Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Shadow Black) Review: Leather, Glass & Metal

This is the review of the all new Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 by Andrew Marc David
#Lenovo #Yoga9i #Laptops

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Video Index:
00:00 Intro
01:45 Specs & Pricing
02:14 Unboxing, Build, & Size
03:14 Ports
03:58 Internals & User Upgradeability
04:22 Display
06:08 Webcam & Fingerprint Scanner
07:03 The Modes & Pen
07:49 Audio
08:11 Touchpad & Keyboard
08:47 Performance, Benchmarks & Gaming
09:33 Thermals, Surface Temps & Fan Noise
10:23 Battery Life & Charging
11:00 Pros & Cons
12:09 The Score
12:30 Final Thoughts

[PeanutsandPopcorn]

I've had this for about 8 months, and I've enjoyed it so far. There are some shortcomings that I've simply gotten used to at this point (or fixed), but overall, I love working on it now. Initially, the glass trackpad gave me fits due to its oversensitivity, but the more you use it, the more you unconsciously learn to avoid triggering unwanted actions.

I ran into three problems (which you'll see voiced from multiple owners): the trackpad sensitivity, the fingerprint reader working infrequently, and inconsistent wifi signals.

Like I said above, you'll just get used to the trackpad by typing differently (e.g., raising your hands when you type. I was a lazy typist, so I used to rest my wrists on the laptop's surface when I typed). I don't even think about it anymore. However, because the trackpad is pressure-sensitive, you have to hold your finger down harder than you might on other laptops if you're, say, for example, highlighting text. Its pressure sensitivity is slightly imprecise compared to a 'normal' trackpad but definitely livable.

The fingerprint reader was hit or miss with me, working about 50 percent of the time out of the box. Once I updated the drivers, that moved to about a 70 percent success rate. Then I realized one day that if my hands were cold, it wouldn't work. I haven't had an issue since.

The laptop's ability to hold a decent wifi signal out of the box was complete and total trash. Unless you were in the same room as the router, your signal strength would go up and down constantly, sometimes even going out altogether. This was usually the one thing that pushed people to return the laptop, which is entirely understandable. I'm not kidding... it was horrible.

That being said, I found a forum post that showed if you removed three small screws inside the laptop, then your laptop would have normal signal strength. Before I decided to return the laptop, I figured, 'why not.' It probably took me less than 15 minutes to remove the screws, and just like that... I had normal signal strength. It's been perfect ever since. IDK how Lenovo dropped the ball on something so crucial as wifi, but they did.

The laptop has been the best I've owned in at least ten years, even with those issues. The battery life is insane, the typing experience is excellent (soft key note with a ting of clickiness), and its performance is robust enough to run my favorite design programs (Affinity suite, lightroom, etc.) with no problems. Also, the speaker quality is the best I've ever heard.

[atyourbest]

That intro music, in the background when your vids just start—love it. 💯

[majinbuu]

I came here today after buying this laptop yesterday thanks for the awesome review sir.

[paulkoigi]

Hey, Andrew. Good to see you again. This is a really nice laptop Lenovo came up with. I love the leather cover, the HDR display, the sound bar and the processor performance. I still think Dell has the lead on the displays, though. The paucity of ports would be my main gripe with it, but at least it has 2 Th4 ports, so dongle life it is. Thanks for yet another awesome review, and keep up the awesome work 👍🏾

[jackoneil]

Another great review. Very professional delivery and coverage, but as someone who enjoins your videos and has worked in TV and movie production, might I suggest you look at addressing your lighting and grading to improve skin tones and shadows and highlights? Your lighting appears pretty harsh and to be lighting your face from below as much as above, accentuating your neck and chin and producing harsh and shiny skin tone, while also making your beard look unflattering. I might suggest doing a standard, soft three key light set up from slightly above. Also, raising your camera a few inches will improve your facial ascetics.

[zzlat_]

Your content just keeps getting better and better! Very nice review and great quality video :)

[jared]

Was waiting for this review ..another great review Andrew👌
Please do a comparison with the C940 (14) vs 9i (14) ...the chassis seem to be identical

[antonczerwinske]

I was already in love with the c940, but this new c9i is even better. I plan to buy one and use it with a eGPU, thunderbolt 4 improved eGPUs extremely, now that it is integrated in the cpu

[mohamedyusuf]

Excellent review with in-depth detail.

[alantrent]

I like this video. I am getting mine today like what you tested. Am looking forward especially after seeing your test of it.

[anthonypierson]

I got one of these for $900 open box at best buy. Top of the line except for storage. Bought a 130 watt usb hub to charge this and my oneplus since it didn't come with a charger. I think it's going to work great for college. Previously was using a gaming laptop - not a good experience. the 4k screen would provide plenty of screen real estate for coding and other tasks, and the display looks great. I initially had issues with playing 4k videos but driver updates fixed that. The pixel density is amazing and even on full brightness this thing lasts longer than the gaming laptop (which was 1080p) at minimum brightness.

[JasonHendry]

bought this for a super price, top model for 999.99 uk pounds and i get up to 200 uk pounds cashback two so posibly 800 uk pounds to 4k i7 1t. i love it. cant believe i held off because of hello in camera missing and the negative glass track pad and finger print opinions. After two weeks ive had no issues with track pad apart from my lack of laptop experience, finger print works everytime even though a ocasional smear finger left or right. but its under end button and i always hit it. windows hello in camera pointless to me because stupid me has manual shutter on all time and was a reason i wanted this one.

my only negatives is camera shutter is difficult to find and batter i wish it was double. id happily acept a 90 w battery and its weight to get more. age of empirs hd was 2.5 to 3 hours. video watching only seems to be 7-10 hours but not sure and browsing im yet to really find out. honestly by end of day my only wish is battery. its a small price to pay as machine is mostly for small journeys but at home often wish i had more. my tests were at 70 percent brightness. audio and picture being main reason i got this do nothing but amaze me.

[williamcohen]

Overall Nice PC. Microphone on this unit sounded good. The camera looked just slightly blurry but still okay. Anyway another great review. You looked like you fully recovered and in tip top shape. Take care.

[nadinek]

Thanks for the excellent review Andrew. Sorry you were ill; I was worried that you might be. The pen that comes with this computer doesn't look very comfortable for artists to use - circumference looks too small. I am used to using the iPencil...and the pen that came with the X-Pen Tablet - something to hold onto.

[jevieyt]

I had Lenovo Ideapad S540-13ARE, Lenovo is the best for budget premium laptops especially for the price.

[TonyMacina]

Between this beauty, the ultra light X1 Nano and the Slim 7, Lenovo have 3 different markets absolutely nailed. Remote worker? Have a less than 1kg ultraportable with good performance and a 3:2 display for productivity in the Nano. Style conscious or a creative? Have leather, metal and glass with great single core performance for day to day tasks, built in stylus, tablet modes and good integrated graphics in the 9i. Need something that ticks all the boxes below £1k? Have incredible multi core performance that matches or beats most on the market and great build quality in the Slim 7.

[PKP]

I prefer without the leather covering. Think a nice black aluminium matte finish would look slick.

[arnaubelmonte]

Hey AMD! Great review, as always!! I'm thinking of buying it... Just I wish they make a version with the upcoming Ryzen 5000U!!! Also... I'm very curious about Lenovo Yoga 6 (Ryzen as well). Are you planning to review it?? Good work and thanks!!

[tech_realm]

Looks gorgeous! Would've been nice to see AMD, not sure if there's an AMD model already out there though.
Anyway, 👍 on the review!

[theancientvoice]

Adaptive displays like in smartphones would make much more sense on this type of devices. Killer feature