Naturally, there is nothing wrong with simply being decent in general. However, the value of the Slim 7i Pro becomes more apparent after using it for a while and making use of a number of its rather hidden capabilities. With this laptop, you may enjoy a higher-end model’s style, feel, and capabilities at a more reasonable cost (even though that cost isn’t precisely inexpensive).
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Design
The IdeaPad range of laptops from Lenovo is unquestionably the one created with consumers in mind: those looking for a laptop with respectable performance at an affordable price. Consider this laptop a shining example for the more discriminating members of that group. The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro ultraportable ($1,199 as tested) features a 14-inch touch-enabled display, a comfortable keyboard, an Evo-certified Intel Core i7 11th Generation CPU, and the most recent version of Windows 11. It is a stylish mainstream machine at a slightly premium price and is quite capable for everyday tasks. You can buy this laptop from its official website.
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Keyboard and touch pad
Similar keyboard layouts and key feedback are included with the majority of IdeaPad and Yoga laptops. Lenovo IdeaPad/Yoga keyboards are typically more affordable despite the sometimes $1000+ asking price, yet we appreciate the constancy. Compared to harder, deeper keys on competitive products like the HP Envy, Spectre, or Huawei MateBook 14, feedback is both softer and shallower. Lenovo’s ThinkPad T or X series of laptops serve as examples of how much better keyboards they are capable of making.
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Display
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is an excellent notebook with a mix of benefits and drawbacks. The display is often lovely. It has a high refresh rate and resolution. In the realm of Windows, I anticipate that high refresh rate panels will become more common, but they are now somewhat uncommon. It’s at least worth looking into; you might be pleasantly surprised by how much you enjoy it. It does, however, have some drawbacks. You’ll want to have the charger with you because the high resolution and refresh rate, along with the 35W processor, have an impact on the battery. Additionally, it has a 720p webcam, which is unsatisfactory in the era of remote employment. However, the whole impression is just fantastic. It has a fantastic keyboard, a lovely display, good build quality, and appropriate connections. You can connect an external GPU with the 35W processor without experiencing any lag in CPU performance. It’s really excellent.
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Audio
For a laptop that is frequently used away from an AC power source, battery life is a crucial test. By playing a locally stored 720p movie file with the audio level at 100% and the screen brightness set to 50%, PCMag evaluates the battery life of laptops. During the test, Wi-Fi and the keyboard’s backlighting are both off. The Slim 7i performed well across the board, although it faltered somewhat when it came to battery life, clocking in at just a hair over seven hours. Lenovo claims a significantly longer run-time, but part of the discrepancy may be due to the tests conducted to quantify it.
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Graphics
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro has the same specifications as a large number of other compact and lightweight laptops. My unit features a 512GB SSD, 8GB RAM, and an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor from the 11th generation. The entry-level model has a 256GB SSD and a Core i5 CPU. For performance, Lenovo has taken a fairly cautious approach. The Core i7-1185G7 and Core i7-1195G7 are somewhat more powerful variations of the Core i7 that may be found on Intel’s website. Each has a faster version of the Intel Xe graphics card and greater turbo speeds. Although new laptops with 12th generation chipsets are gradually starting to be released, it seems as though the 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs have been around for ever at this point.
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Performance
The previous version Dell XPS 15 oled and a Yoga C940 15 both narrowly outperform the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro. We’re sort of comparing this to those since they both feature 45W CPUs and dedicated graphics. The ThinkBook 14s Yoga, which features a U-series processor and integrated graphics and hence significantly improved battery life, was placed directly beneath it. So, why? is the question. I don’t really want to criticize the product because the Tiger Lake-H35 processor performs well, but I’m not convinced it offers the realistic advantages above a basic 15W chip without a dedicated GPU.
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Battery life and heat
With a screen size of 14, it has a 16:10 aspect ratio and 2,880 by 1,800 resolution. It’s a terrific start because it is high-resolution and taller than the typical 16:9 display. The additional 90Hz refresh rate is what makes it exceptional. High refresh rates have historically only been found on gaming in the gaming PC market. However, those more fluid animations make for a more enjoyable experience for everyone, as we’ve seen from smartphones from nearly every major OEM. Just creamy smoothness. It’s set to 60Hz by default, thus you must turn this on in Settings for some reason. Sadly, the battery life suffers as a result.
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Configuration options
Purchases of the Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro can be made on the company’s website and at independent merchants like Costco and Walmart. Our review device was delivered with a 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an Intel Core i7-11370H CPU with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. The same configuration would cost approximately $1,099 if purchased directly from Lenovo, though at the time of writing stock appeared to be in short supply. However, you can buy it in stock from independent merchants, frequently for a lower cost. For instance, Costco(opens in new tab) currently sells the exact configuration that we examined for $999.
Lenovo IdeaPad 7i Slim Pro review: Conclusion
The 14-inch, no-frills Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro (formerly known as Lenovo Slim 7i) laptop offers a sturdy body and a superb keyboard. With a brightness of up to 400 nits, the IPS screen’s 2.8K resolution provides sharp images, text, and video. Unfortunately, the display can’t rotate all the way around, and many people may lament the lack of a touch screen option. The Yoga Slim 7i Pro’s battery life, which wouldn’t last me through an average workday, is what actually falls short.
