The Lenovo Yoga E book 9i is an progressive and distinctive dual-screen laptop computer that truly works and is sensible in sure use instances.
Not surprisingly, the Yoga E book 9i has been making waves because it was launched at CES 2023 this previous January. Microsoft followers instantly in contrast it to the software program big’s canceled Floor Neo product, which is sensible, although the Yoga delivers rather more than Microsoft promised. It additionally expands the definition of a 2-in-1, convertible, or reworking PC—what Lenovo typically manufacturers with the Yoga model—dramatically. And that’s as a result of the 2 shows can be utilized in a myriad of configurations, or utilization modes, every of which solutions some want.
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Design
The Yoga E book 9i is nearly all in regards to the dual-screen design. I imply, have a look at it. With its two shows and a number of utilization mode decisions, the Yoga isn’t simply distinctive, it’s off the charts. And so I’m specializing in the design of this PC rather more than I usually do in different opinions. It’s simply entrance and middle, and probably the most intriguing factor in regards to the Yoga.
Earlier than attending to the various alternative ways by which you should use this reworking surprise, it’s value noting that Lenovo’s a long time of premium PC excellence have properly knowledgeable the Yoga E book 9i, as has its most up-to-date premium design language. Closed, the Yoga resembles different premium Lenovo PCs, with its elegant Tidal Teal aluminum physique, a type of darkish greenish blue that I actually like, and curved, polished edges. This phantasm, that the Yoga is only a regular laptop computer, is pushed residence by the truth that the 2 sides, the 2 components that every home a show, should not identically thick. As a substitute, the aspect that homes the webcam is thinner than the opposite, simply as with a typical laptop computer.
However it’s not a typical laptop computer. Whenever you open the Yoga E book 9i as you’ll a standard, you might be greeted by a curious sight: the highest half of the opened PC holds a 13.3-inch show and its webcam is housed in Lenovo’s now-familiar “reverse notch” (as I consider it), whereas the underside half, which usually holds the keyboard and touchpad, additionally holds a 13.3-inch show that’s an identical to the opposite. It’s a bit bizarre, sufficient in order that I might really feel my mind making an attempt to know this error it was seeing.
As you open the, um, lid (actually, the highest or left half), the PC wakes up or activates, and solely that high half shows something: Home windows and the PC’s firmware solely “see” the highest show—which I’ll begin calling the first show—throughout boot-up and the show of the sign-in screens.
This raises the primary challenge, until you’ve already connected, linked, and turned on the bundled keyboard: how do you sign up to Home windows (or, if that is your first time utilizing it, full the first-run expertise)? One apparent reply can be acquainted to anybody who’s used a PC like a pill: you utilize multitouch on the first show and, the place mandatory, the contact keyboard or PIN. (I point out an eight-finger gesture beneath; that doesn’t work on the lock and sign-in screens.)
When you’ve signed into Home windows, the secondary show (the underside show in clamshell mode) lights up. And what you see right here will depend upon whether or not you’ve linked the keyboard and the way you’ve linked the keyboard. As I’ll clarify beneath, you should use the keyboard indifferent from the PC solely, because it’s a standard wi-fi Bluetooth machine. Or, you possibly can place the keyboard on the secondary display and largely use the PC like a standard single-screen PC.
So, let’s take into account some utilization modes, beginning with the normal clamshell type issue, by which the Yoga E book 9i emulates a mainstream laptop computer. To realize this, you merely orient the 2 shows in an “L,” with the first display on the highest so its webcam is correctly positioned. Then, you place the bundled Bluetooth keyboard on the highest of the underside display, the place a laptop computer’s keyboard can be and the place it’s held in place by magnets. Whenever you achieve this, the a part of the underside show that isn’t lined by the keyboard turns right into a software-based touchpad with two buttons.
Regardless of being probably the most acquainted type issue—and the one most will need to use on airplanes and different cramped locations—it’s in some ways the least best. The keyboard is elevated above the highest of the secondary show by its personal thickness, after all, which feels a bit bizarre, however the screen-based touchpad is extra problematic. Tapping typically doesn’t register as a click on, and I felt friction from the display as I dragged my fingers throughout it once I used it to maneuver the mouse cursor or drag-and-drop.
