Welcome to our in-depth review of the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, the latest innovation in Lenovo’s premium Yoga lineup. This unique, dual-screen laptop promises to redefine what we expect from portable computing, combining premium design, productivity, and versatility in one sleek package. In this blog post, we’ll explore the standout features of the Yoga Book 9i, its design and build quality, performance and battery life, usability and versatility, and its pricing and overall value.
Let’s dive into the details and see what makes the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i a standout choice for tech enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Key Features
The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is not your typical laptop. It boasts a dual-screen design, with both 13-inch displays featuring 2.8K resolution and touch capabilities. These screens use a 16:10 PureSight OLED display, offering a maximum brightness of 400 nits and HDR brightness up to 600 nits. The high screen-to-body ratio of 92% and the 100% coverage of sRGB and P3 color gamuts make it ideal for tasks requiring precise color accuracy, such as photo editing and video production.
Moreover, the display is TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certified, ensuring reduced eye strain for prolonged use. The dual-screen setup provides a significantly larger workspace, reminiscent of using an enlarged smartphone for multitasking. This innovative form factor is complemented by a slim Bluetooth keyboard that attaches magnetically to the bottom screen, providing flexibility and convenience.
Design and Build Quality
Lenovo’s Yoga series is known for its premium design, and the Yoga Book 9i is no exception. The sleek Yoga inscription and the unique Tidal Teal color give it a distinctive look. This shade, inspired by the ocean ecosystem, underscores Lenovo’s commitment to environmental protection, with the laptop being certified carbon neutral by BE A and packaged in entirely plastic-free, paper-based materials.
The laptop’s flexibility is another highlight. It can be used in traditional laptop mode, consulting mode with the screen laid flat, tent mode, and tablet mode, thanks to its 360-degree hinge. Made with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the screens are scratch-resistant and smudge-proof, though care should still be taken with sharp objects. The dual-screen design enhances productivity, with the top screen capable of lifting to align with eye level, promoting better posture during use.
Performance and Battery Life
Under the hood, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i packs a powerful punch. It features an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with 12 cores and 14 threads, integrated Intel Arc Graphics, and LPDDR5X 32GB RAM, ensuring smooth performance for various tasks, including casual gaming, video editing, and AI functions. The laptop is also Intel Evo certified, promising high performance, fast charging, long battery life, instant wake, and premium build quality.
In terms of battery life, the Yoga Book 9i is equipped with an 80 Wh battery, providing about 24 hours of 1080p video playback on a single display and around 15 hours with dual displays. For office work, it lasts about 12 hours on a single screen and 8 hours on dual screens at 250 nits. The fast-charging capability is another plus, offering 2 hours of use with just a 15-minute charge.
Usability and Versatility
The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i excels in usability and versatility, catering to a wide range of professional and personal needs. The dual-screen setup allows for seamless multitasking, making it an excellent tool for productivity. Whether you’re coding, editing documents, or managing multiple applications, the two screens provide ample space and flexibility. The virtual keyboard and touchpad options add to its versatility, allowing users to switch between a physical Bluetooth keyboard and virtual input methods effortlessly.
One of the standout features is the scroll mode, which, when used with a folio case, turns the laptop into a stand. This setup is perfect for presentations or watching videos, with the top screen lifting to eye level for a comfortable viewing experience. The included Wacom AES pen, with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, is ideal for artists and designers, offering precise input for drawing, note-taking, and other creative tasks.
The Yoga Book 9i’s design also supports various modes of use. In consulting mode, the screen can lay flat to share content with others, while the 360-degree hinge allows for tent and tablet modes, adding to its flexibility. The slim and lightweight design, weighing just 1.34 kg without the keyboard and 1.65 kg with it, ensures portability without compromising on functionality.
Connectivity and Audio
Despite its slim profile, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i doesn’t skimp on connectivity. It features Thunderbolt 4 ports on both sides, enabling fast data transfer, charging, and connecting to external displays. The three USB-C ports provide versatility, though users might need hubs for additional connections, which could be a minor inconvenience.
Audio quality is another area where the Yoga Book 9i shines. The soundbar hinge, equipped with Bowers & Wilkins speakers, delivers a 360-degree audio experience. With two woofers and two tweeters, the sound quality is rich and immersive, making it suitable for both professional work and entertainment. The 5-megapixel webcam supports Windows Hello and includes a physical shutter button for enhanced privacy, ensuring secure video conferencing and calls.
Pricing and Value
The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is priced around 2.9 million KRW, which might seem steep at first glance. However, considering its unique dual-screen design, high-end specifications, and the included Wacom AES pen, the price is justified. The laptop’s ability to enhance productivity without the need for additional accessories makes it a cost-effective choice for professionals who frequently use portable monitors for multitasking.
The dual screens alone set the Yoga Book 9i apart from conventional laptops, offering a level of versatility that is unmatched in the market. Whether you are a tech enthusiast, a creative professional, or someone who needs a powerful and flexible laptop for work, the Yoga Book 9i is worth the investment.
Performance and Battery Life
The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, featuring 12 cores and 14 threads, which makes it a robust machine for both casual gaming and demanding professional tasks like video editing and design work. The integrated Intel Arc Graphics are well-suited for handling various AI functions efficiently, making the laptop capable of supporting high-performance activities. This model is also Intel Evo certified, guaranteeing high performance, fast charging, long battery life, instant wake, and premium build quality.
Performance tests underscore the laptop’s impressive capabilities. With 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB NVMe M.2 Gen4 SSD, it scored 1621 in single-core and 7673 in multi-core tests on Cinebench R23. For graphics performance, it achieved scores of 281 in Time Spy and 57 in Fire Strike on 3DMark, indicating solid performance for both productivity and light gaming.
Battery life is another strong point of the Yoga Book 9i. Its 80 Wh battery provides about 24 hours of 1080p video playback at 150 nits on a single display and around 15 hours with dual displays. For typical office work at 250 nits, it lasts about 12 hours on a single screen and 8 hours on dual screens. The large capacity battery, coupled with fast charging capability—offering 2 hours of use with just a 15-minute charge—ensures that users can stay productive throughout the day without worrying about frequent recharges.
Design and Sustainability
The Yoga Book 9i maintains the premium design aesthetics of the Lenovo Yoga series. Its Tidal Teal color is unique and inspired by the ocean ecosystem, reflecting a commitment to environmental protection. The packaging is entirely plastic-free and made of paper, and the laptop itself is certified carbon neutral by BE A, highlighting Lenovo’s focus on sustainability.
The laptop is constructed with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, making it scratch-resistant and smudge-proof, though users should still handle it carefully to avoid damage from sharp objects. The sleek Yoga inscription and the Lenovo logo add to its elegant design, making it a visually appealing choice for professionals who value both form and function.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a standout product in the Lenovo Yoga lineup, offering a unique combination of dual screens, high performance, and premium design. Its versatility in various modes, coupled with powerful specifications and sustainable design, makes it an excellent choice for tech enthusiasts, professionals, and creatives. Despite the premium price tag, the value it offers in enhancing productivity and providing a seamless user experience makes it a worthwhile investment. Whether you’re multitasking, creating digital art, or simply enjoying media, the Yoga Book 9i delivers exceptional performance and versatility.