The Lenovo Yoga 9i had an average battery life in its last iteration. Still, this time, they have returned with a more enthusiastic approach to try and guarantee that this 2-in-1 device upholds its name as a top-of-the-line model in the Lenovo lineup. Let’s find out if the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 is worth its price.
Design and Construction
The initial look of the Yoga 9i is what captured our attention. Upon unboxing the 2-in-1 laptop, we are greeted by its all-aluminum chassis with sleek reflective edges along the bottom and smoother angles around the display.
Sitting in the front of the lid is a minimalistic design with the logos YOGA and Lenovo creating an outwardly engaging package. The laptop weighs 1.4 kg and its surfaces give a smooth feel when touched.
When we lifted the lid, we were welcomed by a similarly appealing sheen on the keyboard, an expansive trackpad, a polished metallic finished Lenovo logo in the lower-right corner, and lastly an eye-striking 360-degree soundbar. The entire keyboard spans from either side of the laptop with a curve-edged keycap.
Although we’ve already tested several laptops, we feel a bit iffy while rotating the lid to its diverse positions. The fear of inadvertently applying excessive pressure might just break it. Surprisingly, the Lenovo Yoga 9i’s sturdiness is put to the test when putting the products together as it required a certain amount of force to change form factors.
On the right-hand edge of the laptop, we find the USB Type-C 3.2 port alongside the 3.5mm port for an audio combo jack, and the power button right under those.
While on the left-hand side, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 presents a USB-A 3.2 port and two Thunderbolt 4 ports with PD 3.0.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i has managed to pass the MIL-STD-810H certification, evidently demonstrating its capacity to resist various harsh environmental conditions like moisture, pressure, temperature, weather, shock, dust, and drop tests. Given the laptop’s overall build quality, it’s not at all surprising that it passed.
OLED Display
Moving over to the highlight of the Lenovo Yoga 9i, the OLED Display. It flaunts a 14-inch multi-touch glossy display with 3840 x 2400 pixels. The display of the Lenovo Yoga 9i can turn non-OLED believers thanks to the vibrancy it provides. The brightness goes up to 395 nits offering a wide range of colors at 100% sRGB and 96% AdobeRGB plus the support of Dolby Vision for a top-notch HDR performance.
Lenovo Yoga 9i Performance and Benchmarks
Now that we’ve discussed the display and build, let’s move over to its efficiency in performance. The Lenovo Yoga 9i is powered by a 13th generation Intel Core i7-1360P processor with the E-cores reaching up to 3.7GHz while the P-cores can go up to 5GHz. Although it does not have a dedicated GPU, the Intel Xe graphics is more than capable of daily tasks and editing. Additionally, it comes with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM at 5200MHz and 1TB of m.2 SSD 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC SSD.
GeekBench 6
GeekBench 6 is a user-friendly benchmarking tool that measures a device’s performance, like a computer or smartphone. It helps non-tech-savvy users easily assess and compare their device’s speed and capabilities.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 impresses with its strong performance, as evidenced by the GeekBench 6 results. Scoring 2,159 points in the single-core test and 7,473 points in the multi-core test, this 2-in-1 notebook proves its ability to handle demanding tasks and multitask with ease. A single-core rating reflects your ability to efficiently handle single-threaded applications, while a multi-core rating emphasizes your ability to handle parallel processing tasks.
ith the latest generation processor and plenty of RAM, Yoga 9i Gen 8 delivers smooth and responsive performance for everyday computing needs and resource-intensive activities like video editing and gaming. Whether for work or entertainment, users can expect outstanding performance from this laptop. The GeekBench 6 results confirm that the Yoga 9i Gen 8 is a reliable and powerful device, making it an attractive choice for tech enthusiasts and professionals alike.
3DMark Time Spy Benchmarks
3DMark Time Spy is a popular benchmarking software for evaluating the gaming performance of devices such as laptops and PCs. It ranks how well the system handles DirectX 12 games and provides an overall rating to help users assess their gaming prowess.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 has a Time Spy score of 1614, indicating laudable graphics performance. The integrated Intel Xe graphics in this laptop ensures smooth graphics even for casual gaming and multimedia tasks. The convertible design and vivid display enhance your entertainment experience. However, with limited dedicated GPU options, the Yoga 9i Gen 8 may be lacking something for dedicated gamers. This laptop, despite its attractive design and solid overall performance, may not be able to fully satisfy users looking for powerful gaming games but definitely worth it for video editing and as a workhorse for office users. Still, the Yoga 9i Gen 8 offers an attractive package for general productivity and occasional gaming.
Cinebench R20 and R23 Benchmarks
Cinebench R20 and R23 are widely used benchmarking tools for evaluating computer rendering performance. Developed by Maxon, it measures how well a system handles complex rendering tasks in professional 3D applications. These benchmarks provide standardized and reliable measurements of a computer’s CPU and GPU performance, making them invaluable tools for animation, visual effects, and 3D modeling professionals and hobbyists alike. Cinebench R20 and R23 are important for determining a system’s rendering capabilities and identifying areas for improvement in resource-intensive workflows.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 showcases strong performance in both Cinebench R20 and R23 benchmarks, with impressive multi-core scores of 3469 and 9361, respectively. These results reflect its capable CPU capabilities, making it suitable for demanding tasks such as rendering and multitasking. The single-core scores of 655 (R20) and 1755 (R23) are also respectable, ensuring smooth performance for single-threaded applications. Moreover, the laptop’s premium design and vibrant display enhance the overall user experience.
CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4 Benchmarks
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 is a premium 2-in-1 laptop with great features, but the storage capacity falls short of expectations. PCIe NVMe SSDs come in a variety of capacities, but in laptops, the storage options are limited to 512GB or 1TB. Additionally, the lack of secondary or user-upgradeable storage limits versatility.
Fixed storage configurations raise future-proof concerns because users cannot upgrade or add storage as their needs change. The Yoga 9i Gen 8’s SSD offers excellent read and write speeds for everyday tasks, but may not be enough for users with large storage needs. Professionals and multimedia creators looking for greater storage resources may find laptop storage options inadequate.
Lenovo Yoga 9i Verdict
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 features its premium design, brilliant OLED display, and strong performance on benchmarks such as GeekBench 6 and Cinebench. The 2-in-1 design and solid overall performance make this laptop suitable for productivity and multimedia tasks. However, the lack of dedicated GPU options and limited storage capacity may deter potential buyers with specialized gaming or data storage needs. Fixed storage configurations also raise future-proof concerns. Despite these shortcomings, the Yoga 9i Gen 8 is still an attractive choice for professionals and regular users looking for a versatile and powerful laptop. With the advancement of technology, prospective buyers should consider their storage needs before investing in this device.
Priced at PHP 109,995, we feel as though these are directly marketed towards professionals and general users seeking a versatile and powerful laptop, the Yoga 9i Gen 8 offers a compelling package. Will Lenovo address the demand for more powerful graphics options and increased storage capacity in future iterations, making the Yoga 9i an even more compelling choice for a broader range of users? Only time will tell.