Laptops

Lenovo Yoga 9i review: Multimedia at its finest

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

Published

May 5, 2022

GadgetMatch

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.

Related Topics:Lenovo Lenovo Yoga 9i Yoga 9i

Laptops

ASUS launches the ExpertBook Ultra

Flagship AI business laptop

Published

July 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is now available in the Philippines. It is ASUS’ latest AI-powered business laptop for professionals who want a lightweight machine without sacrificing performance.

Positioned as the flagship of the ASUS ExpertBook lineup, it combines a sub-1kg chassis with Intel Core Ultra processors, enterprise-grade security, and AI features. ASUS is targeting executives, business users, and creators with the new laptop.

Built for portability and performance

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra weighs as little as 0.99kg. It measures just 10.9mm thick. The laptop uses an aerospace-grade magnesium-aluminum chassis with ASUS Nano Ceramic Technology. ASUS says the finish delivers five times greater scratch resistance than the industry standard.

Despite its slim profile, the laptop packs a 70Wh battery. ASUS rates it for up to 26 hours of battery life.

Power comes from Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors. The lineup is topped by the Intel Core Ultra X9-388H. Buyers can configure the laptop with up to 64GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 9600 MT/s and up to a 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD.

ASUS also highlights its ExpertCool Pro thermal system. It allows the processor to sustain up to 50W of CPU performance while keeping fan noise low.

Tandem OLED display and premium hardware

The ExpertBook Ultra features a 14-inch 3K Tandem OLED touchscreen. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,400 nits of HDR brightness. Corning Gorilla Glass Matte helps reduce reflections while preserving image quality.

Other hardware highlights include:

1.5mm travel spill-resistant keyboard
Edge-to-edge haptic touchpad
Six-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system
Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports
Two USB-A ports
HDMI 2.1
3.5mm audio jack

AI and enterprise security

As a Copilot+ PC, the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra includes AI-powered tools through the MyExpert suite. These include AI ExpertMeet and a local Knowledge Hub.

The laptop also focuses on enterprise security. Features include dual biometric authentication, a physical webcam shutter, self-healing BIOS, TPM 2.0, Microsoft Pluton, and compliance with the NIST SP 800-193 firmware security standard.

Price and availability

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is now available through ASUS authorized stores and select retailers nationwide.

Pricing starts at PhP 129,995. Higher-end configurations go up to PhP 215,995.

ASUS is also offering an Early Bird Bundle until July 31, 2026. Eligible purchases include an ASUS 100W GaN charger and PhP 10,000 worth of SSI gift vouchers.

Laptops

Apple raises the prices of iPad and MacBook lineups

Price hikes start at $100.

Published

June 26, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Hey, remember when Apple launched the MacBook Neo, and it had the most attractive price for an Apple-branded laptop? Those were good times. Unfortunately, it was too good to be true. Responding to the ongoing RAM crisis, Apple has now increased the prices of its hardware, starting with the MacBook and the iPad lineups (via Reuters).

The “highlight” here is the price of the MacBook Neo. To be fair, the affordable MacBook is still the cheapest one of the lot, but that’s not saying much. From a starting price of US$ 599, the Neo now costs US$ 699.

Now, we’d love to say that a US$ 100 price hike is the most you can expect across the board. But that’s not true at all. Most will bring up the price by a few hundreds and up to a whopping US$ 1,300. Here’s a list of devices you’re going to see changes for:

Model	Original price	New price
MacBook Neo	$599	$699
MacBook Air (13-inch)	$1,099	$1,299
MacBook Air (15-inch)	$1,299	$1,499
MacBook Pro (M5)	$1,699	$1,999
MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)	$2,199	$2,499
MacBook Pro (M5 Max)	$3,599	$4,099
iMac	$1,299	$1,499
Mac Studio (M4 Max)	$1,999	$2,499
Mac Studio (M3 Ultra)	$3,999	$5,299
iPad	$349	$449
iPad mini	$499	$599
iPad Air (11-inch)	$599	$749
iPad Air (13-inch)	$749	$949
iPad Pro (11-inch)	$999	$1,199
iPad Pro (13-inch)	$1,299	$1,499
Vision Pro	$3,499	$3,699

The current price hikes do not include the iPhone lineup. It might only be a matter of time, though. Recently, Tim Cook confirmed that Apple can no longer shoulder the expenses of the RAM crisis by themselves, essentially signaling a huge wave of price hikes. The brand will likely continue the increases heading into the iPhone launches in September.

