GadgetsLab: LENOVO YOGA SLIM 7

Reviewed by Ren Alcantara

Now more than ever, our laptops are our constant companions in the current global situation. From our trusty productivity companion, to our partners in entertainment, and even our link to people we can’t see in person, laptops make life so much easier for all of us. Few companies know this as well as global leader Lenovo, and to give us consumers even more options, they’ve just released the Yoga Slim 7. True to its name, it’s ultra-slim, but offers few compromises. Does it have what it takes to be your main device? We got to find out.

DESIGN - 4.5 / 5

The Yoga Slim 7 is a gorgeously designed little laptop. From its matte, metal case, gorgeous 14-inch display, and overall sleek design, it’s a laptop that’ll look great while you work. Our model came in a deep matte purple (called alluring orchid), and from the moment I took it out of the box, I just couldn’t stop looking at it. Thin bezels on either side of the display make the screen look even larger than it is, and the top bezel, while slightly thicker, thanks to the smart IR cam, still doesn’t take away from the overall look of the device. The keys on the keyboard are colored to match the rest of the device, and give the whole laptop a very cohesive look. The same goes for the wide touchpad. It would be wrong to call it fashionable, as that’s not really a thing, but it wouldn’t be way o the mark either.

It tips the scales at just over 3 pounds, and is just a shred over half an inch thick.

HARDWARE - 4.5 / 5

The laptop might be small, but it doesn’t skimp on features. With a massive 16 GB of RAM, an Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU that runs at a maximum clock speed of 1.5 GHz, and a 500GB SSD, this packs far more hardware than you might think given its size. The FHD IPS display is gorgeous and sharp, and more than bright enough to work under practically all indoor environments. It has a super-secure IR camera that can work in concert with Windows Hello for input-less login, and two front- ring 2W, Dolby Atmos speakers for all your multimedia applications.

It’s not just built for work either. If you need to get a little light gaming done, this is going to be happy to oblige. With an Nvidia GeForce MX350 graphics card, it can keep keeping you company with a few games during your downtime.

USER EXPERIENCE - 4.5 / 5

While there’s no shortage of laptops at this point in time, Lenovo has always proven to deliver some of the best options available. The Yoga Slim 7 is no exception. I used it every time I was away from my work desk, which, given the nature of our workfrom-home setup is most of the time. The rst thing I appreciated about it was how thin and light it really is. I pick it up with no second thought or hesitation, and plop it down anywhere I’m intending to do a little work, whether it’s on the floor, the kitchen, on the couch, or outside, on the balcony. It’s hard to get over how light it is, and how happy it is to just get picked up and brought wherever.

Another thing I loved about it was the screen. Wide, bright, and sharp, it made working on documents for long hours bearable; even pleasant. When it came necessary to use a second screen, or maybe something larger, the built-in HDMI port made that process so much simpler, and allowed me to make a small “battle station” in one of the rooms when I needed a second display, dedicated microphone, and other hardware for meetings and other projects. This is helped along further by 2 USB 3.1 ports, a USB-C port, and a headphone jack. It is also charged via a separate USB-C port, simplifying the matter of home logistics by eschewing proprietary plugs altogether.

In terms of capability, there was nothing I could do in a normal workday that gave it trouble. Countless documents, tabs, and multimedia content, on top of audio editing software and conferencing apps, were all taken in stride, without any additional e ort aside from a little extra e ort from the fans when things got a little heavy. Even then, the laptop performed great, and the fan noise wasn’t nearly enough to be an issue. All very impressive given the dimensions of this little machine.

Gaming, which in our case is mostly limited to older titles such as Overwatch, was no problem at all. In the game, on recommended settings (roughly on the higher side of medium), the laptop pushed upwards of 60 FPS with no problem whatsoever. It did get a little hot after a while, but as long as you’re playing on a desk and not your bed, this shouldn’t be a problem at all. Again, this isn’t a gaming laptop, but the fact that it can handle light (emphasis on light) gaming, is great.

While not a particular concern at the moment, the laptop managed much more than I expected. Lenovo rates this as able to go on for 14 hours in their tests, and while I didn’t really get to work for a stretch that long, I did pull 9 hour days on it without having to plug the charger in. There was of course, no gaming done in that period, and the backlight was about 1/3 of max. I’m not entirely sure about14 hours straight, but 9 hours without charging still isn’t anything to sneeze at. Still, this means that once o ces and schools reopen in earnest, one wouldn’t even have to bring the charging brick along every day. That’s very impressive. Overall, it’s a very capable device, and factoring in its size and weight, it’s downright impressive.

VALUE - 5 / 5

At a sticker price of PHP 69,995, this is a laptop that’s worth every buck. The performance, portability, and battery life make it a great option for a work device. Even though it’s not intended to do so, being able to do some gaming on it is a little cherry on top.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Dimensions: 320.6 x 208 x 14.9mm

Weight: 1.43kg

Display: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display

Processor:Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX350 2GB GDDR5

RAM: 16GB LPDDR4X RAM

Storage: 512GB SSD

Ports: 2 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, HDMI port, 3.5mm Audio Jack

Camera: 720P IR Cam

Battery: 60Whr battery with 95W RapidCharge Pro

What’s Hot:

• Slim, light design

• Great color (orchid)

• Superb battery life

What’s Not:

• Keys are a little shallow

BOTTOMLINE A

wonderfully portable laptop that doesn’t compromise on performance.