More laptops are emerging with Intel’s new Lunar Lake chipset, designed to rival Qualcomm and Apple in efficiency and battery life. We’ve tested several such machines with varied results, and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition provides another opportunity to assess this latest chipset. Unusually, it sports a 15-inch display, positioning it against strong competitors like the Apple MacBook Air 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop. As I discovered, the Yoga Slim 7i earns its place among them.
Specifications and Pricing
| Feature | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.54 x 9.27 x 0.55 inches |
| Weight | 3.37 pounds |
| Display | 15.3-inch 16:10 2.8K (2880 x 1800) IPS, 120Hz |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V / 258V |
| GPU | Intel Arc 130V / 140V |
| Memory | 16GB/32GB LPDDR5X RAM |
| Storage | 512GB/1TB M.2 NVMe SSD |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x 3.5mm Headphone Jack |
| Camera | 1080p with IR for Windows Hello |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Battery | 70 watt-hour |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Price | $1,280+ |
Two primary configurations exist. The $1,280 base model features the Core Ultra 7 256V, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. A 1TB SSD adds $42. The higher-end model, at $1,422, offers the Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The Yoga Slim 7i’s pricing presents a compelling value proposition compared to competitors like the MacBook Air 15 and Surface Laptop, which require higher price points for comparable configurations.
Design and Build Quality
alt text: The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition showcasing its slim profile, keyboard, and display.
The Yoga Slim 7i boasts a robust all-aluminum chassis, resisting bending and flexing. Its build quality rivals the MacBook Air 15 and Surface Laptop. While the hinge is firm, requiring two hands to open, it eliminates screen wobble. Rounded edges enhance comfort, although the palm rests could be smoother. True to its name, the Yoga Slim 7i is remarkably thin at 0.55 inches, even with its 15.3-inch display, making it highly portable.
Keyboard and Touchpad
alt text: A top-down view of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, highlighting the keyboard layout and touchpad.
The comfortable keyboard features well-spaced, sculpted keycaps and responsive switches, enabling fatigue-free typing. While the keyboard is excellent, the touchpad, while functional, could be larger. Both the MacBook Air and Surface Laptop offer larger touchpads, and premium haptic touchpads are becoming increasingly common. The inclusion of a touch-enabled display is a welcome addition, offering greater interaction flexibility.
Connectivity and Webcam
alt text: Left side view of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, showcasing the available ports.
alt text: Right side view of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition displaying the available ports.
Connectivity is robust, exceeding the MacBook Air 15 with its blend of modern and legacy ports. The Surface Laptop offers a similar selection. An SD card reader would be a valuable addition. Wireless connectivity is state-of-the-art with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The 1080p webcam supports Copilot+ AI features, leveraging the NPU for efficient on-device processing. This contrasts with Apple’s approach with Apple Intelligence on the MacBook Air 15.
Performance and Benchmarks
alt text: The rear view of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition highlighting its lid design and logo.
Intel’s Lunar Lake (Core Ultra Series 2) prioritizes efficiency at 17 watts. The Core Ultra 7 258V features eight cores. Performance comparisons with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series, AMD’s Ryzen AI 9, and Apple’s M3 reveal a competitive landscape. Benchmark results suggest the Yoga Slim 7i offers sufficient speed for demanding productivity tasks, but Lunar Lake isn’t a dramatic performance leap. The integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics, while improved, remain behind dedicated solutions. See the table below for detailed benchmark comparisons.
| Benchmark | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition | Asus ExpertBook P5 | Asus Zenbook S 14 | HP OmniBook X | Asus Vivobook S 15 | Asus Zenbook 14 Q425 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 | Asus ProArt PX13 | MacBook Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R24 (single/multi) | 109 / 630 | 122 / 471 | 112 / 452 | 101 / 749 | 108 / 724 | 103 / 631 | 97 / 517 | 116 / 897 | 141 / 601 |
| Geekbench 6 (single/multi) | 2485 / 10569 | 2679 / 10821 | 2738 / 10734 | 2377 / 13490 | 2417 / 11319 | 2279 / 11806 | 2103 / 8558 | 2710 / 14696 | 3102 / 12078 |
| Handbrake (seconds) | 88 | 104 | 113 | N/A | N/A | 82 | 101 | 54 | 109 |
Battery Life
alt text: Side view of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, displaying ports and the closed lid.
Lunar Lake’s efficiency is a key selling point. The Yoga Slim 7i, with its 70 watt-hour battery, performs admirably. Battery life testing reveals competitive results against the Surface Laptop and the MacBook Air, solidifying Lunar Lake’s position as a highly efficient Windows chipset, while still trailing slightly behind Apple’s M3. See the table below for a detailed battery life comparison.
| Test | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition | Asus ExpertBook P5 | Asus Zenbook S 14 | Microsoft Surface Laptop | HP Omnibook X | Asus Vivobook S 15 | Asus Zenbook 14 Q425 | Asus ProArt PX13 | Apple MacBook Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web Browsing | 14 hours, 16 minutes | 8 hours, 54 minutes | 16 hours, 47 minutes | 14 hours, 21 minutes | 13 hours, 37 minutes | 13 hours, 10 minutes | 12 hours, 25 minutes | 8 hours, 7 minutes | 19 hours, 38 minutes |
| Video Looping | 17 hours, 31 minutes | 16 hours, 29 minutes | 18 hours, 35 minutes | 22 hours, 39 minutes | 22 hours, 4 minutes | 16 hours, 19 minutes | 18 hours, 1 minute | 11 hours, 12 minutes | 19 hours, 39 minutes |
| Cinebench R24 | 2 hours, 15 minutes | 2 hours, 15 minutes | 3 hours, 33 minutes | N/A | 1 hour, 52 minutes | N/A | N/A | 1 hour, 12 minutes | 3 hours, 27 minutes |
Display and Audio
alt text: Overhead view of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, showcasing the speaker placement.
The 15.3-inch 2.8K IPS display provides good visuals, though OLED and mini-LED technologies offer superior image quality. Color accuracy is excellent, while brightness and contrast are strong for an IPS panel. The four-speaker audio system delivers impressive sound quality with clear highs and mids, and surprisingly good bass.
Conclusion
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is a well-rounded 15-inch laptop offering excellent value. Its solid build quality, attractive design, portability, and competitive pricing make it a compelling option. While not the fastest, it offers excellent battery life. If you’re seeking a larger display laptop, the Yoga Slim 7i is worth considering.
