Lenovo Yoga 7i 2 in 1

Lenovo introduced the seventh generation of Yoga laptops in early 2022, and all the convertibles have now hit the market. We previously saw the high-end Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) and the budget Yoga 6 (Gen 7), and now we have the Yoga 7i 14 and Yoga 7i 16 (Gen 7) to review.

These laptops get almost the same treatment as the other Gen 7 Yoga laptops, including a new aluminum chassis with rounded edges, new powerful hardware, taller, higher-resolution displays, and improved audio. Do these mid-range choices live up to the standard that their siblings established? I've been using both of these laptops for the past few weeks to find out what they're all about and ultimately whether or not they're worth your money.

Price and Availability of Lenovo Yoga 7i

The Lenovo Yoga 7i (14 and 16-inch) is a part of the 7th generation of Lenovo's Yoga series laptops. The 14-inch model starts at $829.99 and the 16-inch model starts at $999.99. They are available for purchase on Lenovo's website and other retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon.

Specifications of Lenovo Yoga 7i (Gen 7)

Category	Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 7)	Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (Gen 7)
OS	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home
Processor	12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U	12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P
RAM	16GB LPDDR5-4800 Dual-channel, soldered	16GB LPDDR5-4800 Dual-channel, soldered
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Integrated	Intel Iris Xe Integrated
Storage	512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Upgradeable	512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Upgradeable
Display	Touchable, glossy, 14 inches, 16:10 aspect ratio, 300 nits 2240x1400 (2.2K), IPS, 100% sRGB, Dolby Vision, TÜV Low Blue Light	Touchable, glossy, 16 inches, 16:10 aspect ratio, 400 nits IPS, 100% sRGB, Dolby Vision, TÜV Low Blue Light, 2560x1600 (2.5K),
Pen	Sold separately	Sold separately
Ports	Two Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), HDMI, micro SD card reader (UHS-I), 3.5mm audio	Two Thunderbolt 4, two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), HDMI, SD card reader (UHS-I), 3.5mm audio
Audio	Quad 2W speakers, Dolby Atmos, Smart AMP	Dolby Atmos, Smart AMP, two 2W tweeters, two 3W woofers
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6E (2x2), Bluetooth 5.2	Wi-Fi 6E (2x2), Bluetooth 5.2
Camera	FHD and IR hybrid, privacy shutter	FHD and IR hybrid, privacy shutter
Security	TPM 2.0, an IR camera, a fingerprint reader, and a privacy shutter	TPM 2.0, an IR camera, a fingerprint reader, and a privacy shutter
Battery	71Wh	71Wh
Material	Aluminum	Aluminum
Dimensions	12.47 x 8.67 x 0.68 inches (316.66mm x 220.25mm x 17.35mm)	14.23 x 9.83 x 0.76 inches (361.51mm x 249.65mm x 19.2mm)
Weight	From 3.2 pounds (1.45kg)	4.37 pounds (1.98kg)
Color	Stone Blue, Storm Grey	Arctic Grey, Storm Grey

Please also note that the specific configuration of the device you purchase may vary from the information provided above.

One thing to note is the availability of 12th Gen Intel Core H-Series processors (i5-12500H and i7-12700H) and Intel's Arc A370M 4GB discrete GPU in the 16-inch Yoga 7i. The combination of these CPUs and the extra discrete GPU power can make the Yoga 7i 16 a real workhorse for more specialized tasks.L14

Lenovo Yoga 7i Design

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 and Yoga 7i 16 (Gen 7) share a common design, with the full aluminum build, new rounded edges for the base and lid portions, and some new color options. Noting that the same design seen there was "more inviting and less aggressive than the hard-edge design from 2021." 

I agree Both laptops are comfortable to hold in tablet mode as well. The edges aren't polished like you'll find on the Yoga 9i; notebooks have a matte finish that picks up a few fingerprints.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 and 16 (Gen 7) are some of the sleekest mid-range convertible PCs on the market today.

Using pure aluminum for the chassis means these aren't the lightest convertible laptops, but at 3.2 pounds (1.45 kg) and 4.37 pounds (1.98 kg), they're not exactly behemoths. The Yoga 7i 14 is a more comfortable option with a much smaller footprint, making everyday wear easier. As we'll see, the Yoga 7i 16 is a better choice for power users, but the trade-off is a larger overall footprint and thickness.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Port Detail

The port selection is quite generous, with more options than I expected. The premium Yoga 9i is quite limited in comparison, while the budget Yoga 6 (Gen 7) is more in line with what the Yoga 7i laptops offer. The 14-inch model has two Thunderbolt 4 (one for charging), one USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), HDMI, a microSD card reader (UHS-I), and a 3.5mm audio jack. The Yoga 7i 16 adds a second USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) port and expands the card reader to a full-size SD card.

