Lenovo’s Yoga series may resonate more with convertibles. However, this name also encompasses stylish conventional laptops, such as the Yoga Slim 7 (called the IdeaPad Slim 7 in North America), which comes in different configurations and two colors, gray and purple. This model is aimed at those looking for a device with a manageable size without giving up other important factors when choosing a laptop. It comes with the AMD Ryzen 7 processor, which is on par with the Core i7 and proves to be a severe competitor to Intel. Although what has surprised us most is its autonomy.
Incredible autonomy
The successful AMD Ryzen 4000 series has declared war on Intel and wants to win back the laptop market. And he is on the right track to achieving it. Yoga Slim 7 brings the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U 2.0GHz model, which is not the most advanced. Still, power and performance are assured: with integrated AMD Radeon graphics and 16 GB of RAM, our test unit navigates fast with several applications open ( Word, Netflix, and Spotify) and many Chrome tabs running in the background with web pages and email accounts. In terms of storage space, it is also very well equipped, with 1 TB of SSD memory. This is plenty of room for videos, photos, and other files.
That efficiency also translates into beastly autonomy. In our tests, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 has shone like no other we’ve tested. We have put it to play YouTube video –with the brightness at medium level and the audio low– and after 16 hours, it still had 7 percent left, a percentage in theory equivalent to one hour and twenty minutes, as indicated by the icon of Battery. The bad thing is that with the brightness at the half, the screen’s brightness falls short; likely, you should always have it at maximum to see everything well so that you can expect less autonomy.
When the Battery runs out, it takes a short time to charge. Based on our tests, you get a 50 percent range in about 40 minutes—75 percent in one hour, and 100 percent in two hours. The 65 W charger occupies and weighs little in a suitcase or backpack.
For those who want to access the advantages of the latest version of wireless networks, Wifi 6, this equipment is prepared to support this standard.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, due to its dimensions and the tiny adapter to charge it, is perfect for those looking for a comfortable laptop to transport and store in a bag or backpack. And also for those who will use it on small surfaces, such as a desk or on the legs. At the same time, it is very manageable; it is a team with a careful and discreet aesthetic. Aluminum gives it a premium and elegant look.
The screen is good, although it does not bring the best resolution. With this AMD processor and 16 GB of RAM, you can expect it to respond smoothly and quickly to work tasks with standard programs, such as Microsoft Office and even other more demanding ones. And, of course, to the most popular entertainment preferences, such as watching videos and listening to music. It’s up to the task in games, but it’s not gaming-oriented. And for all this, it offers a very long autonomy, as we have verified in our tests.
14 inches is very manageable
The Yoga line is characterized by its stylized and elegant shapes, and this equipment maintains that careful aesthetic without being dazzling. Above all, it stands out for its small size without sacrificing that of the screen: with 14 inches closed, it occupies similar to a sheet of paper. Nor does it affect the space dedicated to the keyboard, but to the touch panel that reduces its dimensions and does not imply a great sacrifice. They are perfectly valid for their purpose and respond well to touch commands. However, it could be a bit small for those accustomed to a large one. What has happened to us, from time to time, when brushing the touch panel with our fingers or wrists, is that the cursor jumps lines while writing a text, something that has also happened to us with other small notebooks.
The laptop is manageable at 320.6 x 208 x 14.9 mm, although this decrease in size in the keyboard area does not translate into less weight. For its 1.4 kilos, it is not one of the lightest laptops; it is noticeable that it weighs when you hold it, although it is comfortable to carry in a backpack. It also feels sturdy, stiff, and stable. The metal chassis gives it a premium feel with a modern aesthetic. Our test unit does not have a fingerprint reader, but it is possible to buy it with this feature.
The screen does not stand out in the resolution and remains in an FHD IPS panel (1,920 x 1,080) and 300 nits. And this does not take away so that it fulfills its function with solvency. It has a glossy finish (beautiful to fingerprints), which e causes reflections, especially outdoors, as with many other laptop screens. Flat panels are a more common option on laptops geared toward professional users. The tiny webcam in the top bezel doesn’t offer a sharp image, though it’s acceptable for video conferencing. To ensure privacy, you will have to cover it yourself; it does not come with a cover to hide it.
If you are a fan of backlit keyboards, this equipment is not for you since it does not come with this extra lighting. The keys are easy to press and are not complicated as in other notebooks. In the Yoga Slim 7, the two speakers are placed on the sides of the keyboard. They have 2 W of power and Dolby Atmos technology for surround sound. The audio arrives much better than if they are under the keyboard. The music is heard with decent quality and enough power to enjoy your favorite songs in the room where the equipment is located.
This laptop is very well equipped in terms of connections: on the right side, next to the power button, it has two USB-A ports and an SD card reader. On the left are two USB-C headphones, a microphone jack, and an HDMI. I couldn’t ask for more with the slim thickness.
