Lenovo Yoga Guide 9i Assessment

The Lenovo Yoga Guide 9i is an modern and distinctive dual-screen laptop computer that truly works and is smart in sure use instances.

Not surprisingly, the Yoga Guide 9i has been making waves because it was launched at CES 2023 this previous January. Microsoft followers instantly in contrast it to the software program big’s canceled Floor Neo product, which is smart, although the Yoga delivers way more than Microsoft promised. It additionally expands the definition of a 2-in-1, convertible, or remodeling PC—what Lenovo usually manufacturers with the Yoga model—dramatically. And that’s as a result of the 2 shows can be utilized in a myriad of configurations, or utilization modes, every of which solutions some want.

Design

The Yoga Guide 9i is sort of all concerning the dual-screen design. I imply, take a look at it. With its two shows and a number of utilization mode decisions, the Yoga isn’t simply distinctive, it’s off the charts. And so I’m specializing in the design of this PC way more than I sometimes do in different opinions. It’s simply entrance and heart, and probably the most intriguing factor concerning the Yoga.

Earlier than attending to the numerous other ways by which you need to use this remodeling surprise, it’s price noting that Lenovo’s a long time of premium PC excellence have properly knowledgeable the Yoga Guide 9i, as has its most up-to-date premium design language. Closed, the Yoga resembles different premium Lenovo PCs, with its elegant Tidal Teal aluminum physique, a form of darkish greenish blue that I actually like, and curved, polished edges. This phantasm, that the Yoga is only a regular laptop computer, is pushed dwelling by the truth that the 2 sides, the 2 components that every home a show, usually are not identically thick. As a substitute, the facet that homes the webcam is thinner than the opposite, simply as with a typical laptop computer.

However it’s not a typical laptop computer. While you open the Yoga Guide 9i as you’d a standard, you’re greeted by a curious sight: the highest half of the opened PC holds a 13.3-inch show and its webcam is housed in Lenovo’s now-familiar “reverse notch” (as I consider it), whereas the underside half, which usually holds the keyboard and touchpad, additionally holds a 13.3-inch show that’s similar to the opposite. It’s a bit bizarre, sufficient in order that I may really feel my mind making an attempt to grasp this error it was seeing.

As you open the, um, lid (actually, the highest or left half), the PC wakes up or activates, and solely that prime half shows something: Home windows and the PC’s firmware solely “see” the highest show—which I’ll begin calling the first show—throughout boot-up and the show of the sign-in screens.

This raises the primary challenge, until you’ve already connected, linked, and turned on the bundled keyboard: how do you register to Home windows (or, if that is your first time utilizing it, full the first-run expertise)? One apparent reply will probably be acquainted to anybody who’s used a PC like a pill: you employ multitouch on the first show and, the place mandatory, the contact keyboard or PIN. (I point out an eight-finger gesture beneath; that doesn’t work on the lock and sign-in screens.)

When you’ve signed into Home windows, the secondary show (the underside show in clamshell mode) lights up. And what you see right here will rely upon whether or not you’ve linked the keyboard and how you’ve linked the keyboard. As I’ll clarify beneath, you need to use the keyboard indifferent from the PC completely, because it’s a standard wi-fi Bluetooth system. Or, you’ll be able to place the keyboard on the secondary display screen and largely use the PC like a standard single-screen PC.

So, let’s contemplate some utilization modes, beginning with the normal clamshell type issue, by which the Yoga Guide 9i emulates a mainstream laptop computer. To attain this, you merely orient the 2 shows in an “L,” with the first display screen on the highest so its webcam is correctly positioned. Then, you place the bundled Bluetooth keyboard on the highest of the underside display screen, the place a laptop computer’s keyboard can be and the place it’s held in place by magnets. While you accomplish that, the a part of the underside show that isn’t coated by the keyboard turns right into a software-based touchpad with two buttons.

Regardless of being probably the most acquainted type issue—and the one most will wish to use on airplanes and different cramped locations—it’s in some ways the least perfect. The keyboard is elevated above the highest of the secondary show by its personal thickness, after all, which feels a bit bizarre, however the screen-based touchpad is extra problematic. Tapping typically doesn’t register as a click on, and I felt friction from the display screen as I dragged my fingers throughout it once I used it to maneuver the mouse cursor or drag-and-drop.

