Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Review: Great Build, High Price

Lenovo has launched the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition Gen 11 starting at $2,050, offering an ultra-lightweight magnesium-aluminum chassis and a vibrant 2.8K OLED touchscreen designed for mobile professionals who prioritize extreme portability over raw processing power.

Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition Gen 11 sits on a table with a black and white mat underneath it. A living room with some greenery is in the background.

Matt Elliott/CNET

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition Gen 11 Summary

Score: 6.8 / 10

$2,050 at Lenovo

Pros

Solid battery life and durable construction for an ultra-thin laptop
Responsive haptic touchpad with uniform clicking across the entire surface
Sharp, high-resolution 2.8K OLED touchscreen panel
Convenient physical switch for webcam privacy control

Cons

Prohibitive price point given its average computing performance
Protruding side power button leads to accidental shutdowns
Limited array of physical connectivity ports

The Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition stands out as one of the thinnest traditional laptops in Lenovo’s line-up. Instead of maxing out raw processing horsepower, this machine invests heavily in premium aesthetics and a gorgeous 2.8K OLED display. While daily office productivity runs without a hitch, power users, gaming enthusiasts, and video editors will find performance lacking when pitted against rivals like the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI Plus and Apple’s 13-inch M5 MacBook Air.

Build quality remains top-tier despite the ultra-thin form factor. The magnesium-aluminum alloy body resists twisting and pressure, providing structural rigidity that easily withstands everyday travel stresses. However, widespread component cost increases make this once-versatile ultrabook a tough sell at its current market price.

Hardware Specifications and Pricing

Price as reviewed	$2,050
Display size/resolution	14-inch, 2,880×1,800-pixel OLED touchscreen
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 7 355
Memory	32GB LPDDR5X
Graphics	Intel Integrated Graphics
Storage	1TB SSD
Ports	3x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C
Networking	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Operating system	Windows 11 Home (64-bit)
Weight	2.15 pounds (0.98 kg)

Lenovo restricts configuration options on the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition Gen 11 primarily to storage capacity, keeping the internal processing chip fixed across all models.

The baseline model features an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 processor, integrated Intel graphics, 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a 1TB solid-state drive, and the 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen display. This setup sells for $2,050 on Lenovo’s official store.

Upgrading to a 2TB SSD increases the total price by $200, bringing the cost to $2,250. Additional add-ons—including Microsoft software bundles, wireless peripherals, graphic adapters, and protective cases—can easily push the total expense hundreds of dollars higher.

The “Aura Edition” designation confirms the presence of Intel processing hardware inside. Notably, this specific model features a traditional clamshell hinge rather than the 360-degree convertible design common to other Yoga devices.

Close up photo of the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra's OLED display. — The Yoga Slim 7i Ultra features a sharp OLED panel, though graphic-heavy AAA gaming is out of reach. Matt Elliott/CNET

Performance Benchmarks and Battery Efficiency

Ultra-thin laptops inherently face thermal and physical constraints, limiting internal space for cooling and battery capacity. Hardware compromises are unavoidable in thin-and-light designs.

Within its chip category, the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra squeezes competitive multi-core and single-core power out of its Intel Core Ultra 7 355 CPU. It scored higher than both the Dell XPS 14 and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 in Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024 evaluations.

However, competing machines outpace it. The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI Plus recorded better overall processor scores at a lower retail price. Meanwhile, Apple’s M5 MacBook Air significantly outperformed the Yoga in raw computing tasks despite a starting price nearly $900 cheaper.

Graphics testing via 3DMark Steel Nomad yielded modest scores. Equipped with integrated Intel graphics rather than dedicated GPUs like the Intel Arc B390 found in MSI’s Prestige series, the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra is limited to light tasks and older software titles. Modern AAA games will not run comfortably on this machine.

Battery longevity offers a stronger selling point. The laptop logged almost 18 hours during continuous video playback testing, outlasting the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI and the M5 MacBook Air. While the Dell XPS 14 provides longer endurance at roughly 21 hours, Lenovo’s ultrabook easily delivers enough charge to clear a full workday without a power adapter.

A close up shot of the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra's keyboard and trackpad. — A sturdy alloy chassis, responsive keyboard, and smooth haptic trackpad anchor the design. Matt Elliott/CNET

Ergonomics, Display Quality, and Port Selection

At 2.15 pounds (0.98 kg), the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra ranks among the lightest 14-inch laptops available, undercutting lightweight benchmarks like the Asus Zenbook A14. The magnesium-aluminum alloy body prevents panel flexing or lid distortion under stress. The main display hinge holds firm, though it stops short of opening a full 180 degrees.

Design drawbacks stem from component placement and port selection. The power button protrudes along the right outer edge of the frame, making it easy to accidentally press against objects or desk accessories, triggering unintended power-offs. Conversely, the adjacent hardware webcam kill switch works effectively and eliminates software privacy toggles.

Minimalist physical connections force reliance on dongles and adapters. Matt Elliott/CNET

Connectivity options are strictly modern: three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports (two on the left, one on the right). While dual-side charging capability is convenient, the total omission of USB Type-A, HDMI outputs, and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack requires users to carry external dongles.

Visual performance excels thanks to the bright 2.8K OLED panel, which maintains high visibility even under harsh lighting. Typing feedback on the backlit keyboard is consistent, and the large, centered haptic trackpad registers click inputs reliably across its entire glass surface.

Overview of the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra's internal chassis parts. — The lightweight frame excels in portability, but the $2,050 price point limits its overall value appeal. Matt Elliott/CNET

Market Value and Final Verdict

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition Gen 11 delivers superb build execution, excellent portability, and solid battery life for professionals on the go. However, its $2,050 base price presents a significant barrier given its middle-tier performance metrics.

Competitors offer compelling alternatives at lower costs. The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI Plus delivers superior benchmark results for a $1,800 entry price. Non-Windows users can opt for the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air, which provides higher computing speed starting at $1,300. Users seeking maximum battery endurance can look to the Dell XPS 14. While the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra succeeds as a lightweight daily driver, stronger value exists elsewhere in the premium ultrabook market.

Lab Testing Benchmarks

Standardized lab benchmarking measures processor output, graphic rendering capabilities, and energy consumption under controlled conditions.