Laptops

Lenovo Yoga 9i review: Multimedia at its finest

The work-life balance you’ve been asking for this whole time

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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.

Accessories

UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W review: One mighty brick with a powerful trick

All the speed you need in one charging brick

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Chargers aren’t just tiny bricks we plug into the wall anymore.

As our everyday gadgets become hungrier in power, chargers have gotten mightier, too.

More wattage, more ports, and apparently, more brains. The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W takes all of those in one thicc body.

A heavy charger with plenty of power

Let’s address the elephant in the room — literally and figuratively. The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W is one CHONKY charger.

The US version weighs 310 grams, which is heavier than usual charging bricks you’d bring with you.

Visual comparison alone, this is how it tries to dwarf its 100W Uno cousin.

Then again, UGREEN’s Nexode Pro isn’t your conventional charger. And by that, it boasts a total output of 160W — though not saying every port gives a 160W output.

The first USB-C port (C1) is capable of delivering up to 140W. Meanwhile, USB-C2 supports up to 100W, while the lonesome USB-A port can supply up to 22.5W.

To make it even crazier, it also has a retractable USB-C cable — more on that later.

These all mean I can plug in my MacBook Pro, high-end Android flagship, iPhone, and other accessories without ever bringing separate charging bricks for each one.

And honestly, when there’s so much power inside one brick, I’ll generously accept that added heft.

Watt you see is watt you get

One trick up in Nexode Pro 160W’s sleeves is that, it has a front display.

With a touch capacitive button above the USB-C1 port, the display can show not just the general (or combined) charging wattage. It can also show real-time speeds in watts (W), voltage (V), and even ampere (A).

For regular users, it’s probably something you’ll glance at occasionally. For stats nerds? It’s eye candy. For a gadget reviewer like me? A charge test companion.

Seeing real-time charging data gives me a better idea if I have the best charging cable possible for each device. More so, if those devices actually get the charging speeds they require.

And, if something suddenly starts charging slower than usual, those numbers can help me determine whether the device, charger, or cable might be the culprit.

I can only have my sigh of relief when I see it’s pulling the amount of power I expect.

Even if I always say numbers aren’t everything, the real-time charging data I see with my two eyes is more believable than just relying on that “Fast Charging” indicator.

So, watt did I even get?

Of course, I couldn’t just take that 160W figure just at its face value.

In a not-so-typical GadgetMatch Charge Test, I tried and tested the charger by occupying all ports with the devices I regularly use and watched the numbers fly.

Mind you, I tried my best to make them as equal as possible by draining every device down to 0%. Just so the actual charge test starts at the very base.

From a lengthy documentations in my Notes app, I tried simplifying the results into these table instead:

Port Device Cable Type 10-minute charge 30-minute charge 1-hour charge
USB-C1 14” M2 Max MacBook Pro Apple MagSafe 3 to USB-C 15% 45% 84%
USB-C2 Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max USB-C to Lightning 7% 21% 42%
Retractable USB-C vivo X300 Ultra*

*wireless charging
USB-C to UGREEN MagFlow 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger 2% 3% 7%
USB-A HONOR Watch 5 Ultra USB-A to wireless charging base 18% 58% 76%

Aside from the charger itself, there are more factors that contribute to a device’s charging output.

One is basically how many devices are connected. Another would be the type of cable used (standard 3A cable or faster yet thicker 5A or 6A cord).

More so, if the best charging mode is used. Even actual room and device temperatures matter, too.

In easier words, a charger boasting 160W power doesn’t mean every device gets its maximum charging speeds simultaneously.

The charger still has to distribute its available power between everything connected.

Pull it, use it, and never lose it

Perhaps its most “secretive” trick is hidden within.

UGREEN has managed to fit a 70cm retractable USB-C cable in its squarish body. Pull it whenever you need it and retract it back inside once you’re done.

It’s incredibly handy when I don’t want to dig through my big and messy backpack.

Worst case scenario? Whenever I forget to bring a cable — which already happened numerous times as an aging young adult who keeps being unnecessarily forgetful.

Vincenz’s two cents? He would NOT always rely on using it.

For one, there’s the matter of longevity.

A regular USB-C cable eventually breaks? Replace it. A retractable cable permanently attached to your charger? That’s a different story.

Another would be all about its actual charging speed output. Not every device behaves the same way with that built-in cable.

Device Max Charging Observed Power 30-minute charge 1-hour charge
14” M2 Max MacBook Pro 96W 68.6W 53% 87%
vivo X500 Pro Max 90W 20.2W~23.6W 34% 62%
vivo X300 Ultra 100W 9.6W~12.9W 26% 52%
HONOR 600 Pro 80W 16.5W 35% 64%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 45W 17.8W 41% 74%

For instance, my vivo X300 Ultra supports 90W FlashCharge speeds. Yet, I observed only around below a 13W output during one test. Thus, only achieving 26% in thirty minutes.

Even the shiny new vivo X500 Pro Max wasn’t exempted in the list with only being able to achieve 34% in the same time frame.

For added context, using their bundled FlashCharge adapters would have already filled the phones way past the 60% mark.

This doesn’t necessarily mean the built-in cable is bad. It just means you shouldn’t expect every proprietary charging standard to hit its advertised maximum just with the cable alone.

So while it’s one of my favorite conveniences here, I still see it as a handy backup rather than the only cable one would ever need.

Connect to inspect

I can’t believe I’m saying this. A charger can now be connected via an app.