However the weirdest drawback is due, most probably, to how Home windows works, as a result of the system nonetheless sees the secondary show as a show on this mode although the keyboard bodily blocks over half of it. And so if you happen to launch an app that beforehand opened on that show, it would seem on that show, underneath the keyboard and the software-based touchpad. Doy.
Tied to that, if you happen to configure the Taskbar to point out app icons solely on the show on which they seem, as I do, you received’t get any visible indication that an app hidden on the secondary show even launched accurately. I found this after making an attempt a number of instances to relaunch an app I didn’t suppose was working, once I lastly yanked the keyboard off the show and located it. However doing so removes the software program touchpad, leaving contact as the one technique to transfer the app. Which is subsequent to unattainable when the machine is on this utilization mode. Clearly, you may additionally use the bundled mouse to resolve this drawback and ignore the software program touchpad. That is likely to be for the very best regardless.
However one other resolution to this drawback is what I consider because the Yoga E book 9i’s second most acquainted utilization mode. Right here, once more, you possibly can emulate a standard clamshell laptop computer, however as an alternative of utilizing the {hardware} keyboard with the software program touchpad, you possibly can flip the underside show right into a full-screen digital keyboard and touchpad. To take action, faucet the underside display with all eight of your fingers directly, a gesture that’s a lot simpler to do than chances are you’ll imagine.
On this mode, you sort on the display as you may on an iPad’s digital keyboard, with the foremost exception that this model takes up your entire show and features a digital touchpad. That is surprisingly pure, however I attempted and failed to jot down a part of this evaluate that means and really feel that it’s greatest left for the occasional pecking, not steady typing. It’s higher than nothing, for positive, and placing the PC on this mode routinely strikes any apps that have been on the secondary show on the underside to the first show, which is sensible: on this mode, solely one of many shows is used as a show.
In fact, one doesn’t purchase a dual-display PC in order that they’ll disguise the second show or flip it right into a digital keyboard and touchpad. These type elements are clearly helpful and generally even mandatory, however what you actually need is the 2 shows. And right here, the Yoga E book 9i complies with two fascinating decisions, every of which requires you to unfold the bundled folio stand—it does double responsibility as a case for the PC’s Bluetooth keyboard and smartpen when in transit—and origami it right into a triangular form that may maintain the shows upright and optionally safe the keyboard to its base, once more utilizing magnets.
I’ve used varied origami-style instances with gadgets like a Kindle Hearth HD pill, they usually can generally be complicated at first because it’s not clear from the varied creases what you’re speculated to fold which means. However the model that comes with the Yoga E book 9i is pretty easy, nearly intuitive, and even those that battle with it would get used to it rapidly. Oddly, I had a more durable time folding it again into its keyboard-holding case form at first.
Within the least helpful of the 2 dual-screen configurations, you place a totally open Yoga E book 9i on the folio case in a horizontal configuration by which every show sits side-by-side in portrait orientation. That is fairly cool, although Home windows and its apps aren’t typically designed to work nicely in portrait mode, and every display appears tremendous tall and skinny due to their 16:10 side ratios. You have to the mouse on this mode, after all, and I discovered myself wishing there was a touchpad on the keyboard. However you may also detach the keyboard from the folio case’s base and sit again a bit, which is releasing.
I discovered the second dual-screen configuration to be the extra fascinating and helpful. Right here, you place the Yoga E book 9i on the folio case in a vertical configuration by which the principle show (with the webcam) sits on high of the second show, making a tall type issue with two landscape-mode shows.
This feels extra pure for just a few causes, the obvious being that Home windows and its apps feel and appear extra regular. However this tall configuration additionally places the webcam up excessive, which is good as a result of it prevents these regrettable under-chin view angles all of us hate a lot. And as with the earlier configuration, you will have a mouse, after all, and you may also detach the keyboard and sit again a bit.
You may as well use the Yoga 9i as a pill, the place you fold the system shut with the shows going through outwards. Whenever you achieve this, the first show (the one with the webcam) stays on whereas the opposite turns off. This works as with different 2-in-1s, the place it’s thick and heavy as a pill, however higher than nothing in case your objective is to jot down onscreen with the bundled smartpen or work together utilizing multitouch for no matter cause.
