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 out there 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.
• Just a few bodily design selections is perhaps of concern for some, and I want it had an OLED.

extra shopping for selections

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 function. You activate the function by bodily tapping (gently, Lenovo pleads) the aspect of the laptop computer’s show together with your telephone, permitting you to drag-and-drop images on to the laptop computer, one of the crucial attention-grabbing options we noticed.  

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I used to be there in individual, and also you higher consider I used to be among the many first in line to try 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 purpose on the different AI-powered PCs that exploded onto the buyer market final yr (powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip) with distinctive options that try and set the gadget 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 type 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 light-weight because the Zenbook S 14, however it’s additionally a 15-inch gadget. It appears to be like like a quintessential Lenovo, with a slate grey coloration and signature notched lid the place the webcam is housed.

The keyboard is spacious and roomy, with easy, plastic-coated keycaps which are responsive and satisfying to kind on. Lenovo opted to forego a full keyboard in order that it may match the upward-facing audio system on both finish of the keyboard, which was the correct name, because the Dolby Atmos-powered audio system sound higher than common. Actually, they’re a number 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 gadget, notably for the worth.

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

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Underneath 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 gadget with excessive efficiency, a skinny and light-weight type issue, and a fantastic battery life.

The Intel chip powers a collection of options that make this laptop computer an Aura Version. The beforehand talked about Good Share function is among the most useful. It really works by pairing the laptop computer together with your telephone (through the Intel Unison app on iOS or Android), permitting you to drag-and-drop images and recordsdata out of your telephone to the laptop computer (and vice versa). Tapping the aspect of the gadget brings up the menu, though simply bringing the telephone in proximity to it really works as properly. 

Aura Version laptops additionally embrace a bevy of recent Good Modes of various usefulness, which, when activated, assign a collection of presets. The Defend Mode is among 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 screen over your shoulder, blurring your show, or shutting it off altogether in response.

The battery on this gadget, identical to the opposite Lunar Lake gadget I reviewed, the Asus Zenbook S 14, is excellent. I acquired over 17 hours in my battery take a look at, though throughout extra sustained workloads, I do not really feel just like the battery was as strong because the Zenbook S 14, lasting about so long as the workday however not way more.

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I’ve to say two pet peeves relating to this gadget, although they are not dealbreakers. First up is absolutely the onslaught of advertisements and notifications.

Between notifications from Lenovo Vantage, a persistent pop-up from McAfee, Home windows advertisements 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 possibly can really 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 ability button being on the aspect of the gadget, 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 strong 15-inch gadget 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 good show, snug keyboard, and marathon battery life.

I like to recommend choosing the 32GB configuration, for the reason that RAM will not be 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 methods and as a substitute 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 type elements) converse for themselves greater than buzzy options ever will.