1.Price, availability, and specs2.Design & build quality3.Performance & benchmarks4.Battery and thermals5.Competition6.Should you buy?
So, is the Lenovo Slim 7i worth buying in such a compact 14-inch form factor?
I’m about to find out.
Available with customizable specifications, the Slim 7i always includes its gorgeous 14-inch OLED screen.
This review was made possible with a review unit provided by Lenovo.
The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.
Separately, upgrading fromWindows 11 Home to Windows 11 Procosts $50.
Memory and storage are linked in the configurator and only unlocked when selecting the Core Ultra 7 155H processor.
Upgrading to 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 for RAM costs $66 and automatically locks in the 1TB SSD.
Matching the sample tested in the review would cost$1,240 at MSRP.
A third-party offeringfrom Newegg is available for $889.99.
It’s a bargain.
Again, it’s not a bad thing.
Typing on the Slim 7i feels as great as practically every other Lenovo laptop I’ve tested.
Lenovo’s I/O offering here is decent for a slim 14-inch laptop.
Still, it’s far better than proprietary adapters since you might use other compatible USB-C plugs.
Although it looks plain and simplistic, Lenovo has practically perfected the keyboard, touchpad, and speaker form factor.
sRGB covers everyday web net web surfer and desktop usage, so a 100% score isn’t surprising.
It’s a steep increase but a legendary mainstay that remote workers shouldn’t overlook.
For now, Lenovo separates it into more appropriate hardware to benefit the people who would use it.
A thick rubber foot helps with grip when carrying the Slim 7i and prevents any movement on slippery surfaces.
Slim 7i 14 Gen 9: Should you buy it?
Even if I did, my options for USB-C chargers are plentiful and much better than proprietary AC adapters.
HDMI-out ports are still useful for certain work-centric scenarios, but Thunderbolt is all you need.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
I’ll always appreciate at least a single USB-A port for low-profile mice and keyboard dongles.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
Geekbench 6 stress tests the CPU in laptops and desktops.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
Cinebench 2024 also tests CPUs, and is compatible across multiple processor types.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
Cinebench R23 is another CPU test, soon to be retired.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
PCMark 10 simulates productivity app usage in its benchmark.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
CrossMark is a system-wide score that ranks overall device performance.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
CrystalDiskMark checks read and write performance of storage drives.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
3DMark Time Spy benchmarks integrated and/or discrete GPUs.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
100% of sRGB, 98% of AdobeRGB, and 100% of P3 with a Datacolor Spyder X Pro colorimeter.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
Datacolor SpyderX Pro tone response test results show gamma measured at 2.3.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
Datacolor SpyderX Pro gray ramp test results.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
Datacolor SpyderX Pro brightness test results show a maximum of 388 nits.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
PCMark 10 simulates real-world productivity app usage until the battery is emptied.
Under moderate app usage, the hottest spots never broke 28°C.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
While pushing the CPU and GPU, exhausted hot air sits around 45°C to 50°C.(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
ASUS offers one of the longest battery life options in a 14-inch laptop with one of its many Zenbook 14 variants.
The Slim 7i came everywhere with me in Taipei, and I never felt nervous to be away from AC power.
