Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition packs AI tools at $1,440

Lenovo’s Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition positions itself as a MacBook Pro competitor, featuring AI-powered productivity tools, a vibrant OLED display, and solid battery life at a discounted price of $1,440. The laptop integrates artificial intelligence features designed to enhance workplace productivity, though its lightweight design comes with performance trade-offs compared to more powerful alternatives.

What you should know: The Yoga 9i Aura Edition combines convertible functionality with AI-driven features that aim to improve user experience and productivity.

• The “Aura Edition” designation refers to a suite of AI tools including Smart Share for seamless file transfer between smartphones and laptops, and Smart Modes accessible via F9 key.
• Wellness mode provides posture checks and eye strain warnings through the webcam, while Attention mode silences notifications for focused work sessions lasting 10 minutes to four hours.
• The laptop features a 2.8K OLED touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rate, anti-glare coating, and Display HDR True Black 1000 for enhanced visual quality.

Key hardware specs: The review unit houses Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB RAM, and Intel Arc graphics in a lightweight convertible form factor.

• Port selection includes two Thunderbolt 4 inputs, USB-C, USB-A, and headphone jack.
• Battery life reaches nearly 12 hours under Best Power Efficiency mode, extending to 15 hours with Battery Saver activated.
• 30-minute charging brings the battery to 43% capacity.

Performance trade-offs: Benchmark testing reveals the Aura Edition underperforms compared to Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 9i in processing-intensive tasks.

• PCMark 10 scores: Yoga 9 Aura Edition (6,562) vs. Yoga Slim 9i (7,341).
• Cinebench R23 results: Aura Edition (6,415) vs. Slim 9i (10,430).
• The laptop handled a 50-tab browser test adequately but showed slowdown at maximum capacity.

Design improvements: Notable upgrades from previous models include enhanced webcam placement and expanded trackpad functionality.

• Traditional webcam placement above the screen replaces the problematic camera-under-display design, resulting in better 5MP video quality for calls.
• Wider trackpad covers approximately half the wrist rest area, providing improved cursor control.
• Cosmic Blue color scheme replaces the previous Tidal Teal finish.

Pricing and alternatives: Starting at $1,600 with current $160 discount, the laptop offers customization options for storage and display upgrades.

• Configuration options include 1TB SSD with 4K OLED touchscreen at higher price points.
• ZDNET recommends the Yoga Slim 9i for users prioritizing performance over AI features.
• HP EliteBook X G1a suggested as alternative outside Lenovo’s ecosystem.