What exactly are you looking for when it comes to a great laptop these days, and what will you use it for? For most people, these practically give you the same experience regardless of what it brings on paper.

Nowadays, it isn’t just a device for productivity during work hours; it’s also a full-fledged multimedia machine for after-work activities.

One such device that supposedly fits this description is the Lenovo Yoga 9i. As the recent addition to the Yoga series, the expectation is that it will deliver the same quality of performance and portability for any type of function.

Whether you’ll still be working from home or you’re making a trip to the office, the Yoga 9i should be a handy-dandy device to own.

But is it something worth investing your hard-earned savings in for the long run? For starters, here’s what you’re getting out of the Lenovo Yoga 9i:

All the balance you could ask for

Let’s get right down to it: the Lenovo Yoga 9i is a multimedia 2-in-1 machine at its core. Whether you’re looking for a work machine or a great laptop for entertainment, the Yoga 9i offers both of these functions and a lot more. Of course, it does this mostly because of the hardware this device rocks with right out of the box.

Inside the Yoga 9i is a 12th generation, Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM which handles most work tasks well. Also, you get 1TB worth of SSD storage which ideally provides faster load times.

Throughout its two-week usage, applications loaded up rather quickly, which is expected for a device like this. Although it only comes with built-in Intel Xeon graphics, so hardcore gaming isn’t recommended.

When you’re not in the mood to work all day, the Yoga 9i also provides a great viewing experience with its 14-inch 4K OLED touch display. As a 2-in-1 device, it’s also expected to have a touch display but this one truly shines with great color accuracy and usability outdoors.

Also, the Bowers & Wilkins soundbar speakers provide great audio quality while viewing videos in either Laptop, Tent, or Tablet modes.

The little things that make it great

The Yoga series always boasts a slimmer and lighter form factor compared to other Lenovo laptops. As far as the Yoga 9i is concerned, at around 1.4kg, it is one of the lightest 2-in-1 devices out there. Also, it sports a rather slim chassis which makes it a bit easier to bring around when you’re on the go.

Now, the Lenovo Yoga 9i comes in two colors, or designs: Shadow Black or Mica; the unit we received was the Shadow Black with a leather cover. If you’re someone who has sweaty or oily hands most of the time, this is definitely the color you’d go for.

What we’d caution against is the fact that only the lid is made up of leather as other parts of the device come in glass. While it does provide a premium look, it is an obvious fingerprint magnet.

Going back to that 4K OLED touch display, it feels responsive regardless of whatever mode you’re using it for. Partnered with the Lenovo Precision Pen included with the laptop, this is an ideal machine as well for both productivity and creativity. Also, the display also has that level of palm rejection when writing notes, which is a huge bonus when in Tablet mode.

A device that will keep you going and moving

In terms of battery life, the Lenovo Yoga 9i isn’t a slouch with moderate usage with an average of 10-11 hours. Compared to most ultrabooks, this is rather great considering that this comes with a 4K OLED panel that affects battery life significantly. If you’re only using this for work tasks at roughly 50 percent brightness, you can expect this to be a bit longer.

With a 65W USB-C charger, this laptop takes about 2 hours to a full charge with Rapid Charge enabled. It does get you back into your work while giving you a bit of a break too. Without Rapid Charge on, it does take about 3 hours. 

Work in progress

Much like every device in existence, this isn’t necessarily perfect when considering every other feature it comes with. For starters, the Lenovo Yoga 9i comes with a built-in HD webcam with its own privacy shutter. It was a good thing to add, but the quality of the webcam for photos and video calls leaves much to be desired.

Secondly, the trackpad on this laptop can be a bit too sensitive at times when you don’t need it to be. While it can track gestures properly and all, it’s on a glass surface that doesn’t really have good palm rejection on. Good thing that the display ended up being a touch display so there’s an alternative for scrolling and clicking.

Finally, the fingerprint sensor with Windows Hello support is a great addition to any device as an easier way to secure it. However, it is placed on the glass surface of the laptop, and for the Shadow Black color option, it’s barely visible in dark rooms. Honestly, it would have been better if it was somewhere on the keyboard just for better visibility.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Starting at PhP 139,995, the Lenovo Yoga 9i feels right at home with the whole “work-life balance” aesthetic. From the hardware to the little things, this device provides the full experience suitable for work in the morning and leisure at night. Also, it is a laptop that just fits any type of user – well with the exception of hardcore gamers given the limitations.

There are some things that this device doesn’t truly excel at, but it covers for these with a bunch of other features at your disposal. Plus, with multiple modes to adjust this device on, it provides a level of flexibility that trumps even previous Yoga devices. With a long-lasting battery, the Lenovo Yoga 9i makes its case to be the ultimate multimedia device.