And let me not neglect that this PC can be used with the folio stand, Bluetooth keyboard, and mouse whereas within the pill type issue, creating a 3rd laptop-like type issue. I really like this higher than the opposite two laptop computer modes, although there’s no touchpad possibility, so you will have that mouse. It’s actually higher for typing.
This type of versatility is exclusive within the moveable PC area, and the dual-screen configurations are notably compelling, even with that enormous speaker bar overlaying the hinge within the center and separating the shows. This isn’t a difficulty because the dual-screen configurations we’ve all used have shows which can be typically a lot additional aside than this. In case you journey with a laptop computer and a USB-C exterior show, you realize what I imply.
However the query right here is whether or not this versatility is sufficient to overcome a number of the weirdnesses of this PC. For me, the reply is, not fairly: I’d a lot reasonably see an built-in touchpad on the keyboard, for instance, and I’d by no means use many of the obtainable utilization modes. However I really feel like Lenovo is on to one thing right here. The place earlier dual-screen laptops felt gimmicky and had restricted enchantment, I guess the Yoga E book 9i will discover an viewers. And that’s very true on this hybrid work world the place those that may need beforehand used two shows solely when docked at a desk or by touring with a USB-C show. The Yoga provides you two shows always, and it travels nicely: l actually simply flew with it to Mexico in my laptop computer bag. Having to handle the folio case (with its keyboard and smartpen) and a mouse is a little bit of a burden, I assume. However it’s not horrible, and a few may get away with leaving these behind when cell.
Shows
As you’ll count on, the twin 13.3-inch OLED show panels are the star of the Yoga E book 9i {hardware} present. They’re an identical, every providing 2.8K (2880 x 1800) decision in a 16:10 side ratio, Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR capabilities, and assist for multitouch and smartpen, and every outputs 400 nits of brightness.
Briefly, they appear nearly good for the PC’s dimension and flexibility, and whereas every is on the shiny aspect with brilliant colours and deep blacks, I discovered the readability good for productiveness work. In addition they supply large viewing angles. And the highest and backside bezels are fairly chunky, although the aspect bezels are notably skinny.
Inner parts
The Yoga E book 9i might look radical on the skin, however inside this dual-screen surprise is the beating coronary heart of a standard Ultrabook. However there’s one distinctive factor about this PC’s innards: they’re not notably configurable. And that implies that all Yoga E book 9i house owners will get the identical thirteenth Gen Intel Core i7-1355U processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16 GB of quick LPDDR5X RAM, and 512 GB of PCIe SSD Gen 4 storage, a minimum of for now.
With the addition of 28-watt P-series processors within the earlier technology of Intel Core chipsets and the shift to a brand new hybrid structure, I used to be nervous that 15-watt components just like the Core i7-1355U processors on this PC would underperform their predecessors. However if you happen to comply with my PC opinions, you realize that’s not been my expertise, and I discovered the Yoga E book 9i’s configuration to be good for the productiveness use instances dictated by its type issue and varied utilization modes.
In the middle of utilizing the Yoga, largely vertically on the folio case, I didn’t expertise a lot in the best way of noise or warmth, however then I didn’t actually push this PC very onerous. There’s one thing in regards to the type issue that favors normal productiveness duties, versus writing code or modifying movies. However if you happen to do stress it, you possibly can hear the followers kick in. Nothing out of the abnormal.
Connectivity
The Yoga E book 9i presents trendy Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, however no mobile information choices. Every little thing labored usually and with out hiccup.
Ports and growth
Given its distinctive and skinny type issue and its a number of utilization eventualities, it’s maybe not stunning that Lenovo went for a minimalist number of completely trendy growth ports, all of which can be found on the thicker secondary show aspect of issues.
There, you can find one Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Sort-C port on the left and subsequent to a well-hidden energy button. I didn’t want to make use of that button all that a lot, really.
After which there are two Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Sort-C ports on the correct aspect, each of which assist always-on cell machine charging.
Total, I’ve no points right here, but it surely’s value noting that a number of the Yoga E book’s utilization modes can cowl up a number of the ports, equivalent to when the screens are vertically oriented within the side-by-side utilization mode. I assume wi-fi peripherals are your pal.
