Lenovo announced a pair of new flagship laptops today, the Yoga 9i and IdeaPad Slim 9i ahead of the launch of Intel’s Tiger Lake mobile processors. The laptops, which will launch in October and November, respectively, include new premium designs with options for genuine leather lids. We’ll have to wait until the fall to see if they land on our Best Ultrabooks and Premium Laptops list.
| Lenovo Yoga 9i (14-inch) | Lenovo Yoga 9i (15-inch) | Lenovo IdeaPad 9i Slim | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Next Gen Intel Core processors | Up to 10th Gen Intel Core i9 HK-series | Up to next-gen Intel Core processors |
| GPU | Graphics based on Intel Xe architecture | Up to Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q | Graphics based on Intel Xe architecture |
| RAM | Up to 16GB LPDDR4X | Up to 16GB DDR4 | Up to 16GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | Up to 1TB PCIe SSD | Up to 2TB PCIe SSD | Up to 2TB PCIe SSD |
| Display | 14-inches, up to 3840 x 2160 touchscreen, IPS, DisplayHDR 400 | 15.6-inches, up to 3840 x 2160 touchscreen, IPS, DisplayHDR 400 | 14-inches, up to 3840 x 2160, IPS DislayHDR touchscreen |
| Wi-Fi | Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) | Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) | Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours | Up to 13 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Starting Price | $1,399 (metal), $1,699 (leather) | $1,799 | $1,599 |
Lenovo isn’t saying the name “Tiger Lake,” specifically, but we know what the “next-gen Intel Core processors” are, and both the 14-inch Yoga 9i and the IdeaPad 9i will also have Thunderbolt 4 and Intel Xe graphics.
Perhaps the biggest difference is that the Yoga 9i lineup is comprised of convertibles, while the IdeaPad Slim 9i is a clamshell laptop. (The latter will be marketed as the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i outside of North America).
The 14-inch Yoga 9i will come in black with an optional leather cover on its aluminum chassis, which Lenovo says will make it more durable. For those who prefer a more traditional option, you can also get it in all-metal, as well as other colors like mica, and on the 15-inch version, slate grey.
Because the 14-inch will use upcoming Intel “Tiger Lake” processors and the 15-inch will stick with existing 10th Gen HK-series chips, there are some differences in the convertibles’ ports. The smaller system will have two Thunderbolt 4 ports over USB Type-C, while the larger version has a pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports.
There are some new tricks. Lenovo is following in Apple’s footsteps on the black leather-covered model, including a haptic touchpad that vibrates to produce a clicking feel, much like the MacBook Air and Pro have been using for a few years. Lenovo is also tricking out that configuration with an ultrasonic fingerprint reader that’s under glass that it says will even work with damp fingers. Additionally, Amazon’s Alexa will come on board.
Lenovo’s rotating sound bar isn’t going anywhere, so we’re looking forward to hearing the Dolby Atmos audio.
The IdeaPad Slim 9i is also getting the haptic touchpad and ultrasonic fingerprint reader, as well as Alexa. It will have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and will also come in “shadow black” with a leather cover. This laptop will have an optional 3D contour glass display that Lenovo says wraps around the display’s edges, but that won’t be an option in North America.
We’re looking forward to testing these – especially the next-gen Intel configurations – later in the fall.
