Lenovo Yoga Book 9i review: Dual monitors on the go

IDG / Chris Hoffman

IDG / Chris Hoffman

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i has a retail price of $1,999, and it includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 155U CPU, Intel integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB solid-state drive for storage.

This PC’s Intel Core Ultra 7 155U is a little different from the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU we’ve used on many laptops we’ve reviewed lately. Both are CPUs from Intel’s new Meteor Lake line of processors, but the U model – as featured in this laptop – is more focused on power-efficiency. Specifically, the 155U processor here has a lower TDP (thermal design power,) which means it will generate less heat. It also has fewer cores than its 155H cousin.

Additionally, the 155U has less powerful integrated graphics hardware than the 155H laptops. The integrated Intel graphics here isn’t branded as “Intel Arc” like on those 155H systems: it’s just “Intel graphics.” This laptop’s hardware is more focused on power efficiency and heat dissipation, which makes sense when you realize you’re getting two OLED displays attached via a hinge. Those are going to use more power than a typical laptop with just a single screen.

You do get a neural processing unit (NPU) for accelerating AI tasks as part of Intel’s Core Ultra platform. Windows can’t do much with it yet, but it’s future-proof if Microsoft starts requiring it for future Windows AI features, as we expect the company to.

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155U
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x-7467
• Graphics/GPU: Integrated Intel graphics
• Display: Two 13.3-inch 2.8K (2880×1800) 60Hz HDR OLED displays with touch
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
• Webcam: 1440p webcam
• Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps ports with USB Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 2.1
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: IR camera for Windows Hello
• Battery capacity: 80 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 11.78 x 8.03 x 0.63 inches
• Weight: 2.95 lbs
• MSRP: $1,999 as tested

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (Gen 9): Design and build quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo Yoga Book keyboard, lower position" class="wp-image-2288036" width="1200" height="904" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i stands out in an ocean of black and silver laptops. It’s available in what Lenovo calls a “Tidal Teal” colorway – a subdued but different-looking color. The laptop as well as the included folio case, external keyboard, stylus, and mouse all share this color. The chassis has a lot of rounded edges – it’s nice to look at and feels nice to hold.

The design is very different from the average clamshell laptop. You’re getting two beautiful OLED screens attached via a hinge that can rotate 360 degrees. The hinge feels very solid – it can hold the laptop’s screens in all kinds of angles without any wobble.

Lenovo also bundles a folio stand, a Bluetooth keyboard, an active pen stylus, and a mouse with the laptop. When you’re not using it, the folio stand wraps around the keyboard and has a nice loop to hold the stylus, which makes it easy to travel with all the accessories and keep them together.

You can use the Yoga Book 9i in a wide variety of configurations, including:

• As a standard clamshell laptop without any accessories, using the bottom half as a touch keyboard when necessary.
• As a clamshell laptop with the Bluetooth keyboard magnetically attached to the bottom.
• Using the folio stand to hold the laptop up, positioning the screens either in landscape or portrait orientations.
• In tent mode, giving a presentation on the back of your laptop while seeing your notes on the front of your laptop.