Both power buttons are located on the right edge between the ports and are flush with the chassis to prevent accidental presses when using the computer in different convertible modes.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Keyboard

On the Yoga 6 (Gen 7), I noticed how great typing feels thanks to the slightly curved keys that have a little grip, a soft landing, and plenty of travel. This applies to both Yoga 7i (Gen 7) models; I have had no problems typing on any laptop. The 16-inch laptop moves the side speakers above the board to make room for a numeric keypad and dedicated media controls, ideal if you frequently crunch numbers. The only downside to both laptops is the doubling of the navigation keys, which can be annoying if you're focused on efficiency. Both laptops feature three-level backlighting (off, bright, and brighter), and the white font nicely offsets the dark keys.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Touchpads

I've never seen a laptop with a touchpad as big as the Precision models. The Yoga 7i's 14-inch touchpad has been enlarged by 25% and now measures 2.95 x 4.72 inches (75 mm x 120 mm), while the 16-inch model has received a whopping 54% upgrade to 3.15 x 5.31 inches (80 mm 135 mm). Pointing is smooth, tracking is accurate, and there's no risk of running out of room for multi-touch gestures. 

Lenovo Yoga 7i Audio

The sound is excellent. You won't get the Yoga 9i's soundbar hinge here, but the mix of top and bottom speakers on both Yoga 7i models pumps out a quality sound that remains undimmed no matter how you use your PC. The smaller PC has two 2W woofers and two 2W tweeters, while the larger Yoga 7i has dual 3W woofers and dual 2W tweeters. As already mentioned, the 16-inch laptop has a top speaker array above the keyboard instead of being split into the sides. Dolby Atmos is also included, providing additional tuning options and simulated surround sound.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Webcams

Like the speakers, the Yoga 7i's webcams have also received a significant upgrade. Both laptops now feature a 1080p (FHD) camera with IR hybrid and a camera shutter that offers a much better image and greater security through Windows Hello. The camera array is set into a slightly raised section along the top of the lid; this raised edge also makes opening the notebook easier.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Touch Display

Lenovo has equipped the Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) with an exceptional touch screen, making it the laptop's main attraction. This upgrade also filtered down to the cheaper Yoga models. 

Lenovo Yoga 7i Display Screen

Dolby Vision, TÜV Low Blue Light certification, and a larger 16:10 aspect ratio are now features found on all Yoga 7i (Gen 7) displays. The Yoga 7i's display has increased in size from its previous 15.6-inch size to 16 inches. This is consistent with the majority of other laptop makers who are gradually discontinuing their 15-inch displays.

Lenovo's Smart Assist collection in Vantage includes a Super Resolution feature that, when enabled, increases video resolution. This seems to help a bit, especially when playing low-res videos on high-res displays.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Resolution & Display

The screen resolution of the 14-inch Yoga 7i (Gen 7) I'm reviewing is 2.2K (2240x1400), which is cheaper. It has a glossy finish and works with the Lenovo Active Pen, sold separately. When testing color accuracy with the SpyderX Pro colorimeter, I recovered 99% sRGB, 82% AdobeRGB, and 85% DCI-P3. In the same testing, brightness reached a maximum of 320 nits and a minimum of 0 nits.

The smaller Yoga 7i can also be had with a 2.8K (2880x1800) touchscreen OLED display with 400 nits of brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color, 90Hz refresh rate, and VESA Display HDR True Black 500. Although this adds cost, it's an ideal choice for individuals, who appreciate a picture of the highest quality.

There's only one touchscreen option for the 16-inch Yoga 7i, and it offers a 2.5K (2560x1600) resolution, a glossy finish, and support for active pens (again, sold separately). I tested 98% sRGB, 76% Adobe RGB, and 77% DCI-P3 color reproduction, as well as a maximum brightness of 383 nits and a minimum brightness of 0 nits.

The absence of an anti-reflective display surface is the only significant flaw of this system. The glossy finish can cause some glare issues if you're working in a well-lit area, though the screen's brightness is usually high enough that you can negate most of it.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Performance

The Lenovo Vantage application is on board both laptops and provides a lot of additional features for the equipped hardware. The "Smart Power" function, which cannot be turned off, helps to regulate power and temperature. It's similar to the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro (Gen 7)'s "Q Control" feature, which lets you edit profiles on the fly.

"Intelligent Cooling", which is the default setting, balances fan speed, noise, and performance. "Extreme Performance" allows fans to run faster and temperatures to rise higher, while "Battery Saving" maximizes life after a charge. Use the Fn + Q shortcut to quickly switch between profiles.

Although these power profiles differ from Windows 11's custom settings, they don't seem to cause any problems. With the exception of battery life, I ran all performance evaluations using Lenovo's "Smart Cooling" and Windows' "Best Performance" settings.

The Yoga 7i 14's 12th-gen Intel Core U-Series processors aren't as powerful as the P-series chips in the 16-inch notebook, but they're still a huge upgrade over the 11th-gen hardware. Combined with faster LPDDR5 RAM, you have a system that can handle almost any task that doesn't require a separate GPU. Both laptops are also approved for use with the third-generation Intel Evo standard, which means they have various features including fast power-on, extended battery life, Wi-Fi 6E, FHD cameras, and more.

