I used Lenovo’s latest dual-screen OLED laptop for a month and it wouldn’t be my first choice — here’s why

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The dual-screen laptop market has always been limited, and for good reason.

In most cases, laptop models with dual screens tend to be pricier than their single-screen counterparts because they require extra engineering efforts, resources, and hardware components. However, many average users question the necessity of having extra screen space in a portable device, designed mainly for on-the-go usage.

Despite not seeing widespread adoption yet, ASUS and Lenovo continue to push boundaries in the realm of dual-screen laptops, offering the only such devices available today. The Zenbook Duo from ASUS is one option I reviewed recently, while Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i represents another choice.

For approximately a month, I decided to change my regular workflow to the Lenovo PC to fully understand its day-to-day usage. Now, I’m ready to deliver a genuine review based on my extended use and recent hands-on session with the Yoga Book 9i, as well as my dual-screen gaming experience.

It appears to me that the Yoga Book 9i stands out as the most visually appealing and thoughtfully designed dual-screen laptop. However, this doesn’t necessarily imply it’s the ideal choice for everyone in terms of being the best dual-screen laptop. Here’s why:

1. Design and aesthetics are subjective, meaning what appeals to me may not resonate with you.
2. The features and functionalities that make the Yoga Book 9i excel from a design perspective might not align with your specific needs or preferences for a dual-screen laptop.
3. Different people have varying priorities when it comes to technology, so what works best for me may not be the perfect fit for you. It’s essential to consider factors like budget, intended use, and personal preferences before making a decision.

The writing of this review was facilitated by a loaned review unit from Lenovo. However, they played no role in shaping the content of this article, and they didn’t get a chance to read the review before it was published.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10) is an easy winner

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (Generation 10) demonstrates their exceptional engineering skills, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it ranks among the best Windows laptops I’ve personally encountered.

Lenovo’s contemporary Yoga design philosophy is clearly showcased here. The body, made from die-cast stainless steel with rounded edges and soft corners, boasts a sleek appearance. A raised communication bar adorns the top of the lid, while the laptop maintains a slim profile despite incorporating dual OLED displays.

The laptop, not including the keyboard and stand, tips the scales at approximately 2.69 pounds (or 1.219 kilograms) and boasts a slender profile of merely 0.6 inches (or 15.5 millimeters).

I’d be lying if I said this isn’t one of the finest Windows laptops I’ve ever used.

Here, we find a rotatable soundbar, encased within a hinge, that houses two 2W speakers – a characteristic feature borrowed from Lenovo’s renowned premium laptop model, the Yoga 9i.

In simpler terms, the 360-degree design ensures that sound comes straight to you no matter how you’re using your computer. This is achieved through the combination of tweeters with two 2W woofers, placed on opposite sides at the bottom of the panel, and everything is fine-tuned for optimal performance with Dolby Atmos technology.

This exceptional audio arrangement truly impresses with its abilities. Regardless if it’s for enjoying music, immersing myself in a film, playing games, or participating in video conferences, there were no issues concerning volume or clarity.

The 5MP webcam is equally outstanding as the audio equipment. Although it’s surpassed in resolution by several other computer cameras, Lenovo seems to have something particularly effective going on under the hood.

The camera performs exceptionally well at managing various light intensities, ensuring I appear clear during my weekly video conferences. It also incorporates an Infrared sensor for Windows Hello, enhancing the security level with its facial recognition feature.

Additionally, it comes equipped with Human Presence Detection (HPD) functionality, which is both practical and safe. The Lenovo Vantage app provides various zero-touch configurations tailored to distinct PC modes – clamshell, book, tent, tablet – featuring options for seamless login, locking, and video playback activation automatically.

This is the initial computer I’ve come across that enables me to customize the (HPD) sensitivity and timing settings to avoid my laptop from scanning anything moving nearby, and it’s also the first one I’ve used with the capacity to pause and resume videos as I leave or approach. Everything about it operates smoothly.

As a tech enthusiast, I must admit that one area where the Yoga Book could use some improvement is its port selection. You see, this sleek device only offers three inputs, and here’s the twist – they’re all USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 certification. While it’s great for modern connectivity, having fewer options might leave some users wanting more versatility in their setup.