Audio and video
When you get previous the 2 shows, the Yoga E book 9i’s most unusual visible component is one which can be acquainted to those that bought earlier Yogas, just like the Yoga 9i 14 I reviewed final yr: it encompasses a rotating speaker bar that covers up the big and stable hinge between the 2 shows. The concept right here is an effective one, in that its 4 Bowers & Wilkins audio system—two 2-watt tweeters and two 1-watt woofers—ought to ship first rate sound matter which utilization mode you configure.
However in real-world utilization, it relies upon. When the speaker bar is oriented horizontally, as it’s in pill, clamshell, and vertically stacked dual-display modes, it presents crisp, clear, and distortion-free stereo sound with a pleasant Dolby Atmos atmospheric increase and good-enough peak quantity for actions motion pictures. Music, likewise, sounds terrific, with wonderful stereo separation.
In case you use the PC with the 2 shows side-by-side in portrait mode, with the speaker bar performing as a vertical border between the 2, you get the identical crisp audio high quality, but it surely’s squished right into a narrower sound stage that sounds constrained. It’s OK for music and different audio, I assume, however nobody would ever need to watch a film like this, nor would the expertise be any good regardless.
It’s additionally value highlighting that there is no such thing as a headphone/microphone jack. This has develop into acceptable with smartphones, however I think many PC customers will count on this port.
The hybrid work performance is fascinating. Lenovo delivers only a single webcam within the Yoga E book 9i, regardless of its a number of surfaces, but it surely’s a high-quality 5 MP unit with easy brightness, distinction, and auto publicity controls in Lenovo Vantage as an alternative of a full suite of AI-backed capabilities that over-complicates so many PCs today. (Even Home windows 11’s Settings app presents extra digicam controls.) However you possibly can obtain a Good Look software from Lenovo Vantage if you happen to’d like much more management.
There’s additionally a noise-canceling microphone array on faucet that’s satisfactory for work conferences, although the standard should differ a bit between the obtainable utilization modes. (I didn’t utterly check this, sorry, as I now not have common work conferences and didn’t need to topic others to this experimentation.)
This mixture has some good attributes and a few unhealthy. The digicam high quality is terrific, even in low mild situations, and it presents Home windows Hiya facial recognition capabilities. However there’s no digicam shutter in any respect, not on the keyboard, and never even a handbook slider. There may be, a minimum of, a microphone toggle key within the keyboard’s perform key row.
Keyboard, mouse, and pen
Although Lenovo makes a number of the greatest cell keyboards out there, there was little it might do to beat the restrictions of the small Bluetooth keyboard that comes with the Yoga E book 9i. It’s full-sized, a minimum of, with medium key throws and cozy, scalloped keys. However there’s no backlighting, no wrist relaxation, and no built-in touchpad, and heavy touch-typists will need to look elsewhere, for a special PC most probably, however maybe only for a special wi-fi keyboard.
Since there’s no touchpad, Lenovo bundles an inexpensive silver Bluetooth mouse with the Yoga E book 9i, about all I can say is that it’s higher than nothing. It has two principal buttons and a scroll wheel, and it may be configured to work with two totally different gadgets through a {hardware} swap on its backside. A small button in its center apparently configures its monitoring decision between three values, however I didn’t discover a use for that.
The bundled two-button smartpen is full-sized and curiously extra just like the smartpens that HP bundles with its 2-in-1s and by no means just like the tiny styluses that Lenovo typically provides and so it presents a way more pure expertise for note-takers and artists.
The nicest factor about this setup, maybe the one good factor, is that the keyboard and smartpen may be transported whereas wrapped up inside and on the origami case whereas that’s folded up. It’s a pleasant little bundle, although the mouse is on it’s on.
Safety
There’s not a lot happening within the safety division: the Yoga E book 9i presents Home windows Hiya facial recognition capabilities, however not fingerprint recognition. There’s no privateness shutter for the webcam, however a function referred to as Zero contact login senses you approaching the PC and wakes it up so you possibly can sign up much more seamlessly. A associated function referred to as Zero contact lock does the reverse if you stand up and stroll away.
Sustainability
I wasn’t capable of acquire any sustainability information for the Yoga E book 9i, sorry.
