2024 Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Review: Touchscreen Laptop Built for Professionals

In the fast-paced world of technology, Lenovo continues to solidify its reputation for delivering high-end, reliable devices. One such powerhouse that’s capturing attention in 2024 is the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i. With a blend of professional-grade performance and innovative design, this 16-inch touchscreen laptop sets a new benchmark for users who demand both power and portability. In this in-depth review, we’ll dive into the specifications, design, performance, and overall usability of the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i, while focusing on why this machine is a perfect fit for professionals seeking versatility.

We’ll also touch on the pros and cons, helping potential buyers make an informed decision.

Key Specifications of Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i

Design and Build: A Professional’s Delight

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i comes in at 2 kg, which is considered reasonable given its 16-inch size. The laptop is made from aluminum, giving it a premium feel and durability without relying on cheaper materials like polycarbonate. The military-grade certification further ensures its sturdiness, making it a solid choice for professionals who travel frequently or need a reliable machine.

• Rounded Edges for Aesthetic Appeal: One of the standout design elements is its smooth, rounded edges, which provide a unique and premium look.
• Touchscreen Functionality: Unlike many laptops in the market, the Yoga Pro 9i is equipped with a touchscreen display, although it only opens up to 180 degrees. While this might seem limiting compared to the 360-degree hinges found on other Yoga models, it still offers a wide range of usability for presentations, drawing, and media consumption.
• Durable Hinges: The hinge quality is top-notch, providing a sturdy experience even when using the touchscreen. This ensures that professionals won’t have to worry about a wobbly or fragile display.

Powerhouse Performance with Intel’s Core Ultra 96 5H

At the heart of the Yoga Pro 9i lies Intel’s Core Ultra 96 5H processor. This CPU is designed for serious multitasking and handling resource-heavy applications. It features:

• 16 cores and 22 threads, ideal for multitasking and running professional applications.
• 6 P-Cores, 8 E-Cores, and 2 LP-Cores: This architecture allows it to efficiently balance high-performance tasks like video editing or AI-based processes, while also conserving power during lighter operations.

For professionals working in fields like graphic design, AI, or even light video editing, this processor provides power-efficient performance without generating too much heat or consuming too much power.

GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 – The Right Balance

While the Yoga Pro 9i isn’t designed purely for gaming, it does feature a 6GB NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU. With a 100W TGP, this GPU can handle demanding tasks, but with some limitations:

• It’s not optimized for high-end gaming but works perfectly for light to moderate gaming at 3.2K resolution.
• In professional tasks like video rendering or image processing, the NVIDIA GPU proves to be a solid performer.

For professionals who occasionally game or require a reliable GPU for AI rendering, the RTX 4060 offers a balanced performance.

Display: 3.2K PureSight Mini-LED – Immersive and Bright

The 2024 Yoga Pro 9i comes with a 3.2K PureSight Mini-LED display featuring a 165Hz refresh rate. The display offers:

• 16:10 aspect ratio for extra screen real estate, perfect for productivity tasks.
• 165Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals during gaming or creative tasks.
• Mini-LED technology provides deeper blacks, higher brightness, and HDR support, making this laptop ideal for media consumption and professional video/photo editing.
• Touchscreen Experience: While the touchscreen is responsive, some users might find its usage uncomfortable. Due to its 180-degree hinge limit, using the touchscreen can feel awkward when the screen isn’t fully flat or rotated. Additionally, the display has some reflectiveness, but its brightness levels compensate well, especially for indoor use.

Benchmarks: Real-World Performance

To understand how the Yoga Pro 9i performs in real-world scenarios, we ran several benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23 Single-Core: 18,000
• Cinebench R23 Multi-Core: 19,000
• Geekbench Single-Core: 2,500
• Geekbench Multi-Core: 14,000
• 3DMark Timespy: 9,000
• Blender GPU Benchmark: 7,000

These numbers reflect the Yoga Pro 9i’s capability to handle professional tasks like rendering, simulation, and multitasking. However, when it comes to gaming, the GPU performance is slightly lower, especially for AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or RDR2.

Gaming on Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i: Not Built for Hardcore Gamers

While the Yoga Pro 9i isn’t marketed as a gaming laptop, its hardware allows it to play some of the latest games at 3.2K resolution. Here are the results from gaming benchmarks:

• GTA V: 80-90 FPS at high settings (3.2K resolution).
• Forza Horizon 5: Average of 57 FPS with DLSS enabled.
• RDR2: 30-50 FPS with DLSS and high settings.
• Cyberpunk 2077: 30-45 FPS on ultra settings at 3.2K resolution.

For casual gaming, the RTX 4060 delivers decent performance, but if you’re looking for high-end gaming, you might need to lower the resolution or reduce settings to achieve smoother gameplay.

Battery Life and Charging: Adequate for a Powerful Laptop

Battery life is one of the critical factors for professionals on the go. The Yoga Pro 9i offers around 5 hours of usage on average, depending on factors like:

• Refresh rate: Higher refresh rates drain the battery faster.
• Display brightness: Lowering brightness extends battery life.
• Task intensity: Resource-heavy applications like rendering or gaming shorten the battery cycle.

Charging takes approximately 1 hour to reach full capacity, which is fast for a laptop of this caliber.

Ports and Connectivity: Plenty to Offer

For professionals who need multiple connectivity options, the Yoga Pro 9i doesn’t disappoint. Key connectivity features include:

• Wi-Fi 6E: Ensures fast and stable internet connectivity.
• Bluetooth 5.3: Perfect for connecting peripherals and wireless accessories.
• HDMI 2.0: Allows easy connection to external monitors.
• 6 Stereo Speakers: This machine comes with a 6-speaker stereo system, which includes 2W speakers placed around the keyboard and four 2W tweeters. The sound quality is impressive, especially when paired with Vantage software for custom sound tweaking.

Keyboard and Trackpad: Soft, Spacious, and Responsive

The Yoga Pro 9i excels in terms of user comfort. The keyboard is backlit with three brightness modes that can be controlled via the Fn + Space key.

• 1.5mm key travel: Ideal for fast, comfortable typing.
• Large trackpad: Offers precise control and supports multi-gesture input without any noticeable flex.

Conclusion: Is the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Worth It?

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is a near-perfect laptop for professionals who demand power, portability, and a sleek design. It excels in professional use cases, with its Intel Core Ultra 96 5H processor and RTX 4060 GPU ensuring smooth performance across a wide range of tasks. Although it’s not a hardcore gaming laptop, it can handle games reasonably well with some settings adjustments.

The 3.2K touchscreen is a fantastic addition for media creators, though the 180-degree hinge might limit its use for some. The battery life, while not extraordinary, is sufficient for most day-to-day professional tasks.

Pros:

• Premium design with military-grade durability.
• Powerful Intel and NVIDIA hardware for professional use.
• Stunning 3.2K Mini-LED display with 165Hz refresh rate.
• Touchscreen capability for enhanced productivity.

Cons:

• Battery life could be better.
• Slightly heavy for a portable machine.
• Limited hinge flexibility compared to other Yoga models.

If you’re a professional looking for a versatile, high-performance laptop that delivers both aesthetically and functionally, the 2024 Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i should be at the top of your list.