If you are looking for the best premium convertible laptop, then this Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 review is for you. The Yoga 9i is Lenovo’s top-level two-in-one laptop. A few years ago, these 2-in-1 laptops were very popular, but now only a few companies make them. This Yoga 9i and the HP Omnibook Ultra Flip are some of the last high-end 2-in-1 laptops left.
So, is the Lenovo Yoga 9i still worth buying in 2025? Whether you want a premium 2-in-1 or just a good laptop for daily work, the Yoga 9i is a solid choice. It is great for students or anyone who wants a stylish laptop for home or office use. If you mostly browse the web, work on Excel, or write documents, this laptop will handle it easily.
Where the Yoga 9i really shines is its keyboard, bright display, strong speakers, and smooth pen use when you flip it into tablet mode. But compared to the HP Omnibook Ultra Flip, its battery life is weaker, the trackpad feels cheaper, and it’s slightly bigger.
Basically, this year’s Yoga is the same as last year’s model but with updated parts inside. Which one you should buy depends on your budget and what you find on sale.
Build Quality and Design
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 looks premium right away. This year, the body design has not changed, but it still feels strong and stylish. Our model came in a nice blue colour. If you compare it with other high-end laptops, its build quality is near the top, but not the very best. Laptops like the Dell XPS 13 or MacBook Air still look a bit more modern.
One reason is that the Yoga’s bottom half is bigger than the top, and the bottom part is shiny but the top is not. It is a little bigger than the Flip, but the size is still good. In weight, both are almost the same but not as light as the MacBook Air 13 or Asus ZenBook S14 though the difference is small.
Its mostly metal build means it feels solid in hand. The keyboard area does not bend when typing, and the screen is stable too. There is a slightly sharp edge in front of the keyboard that may press into your wrists if you use it on an airplane table, but it’s not a big issue. The lid does catch fingerprints more than the Flip, which can make it look less premium.
The Yoga’s hinge is strong enough to hold the touchscreen when you write, but if you walk around holding it, the screen might flop back a bit. The Flip has a stronger hinge.
Display Quality
Open the Yoga 9i with one hand and you’ll see a bright, sharp display. It’s a 14-inch glossy touchscreen with a 2880 x 1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It works with a pen and supports tilt. The colours are great 100% sRGB and P3 and it gets bright at 500+ nits, which is brighter than the Flip’s 380 nits. So, even with reflections, it’s easier to see.
There is no screen door effect or flickering. The pen works smoothly we tested it with Lenovo’s Slim Pen, and it felt nice for writing and drawing. The screen ignored our hand when writing, which is good. Compared to the Flip, the Yoga’s pen glides easier on the screen. Some people may like this or may prefer the Flip’s more paper-like feel.
The HP Pen has a springy tip that the Slim Pen does not have. The Slim Pen can be customized for pressure and tilt. It sticks magnetically to the front of the lid, but the cap for charging is easy to lose and hard to put back. Overall, the pen experience is very good.
Keyboard and Trackpad
One thing many people love is Lenovo’s keyboards, and this laptop keeps that good reputation. The keys feel clicky, smooth, and not too loud. There is an extra row of function keys and a fingerprint reader on the right side very handy for quick logins.
Most people won’t press these keys by mistake because one near the arrow keys does nothing. The keyboard has a nice soft coating too. The Flip’s keyboard has less travel but a normal layout, so you won’t press wrong keys. One small issue with the Yoga the backlight is not very bright and can bleed out the sides.
The trackpad is okay but not as good as Apple’s MacBooks or the Flip’s trackpad. It works fine but feels old-school and a bit clunky. The Flip’s trackpad can sometimes have palm rejection problems though.
Ports and Speakers
The Yoga 9i has a good range of ports. On the left, it has a 10GB USB-A and two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. On the right, you get a headphone/mic jack, another fast USB-C, and the power button. All USB-C ports support charging. The power button is safe from accidental presses.
The extra USB-A port is very useful for people who still use flash drives or mouse dongles. The speakers are great too some of them are inside the hinge so the sound faces you. This makes movies or music sound clearer. Bass is good for a laptop this size. The only thing is the clarity could be better.
Webcam and Battery Life
The Yoga 9i has a 5MP 1440p webcam with an IR camera for Windows Hello and a privacy shutter. But the battery life is where this laptop falls behind. Other laptops with the same chip do better. The Asus ZenBook S14, for example, has a better battery life even with a smaller battery.
In our tests, the Yoga did average in video playback and office work tests. Not bad, but not the best either.
Performance and Cooling
On battery, the Yoga 9i does not lose performance, but its base performance is only average. Other laptops like MacBooks or the Omnibook Ultra Flip are stronger when unplugged.
Plugged in, the Yoga 9i has enough power for normal work, web browsing, and even coding. It is a bit behind other laptops with stronger CPUs, but not by much. Its lower power chip means less heat, less fan noise, and longer life for parts. The keyboard does not get too hot, which is nice.
For light gaming, the Yoga 9i does fine. It runs games like League of Legends or Minecraft well, but not modern AAA games on high settings. The bottom gets warm if you game on your lap, but not too bad.
Linux and Upgrades
If you plan to use Linux, it might be tricky. You need to turn off secure boot first, and even then, some things like Bluetooth and speakers may not work without new drivers.
Inside, you can replace the SSD and battery but not the RAM it’s fixed. The Wi-Fi card also can’t be replaced, but it should last long.
Conclusion
So, is the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 worth it? For students or people with normal work needs, yes! It often goes on sale, so look for deals. Sometimes the older model is also a good buy if it’s cheaper. The new version has faster single-core speed and better graphics, but the old one has better multi-core.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is the Lenovo Yoga 9i good for students?
Yes, it is great for students who want a stylish, light laptop for browsing, Office work, and light coding.
Q2: Does the Yoga 9i have good battery life?
Battery life is average. It’s okay for daily tasks but weaker than some competitors.
Q3: Can I upgrade the RAM on the Yoga 9i?
No, the RAM is fixed to the motherboard, so you can’t upgrade it later.
Q4: Is the Lenovo Yoga 9i good for drawing?
Yes, the pen works smoothly, the screen is bright, and palm rejection is good for drawing or writing notes.
Q5: How does Yoga 9i compare to HP Omnibook Ultra Flip?
Both are good, but the Flip has better battery life and a stronger hinge. The Yoga 9i has better keyboard and speakers.