Portability
Regardless of its dual-screen design and indifferent keyboard, mouse, smartpen, and origami case, the Yoga E book 9i is sort of moveable, with its mild 3.15-pound weight (physique solely), small 13.3-inch dimensions, and the tidiness of the case holding the keyboard and the pen for journey. However I used to be curious to see how the Yoga E book 9i fared with real-world battery life given its two brilliant and battery-draining OLED show panels. Would the battery’s massive 80-watt-hour capability make a distinction?
It most likely helped, however ultimately, the OLED panels received this battle, with the Yoga E book delivering a median of just below 5 hours of battery life in my real-world utilization. That’s not nice, clearly, but it surely’s not that far off from the 7.3 hours Lenovo guarantees. And I don’t see many individuals utilizing this PC whereas totally disconnected anyway. As a substitute, it’s like a docked laptop computer with a second show setup which you can take with you and use somewhere else.
Fortuitously, the bundled 65-watt charger, a small wall-mounted unit, can fast-charge the PC through any of its USB-C ports.
Software program
The Lenovo ships with Home windows 11 Professional and Lenovo sprinkles in just a few utilities and a few distressing nagware. There are 4 Lenovo-branded utilities, three Intel utilities, a superfluous note-taking app referred to as Good Notice, Dolby Entry, and a utility referred to as Yoga E book 9i Consumer Heart that helps customers stand up and working with this new distinctive machine. And let’s not neglect McAfee LiveSafe.
However Lenovo additionally engages in a sequence of upsells, usually through its Vantage system configuration app, which pops up an annoying litany of notifications making an attempt to get you to spend extra. It’s going to attempt to promote you guarantee upgrades plus added providers like Lenovo Good Efficiency ($29.99 per yr) and Lenovo Good Lock ($49.99) and persuade you to obtain software program from companions like Amazon, fuboTV, Dropbox, and WhatsApp. There was a pop-up advert for Adobe, for crying out loud. Come on, Lenovo.
However there’s a extra constructive and mandatory Lenovo software program contribution right here, and whereas it may be a bit busy, I get the necessity: as you progress home windows round on the 2 shows, Lenovo pops up in-place ideas that specify what you are able to do from a placement and structure perspective, together with an in-place Snap pop-up just like the one you see if you mouse over a window’s Restore/Maximize button. That is helpful given the issue of app administration on this PC’s distinctive dual-screen configurations. However I by no means discovered a technique to flip it off.
Pricing and configurations
The Lenovo Yoga E book 9i prices $1999, assuming you’ll find it: on the time of this writing, it’s unavailable on Lenovo.com. It is available in precisely one configuration—Intel Core i7-1355U, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and two 28K 13.3-inch shows—and in a single colour, Tidal Teal.
Suggestions and conclusions
The Lenovo Yoga E book 9i falls into an fascinating class in that anybody who see this PC will know whether or not they need it instantly. It’s fairly usable in its dual-screen utilization modes, and that’s notably true of the stacked vertical show structure. However it’s curious how the Yoga’s versatility is offset by the awkwardness of utilizing it like a standard laptop computer, the place no mixture of its Bluetooth keyboard and digital touchpad (or the bundled mouse) works in addition to the true factor.
Put merely, it is determined by what you want. In case you do a number of typing, as I do, you might be higher off with a extra conventional Ultrabook or laptop computer. However if you happen to want twin shows and solely sort sometimes, otherwise you want a smartpen for artwork or note-taking, the Yoga E book 9i deserves a glance.
I really like that Lenovo retains experimenting with PC type elements, however that is the primary dual-screen moveable PC to make the transition from an experiment to a viable product. It’s the very best dual-screen laptop computer I’ve ever used, for positive.
At-a-glance
Professionals
Distinctive and versatile dual-display design with a number of utilization modes
Typical Lenovo premium moveable PC construct high quality
Excessive-quality OLED shows
Killer origami folio case doubles as a stand and journey helper
Three Thunderbolt 3/USB4 Sort-C ports
Crisp, clear, distortion-free audio from rotating soundbar
Glorious 5 MP webcam
Bundled Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and smartpen
Cons
Not one of the conventional clamshell utilization modes are best
Keyboard lacks backlighting, a wrist relaxation, and a touchpad
Utilizing the keyboard on the secondary show doesn’t disable the show, hiding some apps
No headphone/microphone jack
Lackluster battery life
Too many nagging pop-up notifications for added price providers