Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 (Gen 9) Review: A Simply Adequate, Affordable 2-in-1 Laptop

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 (Gen 9) comes at a time when the market is flooded with ultrabooks and premium laptops, making it a viable choice for those looking for an inexpensive, flexible laptop yet willing to compromise on performance to some extent. Though it doesn’t redefine the standard of innovation or speed, the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (Gen 9) still somehow finds itself as a practical option for daily use that provides some balance between cost and performance.

Design and Build Quality

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 (Gen 9) comes with a very slim design, although with a few aesthetics that are still very much commanding. It has an all-aluminum chassis that is considered durable, while it still keeps a matte finish to ensure that it feels higher-end for the section of the price. The laptop can take on different usage modes because of its 360-degree hinge: laptop, tent, stand, and tablet setups. That means, with all the above applications, it is perfect for students, professionals, and casual users. This Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop weighs around 3.1 pounds and is just 0.7 inches thin. It is further ensured by small dimensions so one can easily carry it in a bag or carry it easily by hand. Of course, it feels solidly built, but it certainly shows some flex when pressure is applied—a trait common to devices in this price range.

Display

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 features a 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS touchscreen display. The colors are vibrant and the brightness levels are good, though it tends to fall a bit short under direct sunlight. The touch feature is sensitive and has support for Lenovo’s Active Pen, sold separately. This might come in handy for jotting down notes or some digital art. However, if you are already being spoiled by working with ultrahigh-resolution displays, the screen on the Yoga 7i is going to feel just a little bit underwhelming. And these slim bezels house a 14-inch display that furthers the immersive viewing experience. However, it is more than sufficient for practical purposes, such as browsing, streaming, and the use of Office applications.

Keyboard and Trackpad

One of the big highlights, when it comes to the Yoga 7i 2-in-1, is its keyboard. The keys have a good spacing, which will offer you a comfortable typing experience; the travel could just be fine for sufficiency. The backlighting is a nice touch; it can be put to use in darker areas. It is mostly a reliable keyboard that should, for the most part, serve many users well. The trackpad is large and relatively responsive, capably handling multi-touch gestures without any bother. It is fairly accurate and smooth-textured for easy navigation. In truth, though, the fact the trackpad and touchscreen features work so well together really brings out its flexibility much better—in alternative modes of use—on the Yoga 7i.

Performance

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 runs Intel’s new 12th Gen processors in a couple of configurations: from Core i5 to Core i7. The review unit here features the Core i5-1240P, and it’s paired with 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD. Which is really good for everyday works like browsing, office apps, or any sort of media consumption. The Yoga 7i does fairly well with some other heavy activities, like photo or video editing, but might struggle with very intense multitasking or high-end software. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics do well for playing many light games and for media playback. However, they’re not good for serious gaming or graphics-intensive work.

Battery Life

This is really the strong point of this 2-in-1 from Lenovo. The laptop should easily last through the day of a moderate user with web browsing, streaming, or document editing as far as that is concerned with a 56Wh battery. Lenovo claims support for up to 10 hours of battery life, and real-world usage seems pretty close to that. Adding more convenience is rapid charging; one gets support for rapid charging through the in-box 65W charger, which quickly tops up the battery.

Audio and Webcam

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 features Dolby Atmos speakers, providing audio clarity for video calls, music, and movies. The clarity in the audio is pretty good for a laptop of this price level, but still, it doesn’t bring out the bass and rich details that models of higher order do. I’d recommend using external speakers or headphones for more immersive sound experiences. Good for video calling at 720p resolution, it is average; however, performance drops in low-lit conditions. Passable image quality is okay for common video calls, but of course not as sharp as costly devices with high-resolution webcams.

Software and Features

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is running Windows 11 Home, right out of the box. Now, Lenovo also throws in some nifty software like Lenovo Vantage, allowing system updates, among others. The pre-installed apps are kept to a minimum, but, of course, every now and then, you’ll stumble upon a bit of bloatware or trial software—all this is very easily uninstallable at the user’s discretion.

Conclusion

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14(Gen 9) is a practicable and worthy way to acquire a 2-in-1 laptop for most users. It delivers decent performance, a well-designed keyboard, and satisfactory battery life, making it a solid choice for everyday tasks and light multitasking. While it may not excel in high-end performance or premium display quality, it provides good value for its price point. For those who need a reliable, budget-friendly 2-in-1 laptop that can handle routine computing tasks with flexibility, the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is a commendable choice. May not be groundbreaking, but it gets the job done effectively and meets the needs of many different users without breaking the bank.