You’re aiming for that level of quality in your ports, but Thunderbolt 5 isn’t widely adopted as of now – using older technology might pose a challenge and limit certain workflows.

Indeed, this computer boasts state-of-the-art technology with the most recent wireless specifications, such as Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, but it lacks the traditional 3.5mm audio jack, which is quite conspicuous in its absence.

Intel’s Core Ultra “Arrow Lake” chips are the right choice

The Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10) operates on either an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H or Core Ultra 9 285H processor, both belonging to the “Arrow Lake” series. Notably, these processors come equipped with a powerful Intel Arc 140T integrated graphics card, which I had the opportunity to test in a previous instance.

Even though the Yoga Book doesn’t show any vents for cooling on its surface, as they are concealed within the hinge cutout, it managed to run Forza Horizon 5 smoothly at an average of 48 FPS with a 2.8K resolution and high settings including ray tracing activated.

It surpassed my expectations by quite a bit, and when I found out I could play Balatro simultaneously on both displays while using the laptop like a book, it was a joy to work with the included stylus.

To my perspective, the sleek design of the Yoga Book implies a lifestyle that leans towards relaxation and entertainment, making it all the more appealing that it can handle a variety of games.

For individuals anticipating the use of Windows 11’s Copilot+ AI tools, one potential disadvantage with these Intel chips lies in their absence of a potent Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which could limit optimal performance.

Effortlessly handling tasks such as web surfing, streaming media, photo editing, and video calls, the computer showed no signs of strain or slowdown.

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is marketed as an AI-enabled computer, boasting a combined performance of 99 TOPS from its CPU and GPU. However, its Intel AI Boost NPU only reaches 13 TOPS, which falls significantly short of the 40 TOPS threshold set by Microsoft.

In my device, they’ve installed the less potent Core Ultra 7 processor, but I never felt the need for a more powerful Core Ultra 9 version during use.

With ease, this computer handled tasks ranging from intense web surfing and streaming, graphic design with photo editing, to video calls – all at once on two screens if needed – without showing any signs of strain or slowdown.

16 cores are distributed across Intel CPUs, labeled as Performance, Efficient, and Low-Power Efficient categories. The main variation lies in their clock speeds.

The Yoga Book can be customized to include up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-8400 RAM, which is already integrated into the device and cannot be expanded further. Inside, there’s a single M.2 slot for storage expansion, with Lenovo providing options for 512GB and 1TB storage capacities.

It’s possible that you can upgrade the storage on this computer following your purchase, but please note that it may not be straightforward due to the absence of visible screws. Care should be taken when attempting entry to avoid accidentally damaging any components.

The Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10) operates on a relatively large 88Wh battery, which is surprisingly big for such a slim laptop. My Windows Battery Report may be slightly distorted because of the extensive gaming I was doing while on battery power, but the overall prediction remains positive.

While using Balatro simultaneously on two screens with DC power, I experienced roughly a 10% battery loss every half hour, resulting in approximately 5 hours of gameplay. This duration is well sufficient for my needs.

Over the past few days, I’ve been utilizing the lovely weather by working outside in the garden while my laptop screen is set to its brightest setting. Since I’ve managed to lift and use it for three consecutive days without having to recharge it, and still get some work done, I’d confidently argue that Lenovo has produced a computer that can last an entire workday on a single charge.

In the Lenovo Vantage app, users can customize several battery configurations. These settings include optimizing power modes (the adaptive power setting appears beneficial), managing battery charging restrictions, and enabling an overnight charging feature which guarantees a fully charged battery for the next day.

Dual screens, and how Lenovo wants you to use them

The standout feature of this Lenovo laptop is its dual OLED screens, measuring 14 inches each. These displays boast a sharp 2.8K resolution, an adaptable refresh rate ranging from 60Hz to 120Hz, support for Dolby Vision and DisplayHDR True Black 600 certification, and impressive brightness levels.

