Flagship or budget Windows 11 convertible?

• Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023)

  The Lenovo 2023 Yoga 9i has a 13th generation Intel Core i7 processor and a stunning OLED display. It also has beautifully polished corners and a tape hinge down the middle.

  Positives

  • Nice design
  • OLED screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz
  • Good sound quality

  cons

  • There is no pen storage
  • Alien hotkeys
  • beloved

• Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023)

  $550 $885 Save $335

  The 14-inch and 16-inch Lenovo Yoga 7i come with 13th generation Intel CPUs. There aren’t many design differences from previous generations, and it’s still a great 2-in-1.

  Positives

  • Great design
  • at a reasonable price
  • Good choice of port

  cons

  • List view
  • heavy
  • Huge 16-inch model

The Yoga line products are the top ones to consider if you are looking for a new daily laptop from Lenovo. This convertible yoga has a lot to love. There’s the flagship Yoga 9i (2023) that has a luxuriously polished design, and also the Yoga 7i (2023) that’s quieter, but still has a great design you’re sure to love and amazing performance at an affordable price.

These are just some of the basic things about these amazing devices. The screens are different, as is the daily performance. So, if you’re torn between the Yoga 9i and Yoga 7i, we’re here to help explain everything that makes each device unique and help you decide which one is right for your money.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) vs. Yoga 7i (2023): Price, specs, and availability

Both devices are now available for sale. The Yoga 9i (2023) is Lenovo’s flagship, so it carries a hefty price tag starting at $1,400 on Lenovo.com and at Best Buy. On the other hand, Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023) comes with a lower price tag. We’ve seen it for $920 at Lenovo.com and $1,000 at Best Buy. You can see the various configuration options and specifications available in the table below.

• 	Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023)	Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023)
  Brand	Lenovo	Lenovo
  color	Storm Gray, oatmeal	Storm Gray
  storage	Up to 1TB SSD	Up to 1TB PCIe SSD Gen4
  CPU	Up to 13th generation Intel Core i7-1360P processors	14-inch model: 13th-generation Intel Core i5-1335U or Core i7-1335U / 16-inch model: 13th-generation Intel Core i5-1335U or Intel Core i5-1340P, Intel Core i7-1355, or Intel Core i7-1360p
  memory	Up to 16GB LPDDR5-5200	Up to 16GB LPDDR5 5200MHz
  OS	Windows 11 Home operating system	Windows 11 operating system
  ports	2 x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-C, 1 x USB Type-A, 3.5mm headphone jack	14-inch model: 1x USB A 3.2, 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x HDMI, microSD, headphone jack 16-inch model: / 2x USB A 3.2, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI, 1x microSD card, 1x headphone jack
  camera	Full HD 1080p + IR camera	1080p Windows Hello
  screen (size, resolution)	14-inch, 16:10, up to 4K OLED (3840 x 2400)	14″ model: 14″ 2.2K 2240 x 1400 resolution / 16″ model: 16″ 2.5K 2560 x 1600 or 1290 x 1200
  Weight	Starting at 3.09 pounds (1.4 kg)	14 inch model: 3.42 pounds / 16 inch model: 4.49 pounds
  GPU	Intel Iris Xe graphics (integrated)	Integrated Intel Xe graphics
  The dimension	12.52 x 9.06 x 0.6 in (318 x 230 x 15.25 mm)	14 inch model: 12.51 x 8.76 x 0.65 / 16 inch model: 14.25 x 9.84 x 0.66 inch
  Amplifiers	2 x 3W speakers (on the side), 2 x 2W tweeters (on the hinge)	2 x 2 watt speakers

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) vs. Yoga 7i (2023): Similar designs, dimmers, and different screen sizes

We’ll start with the most obvious aspect of Windows convertibles, which is the design. As we’ve pointed out before, the Yoga 9i (2023) is a more luxurious device. It has a lot of sparkles. It has shiny, brushed edges, and comes in either Storm Gray or Oatmeal. However, the Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023) is a bit softer. It lacks all the polish and is a standard Windows convertible with standard brushed aluminum sides.

Both are still slim and stylish looking devices. Other than that basic difference, you have to take into account the fact that the Yoga 9i (2023) only comes in at 14 inches. On the other side of things, the Yoga 7i (2023) has 16-inch and 14-inch models.

This is what distinguishes the lineup. The 14-inch Yoga 9i measures 12.52 inches wide and about 0.6 inches thick with a weight of 3.09 pounds. Meanwhile, the Yoga 7i has roughly the same dimensions as the 14-inch Yoga 9i, but is slightly heavier at 3.42 pounds. Then there’s the outside, the 16-inch Yoga 7i, which measures 14.25 inches long and weighs 4.49 pounds.

