When writing about laptops, “spec bump” is often code for “boring.” But here’s a spec bump that I’m really excited about. See: Lenovo has relaunched its Yoga C740 and Yoga C640 as the Yoga 7i and Yoga 6, respectively.
The 7i will include Intel’s “latest” CPUs – most likely the next “Tiger Lake” generation. AMD’s Ryzen 4000 line gave Intel a run for its money this year, so it’s going to be interesting to see if the new chips can bounce back. Intel claims that they will offer significantly better speeds when drawing less power than previous generations, thanks to its new 10nm SupernF design. The chips also include Intel’s new Xe integrated graphics, which has shown the company running modern AAA titles smoothly.
Like its predecessor, the new 7i seems to be a convertible MacBook Air competitor aimed at mid-range consumers (it’s a tiger under the company’s premium flagship, the Yoga C940). It comes in 14-inch and 15-inch configurations and has front-facing Dolby Atmos speakers, Amazon Alexa integration, a webcam with a built-in privacy shutter, and two ports that support Intel’s new Thunderbolt 4 standard.
Lenovo claims that you get 13 hours of battery life from the 15-inch model, and 16 hours on the 14-inch model. It also promises a very fast boot time – per company you will see the 7i and turn “the moment you open the lid.”
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The 13.3-inch Yoga 6 will have AMD Ryzen processors up to the Ryzen 7 4700U. We can be responsible for these chips; they deliver the 2020 HP Envy x360, which is absolutely fast-paced and can handle gaming as well as expected from a system with a low-powered discrete GPU.
This Yoga would perhaps appeal more to budget-minded shoppers. Its predecessor was marked for the most part as a solid student laptop. It has an interesting design, though, with a nice blue fabric covering the lid. Lenovo says it is the first laptop designed with a hybrid of metals and “soft-touch” materials.
The company also claims 18 hours of battery life, a 300-nit screen, and a compact 2.9-pound chassis. This one also comes with Alexa.
The Yoga 6 will hit shelves in October, starting at $ 699. The 7i will be available in November starting at $ 799.
Lenovo also announced a few Yoga Slim 7 models, including the Yoga Slim 7i, Yoga Slim 7i Pro, and Yoga Slim 7 Pro. These do not come to North America, but European residents can pick up the 7 Pro in August and the 7i models in October. The 7i starts at € 999, the 7i pro starts at € 899, and the 7 Pro starts at € 799.