However the weirdest downside is due, most definitely, to how Home windows works, as a result of the system nonetheless sees the secondary show as a show on this mode although the keyboard bodily blocks over half of it. And so should you launch an app that beforehand opened on that show, it is going to seem on that show, underneath the keyboard and the software-based touchpad. Doy.

Tied to that, should you configure the Taskbar to point out app icons solely on the show on which they seem, as I do, you received’t get any visible indication that an app hidden on the secondary show even launched appropriately. I found this after making an attempt a number of occasions to relaunch an app I didn’t assume was working, once I lastly yanked the keyboard off the show and located it. However doing so removes the software program touchpad, leaving contact as the one option to transfer the app. Which is subsequent to unattainable when the system is on this utilization mode. Clearly, you might additionally use the bundled mouse to resolve this downside and ignore the software program touchpad. That is perhaps for the most effective regardless.

However one other answer to this downside is what I consider because the Yoga Guide 9i’s second most acquainted utilization mode. Right here, once more, you’ll be able to emulate a standard clamshell laptop computer, however as a substitute of utilizing the {hardware} keyboard with the software program touchpad, you’ll be able to flip the underside show right into a full-screen digital keyboard and touchpad. To take action, faucet the underside display screen with all eight of your fingers directly, a gesture that’s a lot simpler to do than you might imagine.

On this mode, you kind on the display screen as you would possibly on an iPad’s digital keyboard, with the most important exception that this model takes up the complete show and features a digital touchpad. That is surprisingly pure, however I attempted and failed to write down a part of this evaluate that manner and really feel that it’s greatest left for the occasional pecking, not steady typing. It’s higher than nothing, for positive, and placing the PC on this mode robotically strikes any apps that have been on the secondary show on the underside to the first show, which is smart: on this mode, solely one of many shows is used as a show.

In fact, one doesn’t purchase a dual-display PC in order that they’ll conceal the second show or flip it right into a digital keyboard and touchpad. These type components are clearly helpful and generally even mandatory, however what you really need is the 2 shows. And right here, the Yoga Guide 9i complies with two fascinating decisions, every of which requires you to unfold the bundled folio stand—it does double obligation as a case for the PC’s Bluetooth keyboard and smartpen when in transit—and origami it right into a triangular form that may maintain the shows upright and optionally safe the keyboard to its base, once more utilizing magnets.

I’ve used numerous origami-style instances with gadgets like a Kindle Fireplace HD pill, they usually can generally be complicated at first because it’s not clear from the assorted creases what you’re presupposed to fold which manner. However the model that comes with the Yoga Guide 9i is pretty simple, nearly intuitive, and even those that wrestle with it is going to get used to it rapidly. Oddly, I had a tougher time folding it again into its keyboard-holding case form at first.

Within the least helpful of the 2 dual-screen configurations, you place a completely open Yoga Guide 9i on the folio case in a horizontal configuration by which every show sits side-by-side in portrait orientation. That is fairly cool, although Home windows and its apps aren’t usually designed to work properly in portrait mode, and every display screen appears tremendous tall and skinny due to their 16:10 facet ratios. You will have the mouse on this mode, after all, and I discovered myself wishing there was a touchpad on the keyboard. However you can even detach the keyboard from the folio case’s base and sit again a bit, which is liberating.

I discovered the second dual-screen configuration to be the extra attention-grabbing and helpful. Right here, you place the Yoga Guide 9i on the folio case in a vertical configuration by which the principle show (with the webcam) sits on prime of the second show, making a tall type issue with two landscape-mode shows.

This feels extra pure for just a few causes, the obvious being that Home windows and its apps feel and look extra regular. However this tall configuration additionally places the webcam up excessive, which is sweet as a result of it prevents these regrettable under-chin view angles all of us hate a lot. And as with the earlier configuration, you’ll need a mouse, after all, and you can even detach the keyboard and sit again a bit.

You can even use the Yoga 9i as a pill, the place you fold the system shut with the shows going through outwards. While you accomplish that, the first show (the one with the webcam) stays on whereas the opposite turns off.  This works as with different 2-in-1s, the place it’s thick and heavy as a pill, however higher than nothing in case your objective is to write down onscreen with the bundled smartpen or work together utilizing multitouch for no matter purpose.

