BEAUTIFUL. But Is It For Everyone?

Some laptops prioritize performance. Others focus on value. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i (2025) prioritizes beauty. At $1,849 with Intel Core Ultra 7, 32GB LPDDR5x, and a stunning 14-inch OLED 2.8K display, wrapped in premium materials and gorgeous design, this is one of the most beautiful laptops you can buy.

But beauty comes with trade-offs. Is this gorgeous laptop actually for everyone?

Performance: Intel Core Ultra 7 (Integrated Graphics)

The Intel Core Ultra 7 provides solid productivity performance.

CPU Performance

The Core Ultra 7 delivers:

• Excellent single-core: Snappy and responsive
• Strong multi-core: Handles multitasking well
• AI acceleration: NPU for AI workloads
• Good efficiency: Decent battery life

For productivity work - documents, spreadsheets, web browsing, video calls - performance is more than adequate.

Integrated Graphics Only

With Intel Arc Graphics (integrated):

• No discrete GPU: Limits creative and gaming potential
• Photo editing: Lightroom works okay, Photoshop slower
• Video editing: 1080p possible, 4K struggles
• Gaming: Casual/indie games only

The Trade-off: To achieve the thin, light, beautiful design, Lenovo omitted discrete GPU. This is a premium productivity ultraportable, not a creator workstation.

The 32GB LPDDR5x RAM is generous. Multitasking with many applications runs smoothly. The 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD provides ample storage.

Display: Stunning OLED 2.8K

The 14-inch OLED display with 2.8K (2880x1800) resolution is gorgeous:

• Resolution: 2.8K provides excellent sharpness
• OLED: Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, vibrant colors
• Brightness: 400 nits (good for OLED)
• Color coverage: 100% DCI-P3 (professional-grade)
• Refresh rate: 60Hz
• Contrast: Infinite (OLED)

Visual Experience

The OLED display is stunning:

• Perfect blacks: Dark mode looks incredible
• Vibrant colors: Everything pops
• Infinite contrast: Great for media consumption
• Professional color: Suitable for light creative work

Watching movies, viewing photos, or just using Windows - the OLED display makes everything look beautiful.

Burn-in Risk: Use dark themes and vary content to minimize OLED burn-in.

Build Quality: Premium Materials and Design

At 2.9 lbs (1.32 kg), the Yoga Slim 9i is lightweight. The build quality is where it shines.

Design Language

Lenovo's design is exceptional:

• Premium aluminum and glass construction
• Tidal Teal or Storm Grey finishes
• Minimal branding (ultra-clean)
• Gem-cut edges and premium details

The Tidal Teal color is absolutely gorgeous - one of the best laptop finishes available.

Build Impressions

The build quality is extraordinary:

• Rigid aluminum chassis
• Glass trackpad and palm rest accents
• Premium materials throughout
• Meticulous attention to detail

This feels like a $3,000+ laptop despite the $1,849 price. The craftsmanship is exceptional.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The keyboard offers:

• 1.3mm key travel (shallow but comfortable)
• Backlit keys (white LED)
• Good typing experience for thin laptop
• Centered layout

The glass trackpad is the highlight - smooth, responsive, premium. It's one of the best trackpads on Windows laptops.

Port Selection

Minimal for ultra-thin design:

• 2× Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C)
• 1× USB-A 3.2
• 1× 3.5mm headphone jack

Limited ports require dongles/hubs for peripherals. The thin design necessitates minimal ports.

Battery Life: All-Day Use

The 75Wh battery with efficient Intel Core Ultra 7 delivers:

• Light productivity: 14-16 hours
• Mixed usage: 12-14 hours
• Video playback: 15-17 hours

For a premium ultraportable with OLED display, these numbers are excellent. The battery easily lasts a full work day.

Charging

65W USB-C charging. Full charge in about 2 hours. Compact charger matches the laptop's premium aesthetic.

The Beauty Tax

The Yoga Slim 9i is beautiful, but beauty costs:

What You Pay For:

• Premium materials (aluminum, glass accents)
• Gorgeous design (Tidal Teal finish)
• Meticulous build quality
• Ultra-thin profile

What You Give Up:

• No discrete GPU
• Limited ports
• Higher price than spec-equivalent laptops

Is It Worth It? Depends on priorities. For users who value aesthetics and premium feel, yes. For performance-per-dollar seekers, no.

Lenovo Vantage Software

Lenovo's software provides:

• Performance modes
• Display color management
• Battery optimization
• System monitoring

It's lightweight and functional.

Who Should Buy This?

The Yoga Slim 9i is perfect for:

• Professionals who want premium aesthetics
• Executives who value design
• Users who prioritize build quality
• Anyone who wants a beautiful laptop

Skip it if you:

• Need discrete GPU (for gaming/creative work)
• Want maximum performance
• Prefer ports over aesthetics
• Prioritize specs-per-dollar

Comparison to Alternatives

vs MacBook Air M4:

• Yoga Slim 9i: OLED display, Windows, more premium design
• MacBook Air: Better battery, macOS, fanless

vs Dell XPS 13:

• Yoga Slim 9i: More premium feel, glass trackpad
• XPS 13: Similar specs, comparable design

vs ASUS Zenbook S:

• Yoga Slim 9i: Premium materials, better build
• Zenbook S: Better value, similar performance

The Yoga Slim 9i is the most beautiful of these options.

Might Not Be For Everyone

The Yoga Slim 9i is gorgeous, but:

Who It's NOT For:

• Gamers: Integrated graphics only
• Creators: No discrete GPU limits potential
• Budget shoppers: Premium design costs extra
• Power users: Core Ultra 7 is mid-tier

Who It IS For:

• Design-conscious professionals
• Premium laptop enthusiasts
• Productivity users who value aesthetics

The Glass Trackpad Difference

Many laptops use plastic or aluminum trackpads. The glass trackpad on the Yoga Slim 9i feels different:

• Smoother gliding
• Premium tactile experience
• Easier to clean
• Looks more premium

It's a small detail that makes daily use more pleasant.

Verdict

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i (2025) is BEAUTIFUL. The premium aluminum and glass construction, gorgeous Tidal Teal finish, and meticulous build quality make this one of the best-looking laptops available.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 and 32GB LPDDR5x RAM handle productivity smoothly. The OLED 2.8K display is stunning. The 75Wh battery delivers 14+ hours of use. The 2.9 lbs weight is light and portable.

But is it for everyone? No.

The lack of discrete GPU limits creative and gaming potential. The limited ports require dongles. At $1,849, you pay a premium for the design.

For professionals who value aesthetics, premium materials, and design as much as performance, the Yoga Slim 9i is excellent. For specs-focused buyers, cheaper laptops with discrete GPUs offer better value.

The Yoga Slim 9i proves that sometimes beauty is worth paying for. The question is: Is it worth it for you?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the glass trackpad durable? A: Yes. Gorilla Glass is scratch-resistant. It's more durable than plastic trackpads.

Q: Can I add discrete GPU later? A: No. Laptops can't add discrete GPUs post-purchase. What you buy is what you get.

Q: How does the Tidal Teal finish hold up? A: Anodized aluminum resists scratches well. Fingerprints show less than on darker finishes.

Q: Is 32GB RAM overkill for productivity? A: For most users, yes. But it future-proofs and handles heavy multitasking smoothly.

Q: Should I get this or MacBook Air? A: Want Windows and OLED? Get Yoga. Want macOS and best battery? Get MacBook. Both are premium choices.