Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1: A Sleek and Powerful Convertible Laptop that Bridges the Gap Between Laptop and Tablet
Lenovo’s Yoga laptop lineup has always been a pioneer in the 2-in-1 space, offering versatile devices that cater to both productivity and entertainment. Now, with the introduction of Intel Core Ultra H-series processors, OLED displays, and improved battery life, the new Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 solidifies its position as a top contender in the premium convertible laptop market. But does it truly deliver on its promise of merging the best of both worlds? After spending a week with the Yoga 7i 2-in-1, here’s my comprehensive review.
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Price in India
Before diving into the intricacies of the Yoga 7i 2-in-1, let’s address its price. The starting price is Rs. 1,01,990 for the configuration with the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, a 14-inch OLED display with WUXGA resolution, and 16GB RAM. This is the variant I tested, and it strikes a good balance between performance and value.
There are two additional configurations available:
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 14-inch OLED WUXGA display, and 16GB RAM: Priced at Rs. 1,19,990.
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 2.8K OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, and 32GB RAM: Priced at Rs. 1,29,990.
All variants come equipped with integrated Intel Arc graphics, offering sufficient performance for casual gaming and content creation tasks. The laptop comes in two color options – Tidal Teal and Storm Grey. My review unit was the Tidal Teal variant, offering a refreshing and modern aesthetic.
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Design and Display
The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 exudes sleek elegance with its all-aluminium design, featuring curved edges and rounded corners. The laptop feels incredibly comfortable to hold thanks to the absence of any sharp edges. The minimal design language is further accentuated by the small Lenovo logo and Yoga branding on the lid.
A key highlight is the 360-degree hinge, which allows for seamless transitions between laptop, tablet, and tent modes. Lenovo has effectively reduced the hinge size, making it incredibly easy to open the lid with one hand. This is further aided by the reverse notch at the top of the lid that houses the web camera, IR sensor, and microphone. The hinge feels robust and durable, promising longevity without any potential issues.
The slightly raised position of the laptop when used in regular mode, facilitated by the hinge design, contributes to better cooling and a more comfortable typing experience.
When it comes to connectivity, the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 offers a comprehensive selection of ports. However, the placement of the power button on the right side edge, alongside the microSD card slot and a USB Type-A (USB 3.2) port, can be a bit inconvenient. I found myself accidentally pressing the power button and locking the laptop while simply trying to lift it from the right edge.
Here’s a breakdown of the port placement:
- Right Edge: Power button, microSD card slot, USB Type-A (USB 3.2) port.
- Left Edge: HDMI 2.1 port, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, combo headphone port.
- Rear: Exhaust vents.
The bottom of the laptop features two large grilles for cooling and rubber feet. The removable panel is crafted from 50 percent recycled aluminium, reflecting Lenovo’s commitment to sustainability.
The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is remarkably light at 1.49kg and incredibly thin, measuring 16.64mm at its thinnest point. It also boasts MIL-STD 810H durability certification, signifying its ability to withstand 21 stringent durability tests. While I wouldn’t recommend deliberately dropping the laptop, the sturdy build inspires confidence in its resilience.
Opening the lid reveals the keyboard and a large trackpad. Two speakers with grilles are neatly placed on either side of the keyboard. The 14-inch OLED display with slim bezels on all sides offers a 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The glossy panel delivers 400 nits of brightness with a peak HDR brightness of 600 nits, adequate for indoor use but not ideal for outdoor use due to glare.
The deep blacks and vibrant colors of the OLED display are a sight to behold. The wide viewing angles and minimal color shift ensure a consistently captivating visual experience. Whether you’re watching movies, editing photos, or drawing, this display delivers an exceptional performance. Support for multi-touch and the inclusion of the Lenovo Digital Pen 2 further enhance its versatility for creative tasks.
The display also boasts Dolby Vision HDR certification and covers 100 percent DCI-P3 color space, ensuring accurate and immersive color reproduction. There’s also a 2.8K PureSight OLED variant with a 120Hz refresh rate available for users who prioritize a smoother visual experience.
While the touch input is excellent in tablet mode, enabling the use of multi-touch gestures supported by Windows 11, I primarily used the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 in laptop mode. Personally, I found the Yoga 7i to be slightly bulky as a tablet, and I wasn’t a particularly big fan of using it while moving around the house. While you can use it in tent mode, the speakers are positioned in a way that’s not ideal for this setup.