And let me not overlook that this PC may also be used with the folio stand, Bluetooth keyboard, and mouse whereas within the pill type issue, creating a 3rd laptop-like type issue. I really like this higher than the opposite two laptop computer modes, although there’s no touchpad choice, so you’ll need that mouse. It’s actually higher for typing.

This sort of versatility is exclusive within the transportable PC area, and the dual-screen configurations are notably compelling, even with that giant speaker bar masking the hinge within the center and separating the shows. This isn’t a difficulty because the dual-screen configurations we’ve all used have shows which can be typically a lot additional aside than this. Should you journey with a laptop computer and a USB-C exterior show, you realize what I imply.

However the query right here is whether or not this versatility is sufficient to overcome among the weirdnesses of this PC. For me, the reply is, not fairly: I might a lot relatively see an built-in touchpad on the keyboard, for instance, and I might by no means use many of the obtainable utilization modes. However I really feel like Lenovo is on to one thing right here. The place earlier dual-screen laptops felt gimmicky and had restricted attraction, I wager the Yoga Guide 9i will discover an viewers. And that’s very true on this hybrid work world the place those that may need beforehand used two shows solely when docked at a desk or by touring with a USB-C show. The Yoga provides you two shows always, and it travels properly: l actually simply flew with it to Mexico in my laptop computer bag. Having to handle the folio case (with its keyboard and smartpen) and a mouse is a little bit of a burden, I suppose. However it’s not horrible, and a few would possibly get away with leaving these behind when cell.

Shows

As you’d anticipate, the twin 13.3-inch OLED show panels are the star of the Yoga Guide 9i {hardware} present. They’re similar, every providing 2.8K (2880 x 1800) decision in a 16:10 facet ratio, Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR capabilities, and help for multitouch and smartpen, and every outputs 400 nits of brightness.

In brief, they appear nearly good for the PC’s dimension and flexibility, and whereas every is on the shiny facet with shiny colours and deep blacks, I discovered the readability good for productiveness work. In addition they provide huge viewing angles. And the highest and backside bezels are fairly chunky, although the facet bezels are notably skinny.

Inside parts

The Yoga Guide 9i could look radical on the skin, however inside this dual-screen surprise is the beating coronary heart of a standard Ultrabook. However there may be one distinctive factor about this PC’s innards: they’re not notably configurable. And that implies that all Yoga Guide 9i house owners will get the identical thirteenth Gen Intel Core i7-1355U processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16 GB of quick LPDDR5X RAM, and 512 GB of PCIe SSD Gen 4 storage, at the least for now.

With the addition of 28-watt P-series processors within the earlier technology of Intel Core chipsets and the shift to a brand new hybrid structure, I used to be apprehensive that 15-watt components just like the Core i7-1355U processors on this PC would underperform their predecessors. However should you observe my PC opinions, you realize that’s not been my expertise, and I discovered the Yoga Guide 9i’s configuration to be good for the productiveness use instances dictated by its type issue and numerous utilization modes.

In the midst of utilizing the Yoga, largely vertically on the folio case, I didn’t expertise a lot in the best way of noise or warmth, however then I didn’t actually push this PC very onerous. There’s one thing concerning the type issue that favors customary productiveness duties, versus writing code or modifying movies. However should you do stress it, you’ll be able to hear the followers kick in. Nothing out of the peculiar.

Connectivity

The Yoga Guide 9i affords fashionable Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, however no mobile knowledge choices. Every little thing labored usually and with out hiccup.

Ports and enlargement

Given its distinctive and skinny type issue and its a number of utilization eventualities, it’s maybe not shocking that Lenovo went for a minimalist number of completely fashionable enlargement ports, all of which can be found on the thicker secondary show facet of issues.

There, you can find one Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Sort-C port on the left and subsequent to a well-hidden energy button. I didn’t want to make use of that button all that a lot, really.

After which there are two Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Sort-C ports on the correct facet, each of which help always-on cell system charging.

Total, I’ve no points right here, but it surely’s price noting that among the Yoga Guide’s utilization modes can cowl up among the ports, reminiscent of when the screens are vertically oriented within the side-by-side utilization mode. I suppose wi-fi peripherals are your good friend.

