Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition review: Keeping things basic and solid
Rating: 3.5/5
The market for thin and light Windows laptops is experiencing a surge in competition, driven by a growing number of brands introducing diverse multi-tiered machines. This intensifying rivalry is fueled by the availability of multiple chip options from key players such as Intel and Qualcomm, each offering distinct advantages in performance, power efficiency and integrated features. Consumers now have a wider array of choices, allowing them to select devices that best suit their specific needs, whether it's for intensive productivity tasks, casual browsing, or multimedia consumption, all within the coveted portable form factor.
What truly differentiates them is the build and the balance between raw performance, refined aesthetics as well as genuine innovation. Every so often, however, a machine enters the market that fundamentally redefines our perception of the category. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is precisely such a device, priced starting at Rs 1,32,999.
Powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V "Lunar Lake" processor, this sleek machine delivers a blend of speed and efficiency, positioning it as a potential go-to machine for professionals and creatives alike. From its thin profile to its stunning 2.8K display, the laptop is Lenovo ’s take on premium ultrabooks. We reviewed this laptop for about a month now, and here’s how it fits in our daily workflows.
Design and Display
In terms of design, the laptop looks and feels modern, ticking all the basics. The aluminium chassis offers sturdy and reliable build with minimal flex in the keyboard and the lid. The minimalist Lenovo branding sits in the center of the lid, and the palm area gets the “Yoga” branding. For a 15-inch laptop, its dimensions are slim -- a quality that significantly adds to its overall aesthetic appeal.
The hinge feels solid and works like a charm, with the lid opening up nicely with just enough resistance to provide that premium experience. That being said, it doesn’t pass the one-hand open test; you will need to use both hands to lift the display. The lid gets a reverse notch design with the lid slightly protruding the perfect rectangular profile.
The laptop is equipped with one HDMI 2.1 port, two Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports (conveniently placed one on each side), a 3.5mm audio jack, and just a single USB 3.2 Type-A port. It also features a physical camera shutter button that enables and disables the FHD 1080p webcam. All these ports and buttons sit on a curved chassis that does not stick into the palms, making it easy to carry in hand.
The laptop offers Windows Hello sign-in option and those looking for a dedicated fingerprint sensor biometric login will have to give it a miss.
The display is a gorgeous 120Hz LCD touch panel that offers a peak brightness of 500 nits. Its support for 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut makes it an excellent offering for those who like to watch movies in high-quality and content creators to get near-accurate colour output. The signature Lenovo notch at the top houses the IR camera, which can be toggled on and off via the physical switch on the right-hand side of the laptop.
While the display leaves no room for complaint whatsoever, if we were to be nitpicking, an OLED panel would have contributed to the clarity and battery life.
The display, however, is accompanied by a pair of well-balanced speakers. The laptop gets four 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos. This meant that, though not loud, they delivered a rich, full-bodied sound with ample depth and substance across the frequency range, feeling complete.
Coming to the keyboard, it is easygoing and a pleasure to use. It did not take much time for us to get used to the keys, which offer ample travel and a great amount of tactile feedback. Our typing experience has been fairly good. The trackpad, however, is a different story. It was slippery and it did take us some time to get used to it. During times when we needed to churn out large outputs, we found ourselves switching to a mouse.
Performance
The introduction of AI into the world of personal computing can arguably be considered as one the most pivotal moments in consumer tech in years. Just like a bunch of Intel-powered laptops that we have reviewed in recent months, the Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition gets the latest Intel chips that are proficient in handling AI tasks. A key advantage of Intel chips over Qualcomm is the processor’s ability to support gaming even in thin and light laptops.
The "Aura" in its name signifies the company’s collaboration with Intel, built around their new Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor (clocked at 2.20GHz). The chip is designed with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of performing 47 trillion operations per second (TOPS). In layman’s words, this dedicated NPU takes over demanding AI workloads, allowing the CPU and GPU to focus entirely on non-AI tasks, thereby enabling them to perform better while consuming less power.
With 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD, the laptop performed decently when it came to creative workloads such as editing Reels, taking up photo editing and even using Microsoft Copilot for generating AI photos. The machine didn’t disappoint. In the real world scenarios where we had multiple windows opened, including at least 40 tabs spread across two Google Chrome windows, the laptop didn’t blink for once.
What truly sets this laptop apart from its competitors is the innovative integration of several unique operational modes, each designed to cater to diverse user needs and enhance the overall computing experience.
Among these, the Wellness Mode stands out as a thoughtful addition, specifically engineered to promote digital well-being. For those prioritising confidentiality and data protection, the Shield Mode provides privacy by employing advanced technologies to restrict screen visibility, effectively preventing "visual hacking" in public spaces.
Furthermore, the Collaboration Mode is a powerful tool tailored for businesses and teams working in dynamic environments. Beyond these core modes, the laptop also has a "Power Mode" for extended usage.
Battery
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition stood our test of heavy load in our day-to-day work life. During our review period, we constantly got 12-15 hours of battery backup on a single charge. The laptop got fully charged in less than two hours without getting warm.
Verdict
Lenovo has engineered the Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition for peak performance while getting the basics -- solid build, minimalist design, lightweight and a little OS magic -- right. The Intel 258V CPU offers a refined workflow -- from video and photo editing to undertaking demanding AI tasks like running on-device models, this laptop handles everything with ease.
At a starting price of Rs 1,32,999, users get a touch-enabled 2.8K LCD panel paired with a front-firing quad speaker setup, a powerful processor, a day’s battery life and Lenovo’s virtual after-sale support via SmartCare. If you are looking for a basic yet solid thin-and-light laptop, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is one to consider.
