Lenovo Yoga: New notebook generation with fast CPUs, USB 4 and OLED

Lenovo is relaunching its Yoga notebooks, most notably with the latest processors from AMD and Intel: Four models appear with AMD’s CPU series Ryzen 6000H and Ryzen 6000U (Rembrandt), five with Intel’s Core i-1200P and Core i-12000H (Age Lake). All use high 16:10 monitors and LPDDR5 memory, which works faster and more economically than DDR5 RAM, but is always solidly soldered.

The AMD devices come with something new: All models have a USB 4 port that, like the Thunderbolt 4, transmits data at up to 40 Gbit / s, charges a connected device (Power Delivery 3.0) and emits a DisplayPort 1.4 image signal. So the functional advantage of the Intel models with Thunderbolt 4 gradually disappears.

In addition, the 2022 generation should become more sustainable. Lenovo supports green projects under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with each notebook purchased. The manufacturer offsets the CO emissions from production, shipping and an average value over a period of use of five years.

Top model with recycled materials

With the Yoga Slim 9i, Lenovo also uses partially recycled aluminum and recycled plastic – a rather atypical approach for top models. The laptop uses either the Core i7-1280P with 14 cores or the Core i5-1240P with 12 cores and can be configured with up to 32 GB of RAM and a PCI Express 4.0 SSD of up to 1 TB. Initially, Lenovo did not use dedicated graphics chips, but those interested can choose Intel’s entry-level GPU Arc 350M from the second batch onwards.

Lenovo only releases the Yoga Slim 9i with 14-inch OLED screens that completely cover the DCI-P3 color space. The 4K version with 3840 × 2400 pixels shows 60 Hertz, the OLED screen with 2880 × 1800 pixels is faster at 90 Hertz. On the connectivity side, the notebook is spartan: There are three Thunderbolt 4s in the form of Type-C ports and an audio jack. If you need more, connect adapters or docking stations.

picture 1 from 37

Choice between AMD and Intel

The other Yoga notebooks offer a choice between AMD and Intel processors, but Lenovo configures them differently. Yoga 7, for example with a Ryzen 6000U CPU, uses a 14-inch screen with the option of OLED technology. The Yoga Slim 7i Carbon, on the other hand, is smaller by 13.3 inches and can only be configured with IPS panels.

The Yoga Slim 7 Pro is unique with its choice of hardware: AMD’s 35-watt processors up to the eight-core Ryzen 9 6900HS sit inside, but without a dedicated GPU. Although the battery is quite small at 61 watt hours, the configuration according to the manufacturer is sufficient for 13 hours of video playback.

The more expensive Pro models combine Ryzen 6000HS CPUs with GeForce graphics chips from Nvidia, up to RTX 3050 Ti. The old GeForce RTX 2050 in Intel notebook Yoga Slim 7i Pro (14 “) is curious. In the 16-inch model of If desired, Lenovo can accommodate Intel’s Arc GPU A370M in 7i Pro.

Most Yoga notebooks will start shipping in July 2022. Prices for the basic configurations range from 1000 to 1900 euros.

(mma)