Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Flash Review: A Versatile Workhorse with Kinks to Iron Out
If you’re looking for a work laptop, the latest Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition is a viable choice for most professionals. I can say this with confidence after using the laptop as my main driver for a little over a week. Though it does carry a steep price — authorized resellers price this upwards of RM6,000 — it is undoubtedly a powerful machine that would cater sufficiently to corporate workhorses.
That being said, there are a few quirks here that might hinder your decision, depending on the scope of work you are planning to do. We’ll get into those later, but first, here’s what’s good about the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition.
The Pros
Power is definitely one of the strong points here, especially if you’re a corporate hustler who doesn’t rely on a multitude of software. If your workloads are anything like mine and you’re mostly getting lost in a sea of Google tabs across multiple windows, rest assured you’ll be well off without so much as a stutter. This is expected from the Intel Core Ultra 258V, which excels brilliantly at single-core performance.
The Yoga Slim 7 has an all-metal chassis that assures you’ve got a sturdy device on hand. Despite its hardy exterior, the laptop stays true to its namesake with its slim profile and 1.53kg weight. In fact, it is one of the lighter 15-inch laptops you’ll find on the market. The rounded edges are a subtle yet unique detail that I adore. It goes a long way in differentiating itself from conventional boxy laptops. Plus, it rests far more comfortably in your palms if you’re hauling it around like a file.
The Yoga Slim 7’s versatility is also commendable. This is thanks to its flexible hinges that allow the screen to lay flat on a surface. Even if you’re not utilizing the full 180-degree angle it’s capable of, having that much range to work with is a major plus if you find yourself working in odd positions (à la those beanbags that hip startups often have). Adding to its versatility is the responsive touchscreen display, which never wavered during our brief stint with it.
Although we didn’t get the chance to conduct a battery benchmark test, the 70Wh battery on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 lasted me a full day’s workload. Again, this will depend on your usage and the software you run, but if you’re running only internet tabs and word processing tools, it will suit your on-the-go routine just fine.
The Cons
While the all-metal chassis is sturdy, the Luna Grey colourway is rather uninspired. Aside from the reflective ‘Lenovo’ emblem on the lid, there’s nothing else going on for it. If the goal was to appeal to the monotonous corporate crowd — mission accomplished. It definitely fits the four-walled cubicle setup, but I do wish for a more thoughtful design and a less metallic palette.
Moreover, the lack of an OLED display seems unjustified, considering you’re shelling out at least RM6,000. Nevertheless, the 2.8K (2880×1800) LCD screen is decent. And, for what it’s worth, it also has 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut. I know this laptop isn’t primed for studio-level video editing, but if you’re in a position where moderate editing is part of the job scope, an option with an OLED display might suit you better.
There are a few other minor quirks. For example, the absence of a physical shutter for the webcam. Instead of inserting the typical sliding shutter, Lenovo has opted for their e-shutter button, which acts as a kill switch for the webcam. You’ll find this at the right edge of the laptop, next to the oddly placed power button — which is another pet peeve of mine. Had Lenovo simply positioned the power button on the keyboard surface and included a physical shutter, they could have easily used the extra space in the right edge for something more useful, like a memory card slot or an extra USB port.
Nevertheless, you still have a decent array of ports, including one HDMI 2.1 port, two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB-A port, and a combo audio jack.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition: Should you buy?
Based on our experience, there’s more to like about the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 than not. It offers respectable performance, decent battery life, and a few bells and whistles like flexible hinges and touchscreen capabilities – all make it a reliable laptop. While it is not in the ultraportable range, the 1.53kg weight does position it as one of the lightest among its 15-inch peers.
Nevertheless, the lack of an OLED display could be a hindrance to some, especially for creatives loaded with editing projects. Moreover, the position of the power button and the e-shutter raises a few questions about whether Lenovo could have been more intentional with placement.
Should you buy it? Well, mostly yes, unless the lack of an OLED display and memory card slots proves a dealbreaker. My take is this: the average white-collar professional will find the value in it, while creatives may feel limited by the display and the absence of a memory card slot for large file transfers.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is a good buy – just not for everyone.
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