The market for thin and light Windows laptops is experiencing a surge in competition, driven by a growing number of brands introducing diverse multi-tiered machines. This intensifying rivalry is fueled by the availability of multiple chip options from key players such as Intel and Qualcomm, each offering distinct advantages in performance, power efficiency and integrated features. Consumers now have a wider array of choices, allowing them to select devices that best suit their specific needs, whether it's for intensive productivity tasks, casual browsing, or multimedia consumption, all within the coveted portable form factor.
What truly differentiates them is the build and the balance between raw performance, refined aesthetics as well as genuine innovation. Every so often, however, a machine enters the market that fundamentally redefines our perception of the category. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is precisely such a device, priced starting at Rs 1,32,999.
Powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V "Lunar Lake" processor, this sleek machine delivers a blend of speed and efficiency, positioning it as a potential go-to machine for professionals and creatives alike. From its thin profile to its stunning 2.8K display, the laptop is Lenovo ’s take on premium ultrabooks. We reviewed this laptop for about a month now, and here’s how it fits in our daily workflows.
Design and Display
In terms of design, the laptop looks and feels modern, ticking all the basics. The aluminium chassis offers sturdy and reliable build with minimal flex in the keyboard and the lid. The minimalist Lenovo branding sits in the center of the lid, and the palm area gets the “Yoga” branding. For a 15-inch laptop, its dimensions are slim -- a quality that significantly adds to its overall aesthetic appeal.
The hinge feels solid and works like a charm, with the lid opening up nicely with just enough resistance to provide that premium experience. That being said, it doesn’t pass the one-hand open test; you will need to use both hands to lift the display. The lid gets a reverse notch design with the lid slightly protruding the perfect rectangular profile.
The laptop is equipped with one HDMI 2.1 port, two Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports (conveniently placed one on each side), a 3.5mm audio jack, and just a single USB 3.2 Type-A port. It also features a physical camera shutter button that enables and disables the FHD 1080p webcam. All these ports and buttons sit on a curved chassis that does not stick into the palms, making it easy to carry in hand.
The laptop offers Windows Hello sign-in option and those looking for a dedicated fingerprint sensor biometric login will have to give it a miss.
The display is a gorgeous 120Hz LCD touch panel that offers a peak brightness of 500 nits. Its support for 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut makes it an excellent offering for those who like to watch movies in high-quality and content creators to get near-accurate colour output. The signature Lenovo notch at the top houses the IR camera, which can be toggled on and off via the physical switch on the right-hand side of the laptop.
While the display leaves no room for complaint whatsoever, if we were to be nitpicking, an OLED panel would have contributed to the clarity and battery life.
The display, however, is accompanied by a pair of well-balanced speakers. The laptop gets four 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos. This meant that, though not loud, they delivered a rich, full-bodied sound with ample depth and substance across the frequency range, feeling complete.
Coming to the keyboard, it is easygoing and a pleasure to use. It did not take much time for us to get used to the keys, which offer ample travel and a great amount of tactile feedback. Our typing experience has been fairly good. The trackpad, however, is a different story. It was slippery and it did take us some time to get used to it. During times when we needed to churn out large outputs, we found ourselves switching to a mouse.
Performance
The introduction of AI into the world of personal computing can arguably be considered as one the most pivotal moments in consumer tech in years. Just like a bunch of Intel-powered laptops that we have reviewed in recent months, the Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition gets the latest Intel chips that are proficient in handling AI tasks. A key advantage of Intel chips over Qualcomm is the processor’s ability to support gaming even in thin and light laptops.
The "Aura" in its name signifies the company’s collaboration with Intel, built around their new Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor (clocked at 2.20GHz). The chip is designed with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of performing 47 trillion operations per second (TOPS). In layman’s words, this dedicated NPU takes over demanding AI workloads, allowing the CPU and GPU to focus entirely on non-AI tasks, thereby enabling them to perform better while consuming less power.
With 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD, the laptop performed decently when it came to creative workloads such as editing Reels, taking up photo editing and even using Microsoft Copilot for generating AI photos. The machine didn’t disappoint. In the real world scenarios where we had multiple windows opened, including at least 40 tabs spread across two Google Chrome windows, the laptop didn’t blink for once.
What truly sets this laptop apart from its competitors is the innovative integration of several unique operational modes, each designed to cater to diverse user needs and enhance the overall computing experience.
Among these, the Wellness Mode stands out as a thoughtful addition, specifically engineered to promote digital well-being. For those prioritising confidentiality and data protection, the Shield Mode provides privacy by employing advanced technologies to restrict screen visibility, effectively preventing "visual hacking" in public spaces.
Furthermore, the Collaboration Mode is a powerful tool tailored for businesses and teams working in dynamic environments. Beyond these core modes, the laptop also has a "Power Mode" for extended usage.
Battery
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition stood our test of heavy load in our day-to-day work life. During our review period, we constantly got 12-15 hours of battery backup on a single charge. The laptop got fully charged in less than two hours without getting warm.
Verdict
Lenovo has engineered the Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition for peak performance while getting the basics -- solid build, minimalist design, lightweight and a little OS magic -- right. The Intel 258V CPU offers a refined workflow -- from video and photo editing to undertaking demanding AI tasks like running on-device models, this laptop handles everything with ease.
At a starting price of Rs 1,32,999, users get a touch-enabled 2.8K LCD panel paired with a front-firing quad speaker setup, a powerful processor, a day’s battery life and Lenovo’s virtual after-sale support via SmartCare. If you are looking for a basic yet solid thin-and-light laptop, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is one to consider.
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