Lenovo’s Yoga E-book 9i realizes the complete potential of a dual-screen laptop computer

Lenovo’s Yoga E-book 9i drew each appreciative and skeptical stares at CES earlier this yr when it made its official debut: With two 13-inch OLED screens connected with a central hinge, it’s one of the crucial uncommon laptop computer designs to ever make it into precise manufacturing. The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i ($2,099) is constructing on a protracted custom of dual-screen pocket book and transportable system ideas (together with some transport {hardware}), nevertheless it’s the primary that proves the paradigm can work — and work nicely — for lots of people.

Fundamentals

The Lenovo Yoga E-book 9i is outlined by one characteristic specifically: As a substitute of getting a {hardware} keyboard and trackpad for its decrease half, it has a second 13.3-inch OLED display screen to match the one on prime. These are related by a outstanding hinge that enables to be used in numerous orientations, and which additionally packs in a speaker array powered by Bowers & Wilkins (extra on this later, however spoiler: it really works rather well).

Within the field, you additionally get a separate Bluetooth keyboard, a stylus (Lenovo’s Digital Pen 3), a Bluetooth mouse and an origami-style folding stand that additionally doubles as a case for the keyboard and stylus. The sticker worth of $2,099 undoubtedly can appear steep at first look, however Lenovo has not less than achieved proper by clients by together with every part they want within the field as a substitute of constructing equipment like keyboard, stylus and mouse accessible piecemeal as add-on purchases after the very fact.

After all, the Yoga E-book 9i is powered by Home windows 11 underneath the hood — with a layer of surprisingly low-key and unobtrusive Lenovo software program included to make sure that all of the dual-screen magic simply works; which it largely does, albeit with the software program seams nonetheless exhibiting a bit right here and there, one thing that’s totally anticipated in a first-generation system working early software program. None of those hiccups show annoying or distracting sufficient to compromise the general expertise of utilizing the Yoga E-book 9i, nevertheless, which is superb on stability.

{Hardware} and Design

The Lenovo Yoga E-book 9i is, prime to backside, a really well-made piece of equipment. Each of the screens are beautiful, which is smart provided that they share the identical panel and specs, and so they’re enclosed in a really durable-feeling steel shell with rounded edges which might be good to the touch and look nice with shiny reflective finishes. The Yoga E-book 9i solely is available in one shade, not less than at launch, which is a teal that wouldn’t usually be my private choose however that works very nicely for distinguishing the novel machine at a look even when it’s closed. My one criticism right here is that whereas the included keyboard is color-matched to the case, the stylus and mouse are available in a plain gray that feels a bit of aesthetically incongruous when working with your complete mixed setup.

Fortunately, except for some questionable accent colorway selections, Lenovo will get every part else just about precisely proper. The higher and decrease halves of the Yoga E-book 9i shut with a satisfying sticky click on, and the hinge maintains them at no matter angle you select to make use of them at. That is particularly essential as a result of the Yoga E-book 9i can be utilized in fairly a couple of alternative ways, together with an ordinary laptop computer orientation with or with out the {hardware} keyboard magnetically connected to the underside show; with the display screen flipped all the best way round in a single display screen pill mode; with the shows stacked on prime of each other and propped up on the stand in a horizontal dual-screen mode; with the shows side-by-each in a vertical twin display screen orientation; or with each screens lively and going through two completely different customers on both facet in tent mode.

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The hinge that enables all of that flexibility is a surprise itself — it’s completely coated in a grill and has audio system all through, which offer sound in no matter course it’s wanted. The {hardware} and the tuning by Bowers & Wilkins ends in truly surprisingly nice sound from pocket book audio system — it’s greater than able to offering an incredible film or video-watching expertise, and it even works adequately nicely for taking part in again music should you’re caught with out headphones or an exterior speaker.

The built-in digital camera has a 5MP sensor and IR in order that it really works for Home windows Hiya facial recognition login, and there’s a {hardware} disable change on the facet of the laptop computer’s decrease show for many who worth further privateness assurance. In use, the digital camera was greater than satisfactory for video conferencing, and appeared to deal nicely with a variety of various lighting situations, each indoors and out.