Here's a comparison of the performance of both laptops against a number of other laptops we've reviewed recently.

The Core i7-1260P processor in the Yoga 7i 16 did not perform as expected in some of these benchmarks. I tested again without any restrictions as I thought it would be the result of using Lenovo's "Smart Cooling" feature. I got a multi-core Cinebench R23 score of 6,956 (instead of 6,891) and a single-core score that was comparable. The second time around, I got a slightly lower score on PC Mark 10. The i7-1260P just has to be performing poorly or Lenovo is preventing it from performing well.

Lenovo Yoga 7i storage

Although SSDs are marketed as PCIe 4.0 devices, they really only achieve speeds that are more comparable to PCIe 3.0 drives. This is disappointing, but at least you can upgrade to a much faster drive after purchase if needed. Our roundup of the best SSDs has a lot of great options in this regard.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Battery

The 71Wh battery of both notebooks performs admirably in benchmark tests. It seems to be sufficient for high-resolution monitors, integrated GPUs from U- and P-series CPUs, and both. I'm not sure how much of a hit the OLED display would make on the Yoga 7i 14's battery life, but you can expect it to shave some time. For example, the Yoga 9i 14 with a Core i7-1260P CPU, a 2.8K OLED display, and a 75Wh battery lasted just under nine hours in the same test.

I tested both laptop batteries using Lenovo's "Smart Cooling" and Windows 11's "Balanced" power profiles. If the laptop is running at maximum capacity, you'll see a slight drop in battery life, but you'll still get a good day's work out of both machines.

Note that the alternative Yoga 7i 16 (Gen 7) with Intel H-series processors and a dedicated Intel Arc GPU comes with a larger 99.99 Wh battery, which I wasn't able to test here.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Heat Test Detail

Before measuring, I ran a 10-minute full system stress test to evaluate temperatures and fan noise. I measured decibels from about 2 feet away from the front of the computer, which is where you'd normally sit, and collected temperature readings from the keyboard and bottom panel. None of the notebooks suffered any thermal limitations during these tests, proving that the Vantage's "Smart Cooling" feature works as intended.

When running at full capacity for 10 minutes, the Yoga 7i 14 reached a maximum decibel level of 41.6, while the 16-inch model reached a maximum decibel level of 39.5. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 achieved roughly 46.6dB when using the "Extreme Performance" preset; this is not a significant difference. In comparison, a typical conversation is around 60 dB, while the noise level in a library is often around 40 decibels.

Note that I have attempted to measure surface temperatures here. There are hotter spots between the display and the main chassis, but that's due to the two exhaust vents in that spot that dissipate the hot air.

Lenovo yoga 7i 14 and 16 (gen 7): competition

The hp specter x360 and pavilion x360 lineups are direct competition for the Lenovo Yoga convertible. The former is a higher-end option that may be closer in comparison to the yoga 9i 14, while the latter starts at a much closer price point to the yoga 7i.

If you'd like to keep it in the family but don't need a convertible, Lenovo recently introduced the slim 7i pro x 14. It's a close sibling to the yoga 7i 14, albeit without the 360-degree hinges. It comes with intel core h-series 12th gen processors, Nvidia rtx 3050 laptop GPU, FHD webcam, top-notch speakers, 70wh battery, and 14.5-inch 3k touchscreen display with impressive specs including Dolby vision.

Should you buy the yoga 7i (gen 7)?

Suitable for…

Those who need a 14-inch or 16-inch convertible with fairly high-end specs and features at a price in the mid-range arena

Creators who want a color-accurate, high-resolution touchscreen with tinting capability

Those who watch a lot of media and want excellent sound and picture

Those who need extra performance from Intel h-series processors and Intel arc discrete graphics (in the case of the 16-inch model)

Those who want all-day battery life and more

Not suitable for...

Those who prefer to save money on a non-convertible pc

Those who need a built-in 4g lte or 5g connection

Those who want to play games on their laptop

Conclusion

When I see yoga 6 (gen 7), I note how well it rounds out the bottom of the Lenovo Yoga range. At that point, we had already seen the premium yoga 9i 14 (gen 7), so there was only the middle part of the sandwich containing two yoga 7i (gen 7) models.

Now that I’ve spent a few weeks with these laptops, it's safe to say that you're getting a great computer no matter which one you choose. A new design with rounded edges, an improved FHD camera with ir, massive touchpads, a generous selection of ports, and new 16:10 displays with increased resolution, all contribute to a great user experience.

Battery life is excellent, and while the performance of the 12th-gen core i7-1260p in the 16-inch model was a bit underwhelming, you can always upgrade to h-series chips and discrete Intel arc graphics in a larger pc and get a lot more power. The laptops run relatively cool and the fans are never noticeably loud.

Recommendation

Those who don't need maximum performance should stick with the 14-inch yoga 7i. It can be equipped with an OLED display, is easier to carry, and feels more solid due to its smaller size. If you need extra performance or just love the idea of a larger display, touchpad, and numeric keypad, the 16-inch yoga 7i is ready.