Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10 review: An attractive laptop with some significant shortcomings.

      Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10

      MSRP: $1,830.00

      "The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10 looks fantastic both inside and out."

      Pros:

      - Stunning design

      - Robust build quality

      - Lightweight and thin

      - Quick productivity performance

      - Excellent keyboard

      - Exceptional 4K+ OLED display

      Cons:

      - Limited connectivity options

      - Battery life affected by the high resolution

      The 14-inch laptop is currently the most prevalent and likely the most favored size. While you can still find 13-inch devices or opt for 16-inch screens, the 14-inch model strikes a balance, offering a comfortable viewing size while maintaining portability. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10 meets nearly all expectations for this size category, providing satisfactory performance, an attractive display, and a lightweight design. Its main drawbacks are insufficient connectivity options and reduced battery life caused by the high-resolution OLED screen.

      Specifications and configuration

      Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10

      Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.01 x 0.57 inches

      Weight: 2.76 pounds

      Display: 14.0-inch 4K+ (3840 x 2400) OLED, 120Hz

      CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V / Intel Core Ultra 7 258V

      GPU: Intel Arc 140V

      Memory: 16GB / 32GB

      Storage: 1TB SSD

      Ports: 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4

      Camera: 32MP with infrared capabilities for Windows 11 Hello

      Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

      Battery: 75 watt-hour

      Operating system: Windows 11

      Price: $1,760+

      As of this review, there are only two configurations available for the Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10. The base model, priced at $1,760, features an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 4K+ OLED display (the sole option). For $1,835, you can opt for the Core Ultra 7 258V with 32GB RAM, which is the version I reviewed. These are premium prices, and they exceed other laptops in this category—at least when considering list prices. The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 starts at $1,500 but is often discounted. The ASUS Zenbook S 14 sells for about $1,600 with comparable configurations. Lenovo may lower the price as the laptop ages, but for now, it feels somewhat steep.

      Design

      Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

      Occasionally, a laptop comes along that exhibits exquisite design. It distinguishes itself through a unique combination of materials and aesthetics, contrasting sharply with the more prevalent minimalist designs dominating the market. Even visually appealing laptops like Apple’s MacBooks and HP’s OmniBooks tend to be quite simple.

      The Yoga Slim 9i 14 stands apart. It has a glass lid that gives the dark blue finish on my review unit a beautiful sheen, and the rounded edges in dark chrome emphasize the overall color scheme, resulting in a stunning laptop. It manages to look elegant without being overly flashy. The brighter blue keyboard might be a bit much for some, but overall, this laptop competes with the best-looking options I've encountered.

      Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

      One aspect it shares with a few other commendable models is a somewhat flexible lid. The MacBook Air features a similar design flaw, but the Yoga Slim 9i 14 is affected more due to the glass. While I’m not suggesting the glass is prone to cracking or breaking, it does make me cautious. The laptop is solid overall, so I don’t hold it against it, but a sturdier metal would have been appreciated.

      In terms of dimensions, the Yoga Slim 9i 14 is reasonably thin and lightweight. It features extremely narrow bezels—thanks to a camera-under-display (CUD) design minimizing the top bezel—which makes it highly portable despite its 14-inch screen. While it isn’t as thin as the MacBook Air 15 at an amazing 0.45 inches, at 0.67 inches, it’s quite light and adequately slim. It felt just right in my hands.

      Keyboard and touchpad

      Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

      I noted that the keyboard’s bright blue color was the one design element I'm not keen on. However, I have no complaints about its functionality. The keycaps are large, there’s plenty of spacing, and the switches are responsive and light. Composing this review was comfortable and not at all tiring. While I slightly prefer Apple’s Magic Keyboard, I would be completely satisfied with this one.

      The touchpad is somewhat less impressive. Its size is a