This ultraportable Lenovo laptop is a worthy MacBook Air alternative (and has a useful iPhone feature)

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Version is obtainable now for $999 for the 32GB of RAM configuration.
• It pairs a myriad of customizable options with a pleasant show, surprisingly beefy audio system, and a marathon battery.
• A number of bodily design decisions is likely to be of concern for some, and I want it had an OLED.

extra shopping for decisions

At Greatest Purchase, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is on sale for $999, a $300 low cost. 

When Lenovo introduced its Intel-powered Aura Edition laptops at IFA in Berlin final yr, it led with the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, wowing attendees with demos of its tap-to-share characteristic. You activate the characteristic by bodily tapping (gently, Lenovo pleads) the facet of the laptop computer’s show together with your cellphone, permitting you to drag-and-drop pictures on to the laptop computer, one of the vital attention-grabbing options we noticed.  

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I used to be there in individual, and also you higher imagine I used to be among the many first in line to check it out, however fast-forward a month, and I used to be simply as excited to go hands-on with the opposite distinctive options in Lenovo’s Aura Version Yoga 7i.

The Yoga Slim 7i Aura Version is a Copilot+ PC powered by Intel’s “Lunar Lake” Collection 2 line of processors. These chips take intention on the different AI-powered PCs that exploded onto the patron market final yr (powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip) with distinctive options that try to set the machine aside in an more and more crowded market of AI PCs.

I went hands-on with one other laptop computer with Intel’s Collection 2 chip, the Asus Zenbook S 14, and was impressed with its efficiency, ultra-thin construct, and marathon battery life, so I used to be curious to see how Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7i would examine.

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Proper off the bat, I can say the bodily kind issue of the Yoga Slim 7i is about on par with different laptops in its class. At 3.3 kilos, it is not fairly as skinny and lightweight because the Zenbook S 14, however it’s additionally a 15-inch machine. It appears to be like like a quintessential Lenovo, with a slate grey colour and signature notched lid the place the webcam is housed.

The keyboard is spacious and roomy, with clean, plastic-coated keycaps which can be responsive and satisfying to sort on. Lenovo opted to forego a full keyboard in order that it might match the upward-facing audio system on both finish of the keyboard, which was the suitable name, because the Dolby Atmos-powered audio system sound higher than common. In truth, they’re a few of the higher laptop computer audio system I’ve heard all yr.

The shiny 15-inch show helps a 120GHz refresh charge and multitouch capabilities, and it folds flat, however not all the best way again into pill mode. Total, it appears to be like high quality, however an OLED would have actually set it aside as a noteworthy flagship machine, notably for the worth.

Regardless of the seemingly stable bodily construct, my evaluate unit had a barely unfastened backplate. I contacted Lenovo and was assured this was a difficulty with my particular person unit and never one thing discovered on others, however other well-known laptop reviewers reported comparable quirks with the laptop computer’s bodily chassis.

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Below the hood, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i comes with the beforehand talked about Intel Core Extremely 7 (Collection 2) chip, as much as 32GB of RAM, an Intel Arc GPU, and a 15-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) LCD contact show. It is a fairly normal mid-range {hardware} configuration, however it’s the Intel Collection 2 chip that’s noteworthy right here. It goals to supercharge the machine with excessive efficiency, a skinny and lightweight kind issue, and an awesome battery life.

The Intel chip powers a collection of options that make this laptop computer an Aura Version. The beforehand talked about Good Share characteristic is likely one of the most helpful. It really works by pairing the laptop computer together with your cellphone (by way of the Intel Unison app on iOS or Android), permitting you to drag-and-drop pictures and recordsdata out of your cellphone to the laptop computer (and vice versa). Tapping the facet of the machine brings up the menu, though simply bringing the cellphone in proximity to it really works as effectively. 

Aura Version laptops additionally embody a bevy of latest Good Modes of various usefulness, which, when activated, assign a collection of presets. The Defend Mode is likely one of the extra attention-grabbing ones, because it makes use of the laptop computer’s digital camera to warn you if it detects somebody your display over your shoulder, blurring your show, or shutting it off altogether in response.

The battery on this machine, identical to the opposite Lunar Lake machine I reviewed, the Asus Zenbook S 14, is excellent. I bought over 17 hours in my battery check, though throughout extra sustained workloads, I do not really feel just like the battery was as sturdy because the Zenbook S 14, lasting about so long as the workday however not rather more.

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I’ve to say two pet peeves relating to this machine, regardless that they are not dealbreakers. First up is absolutely the onslaught of adverts and notifications.

Between notifications from Lenovo Vantage, a persistent pop-up from McAfee, Home windows adverts for Microsoft Edge (even whereas actively utilizing it), and chronic “suggestions” and “reminders”, extra time is spent coping with all of the issues Home windows and Lenovo desires to speak to you about than what you may truly do. Sure, that is nothing new with units in 2024, however it appears notably potent with this laptop computer.

Second, I am not a fan of the facility button being on the facet of the machine, proper in proximity to the place you seize it. Its placement resulted in me shutting off the laptop computer on a couple of event.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is a stable 15-inch machine with a handful of distinctive options. The Intel Core Extremely 7 (Collection 2) chip gives quick, cool, battery-efficient efficiency, and on a regular basis customers will recognize the great show, snug keyboard, and marathon battery life.

I like to recommend choosing the 32GB configuration, for the reason that RAM is just not upgradable. This raises the worth, however it’s completely price it for future-proofing.

Additionally: I replaced my ThinkPad with a Lenovo Legion laptop for work, and didn’t regret it

Lastly, options like Good Share are helpful, however I might warning Intel and Lenovo alike from spending an excessive amount of time on flashy tips and as an alternative specializing in enduring, well-designed units. The {hardware} right here is spectacular, and Intel’s Collection 2 “Lunar Lake” chips are completely worthy contenders to Qualcomm’s ARM-compatible Snapdragon X Elite and Apple’s M4 chips. Efficiency (and considerate, well-designed bodily kind components) communicate for themselves greater than buzzy options ever will.