Lenovo Yoga Guide i9 Evaluate

Since its launch, the Lenovo Yoga Guide 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 now 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? Discover out now.

Specs Highlights

• thirteenth Era Intel Core i7-1355U Processor
• Built-in 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)
• Beginning at 1.34kg / 2.95lbs
• Bluetooth keyboard and mouse included. Lenovo Digital Pen 3 stylus included.

Design

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

Like Lenovo’s Yoga 9i sequence, the Yoga Guide 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’ll be able to think about, the twin screens facilitate seamless multitasking and different potentialities, however we’ll get to that later. The included gadget’s stand doubles as a canopy for the removable keyboard and stylus. It’s essential to notice that the kickstand gives stability solely on flat surfaces like desks or tables. You’ll be able to, after all, use the pc as an everyday clamshell laptop computer after all.

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

Keyboard, Pen, Mouse and digital inputs

The Yoga Guide 9i’s Bluetooth keyboard gives customers a compact but useful typing expertise. Regardless of its compact dimension, the keyboard retains important Operate 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 gadget’s general chassis. This design determination maintains the gadget’s modern profile whereas offering tactile suggestions and value for directional inputs. Along with the keyboard, the Yoga Guide 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 needed to make this one as skinny as potential, so it may not have the most effective key switches and tactile suggestions. Should you’re on the lookout for a high-performance journey keyboard, have a look at the Logitech MX Mechanical Mini.

The Lenovo Digital Pen 3 included with the Yoga Guide 9i affords customers a cushty and responsive stylus expertise. It really works on each screens and is great for taking notes or primary sketching. You may want one thing else for skilled functions, but it surely’s not apparent if fancier Lenovo pens are appropriate with these screens.

Each Pen and Mouse require AAA and AA batteries, respectively, and usually are not 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. Every can occupy as much as half of the underside display, whereas content material is introduced on the highest display. That’s way more display house than you’d get on even the biggest pill. The digital keyboard expertise was advantageous, however the trackpad doesn’t really feel nearly as good and correct because the bodily one. As a substitute of the trackpad, I favor utilizing the twin touch-screens each time potential.

Lenovo has customized software program known as Yoga Guide 9 Consumer Heart to tweak numerous person expertise settings, from Window administration and dual-screen gaming to digital keyboard settings. It will possibly assist make the laptop computer yours.

Ports

The pc boasts three USB Kind-C Thunderbolt 4 connectors, a flexible characteristic providing high-speed information 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 appropriate, offering flexibility for peripheral connections.

Notably absent are conventional USB-A ports and a headphone jack. Happily, the 65W AC energy provide connects to USB-C, streamlining energy administration and lowering muddle. Relying in your wants, you may contemplate a USB-C HUB with further ports reminiscent of USB-A, HDMI, and extra. They’re fairly cheap.

Sound high quality

The Lenovo Yoga Guide 9i integrates Dolby Atmos expertise 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 Entry software program provides versatility with music, motion pictures, video games, dynamics, and voice presets, together with an equalizer for personalised changes. With its loud, bass-heavy audio output, the Yoga Guide 9i guarantees a terrific leisure expertise, making it a best choice for customers who prioritize superior sound efficiency of their multimedia units. The sound bar is positioned proper in entrance of the person, the absolute best location to maximise the out there sound power.

Shows

This pc stands out for its wonderful efficiency and visible expertise. That includes 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 facet ratio affords a wider viewing space, ultimate for productiveness and multimedia consumption. Furthermore, the show covers 100% of the DCI-P3 shade gamut, producing correct and lifelike shade for professional-grade content material creation and multimedia enhancing.

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

The one factor we might instantly ask Lenovo to “enhance” 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 opposite factor Lenovo ought to contemplate is video enter by way of USB or mini-HDMI. This laptop computer may very well be a standalone dual-display for an additional pc, console, and so on. It would lose a few of its computing worth because it ages, however the show’s lifespan might be 4X longer than its computing one.

Twin-Show Consumer Expertise

The distinctive twin show setup can be utilized in some ways, some apparent and a few… “artistic. ” Lenovo has achieved a terrific job pitching what it thinks you are able to do with it, and I’ve embedded a video under. Right here, I’ll concentrate on use instances that resonate with me: productiveness and Leisure.

We are able to in all probability all agree that having a 100% further show floor is an effective factor, and we already know it is going to make everybody extra productive. Much less Window and Activity switching, data out there at a look, and so on. Wonderful. Signal me up.

I additionally usually do gentle work, reminiscent of catching up with emails or looking for data whereas having YouTube, music, or a TV present taking part in on the opposite display.

Lastly, taking written notes with the Stylus throughout on-line assembly calls has by no means been simpler and extra snug. I usually do this on an iPad mini 6, however the 13.3 display(s) is so much higher due to the digital paper dimension.

Typically, I contemplate this laptop computer greatest utilized in a set location, reminiscent of your resort room, cafe, and so on, throughout your travels. Its compact dimension and light-weight weight make it straightforward to move even with an exterior mouse and keyboard. If you should use the laptop computer for 10 minutes right here and there, you may need to have a look at the ThinkPad X1 nano gen2 (which is phenomenal) or a Lenovo Android pill.

Listed below are extra use instances 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 may be turned OFF utilizing the bodily shutter button for added privateness, making certain the webcam gained’t by chance activate.

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

With a video decision of as much as 1440p and 30 frames per second, it ensures fairly sharp and clean video even in reasonably lit environments. The built-in Home windows Hiya facial recognition assist permits seamless biometric login, including a layer of comfort and safety for customers. Sadly, there isn’t a fingerprint reader.

System Efficiency

Geared up with an Intel Core i7-1355U (1.70 GHz), 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, this pc can deal with workplace productiveness and multimedia duties with ease and quietly. Conceptually, it is also a very good internet improvement system due to the big show floor. Nonetheless, 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 reasonably than efficiency. With two shows utilizing a major quantity of energy, one thing needed to give, and general, it’s a very good tradeoff between rising usability and acceptable efficiency.

The identical factor is true for storage efficiency. It’s nice for the use instances we suggest (productiveness, leisure) with this laptop computer, however within the grand scheme of issues, benchmarks reminiscent of 3DMark Storage Benchmark classify this pc’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 a typical benchmark reminiscent of PCMark 10 fashionable workplace.

Clearly, having two screens isn’t a bonus concerning battery life benchmarking, particularly if stated screens have a 2.8K decision. Whereas you’ll find laptops that rating greater (14+ hrs) in that exact benchmark, it’s apparent that absolute battery life isn’t a precedence for potential consumers who’re probably to make use of this pc on a desk.

Nonetheless, if you wish to apply it to the go (in-flight, and so on.), you continue to have a good battery life, due to the low-power CPU alternative.

Conclusion

The Lenovo Yoga Guide i9 satisfies a particular want: maximizing the out there show space to extend person productiveness. Numerous research have confirmed that having extra screens results in drastic productiveness beneficial properties, and we all know this very effectively since we journey with a ThinkVision M14 / M14D or ThinkVision M15.

This Yoga Guide i9 makes lugging a transportable show a factor of the previous, or it may take our current setup to the subsequent stage by working alongside considered one of these cellular shows. This is determined by how a lot tools you need to carry. Moreover, its 360-degree hinge permits extra use instances, making it a really versatile pc.

This dual-display emphasis has a value: that is not an inexpensive pc 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. However in the event you really feel cramped inside your present laptop computer show, this pc may unlock your productiveness instantly.

Filed in Computer systems. Learn extra about Twin-screen, Laptop computer Evaluations, Laptops and Lenovo Laptops.