This review was made possible with a review sample provided by Lenovo.
The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.
On top of that, Lenovo includes all the accessories you need in the box.
You get the complete package with the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, which helps take the sting out of the price.
The laptop doesn’t just look great, though; it alsofeelsgreat.
It’s some truly phenomenal hardware, but I can complain a little.
Instead, all your connectivity needs are handled by the three identical USB throw in-CThunderbolt 4ports.
Above that is an electronic camera privacy shutter, too.
These panels don’t count among the best laptop displays I’ve tested, though, for several reasons.
All unnecessary and third-party background apps were also terminated.
This is basically a Yoga 9i on the outside, and its hardware is wonderfully constructed.
At least it runs cool and stays in a consistent zone of “middling.”
Running aWindows Battery Report, I regularly got between 6-7 hours of actual usage with the Yoga Book 9i.
The limitations of both become clear even from the moment you first begin setting up the laptop, too.
A USB Type-C 4.0 port (the main charging port) and an LED indicator on this side.(Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
First, let’s get preinstalled apps out of the way.
It has been a while since I’ve seen that on a new laptop.
Unfortunately, there’s only so much Lenovo can do here.
The LED-lit power button, electronic privacy camera shutter, and two more USB Type-C 4.0 ports on this side.(Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
Finally, there’s an active stylus in the box for those who value them.
The virtual touchpad also feels wildly inconsistent versus a standard touchpad and, again, lacks real feedback.
None of these elements stand out, but none disappoint, either.
The folio cover houses the keyboard and has a pen loop, but there’s no place for the included mouse (which I do not have).(Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
There’sDolby Atmossupport for spatial audio, too.
This is for the nerds, the enthusiasts, and those willing to pay extra for luxury.
This laptop is incredibly versatile, with many ways to take advantage of the dual screens.
They may only be 60Hz, but these displays are still obviously high quality.
If you’re willing to look past the software oddities, there’s a lot of utility here.
Here, it’s almost entirely software-related, but performance is an issue, too.
That’s where matters are more complicated when it comes to the Yoga Book 9i.
True to Lenovo’s word, the Yoga Book 9i does score 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
What I can’t see is Windows magically working flawlessly on a dual-screened laptop.
It’s a flawed mixture that’s redeemed by the appeal of its dual-screened form factor.
Exhaust vents are hidden behind the soundbar hinge.
This SSD sits right in the middle of other PCIe Gen 4.0 SSDs, but it gets the job done.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Rather than compare to other Core Ultra machines, the Yoga Book 9i actually struggles against last-gen and older laptop CPUs.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Matters are slightly improved in the latest Cinebench, but this is still the slowest Core Ultra machine we’ve ever tested in this benchmark.(Image credit: Windows Central)
This general productivity benchmark saw slightly better scores thanks to the fast SSD and RAM, but it’s still not astounding.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Once again, the Yoga Book 9i struggles to compete with older devices.(Image credit: Windows Central)
The situation doesn’t improve in PCMark 10, either.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Intel Arc at least still outperforms all older Iris Xe graphics, but the Yoga Book 9i is once again weaker than all other Core Ultra laptops we’ve tested.(Image credit: Windows Central)
A massive battery helps keep these dual displays from draining the battery too quickly.
Keeping up with recent Surface Pros is a solid start, although Snapdragon X series would likely improve this a lot.
Windows 11 just struggles to keep up with the versatility of these dual displays.
This software keyboard is 100% functional, but obviously lacks tactility.
The physical keyboard is a big improvement, but this virtual touchpad is still meh and this is far from my favorite Lenovo keyboard.
The folio cover becomes a stand, the Bluetooth keyboard is fully independent, and you also get an active stylus.
There are no dual-screen laptops this refined and versatile, but are you willing to put up with Windows to get it?
I love that this laptop exists. I hope it continues to exist, and that Windows becomes more fluid when it comes to different form factors.
