The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is in a unusual state of affairs. It’s an impressive, moveable computer that is going as much as AMD Ryzen 7 4800U. In our checking out, it proved to be an impressive, environment friendly monster of a processor. If you need this computer, you need this CPU.
Except you’ll be able to’t within the United States. Here, it’s advertised underneath a special title, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7. And within the U.S., as of this writing, that is available in one configuration with a Ryzen 7 4700U, paired with 8GB of RAM for $899.99. The 4700U has a complete of 8 cores with 8 threads and a most rated spice up clock of 4.1 GHz whilst the 4800U makes use of multi-threading to come up with 16 threads (double the volume) whilst it boosts as much as 4.2 GHz.
We were given a Yoga in an IdeaPad’s clothes. The field stated IdeaPad. The sticky label at the computer stated IdeaPad. Even the machine title in Windows is IdeaPad. It has a 1-year American guaranty in Lenovo Vantage. But Lenovo informed me that the fashion I had received’t be to be had right here.
In reality, it used to be onerous to search out it anyplace on this planet. After looking out a lot of western Europe, we in spite of everything discovered an inventory for it on Lenovo’s site in Amsterdam for €999.00 (more or less $1,181.97)
As a (in large part) North American-based site, we usually check configurations that you’ll be able to get in North America. But that wasn’t going to forestall us from checking out the Ryzen 7 4800U, in what occurs to be one of the best possible ultrabooks that we’ve noticed this 12 months.
Design
It was once that you just couldn’t discover a Ryzen processor in a nice-looking machine, however that’s obviously not the case. The Yoga Slim 7 seems like a top rate device. In that method, it’s the kind of computer that Intel will have to be very petrified of.
While it’s referred to as IdeaPad in North America, it has the Yoga brand at the lid, in addition to Lenovo’s personal. Yoga is Lenovo’s maximum top rate client emblem. And it displays; our iron grey fashion used to be made totally out of steel and feels in point of fact forged.
The 14-inch show has an overly skinny bezel round it, particularly at the facets. Lenovo couldn’t even have compatibility it’s personal title at the backside, the place maximum producers depart their marks. Instead, there’s any other Lenovo brand at the steel wrist relaxation. The chiclet keyboard is backlit and has audio system on both sides.
The bezel above the webcam juts out ever so fairly (with a Yoga 7 Series stamp, once more with the combined nomenclature), which makes room for infrared cameras. This additionally makes it simple to open the computer with simply one hand.
Port variety may be just right for a computer. There are two USB Type-C ports at the left aspect (you’ll use one for charging), in addition to an HDMI output and a headphone jack. The proper aspect of the device performs host to a microSD card reader, a couple of USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and the facility button.
It’s bizarre to peer the facility button at the aspect. This is a clamshell software, so it might make sense to place that on or close to the keyboard. This is excellent for trade customers who might need to dock their laptops, but when they’re purchasing Lenovo, they’ll most probably opt for a ThinkPad anyway.
At 12.6 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches, the Yoga Slim 7 feels pleasant and compact. It weighs in at 3.8 kilos. It’s no longer as small because the 2.8-pound Dell XPS 13 9300 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches). The HP Spectre x360 (13-inch) is 2.7 kilos and 12.1 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches, and Lenovo’s personal ThinkPad X1 Carbon is 2.4 kilos and 12.7 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Specifications
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 4800U |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 4266 MHz |
| SSD | 512GB SK Hynix SSD |
| Display | 14-inch, 1920 x 1080, IPS show |
| Networking | Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2×2), Bluetooth 5 |
| Ports | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB-C PD, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, micro SD card reader, HDMI, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Camera | 720p, IR |
| Battery | 60.7 WHr |
| Power Adapter | 65W |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 12.6 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches / 320.6 x 208 x 14.9 mm |
| Weight | 3.8 kilos / 1.4 kg |
| Price (as configured) | €999.00, Not to be had as configured within the United States |
Productivity Performance
The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U is truly goddamn speedy. The 8 core/16 thread processor slaughtered Intel’s U-series opponents in a few of our benchmarks.