One further notice right here on the standard of the {hardware} — it’s very sturdy as nicely, a reality I can attest to due to two extremely uncommon however finally helpful random accidents: First, the Yoga E-book 9i fell from a standing desk I used to be utilizing outdoors when my patio umbrella by accident blew into it and toppled it off. It survived this with no discernible harm or marks by any means. The second accident occurred when the hook conserving my large eating room chandelier gave out in a single day, permitting the all-metal mild fixture to swing, wrecking ball-like, instantly into the again of the Yoga E-book 9i’s again prime floor, knocking it from my eating room desk to the bottom. This final time resulted in very, very tiny (such as you virtually can’t see it) floor scratching to the paint end, however had no different impression on the machine both bodily (i.e. no dents) or by way of operate. It’s constructed like a tank, which is definitely a very helpful characteristic for a laptop computer like this that you just’ll wish to deal with quite a bit, flip round, journey with and alter working orientations.

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Efficiency

The Yoga E-book 9i is powered by a thirteenth era Intel Core i7, comes with 16GB of DDR5X RAM, has built-in Intel Iris X graphics and a 1 TB SSD. There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports (one on the left and two on the proper) and there’s Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6E by way of connectivity. The 2 OLED screens have 2.8K decision, are HDR-capable with 400 nits max brightness and 60Hz refresh charges.

Whereas it doesn’t have superb specs on paper in comparison with a few of the newest ultrabooks on the market, efficiency in follow from the Yoga E-book is greater than ample for most individuals. It’s a speedy machine that feels quick and nimble, and it will possibly deal with Photoshop and Lightroom flows with relative ease. I didn’t use it for video enhancing, so your mileage could differ there, nevertheless it’s a superb workhorse for anybody who works largely in Workplace/Google’s work suite, electronic mail and lightweight media.

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As for media consumption, that is undoubtedly one among its fortes. The shows are each incredible for watching video, and the second display screen means you may have built-in choices for multitasking, together with doing issues like looking the online or utilizing Twitter when you’re watching one thing, or doing digital drawing/portray on the decrease display screen whereas viewing a reference on the highest.

Except for the efficiency of its elements, one key to the Lenovo Yoga E-book 9i’s success is simply how good it’s at profiting from its distinctive bodily design. As you’d count on, there are compromises on the subject of utilizing a pocket book with two screens as a substitute of only one with a {hardware} keyboard and trackpad completely put in within the different.

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Lenovo has truly achieved a tremendous job mitigating most of those, with multitouch gestures to simply name up the software program keyboard and trackpad everytime you want them immediately, and a intelligent magnet-based docking mechanism for the included {hardware} keyboard meaning you may simply plop it into place every time you might want to dive right into a centered session of speedy WPM output. The truth that the stand works so nicely, but in addition doubles as a case for each the pen and the keyboard, makes each these and the pc a particularly transportable package deal.

If I had one important criticism concerning the Yoga E-book 9i on the subject of efficiency, it’s battery life. The 2 shows clearly draw further energy versus only one in additional conventional machines, and it’s a really high-quality, pretty brilliant display screen. In follow, I’ve been averaging about six hours of use per cost — and that may drop significantly should you’re doing issues which might be taxing like lengthy video conferences. It’s a throwback to a lot earlier days amid a sea of very long-lived transportable powerhouses, however given the additional display screen actual property you’re working with, it does additionally make sense as a trade-off.

Backside Line

The Lenovo Yoga E-book 9i appeared a bit like a stunt when it made its official debut earlier this yr — formidable, actually, however sensible? That didn’t appear seemingly. Now that it’s right here, although, I can say that it’s truly eminently sensible, and in reality ranks as my favourite pocket book to make use of, interval. That’s factoring within the comparatively meager battery life I discussed, and another very minor concessions to the shape issue like not having the ability to shut the lid on the {hardware} keyboard when it’s magnetically connected to the underside show.

I’ve eschewed most type issue shifts within the PC world — hybrids, 2-in-1s, tablets with removable keyboards, and many others. The Lenovo Yoga E-book 9i has damaged by means of with its distinctive hinged dual-screen method, which works nicely each at residence and on the street, and which provides one thing no different competitor, no matter model, can declare to match.

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