the “Aura Edition” and teaming up with the chipmaker for more advanced technology.
This is a simple laptop with some notable advancements. Lenovo has added more ports and a vivid color, high-resolution display with the new Core Ultra 7 256v, which makes it both impressive and efficient.
Now, it has new Smart Modes that create an environment for all-device connectivity. This is a first for laptops. While tapping your phone to the laptop to see recent pictures is a neat trick, Intel Unison, the software that powers it, works on many notebooks.
The Yoga Slim 7i has the potential to be one of the best laptops in 2024. It has a nice display, sleek design, and long battery life. However, its slippery keyboard and noisy speakers could use improvement. We’ve seen that many user units have these issues, while some do not. Overall, it’s a beautiful device.
Specifications | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition |
CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V |
Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics 140V (integrated) |
NPU | Intel AI Boost, up to 47 TOPS |
Memory | 16GB LPDDR5x-8433 (on-chip) |
Storage | 1TB M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 SSD |
Display | 15.3-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120 Hz, touch, Dolby Vision |
Networking | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 over USB Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
Camera | 1080p, IR, e-shutter |
Battery | 70 WHr |
Power Adapter | 65W USB-C |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
Dimensions (WxDxH) | 13.54 x 9.27 x 0.55 inches (343.8 x 235.4 x 13.9 mm) |
Weight | 3.37 pounds (1.53 kg) |
Overlook and concentricity
In the US, there’s a saying: “If it didn’t fold, it doesn’t mean Yoga.” This laptop only folds 180 degrees, which is why many will say it’s breaking the rules of Yoga. But it has a beautiful display and finely designed body. It features a 15.3-inch, 2.8K (2880 x 1800) IPS display with HDR 400, 100% DCI-P3, and 500 nits brightness at 120 Hz. In our tests, we found it reached about 487 nits, nearly hitting the 500 mark. We ran a comparison test on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i against two devices: the Dell XPS 13 (9350, Intel) and the MacBook Air (15-inch, M3). This test was conducted in three parts: DCI-P3 Color Gamut (%), sRGB Color Gamut (%), and Brightness (Nits). You can see the results in the chart.
It weighs 3.37 pounds, slightly heavier than the 15-inch MacBook Air, which is 3.3 pounds and slimmer at 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches. It has a good port distribution, with an HDMI port, Thunderbolt 4, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the left side, while the right side houses the second Thunderbolt 4 port (charging on both sides, nice!), a USB Type-A port, and the camera shutter switch.
Performance view with battery life
The Lenovo Yoga Slim features Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 “Lunar Lake” chip. We’ve been testing it with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, which includes 16GB of RAM and 1TB of PCIe 4 storage. We’ll conduct two tests (Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024), and the scores will be validated by our team of professionals. The test devices will include the MacBook Air, Dell XPS 13 (Qualcomm), Dell XPS 13 (Intel), and our Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i. The results will be displayed in the chart.
Such power consumption requires a substantial battery. Lenovo claims this laptop can run for 14 hours, and in our tests, we found it lasted 14 hours and 10 minutes. You can see the detailed results in the chart section.
However, the Dell XPS 13 with Lunar Lake ran significantly longer at 17:30, though that system used a 1920 x 1200 display. It’s almost certain that the higher-res screen in the Lenovo Yoga Slim consumes more energy. The Snapdragon version of the XPS ran for an even longer 19:37. Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air, with a 2880 x 1864 screen (similar to Lenovo’s in that regard), ran for 15:21.
Keyboard and trapped
Lenovo has implemented a very sleek design for the keyboard and trackpad. However, the keyboard’s key travel could be an issue. It’s suitable for casual use, but if you’re a professional writer, you might find it a bit challenging due to the shorter key travel. The trackpad, on the other hand, is excellent—smooth and highly responsive to touch.
Sound system
The sound system is good, but there’s a slight resonance in the body that can be annoying at times. We’ve checked with other users, and they don’t seem to have this issue, so it appears to be present only in certain units.
Pros
- Beautiful, vivid display with excellent quality
- Wide variety of ports
Cons
- Slippery keyboard
- Speaker vibration in some un
In the end, this laptop is quite good. It has a lovely, vivid display with a wide range of ports. However, some areas could use improvement. The key stroke feels slippery, and the speaker has a bit of vibration. Aside from these two things, it’s not bad overall. In terms of value for money, it’s very good for the price. If you’re looking for a lower price, you may want to wait, but otherwise, it’s a strong value.