As expected, the Lenovo Yoga line of 2-in-1s got a big refresh during CES 2022, and while the typical improvements to performance are here, the new devices also go far to cement two industry-wide trends — increased use of sustainable and recycled materials and productivity features very much specific to our current pandemic work from home circumstances.
The refresh to the flagship Yoga 9i focuses more on performance updates and those new productivity and usability features. The 14″ 2-in-1 is powered by up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics, qualifying it as an Intel Evo laptop geared for performance — it’s something that will be trying to get the attention of on-the-go media professionals for sure.
And if it’s going to wow the media crowd, the display needs to impress. The new Yoga 9i has an OLED 4K IPS touch display, with slim bezels that make a 16:10 aspect ratio possible. The display is also VESA Display HDR 500 True Black certified and offers 100 percent DCI-P3 color accuracy. There is also support for Dolby Vision HDR, a 60Hz refresh rate, and TUV Low Blue Light certification.
The Yoga 2-in-1s have been known to be fashion statements, and this year, Lenovo thinks neutrals are the look. Storm Grey and Oatmeal is the vibe we’re looking at here, and we kinda dig it! Both colors are easy on the eyes.
As always, Lenovo makes good use of their 360-degree hinge. They’ve stuffed a Bowers & Wilkins soundbar in there, with two woofers and two tweeters for balanced sound. New audio software (Lenovo calls it Vibe Check) can adjust audio to better suit whatever it is you’re doing, whether that be working, gaming, or watching a movie.
On the other side of that hinge, the edge-to-edge keyboard is where you’ll find most of those new productivity features (aside from Lenovo making it easier to flip the Yoga 9i open with one hand). The keyboard now has a bar with one-click function keys and five additional shortcuts for quick access to certain features, like a low-power performance mode and background blur, which instantly and intelligently blurs the background during video calls on Microsoft Teams or other platforms — a must in the pandemic era. You’ll also find a Fingerprint reader here as well as an FHD infrared camera fitted with an electronic private shutter — a must in any era, really.
Additional improvements to the Lenovo Yoga 9i include a larger touch pad with improved click performance and accuracy, two Intel Thunderbolt 4 ports, and expanded Wi-Fi 6E. The Yoga 9i will also be boxed with a Precision Pen 2 with tilt detection or an e-color pen — solid little add-ons for anyone intending on using this as a mobile easel.
Going one step down, the new Yoga 7i comes in 14″ and 16″ models, and a welcome number of premium features are carried over from the 9i. The 14″ model still got an OLED touchscreen (no such luck for the larger model), although neither will support 4K resolution. They are still Intel Evo laptops thanks to the addition of 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics.
The Yoga 7i machines also lack the new productivity features on the keyboard, as well as the snazzy Bowers & Wilkins soundbar. But, the speakers here do still have Dolby Atmos support, so the audio can’t be too bad.
But, if you want a look at the future, look at the Yoga 6. It may be the lowest-power of the three, but it’s where Lenovo is playing around with more sustainable processes that will hopefully be expanded to more devices soon. This 13″ 2-in-1 is made using recycled materials, including recycled aluminum on the cover. The fabric-wrapped option also uses 50 percent recycled plastics, with a stain-resistant finish for added durability. And, of course, since we’re talking about going green, the Yoga 6 will be available in a dark teal color to bring it all home.
The Yoga 6 is also free of mercury, arsenic, and brominated flame retardant, and is ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Silver certified. About 25 percent of the battery cells use post-consumption plastic. All that helps to make the Yoga 6 less toxic once it’s reached the end of its life. Lenovo has also made the move towards more sustainable packaging for the Yoga 6.
The Yoga 6 is still a powerful device in its own right, equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor and integrated AMD Radeon graphics. It features a 13″ Full HD touchscreen display with Dolby Vision, dual front-facing speakers with Dolby Atmos, a full suite of ports, and support for a pen or stylus.
The whole new Lenovo Yoga line will be available in Q2 of 2022. The 14″ Yoga 9i will start at $1,400, while the 14″ and 16″ Yoga 7i will start at $950 and $900 respectively (the smaller possibly being more expensive because of the OLED display). Those two will come in storm grey and storm blue. The Yoga 6 will start at $750.