As an analyst, I can share my experience with Lenovo’s display: While it caps at 500 nits without HDR activation, it significantly boosts to over 750 nits when viewing HDR content. Spending extensive time outdoors with this device, I found its brightness ample enough to counteract the sun’s glare, even with its glossy finish.

Lenovo’s dual 14-inch OLED displays are the best part of this laptop.

Using the built-in stylus pen provides an excellent writing experience for taking notes or gaming, and its standard touch capabilities are seamless. This is particularly beneficial on a laptop that lacks a traditional touchpad.

That brings me to the most important aspect of this laptop: how it works in dual-screen mode.

The Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10) functions best when used with additional accessories that come packaged with the computer. Besides the active pen, you’ll also receive an exceptional wireless Bluetooth keyboard, now featuring backlighting! This keyboard conveniently attaches magnetically to the bottom of the display.

At the top of the screen, a digital touchpad similar to a regular laptop’s emerges. If you look at the bottom, adjustable widgets show up on the rest of the display.

As a tech enthusiast, I must say that I’m pleasantly surprised by how smoothly the digital touchpad performs. Initially, the absence of haptic feedback was a bit disconcerting, but Lenovo has compensated for this with several thoughtful additions. For instance, the full half-screen touch capability and the active pen’s note section are fantastic features that I find incredibly useful in my daily use.

As an analyst, I can attest that Lenovo’s built-in dual-screen software is quite efficient in handling shortcuts and features. I discovered it was straightforward to arrange windows on both screens, reminiscent of the Zenbook Duo’s dual-screen functionality. However, it should be noted that while this feature works well, it isn’t flawless.

One aspect that really bothers me is that the mouse pointer doesn’t stay on the upper screen when a keyboard is connected. Frequently, I lose track of it under the keyboard or see it hovering above the touchpad digitally. It’s almost as if I was using a dual-screen laptop in notebook mode, since this is the only thing that brings my attention to it.

As a tech enthusiast, I can’t help but share my excitement about this accessory – a versatile “origami” stand that transforms into a dual-display setup for my laptop. It offers a robust base, adjustable for both vertical and horizontal orientations, ensuring my device stays secure and stable. Plus, it comes with an elastic loop designed to hold my active pen, keeping it close at hand when I need it.

The Yoga Book 9i distinguishes itself from the Zenbook Duo as Lenovo prioritized creating an aesthetically pleasing, stylish PC design. As a result, the keyboard and stand are detachable components of the laptop.

Absolutely, when you pack up the bundle, it rolls up with the stand encompassing the keyboard. However, keep in mind that you’ll always carry an extra load along with you.

In my perspective, not having a physical touchpad like the one on the Zenbook Duo can make it necessary to use a wireless mouse when switching to the dual-screen mode.

It is clear that choosing a dual-screen laptop involves certain compromises. For instance, achieving a PC design as slim as the Yoga Book 9i often necessitates additional external components. On the other hand, integrating accessories to the level found in the Zenbook Duo can make the device bulkier and heavier.

If you lean more towards the robust integration of an ASUS PC, then that’s your choice. However, if design is more appealing to you than function, I would suggest the Yoga Book 9i instead.

The Yoga Book 9i is one fine dual-screen PC, but is it right for you?

While the Yoga Book 9i boasts top-notch dual-screen laptop hardware currently on the market, this doesn’t necessarily make it the ideal choice for most individuals.

The layout of the Zenbook Duo, featuring a movable display stand and a built-in keyboard/trackpad combo that slides into position when the device is shut, may not be as sleek or slim as the Yoga Book 9i, but it offers superior functionality.

I’d advise busy professionals to consider the ASUS Zenbook Duo as their first choice of laptop. This model is equipped with a Core Ultra 9 285H CPU, boasting 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD, which are impressive specifications for smooth multitasking. At present, you can get it from Best Buy for $1,699.99. On the other hand, the introductory Yoga Book 9i models with a Core Ultra 7 processor and only half as much memory and storage start at $2,079.99.

If you’re someone who values superior audio and visual performance in a laptop, the Yoga Book 9i might just be the sweet treat for you. However, do keep in mind that you’ll need to carry additional accessories like a wireless mouse separately, which comes with this recommendation.

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2025-06-22 23:10