Audio and video

When you get previous the 2 shows, the Yoga Guide 9i’s most original visible aspect is one which will probably be acquainted to those that bought earlier Yogas, just like the Yoga 9i 14 I reviewed final 12 months: it encompasses a rotating speaker bar that covers up the massive and stable hinge between the 2 shows. The thought right here is an effective one, in that its 4 Bowers & Wilkins audio system—two 2-watt tweeters and two 1-watt woofers—ought to ship respectable sound matter which utilization mode you configure.

However in real-world utilization, it relies upon. When the speaker bar is oriented horizontally, as it’s in pill, clamshell, and vertically stacked dual-display modes, it affords crisp, clear, and distortion-free stereo sound with a pleasant Dolby Atmos atmospheric increase and good-enough peak quantity for actions motion pictures. Music, likewise, sounds terrific, with glorious stereo separation.

Should you use the PC with the 2 shows side-by-side in portrait mode, with the speaker bar appearing as a vertical border between the 2, you get the identical crisp audio high quality, but it surely’s squished right into a narrower sound stage that sounds constrained. It’s OK for music and different audio, I suppose, however nobody would ever wish to watch a film like this, nor would the expertise be any good regardless.

It’s additionally price highlighting that there isn’t a headphone/microphone jack. This has turn into acceptable with smartphones, however I believe many PC customers will anticipate this port.

The hybrid work performance is attention-grabbing. Lenovo delivers only a single webcam within the Yoga Guide 9i, regardless of its a number of surfaces, but it surely’s a high-quality 5 MP unit with easy brightness, distinction, and auto publicity controls in Lenovo Vantage as a substitute of a full suite of AI-backed capabilities that over-complicates so many PCs nowadays. (Even Home windows 11’s Settings app affords extra digicam controls.) However you’ll be able to obtain a Good Look utility from Lenovo Vantage should you’d like much more management.

There’s additionally a noise-canceling microphone array on faucet that’s satisfactory for work conferences, although the standard should fluctuate a bit between the obtainable utilization modes. (I didn’t utterly take a look at this, sorry, as I not have common work conferences and didn’t wish to topic others to this experimentation.)

This mixture has some good attributes and a few unhealthy. The digicam high quality is terrific, even in low mild circumstances, and it affords Home windows Hi there facial recognition capabilities. However there’s no digicam shutter in any respect, not on the keyboard, and never even a handbook slider. There may be, at the least, a microphone toggle key within the keyboard’s perform key row.

Keyboard, mouse, and pen

Although Lenovo makes among the greatest cell keyboards out there, there was little it may do to beat the restrictions of the small Bluetooth keyboard that comes with the Yoga Guide 9i. It’s full-sized, at the least, with medium key throws and comfy, scalloped keys. However there’s no backlighting, no wrist relaxation, and no built-in touchpad, and heavy touch-typists will wish to look elsewhere, for a distinct PC most definitely, however maybe only for a distinct wi-fi keyboard.

Since there’s no touchpad, Lenovo bundles an affordable silver Bluetooth mouse with the Yoga Guide 9i, about all I can say is that it’s higher than nothing. It has two foremost buttons and a scroll wheel, and it may be configured to work with two totally different gadgets through a {hardware} swap on its backside. A small button in its center apparently configures its monitoring decision between three values, however I didn’t discover a use for that.

The bundled two-button smartpen is full-sized and curiously extra just like the smartpens that HP bundles with its 2-in-1s and by no means just like the tiny styluses that Lenovo typically provides and so it affords a way more pure expertise for note-takers and artists.

The nicest factor about this setup, maybe the one good factor, is that the keyboard and smartpen will be transported whereas wrapped up inside and on the origami case whereas that’s folded up. It’s a pleasant little package deal, although the mouse is on it’s on.

Safety

There’s not a lot happening within the safety division: the Yoga Guide 9i affords Home windows Hi there facial recognition capabilities, however not fingerprint recognition. There’s no privateness shutter for the webcam, however a characteristic known as Zero contact login senses you approaching the PC and wakes it up so you’ll be able to register much more seamlessly. A associated characteristic known as Zero contact lock does the reverse whenever you stand up and stroll away.

Sustainability

I wasn’t in a position to get hold of any sustainability knowledge for the Yoga Guide 9i, sorry.