Gaming

ASUS brings 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo, G16, and G14 to the Philippines

New Zephyrus laptops arrive

Published

June 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

ASUS Republic of Gamers has announced the Philippine availability and pricing of its 2026 ROG Zephyrus lineup.

Headlining the range is the new ROG Zephyrus Duo, joined by refreshed versions of the Zephyrus G16 and Zephyrus G14. The latest models feature Intel Core Ultra processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs, upgraded cooling systems, and ROG Nebula HDR OLED displays.

The lineup is available through authorized retailers starting June 24, 2026.

ROG Zephyrus Duo introduces dual-screen gaming

The 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo (GX651AX) is billed as the world’s first 16-inch dual-screen gaming laptop.

It features two 16-inch 16:10 touch displays with 120Hz refresh rates. Together, they provide up to 32 inches of combined screen space for multitasking, content creation, streaming, and gaming.

The primary display is a 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with up to 1,100 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision HDR support, and 100 percent DCI-P3 color coverage.

A new 320-degree kickstand hinge enables multiple usage modes, including Laptop Mode, Dual-Screen Mode, Book Mode, Tent Mode, and Sharing Mode. ASUS ScreenXpert software manages display layouts and transitions between modes.

Powering the device are an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 64GB LPDDR5X memory, and 2TB SSD storage.

ROG Zephyrus Duo price in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus Duo GX651AX-SR071WSM (RTX 5090, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — PhP 559,995

The laptop comes bundled with an ASUS Pen 3.0, ROG Universal Backpack, ROG Gladius III Gaming Mouse, and ASUS warranty package.

ROG Zephyrus G16 gets RTX 5090 option

The refreshed ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU606) retains its slim aluminum chassis, measuring 1.49cm thick and weighing 1.85kg.

Configurations include up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with up to 160W TGP. ASUS says the laptop supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation technologies.

The 16-inch display uses a 2.5K ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification, and NVIDIA G-SYNC support.

Battery life is rated at up to 22 hours of video playback, while ROG Intelligent Cooling combines Tri-Fan Technology, liquid metal, and expanded ventilation for sustained performance.

ROG Zephyrus G16 prices in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus G16 GU606AR-TB061WSM (RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 289,995
ROG Zephyrus G16 GU606AX-TB084WSM (RTX 5090, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — PhP 429,995

Both variants include an ROG Exclusive Sleeve and ROG Strix Impact Gaming Mouse.

ROG Zephyrus G14 focuses on portability

The ROG Zephyrus G14 (GU405) continues to target gamers who want a more compact machine.

It measures 1.59cm thin and weighs 1.5kg. Despite its size, ASUS equips the laptop with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU with up to 130W TGP.

The device sports a 14-inch 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-SYNC support, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000 certification.

ASUS also redesigned the thermal system with thicker heat pipes, additional copper fins, and improved ventilation to boost cooling performance.

ROG Zephyrus G14 prices in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405AP-SY057WSM (RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 224,995
ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405AW-SY069WSM (RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 324,995

Each model ships with an ROG Exclusive Sleeve and ROG Strix Impact Gaming Mouse.

Warranty and launch promos

All 2026 ROG Zephyrus laptops sold locally come with ASUS’ No. 1 Quality & Service Program. This includes a three-year international and local warranty, one-year accidental damage protection, and Premium Care support.

Buyers also receive a gaming mouse, three months of PC Game Pass, an Office 2024 lifetime license, one year of Microsoft 365 Basic with 100GB cloud storage, and up to 700GB of ASUS Cloud Storage.

Meanwhile, the new ROG Slash Collection 4.0 accessories, including the Slash Backpack 4.0 and Slash Sling Bag 4.0, will arrive in select ROG stores starting July 2026.