On Geekbench 5.0, the Slim 7 earned a multi-core ranking of 6,669, handing the 4-core, 8-thread Intel device’s butts to them. The XPS 13 (Ice Lake, Core i7-1065G7) scored 4,848, the Spectre x360 (Ice Lake, Core i7-1065G7) scored 4,074 and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Comet Lake, Core i7-10610U) notched a ranking of 3,913.
The Yoga Slim 7 transferred 4.97GB of information at a price of 937.7 MBps, blazing previous many of the festival, apart from for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (997.9 MBps).
Perhaps probably the most dramatic distinction used to be in Handbrake. The Slim 7 transcoded a video from 4K to 1080p in 8 mins and 55 seconds. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon took 18:28, the XPS 13 ran for 15:40, and the Spectre lagged at 21:13.
We additionally ran our standard Cinebench R20 pressure check for ultrabooks, looping this system 20 instances. The rankings had been in large part solid, within the 2800’s, with one dip into the prime 2700’s early on. The moderate ranking used to be 2820.5.
The CPU ran at a mean pace of 2.5 GHz. While it did continuously spike to AMD’s promised 4.2 GHz, it didn’t keep there for lengthy sessions of time. The moderate CPU temperature used to be 72.8 levels Celsius (163 levels Fahrenheit).
The Ryzen 7 4800U additionally confirmed off its graphics muscle in Civilization VI: Gathering Storm, working the benchmark at 35 fps, which is playable. That’s a long way and away higher than the XPS 13 (19 fps) or ThinkPad X12 Carbon (8 fps).
Display
There aren’t a large number of Ryzen machines with nice presentations, and the one at the Yoga Slim 7 is simplest just right. It’s a 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS panel with first rate colours, however my first intuition used to be to check out to make it brighter. Sure, the trailer for The Batman is already a little darkish, however it made some pieces, like a shiny inexperienced envelope keeping a word to Batman, no longer stand out up to it does on different displays. It’s no longer a dealbreaker, however it may well be higher.
Lenovo’s panel covers 80.4% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, 1% in the back of the XPS 13 however above each the Spectre and the ThinkPad.
On our lightmeter, the Slim 7 measured a mean of 353 nits of brightness, which is not up to the XPS 13’s 417 nits (on its 1920 x 1200 variant), 369 nits at the Spectre and 364 nits at the X1 Carbon.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Lenovo’s keyboard is a little shallow, however nonetheless feels clicky and tactile. On the 10fastfingers.com typing check, I hit 108 phrases in keeping with minute with a 2% error price.
Some of the keys have non-traditional serve as choices, together with opening Lenovo Vantage, appearing your entire desktops, and activating the Snipping Tool.
The 4.1 x 2.5-inch touchpad feels only a tad small (I want it had been wider), however the essential factor is that it’s responsive with Windows precision drivers. I by no means had any problems with gestures or navigation.
Audio
Most skinny laptops don’t produce the richest sound, and this Slim 7 isn’t an exception right here. Don’t get me incorrect – it’s completely serviceable. When I skilled heart college flashbacks being attentive to Good Charlotte’s “The Anthem.” I discovered that the sound used to be even and transparent. It simply lacked element, and the drums didn’t stand out a few of the guitars.
I were given some assist from the Dolby Atmos Speaker System tool, regardless that. It has a handful of preset equalizers (or you’ll be able to set you brown), however I discovered the “Detailed” environment added again the drums or even gave a little extra edge to the guitars. The bass, like maximum laptops, used to be missing.
Upgradeability
There are seven screws at the backside of the Yoga Slim 7. You’ll desire a Torx T5 screwdriver to take away them. The three alongside the hinge got here out simply, however the four nearer to the palmrest had been in tight and required a little of endurance.
Once the ones are out, you’ll desire a software to pry sparsely alongside the sides to get the ground of the chassis off.
When you get inside of, you’ll see that the battery and SSD are in an instant out there. The RAM, alternatively, is soldered to the board. The SSD is wrapped in foil, however you’ll be able to nonetheless take away it via merely casting off the screw. If you substitute the force, you’ll be able to slide the little foil jacket again on.