Portability

Regardless of its dual-screen design and indifferent keyboard, mouse, smartpen, and origami case, the Yoga Guide 9i is kind of transportable, with its mild 3.15-pound weight (physique solely), small 13.3-inch dimensions, and the tidiness of the case holding the keyboard and the pen for journey. However I used to be curious to see how the Yoga Guide 9i fared with real-world battery life given its two shiny and battery-draining OLED show panels. Would the battery’s massive 80-watt-hour capability make a distinction?

It most likely helped, however ultimately, the OLED panels received this battle, with the Yoga Guide delivering a median of slightly below 5 hours of battery life in my real-world utilization. That’s not nice, clearly, but it surely’s not that far off from the 7.3 hours Lenovo guarantees. And I don’t see many individuals utilizing this PC whereas absolutely disconnected anyway. As a substitute, it’s like a docked laptop computer with a second show setup that you may take with you and use in other places.

Thankfully, the bundled 65-watt charger, a small wall-mounted unit, can fast-charge the PC through any of its USB-C ports.

Software program

The Lenovo ships with Home windows 11 Professional and Lenovo sprinkles in just a few utilities and a few distressing nagware. There are 4 Lenovo-branded utilities, three Intel utilities, a superfluous note-taking app known as Good Notice, Dolby Entry, and a utility known as Yoga Guide 9i Consumer Heart that helps customers stand up and operating with this new distinctive system. And let’s not overlook McAfee LiveSafe.

However Lenovo additionally engages in a sequence of upsells, sometimes through its Vantage system configuration app, which pops up an annoying litany of notifications making an attempt to get you to spend extra. It can attempt to promote you guarantee upgrades plus added companies like Lenovo Good Efficiency ($29.99 per 12 months) and Lenovo Good Lock ($49.99) and persuade you to obtain software program from companions like Amazon, fuboTV, Dropbox, and WhatsApp. There was a pop-up advert for Adobe, for crying out loud. Come on, Lenovo.

However there’s a extra constructive and mandatory Lenovo software program contribution right here, and whereas it may be a bit busy, I get the necessity: as you progress home windows round on the 2 shows, Lenovo pops up in-place ideas that designate what you are able to do from a placement and structure perspective, together with an in-place Snap pop-up just like the one you see whenever you mouse over a window’s Restore/Maximize button. That is helpful given the problem of app administration on this PC’s distinctive dual-screen configurations. However I by no means discovered a option to flip it off.

Pricing and configurations

The Lenovo Yoga Guide 9i prices $1999, assuming yow will discover it: on the time of this writing, it’s unavailable on Lenovo.com. It is available in precisely one configuration—Intel Core i7-1355U, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and two 28K 13.3-inch shows—and in a single colour, Tidal Teal.

Suggestions and conclusions

The Lenovo Yoga Guide 9i falls into an attention-grabbing class in that anybody who see this PC will know whether or not they need it instantly. It’s fairly usable in its dual-screen utilization modes, and that’s notably true of the stacked vertical show structure. However it’s curious how the Yoga’s versatility is offset by the awkwardness of utilizing it like a standard laptop computer, the place no mixture of its Bluetooth keyboard and digital touchpad (or the bundled mouse) works in addition to the true factor.

Put merely, it depends upon what you want. Should you do a whole lot of typing, as I do, you’re higher off with a extra conventional Ultrabook or laptop computer. However should you want twin shows and solely kind sometimes, otherwise you want a smartpen for artwork or note-taking, the Yoga Guide 9i deserves a glance.

I really like that Lenovo retains experimenting with PC type components, however that is the primary dual-screen transportable PC to make the transition from an experiment to a viable product. It’s the most effective dual-screen laptop computer I’ve ever used, for positive.

At-a-glance

Professionals

• Distinctive and versatile dual-display design with a number of utilization modes
• Typical Lenovo premium transportable PC construct high quality
• Excessive-quality OLED shows
• Killer origami folio case doubles as a stand and journey helper
• Three Thunderbolt 3/USB4 Sort-C ports
• Crisp, clear, distortion-free audio from rotating soundbar
• Wonderful 5 MP webcam
• Bundled Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and smartpen

Cons

• Not one of the conventional clamshell utilization modes are perfect
• Keyboard lacks backlighting, a wrist relaxation, and a touchpad
• Utilizing the keyboard on the secondary show doesn’t disable the show, hiding some apps
• No headphone/microphone jack
• Lackluster battery life
• Too many nagging pop-up notifications for added value companies