While the latest slate of PCs equipped with Qualcomm’s latest ARM architecture are all the rave now, there are still solid Intel based laptops that offer roughly 90 percent of the glitz and glam as these newer reported on devices provide.
Enter the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 14-inch laptop, which comes with the coveted Copilot button, tried and true Intel power, industry leading design, and surprisingly long battery life.
As Microsoft and Qualcomm continue to work out their app compatibility with both the emulation layer and developer support, customers can snag a 100 percent compatible Yoga 9i and be just as productive and efficient, if not more, than those tinkering with official Copilot + PCs.
That said, the design and build quality of the Yoga 9i are impressive. Encased in an aluminum chassis, it exudes a premium feel. The slim profile, measuring just 0.64 inches thick, makes it highly portable and in some ways, lusty worthy as a premium competitor to MacBook’s. But what truly catches the eye is the unique soundbar hinge—a functional design element that adds both aesthetics and stability.
The Yoga 9i resembles its previous generation in most ways. Lenovo hasn’t introduced any new design ideas for its ninth generation offering, which in this case, happens to be a great thing.
Moving on to the display, the 14-inch OLED touch screen boasts a native resolution of 2880 by 1800 pixels. The variable refresh rate of 120 Hz ensures smooth visuals, whether you’re working, streaming, or watching videos. The slim bezels contribute to an immersive viewing experience, allowing you to focus on the content without distractions.
Unlike the current crop of OLED displays, Lenovo’s isn’t suffering from the same level of dotting and blooming as reported by new Surface, ASUS, HP, Dell, and Samsung panels. While 90 percent of laptop panels in the industry are sourced from Samsung, it seems the ones for the Yoga 9i may have missed being part of a defected batch.
Under the hood, the Yoga 9i Gen 9 packs a punch. It is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, which brings efficiency improvements and snappy performance. With 16 GB of RAM, multitasking is a breeze, and the 1 TB NVMe SSD provides ample storage for your files, apps, and media.
Yes, Intel is old news right now, but it’s still the provider of a relatively powerful and efficient chip that isn’t going through the same growing pains as the current ARM-darling child. While it may whip up your laptop fans and offer less battery, it runs most apps with brute power.
If you’re looking to move your current workflow from one device to the next without a hiccup, moving to the 9i Gen 9 does it with style.
When it comes to graphics and connectivity, integrated Intel Arc Graphics manages everyday graphics tasks, but don’t expect to play games beyond a few titles and mostly cloud streaming. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring seamless wireless connectivity. However, it’s worth noting that there’s no HDMI port or SD/microSD card slot, which might be a limitation for some users.
Battery life is where Yoga 9i shines above other current Intel-powered devices. With an impressive 17 hours and 52 minutes of endurance on light use, 10 hours of mixed use, and 6 hours of heavy use, it will not leave you hanging during a busy day. Whether you are working remotely, attending virtual meetings, or simply browsing the web, this laptop has your back in most scenarios.
Now, let’s talk about the latest PC buzzword—the AI enhancements. Lenovo has integrated Intel’s AI-enhanced Core Ultra silicon into this model. The keyboard features Microsoft’s AI-hyped Copilot key, which adapts to your typing habits, making suggestions and adjustments as you go. It’s a subtle but thoughtful addition that enhances the overall user experience.
And with Microsoft yanking the reins on Recall, all the NPU talk for next gen AI experiences are moot for most Window users for the near future. Getting an Intel-powered PC or one of the fancy new ARM ones is effectively the same thing as Microsoft’s AI tricks are featured roughly the same on either device sans some camera and audio tweaks. Fortunately, Lenovo offers its own pre-loaded AI services to pick up the slack where Microsoft drops the ball on video and audio AI.
The package includes a Lenovo Slim Pen stylus for precise input, perfect for notetaking, sketching, or creative tasks which is something Microsoft offers at a premium of $129.99. And if you are into aesthetics, you will appreciate the matching carrying sleeves in Cosmic Blue.
As for the price and availability, the reviewed configuration comes in at $1,449.99. If you’re willing to splurge a bit more, Lenovo’s website offers an option with a sharper OLED display.
In summary, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024) earns Editors’ Choice honors for its versatility, performance, and thoughtful design. While the AI features are intriguing, keep in mind that many of the advertised AI features from Microsoft are on hold and have no definitive date of release. Choosing a computer based on future potential is often a recipe for disappointment, but grabbing the Yoga 9i based on its eight generations of track history feels like a non-brainier. 🌟