Of course, both are convertible, so you can use them in multiple ways. Flip the screen to tent, stand, tablet, and laptop modes if you like. This makes these great machines for watching YouTube, Netflix, and other series. However, the added extra weight on the 16-inch Yoga 7i could make this more of a hassle.

There is also a need to consider the ports in the design, things are a bit different. The 14-inch Yoga 7i has USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and a microSD card. The 14-inch Yoga 9i only has Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, and a headphone jack. The Yoga 9i lacks HDMI. And the larger 16-inch Yoga 7i will have an additional USB-A port.

And let’s not forget the speakers. The Yoga 9i (2023) has 3W speakers on the side and two 2W speakers on the hinge. The Yoga 7i only has two 2W speakers, so the sound will be fine, but not as loud as the Yoga 9i.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) vs. Yoga 7i (2023): OLED vs. LCD

The decisive factor that makes the Yoga 9i (2023) better than the Yoga 7i (2023) is the display. Yes, the Yoga 7i has a larger 16-inch screen if you need it, but the Yoga 9i uses OLED panels as standard. The base model Yoga 7i will blow the water when it comes to color accuracy and multimedia experiences. It even has a faster 90Hz refresh rate compared to the Yoga 7i’s 60Hz.

In case you were wondering, we tested the Yoga 9i display and got 100% sRGB, 96% NTSC, 98% Adobe RGB, and 100% P3. The 16-inch Yoga 7i we reviewed, meanwhile, achieved 63% of sRGB, 45% of NTSC, 47% of Adobe RGB, and 47% of P3.

Speaking of accuracy, the Yoga 9i really outperforms the Yoga 7i. You can pick up the Yoga 9i in a few different resolutions, either 2800 x 1800 or 3840 x 2400. All panels are OLED and support pen input. Meanwhile, the Yoga 7i has two different options. The 14-inch models have a display resolution of 2240 x 1400, and the 16-inch models have a display resolution of 2560 x 1600 or 1920 x 1200. If you need a laptop with extra pixels to see the tiniest details, the Yoga 9i is your best bet in present time. However, a 14-inch Yoga 7i with a better 2.8K OLED display is on the way, but we can’t find it on Lenovo’s website.

And what’s at the top of that screen? Well, both laptops have Windows Hello 1080p webcams. You don’t have to worry about your webcam quality on either device.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) vs. Yoga 7i (2023): P-series vs. U-series

Both devices share 13th generation Intel CPUs. However, the important thing to understand is that the Yoga 9i has the option of a single P-series CPU running at 28W, while the Yoga 7i has options from both the 15W U-series and 28W P-series. Of course, on the Yoga 7i that’s an upgrade you have to pay for, so the Yoga 9i is faster by default.

In fact, the CPUs in both laptops are hybrid CPUs with performance and efficiency cores, but the Yoga 9i has a slight advantage. 28W CPUs provide more power for light video editing and even light gaming, which 15W CPUs can’t do. You can see this in the chart below, where we compare results from both mobile devices.

Again, the differences between these CPUs are minimal. You probably won’t feel much different on everyday tasks like browsing the web, but if you have the extra cash, the Yoga 9i’s CPU gives you that extra gaming power if needed. Though, keep in mind that P-series CPUs are known to get very hot, and when under heavy load can throttle performance, which is an issue you don’t get in a U-series CPU. 16″ is larger and has better heat and cooling capacity.

You’ll want to buy the Yoga 9i (2023)

If you’re looking for a better Lenovo Yoga laptop, the Yoga 9i is it. You get a more vibrant OLED screen and a slightly faster CPU. This makes it ideal for everyday use for things like web browsing and office work, and you can also grab some light video and photo editing as well. It’s almost the better option of the two, even if it’s more expensive.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023)

The best overall choice

The Lenovo 2023 Yoga 9i has a 13th generation Intel Core i7 processor and a stunning OLED display. It also has beautifully polished corners and a tape hinge down the middle.

However, if you’re willing to sacrifice a stunning display and just need a simple convertible that isn’t overly fancy, you’ll love the Yoga 7i, especially since you’ll save a few hundred bucks.

Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023)

A more affordable choice

$550 $885 Save $335

The 14-inch and 16-inch Lenovo Yoga 7i come with 13th generation Intel CPUs. There aren’t many design differences from previous generations, and it’s still a great 2-in-1.