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Keyboard, Speakers, Touchpad, and Camera
The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is equipped with an exceptional keyboard, a testament to Lenovo’s expertise in crafting high-quality keyboards for their ThinkPad laptops. Typing on the Yoga 7i is a smooth and enjoyable experience, thanks to the ample key travel and good tactile feedback. The keys have excellent spacing, ensuring a comfortable and uncrowded feel.
The laptop includes a dedicated Copilot key positioned before the left arrow key, providing a convenient way to toggle the Copilot chatbot with a simple press. The keyboard features backlighting with two levels of brightness and an adaptive mode that automatically adjusts the backlight intensity based on the ambient lighting conditions.
The speakers, located on either side of the keyboard, offer top-firing audio. While they may not be exceptionally loud, the sound quality is commendable, with no cracking or distortion. The speakers support Dolby Atmos, enhancing the audio experience. However, their placement becomes a drawback in tablet mode or tent mode, as they end up facing away from the user. For immersive sound in noisy environments, headphones are recommended.
Positioned beneath the keyboard, the large touchpad supports multi-touch gestures on Windows 11. The clicks are satisfying, and the smooth surface enhances responsiveness. In tablet mode, the touchpad and keyboard are automatically disabled, preventing accidental inputs.
The full-HD web camera on the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is accompanied by a privacy shutter, ensuring security and peace of mind. The camera delivers excellent video quality, and it supports AI features like Windows Studio Effects and smart gestures, enhancing video calls and conferences. The notch that houses the web camera also incorporates an IR blaster, enabling facial login via Windows Hello.
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Specifications and Software
The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 offers a powerful performance foundation with its choice of either the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H or Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU. Both chipsets are paired with integrated Intel Arc graphics, delivering sufficient graphics processing power for everyday tasks, casual gaming, and even some creative workloads.
The laptop allows for configurations up to 32GB LPDDR5X-7467 RAM and 1TB NVMe storage. It’s important to note that both the RAM and storage are soldered, meaning they are not user-upgradable.
Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity.
The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 runs Windows 11 Home out of the box and comes bundled with Office Home and Student 2021, providing essential productivity tools. There are no special software packages pre-installed, but the device does benefit from Copilot support, accessed via the dedicated key.
Additional features include:
- Lenovo AI Engine+
- Windows Studio Effects
- Smart Noise Cancellation
- Flip to Boot (turns on the laptop when the lid is opened)
The Lenovo Vantage software provides a user-friendly interface for fine-tuning the system according to your preferences. Features such as Super Resolution, Dolby Atmos sound profiles, various activity-specific modes, three power modes, and other customizable options are available through the Vantage software.
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Performance
The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 delivers excellent performance for daily tasks, content consumption, and even some creative work. During my extensive usage, I didn’t encounter any significant performance bottlenecks.
Multitasking on the laptop is effortless, especially in tablet mode. The inbuilt cooling system effectively manages thermal performance, keeping the laptop cool even under heavy load. Although there were instances where the fan would randomly kick in without any noticeable intensive activity, this seemed to be an isolated issue potentially related to a Windows 11 bug.
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Battery Life
The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 excels in battery life, boasting a massive 71Whr battery. This enables consistent all-day usage with activities like browsing, working with multiple Chrome tabs, watching YouTube videos, streaming Netflix, and even some light photo editing. The impressive battery life extends to both laptop mode and tablet mode, with the latter surprisingly offering even more extended usage time.
The included 65W charger supports fast charging. It takes about 1.5 hours to fully charge the laptop, and a 30-minute charge yields roughly 80 percent battery.
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Verdict
While I’m not typically a fan of 2-in-1 laptops, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is a shining example of what a convertible device can achieve. If you’re seeking a powerful laptop that seamlessly transitions into a tablet, this is a fantastic choice.
Even the base variant, priced at Rs. 1,01,990, offers incredible value with its exceptional performance and long-lasting battery. The OLED display enhances content consumption and creative work, but if you’re willing to spend more, the 2.8K OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate provides an even more immersive visual experience.
The only potential drawbacks are the speaker placement and the inability to upgrade storage. However, these minor shortcomings are outweighed by the Yoga 7i’s extensive strengths. Overall, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is a robust, versatile, and highly recommended 2-in-1 laptop that flawlessly bridges the gap between laptop and tablet.
