Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition Review
How does a Yoga Slim work in a larger format? And where is Copilot Plus? There are many questions about the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i, the new Lunar Lake-based laptop. How good is it?
The new Yoga Slim 7i has Intel Arc graphics, 32 GB RAM (integrated into the chip), 1 TB SSD, Windows 11 Home, and a 15-inch screen. It still has the same elegant design and slim construction as previous Yoga models I’ve tested, with an aluminum chassis, rounded edges for a good grip, and a clean, minimalist design.
Fast but few cores
The important new feature is, of course, the processor. This is a chip intended to challenge ARM-based Snapdragon X. Not primarily in CPU performance, but with high AI performance and cool, energy-efficient operation, without losing the advantage of the long-standing x86 PC architecture.
Four performance cores and four extra energy-efficient support cores for background tasks is not exactly a large number, and you can feel it in multi-core operations where it actually scores slightly worse than both Snapdragon X and the Core Ultra 7 155H in 14-inch Yoga Slim 7 laptops I’ve tested, as well as the latest Ryzen AI 7 processor. On the other hand, it’s faster for single-core tasks.
I would recommend the processor for web surfing and office tasks that can run very quickly, especially in a laptop like this with fast Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. And thanks to 32 GB of integrated RAM, almost all multitasking runs smoothly. But in some other areas, for example video exporting, compiling, and certain types of gaming, it may fall short.
AI and battery life
With an NPU in the chip that can handle a full 47 TOPS, it’s supposed to be Copilot Plus-approved, and Lenovo also sells it as a Copilot Plus PC. But Copilot Plus in the system is nowhere to be seen. There are a couple of AI features like live captioning and a Copilot app that launches directly with a dedicated keyboard button.
But the rest is missing, such as the generative Co-creator in Paint, prompt-based image editing in Photos, and Windows Studio Effects for the webcam. I’ve seen reviews of laptops with this chip that mention them, so it must be a delayed update, perhaps due to language and region.
A newer 3 nm manufacturing process should result in significantly reduced energy consumption, and also cooler operation. Can Intel match or even beat Snapdragon X on that point? Lenovo claimed so in their own promotional figures that they presented even before the official launch.
Good display, better sound
The screen is of high quality, although it doesn’t show that perfect contrast and black level like OLED panels do. It’s high resolution and razor-sharp, fairly bright (up to 500 cd/m2), with colors in the DCI-P3 class and acceptable low color deviation. It’s essentially at a professional level if you calibrate it yourself.
It’s also a touchscreen with a glossy surface that has good anti-reflective treatment, but sometimes it can be a bit distracting to vaguely see yourself in dark areas. And I rarely use the touch function, since there is such a good trackpad on the laptop.
You get a decent set of ports, with dual Thunderbolt 4 and an extra USB-A for simpler accessories. The laptop comes with trial versions of Microsoft Office and McAfee Premium, but no other bloatware is preinstalled.
Weak camera
Unfortunately, the webcam is not very convincing, with tones too warm, trailing images, and grainy surfaces as soon as it doesn’t get daylight. There’s nothing wrong with the microphone, so even if you don’t look very professional in a Teams meeting, you’ll at least sound right.
Everything else is well approved and delivers as expected. It’s just that I can’t help but be a little disappointed in Intel this time.
Despite shrinking down to 3 nm technology and having peppy performance cores, they don’t quite get all the way in terms of CPU power. They go further with battery life, but not as far as they seem to want. Whether another laptop can reach the goal better than Lenovo’s, I’ll leave unsaid until I’ve tested it.
Tech Specs
Model: 83HMCTO1WWSE3
Manufacturer: Lenovo
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 4 P-cores up to 4.8 GHz + 4 LPE-cores up to 3.7 GHz
NPU: Intel AI Boost, 47 TOPS
Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics 140 V
Memory: 32 GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 1 TB SSD
Screen: 15.3-inch glossy IPS, 2880 x 1800 pixels, 120 Hz
Webcam: 1080p, IR, ToF
Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3 Gen 1, headset
Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
OS: Windows 11 Home
Other: Face recognition, Copilot Plus-ready (future update), MIL-STD-810H Noise level: 0–40 dBA
Battery: 70 Wh
Size: 339 x 238 x 14 mm
Weight: 1.53 kg
Price: $1,820
Performance
Cinebench 2024, CPU multi-core: 626 points
Cinebench 2024, CPU single-core: 116 points
Geekbench 6, CPU multi-core: 10,717 points
Geekbench 6, CPU single-core: 2,605 points
Geekbench 6, GPU: 31,150 points
Geekbench AI, NPU (Quantized): 21,876 points
Disk, read: Up to 6,133.83 MB/s
Disk, write: Up to 4,333.98 MB/s
Verdict
As elegant and comfortable as last spring’s predecessor, with a processor that has both advantages and disadvantages, a screen and speakers that truly impress, and AI capability, though not yet with all AI features enabled. Overall, it’s still positive enough to get a thumbs up. If Microsoft unlocks Copilot Plus, it will be even better.
Fast in single-core tasks. Excellent screen and speakers. Cool and often quiet. Long battery life.
Not as fast in multi-core tasks. The webcam.