Just like me, you’re probably scratching your head the moment you are reading this. Well, after much use, it actually made sense to me.

With their new and very own UgreenConnect app, not only you can see and capture charging stats, UGREEN lets you switch between charging modes as well depending on your charging needs.

Heck! You can even turn off ports individually without affecting other devices being charged.

Furthermore, you can also change the display’s brightness and sleep time, customize wallpapers. The Nexode Pro 160W also supports OTA updates.

Again, it’s mostly nerdy. But that’s precisely why I like this charger more than what I already have and use.

Feel the heat, keep it neat

The Nexode Pro gets warm. Quite warm, actually.

But, with a charger this large and powerful, that’s hardly surprising given all the charging components packed inside.

Thankfully, the temperature remained manageable throughout my use. UGREEN also lists Thermal Guard Temperature Control alongside GaN Infinity technology and SmartCharge power distribution.

The different charging modes can also help manage and lessen that heat further.

If I don’t need something charged immediately, I can opt for smarter or lower-temperature Thermal-safe charging instead of constantly pushing as much power as possible. Power when I need it. Less heat when I don’t.

Although for my day-to-day use-case, Priority Charging makes the most sense.

Case in point: I tested this with the vivo X300 Ultra I’m dilly dallying.

vivo X300 Ultra Adaptive Charging Priority Charging 
Charging Output 9.6W ~ 12.9W
8.1V / 1.6A
26.8W ~ 27.2W
7.9V / 3.5A
START TIME (from 0%) 9:11PM 12:31AM
3 minutes 4% 6%
5 minutes 5% 8%
10 minutes 9% 16%
15 minutes 13% 21%
30 minutes 26% 42%
45 minutes 39% 61%
1 hour 52% 80%

Adaptive Charging obviously charged it slower than ever. But when I enabled Priority Charging, it initially pulled around 30.8W to 31.2W for the first two minutes before settling around 26.8W to 27.2W. That’s still higher than the output through Adaptive Mode.

More so, it was able to reach 42% after 30 minutes and 80% after an hour in contrast to the 26% and 52% level of the former.

My MacBook Pro and flagship Android phones need significantly more power than smaller accessories. So, instead of letting everything fight equally for those watts, I can prioritize whichever device actually needs the extra juice.

Is the UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W your GadgetMatch?

At PhP 4999 / SG$ 140 / MYR 419, the UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W might sound like an overkill if all you need is something to charge your phone every night.

But, if you’re someone like me who owns lots of gadgets and constantly switches between a laptop, several smartphones, at least one tablet, a smartwatch, wireless headphones, and many other gadget ever imaginable, owning this charger quickly makes sense.

That’s most especially for the ultimate convenience it brings by only using one socket and fits right inside your bag’s tight pocket. I can fully rely on one brick instead of carrying multiple clunky chargers around.

Additives include its display that lets me see stats while doubling as a useful review tool to legitimize the charge tests in the reviews I do.

Charging modes lets me decide which power-hungry device deserves more juice. Priority when I see one getting slow. Thermal-charging if I sense that it’s getting warmer than the usual.

That retractable cable? It’s a real wonder as it will truly save me whenever I forget one in another unintentional scenario.

The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W now has a permanent spot in my charging arsenal. It is a Swipe Right, Super Swipe, and definitely a worthy recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

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Laptops

Microsoft gives up on the Copilot+ PC

The company is quietly stepping away from the branding.

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The Copilot+ PC is finally coming to an end. After a few years of advertising the lineup as the next big thing, Microsoft is stepping away from the branding.

Through a new interview with Windows Central, Microsoft has confirmed that the company is slowly stepping back from the Copilot+ branding. Despite launching a series of new Surface PCs that fit the bill of such a brand, the company has not affixed any of these devices with the usual branding of the AI-infused series.

“These are not called Copilot+ PCs. They do meet all the requirements of our previous bar for what Copilot+ devices are. We still lean into the narrative around AI on the edge and being able to have a hybrid solution out there,” Microsoft Surface CVP Brett Ostrum said.

Now, the Copilot+ PC programs hasn’t been a massive success for Microsoft. For all the time that it’s been out in the market, the series hasn’t really made much of an impact. TOPS is still a difficult metric to measure. The Copilot button is still one of the most unusable buttons on a modern keyboard. Even worse, Recall, the lineup’s most highly touted feature, crashed and burned practically the same moment it came out because of privacy concerns.

Microsoft had a lot of hopes for the Copilot+ lineup. Prior to today’s deteriorating perceptions about AI, the lineup imagined a string of devices united with a focus on AI-supported performance. However, we know better today. At best, AI PCs provide moderately boosted performance without the need for top-of-the-line hardware. At worse, they’re a privacy nightmare that places an unnecessary burden on the entire industry.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft continues to shove Copilot where it’s not wanted

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Editors' Choice

GadgetMatch Awards: Best of IFA 2026

Xiaomi 18 Fold, Govee, XGIMI, ARZOPA, Cuktech and more!

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We’re back at IFA 2026 in Berlin, checking out some of the coolest and most interesting tech on the show floor.

From smart home lighting and portable displays to projectors, power solutions, foldables, and more, these are some of the products and brands that caught our attention this year.

In this video, we take a look at: ‪

GOVEE‬

ARZOPA

CUKTECH‬

** Use code CUKTECH09, valid until September 30

XGIMI

Xiaomi

ASUS‬ x NVIDIA RTX SPARK

Watch until the end for our favorite finds from IFA 2026!

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