The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is the laptop for people who can balance the seriousness of their work and the fun of pursuing a hobby or passion.
There, we said it.
The Lenovo Yoga line of laptops is known, for the most part, to be one of the best choices of laptops for the ambitious, creative generation—due in part because, Lenovo has always served what this subset of our modern workforce needs: a device that will see the user through when the going gets tough. The Yoga Pro 9i is so far proving to be among the extremely dependable ones in the market.
The Yoga Pro 9i is cool on the hardware-intensive side of things, such as multiple tabs opened on memory vampire applications like Chrome, or even games (note: The Yoga Pro 9i is not a gaming laptop, so make of it what you will), but the way it’s designed and built also invites its users to relax and go after their interests.
Here’s an honest look at the Pros and Cons of this laptop:
Design and Ergonomics
The Pros: The Yoga Pro 9i is built in a way that’s meant to be “always on the go”—you have its chassis made exclusively of aluminum, which you can almost always see only on higher-end models. It gives it a really premium feel and finish while still having the power to withstand the day-to-day battles at work and at play. This laptop line, which is packaged together with a 140W USB-C slim (3-pin) AC adapter inside a minimalist box, comes in two colors, the “Storm Grey” and the “Tidal Teal” (our test unit came in the latter version).
Because it is built with aluminum alloy, we are extremely confident about the display hinges withstanding rigorous open-close-flattening, which is a problem that is becoming common in laptops with plastic casing.
The unit also has a unique shape; whereas now most tech companies integrate the notch as part of the display, Lenovo has made it separate, so much so that their notch, which contains their cameras and other sensors, protrudes from where the display ends. It’s a highly unusual design take, but it shouldn’t affect its performance.
The keyboard is backlit and feels flawless on one’s fingers; the keys seem to bounce off at every typing stroke, giving a comfortable typing experience. The trackpad is large enough that it allows your wrist more flexibility.
The Cons: This one is a heavyweight. Like, literally. The laptop is heavier than most laptops we’ve reviewed under the 14” range, most likely due to its case material. Even the fast-charging power adapter is heavy. Like any other laptop with aluminum chassis, expect that dreaded buzzing sensation during charging when not properly grounded.
The keyboard is also too depressed within the casing that it sort of becomes a catch basin for dust (and arguably, crumbs, for the snacking worker).
Output
Pros: The laptop is equipped with an ultra-clear monitor and high-definition Dolby Atmos speakers that deliver clear audio. We are thankful that even in higher-end models, Lenovo continues to include a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a super win for audiophiles everywhere because—and we cannot stress this enough—not everyone is into Bluetooth headphones or earphones, and a lot of people still use the best-wired headsets for their audio experience (including us).
The built-in speakers might be the best one yet in today’s laptop segment. The audio quality is just pleasantly surprising–we’re so used to just ‘okay’ audio due to most laptops’ size constraints, and yet, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i’s speakers pack a punch–you literally get booming sound at full volume, enough to vibrate the chassis. Now that’s something.
The laptop’s display can be clearly viewed even from the most awkward angle, and has a capacitive-type multi-touch screen, so you can sort of use it like how you would any other tablet—you can even load some Windows-ready tablet applications via the Microsoft store (although it already comes pre-loaded with some of the most used ones, like TikTok). In a way, the multi-touch screen allows you to work even without the assistance of a mouse. This unit does not come with its own pen tool, but we’ve seen that it works with any other ole’ universal stylus pen, which comes in handy for drawing stuff directly on the monitor.
As you can also see here, you have a monitor that supports a 180-degree angle.
Cons: It doesn’t entirely lie flat on its back, as you can see here, so you still need to be careful.
Inputs and Performance
Pros: Again, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is meant to be a productivity powerhouse. It has the latest Intel Core i9 13905H processor that’s performance boosted by the revolutionary Lenovo X Power, a 24MB Intel Iris Xe Graphics, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, a 64GB soldered memory (not upgradable), and comes with a pre-loaded Windows 11 Home operating system. It means this unit can handle some of your most stressful moments at work, such as editing a high-definition video creating a multi-transition, dynamic audio-visual presentation, or doing multiple high-resolution graphic artworks. All in all, the Yoga Pro 9i is tailor-made for pro creatives who demand the very best in hardware that gives them the absolute power to create anything, anywhere.
The unit supports up to 4 independent displays (native display + 3 external monitors via HDMI, USB-C, and Thunderbolt). Its 1080p built-in camera allows for clear video and photo captures using the pre-installed Windows Camera app. Oddly, this is the first unit where there is no physical cover built into the frame of the camera. Instead, you get an actual switch on the side—you can literally switch your camera on and off, and the monitor will show an indication. It’s a bit unusual, but still very welcome for privacy purposes.
Unlike most premium laptops, Lenovo doesn’t scrimp on removable storage slots. So, you still get your USB-A, USB-C, and even an SD card reader, because there will always be a shortage of slots!
Worth mentioning as well that this unit comes with pre-loaded Lenovo applications which are useful for today’s hybrid workers.
Cons: But can it run video games (per our narrative about the pleasure side of owning this unit)? Well, yes and no. Yes, you can install and run any game your heart desires—heck, we even installed a Forza Horizon on the unit. But should you? The answer may be no, as the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is not being marketed as a gaming device. So, really—proceed with caution.
Entertainment-wise, go wild on your streaming and media playback. The monitor really delivers on the sharpness and crispness of colors!
Bonus features
POP! also noticed a handy feature in this device: It seems to be engineered to go anywhere, thanks to its Intel Evo platforms that are aimed at assisting individuals in accomplishing their most important tasks. We researched a bit into the Intel Evo, and we found out that laptops like the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i are specifically engineered to eliminate lag, distractions, and the need for constant battery charging. This ensures exceptional user experiences, no matter where they are. Other features also include:
- Consistent responsiveness on battery power for 25 common tasks.
- Wake from sleep in less than 1 second (like, seriously! Less than a second!)
- 9.5 or more usage hours on laptops with full HD displays.
- A battery life of 4 or more hours in just a 30-minute charge on laptops with full HD displays.
The verdict
If you want an aesthetically pleasing beast of a workhorse laptop that’s built to last and pay itself for the approximately Php130,000 you’ll fork out for the unit, then get the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i. Indeed, it’s a laptop that will see you through when the going gets tough; the tough Yoga Pro 9i just gets going, and you can definitely count on it.
A bonus for individuals who want to make the most out of their purchase: Go and enjoy your new laptop and get the best from your device by signing up to Lenovo Premium Care! With this front-of-the-queue and straight-to-the-experts customer support service, Lenovo provides you peace of mind and faster solutions so your focus is entirely on things that matter to you.
The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is available at Lenovo Exclusive Stores or authorized resellers nationwide at an SRP of ₱134,995.00. To learn more about the Lenovo Pro 9i’sfeatures, visit Lenovo’s website.
This review, while paid, has been objectively done by members of INQUIRER.net BrandRoom.
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