Battery Life
AMD’s potency displays right here. On our battery check, which has laptops browse the internet, run OpenGL checks and movement video over Wi-Fi, all at 150 nits, the Slim 7 ran for 17 hours and 21 mins on a price. Wow.
That surpasses one of the vital longest-lasting Intel laptops we’ve noticed of past due, together with the Dell XPS 13 (12:39 FHD, 8:14 4K), ThinkPad X1 Carbon (10:45 FHD, 7:23 4K) and HP Spectre x360 (13:19).
Heat
We took pores and skin temperature measurements whilst working our Cinebench R20 pressure check.
Between the G and H keys, the Slim 7 measured 42.3 levels Celsius (108.1 levels Fahrenheit), however used to be cooler at the touchpad, at 31.4 levels Celsius (88.5 levels Fahrenheit).
The most up to date level at the backside of the computer hit 50.2 levels Celsius (122.4 Fahrenheit), which is unquestionably at the toastier aspect.
Webcam
The 720p webcam at the Yoga Slim 7 is of deficient high quality. In photographs, I seemed grainy and out of center of attention, as did the backgrounds in the back of me. I extremely counsel the use of one of the best possible webcams with this software.
It did, alternatively, paintings nice together with its IR sensors to log me in with facial reputation by means of Windows Hello, which used to be at all times speedy and correct.
Software and Warranty
Lenovo ships the Slim 7 in large part freed from bloat. In reality, there’s simply one piece of tool you’ll need to delete instantly: an ordeal of McAfee LiveSafe.
Other than that Lenovo Vantage is the opposite giant piece of tool, and that’s a spot to test your guaranty standing, run {hardware} scans and get fortify. Glance for Mirametrix is there for individuals who need to use the IR cameras to transport home windows from the computer display to any other track.
Otherwise, you’ll be able to be expecting the similar bloatware you in finding constructed into nearly each and every Windows 10 set up, together with Facebook Messenger, Hulu, and Hidden City: Hidden Object Adventure.
Lenovo sells the IdeaPad Slim 7 with a one-year guaranty within the U.S.
Configurations
We reviewed the IdeaPad Slim 7 (referred to as the Yoga Slim 7 outdoor of the United States) with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U CPU with built-in Radeon graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. This model received’t be bought within the United States, however will probably be to be had across the world. We discovered it indexed on Lenovo’s site within the Netherlands for €999 (different websites had pages up for it, however no longer costs).
It confirmed up in a unusual – method: in US packaging, with US (IdeaPad) branding, and a US keyboard format. Lenovo Vantage additionally known it and gave it a US guaranty. In some way, what we reviewed is exclusive.
What is being bought, alternatively, is an $899.99 model with a Ryzen 7 4700U, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. We would be expecting identical or higher battery existence from this fashion, along side the similar display and construct high quality.
Bottom Line
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, IdeaPad Slim 7, no matter you need to name it, is the kind of ultrabook that Intel will have to be cautious about. Luckily for it, the most productive model of it is vitally onerous to search out.
The Ryzen 4800U has confirmed to be one hell of a processor. While on value, this computer is extra of an ultraportable, it brings CPU efficiency you have to be expecting in some mid-range gaming laptops. And in that ultrabook house, each Intel’s Ice Lake and Comet Lake laptops didn’t meet Ryzen.
It’s no longer easiest. The laptop can get toasty, and the display isn’t rather as just right as the ones on its Intel opposite numbers. But past the efficiency, the battery existence is in point of fact implausible and the design
The drawback is this computer, within the configuration we were given it in, is successfully no longer on the market (lesser variations are). I’ve noticed threads on Reddit and somewhere else with other people trying to find this model. And when you’re out there for one thing like this and in finding it, I’d counsel from my checking out that you just snag it.
But this model may be the definitive model of a top rate Ryzen 4000-series computer. The AMD Ryzen 4800U is implausible, and 16GB of RAM is just really helpful at the present time. Hopefully this probably the greatest configuration of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 turns into extra to be had quickly.