Lenovo’s Yoga lineup is dwelling to the Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7), our present high decide in terms of the most effective Home windows laptops. The Yoga 9i an excellent convertible PC; nevertheless, as talked about in our information to which Yoga you should purchase, it is probably the most costly Yogas obtainable. Lenovo makes an attempt to cater to all budgets, and its 13.3-inch Yoga 6 (Gen 7) that I’ve in for evaluate is priced firmly within the mid-range market.
Whereas it is quite common for PC refreshes to contain a efficiency improve and depart the chassis alone, Lenovo has performed a reverse card and altered the chassis and show whereas holding the identical processor choices. I have been utilizing the brand new Yoga 6 (Gen 7) for the final week to see what it is all about.
Value, availability, and specs
Lenovo provided Home windows Central with a evaluate unit of the Yoga 6. Lenovo is asking this its seventh-gen mannequin to maintain it in step with different Yoga laptops, together with the formidable Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) that we lately reviewed.
In comparison with the earlier Yoga 6 mannequin, there are a selection of main modifications to notice.
- Show now has a 16:10 side ratio, boosted FHD+ decision, and Dolby Imaginative and prescient
- Webcam is now FHD with hybrid IR and shutter
- Extra ports, together with HDMI and a microSD card reader
- Chassis now has rounded edges for a extra snug maintain
- Quicker LPDDR4x RAM, elective M.2 PCIe 4.0 storage
- Recycled aluminum and plastic used
My evaluate unit of the Yoga 6 has an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor (CPU), 8GB of LPDDR4x-4266MHz RAM, a 256GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 solid-state drive (SSD), and a 13.3-inch contact show with FHD+ decision.
This precise mannequin prices about $750 at Greatest Purchase, with one other mannequin with Ryzen 7 5700U, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD costing about $950. Lenovo’s official web site simply began itemizing the Yoga 6, with costs starting at about $860.
This is a more in-depth have a look at the precise specs in my evaluate unit.
| Lenovo Yoga 6 (Gen 7) | |
|---|---|
| OS | Home windows 11 Residence |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U |
| 6 cores, 12 threads | |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4x-4266MHz, soldered |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon, built-in |
| Storage | 256GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 SSD |
| Show | 13.3 inches, 16:10 side ratio, contact |
| 1920×1200 (FHD+), IPS, 300 nits, shiny, 100% sRGB, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, low blue mild | |
| Ports | Two USB-C 3.2 (Gen 1), two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), HDMI, 3.5mm audio, microSD card reader |
| Audio | Twin 2W audio system, Dolby Atmos, dual-array mic |
| Wi-fi | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Digital camera | 1080p (FHD), IR hybrid, shutter |
| Safety | Firmware TPM 2.0, fingerprint reader, IR digicam, shutter |
| Battery | 59Wh, 45W AC adapter |
| Materials | Aluminum, material, PC + ABS |
| Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.58 x 0.68 inches |
| (304mm x 218mm x 17.45mm) | |
| Weight | From 3.06 kilos (1.39kg) |
| Coloration | Darkish teal |
Design and options
Lenovo’s Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) represented the primary time we bought our fingers on the brand new Yoga design with rounded edges. This was a welcome change because it made the laptop computer much more snug to carry, particularly when profiting from its convertible design to carry as a pill. That design alternative has run down the Yoga lineup, with the Yoga 6 (Gen 7) being introduced at CES 2022.
The laptop computer is made up of a PC and ABS plastic base with an aluminum lid and a brand new Darkish Teal coloration. You’ll be able to go for a material protecting on the lid, made up of fifty% recycled plastic. When you go along with a plain aluminum lid, it additionally makes use of 50% recycled materials. I wasn’t anticipating to love the material end that my evaluate unit makes use of, however after a couple of days I’ve come to benefit from the really feel. It provides a extra private contact to the laptop computer, although you are not likely going to note it in the event you’re usually utilizing the PC as a pill. There is a stain-resistant coating to assist hold it trying contemporary.
The Yoga 6’s premium options, like FHD webcam, Dolby Atmos and Imaginative and prescient, and twin biometrics, are unusual in lots of mid-range laptops.
The Yoga 6’s dimensions have modified to accommodate the taller show side ratio. It is nearly a half-inch deeper, leaving loads of room for an infinite Precision touchpad and cozy keyboard. The touchpad’s click on is satisfying if not only a bit hole; it tracks effectively and it is clean to the touch.
The keyboard is excellent, as is predicted from the maker of the ThinkPad. Cupped keys have only a little bit of grit to them to maintain your fingers in place, and there is an computerized backlight setting that senses ambient mild (in any other case two phases of brightness). One minor disadvantage is that the navigation keys are coupled up with the arrow keys, which could possibly be an annoyance in the event you’re an environment friendly typist.
Twin 2W audio system flank the keyboard on both facet, with slim grilles protecting the output. There’s not an entire lot of quantity, however even with it maxed on the market’s no crackling or distortion when listening to music. Dolby Atmos is on board, permitting you to swap audio profiles relying on the duty at hand. You get spatial audio and boosted sound from supported content material due to this addition.
Transferring to the laptop computer’s rounded sides, port choice has been upgraded. On the left there are two USB-C 3.2 (Gen 1), with one doubling up for charging duties from the 45W AC adapter. There’s in any other case HDMI and a 3.5mm audio jack. The appropriate facet provides two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) ports and a UHS-I microSD card reader. There are sadly no Thunderbolt 4 ports as a result of AMD platform and its licensing restrictions with Intel’s expertise. I recognize the addition of HDMI, and the cardboard reader will little question make some workflows much more handy.
The lid is held in place with two agency 360-degree hinges that permit for tent, stand, and pill modes if you’re not utilizing the Yoga 6 as a pocket book. No soundbar hinge right here; that is reserved for the premium Yoga 9i. Above the show in a notched portion the digicam has been bumped as much as 1080p from 720p. It offers a crisp image that offers effectively with dim and vivid areas. You’ll be able to regulate brightness and distinction settings within the Lenovo Vantage app, in addition to toggle the auto publicity function. The bump in digicam decision is a giant improve and never one which we often see in mid-range laptops.
The digicam comes with IR for Home windows Whats up, in addition to bodily privateness shutter to utterly block the image. The IR digicam works as meant, offering fast and hassle-free logins. A fingerprint reader can be constructed into the fitting palmrest for some biometric variety. It stays out of the best way of your palm whereas typing.
Wi-Fi 6 is now an possibility for sooner and extra dependable wi-fi web, and Bluetooth has been bumped as much as 5.2 to go together with it.
Show
One of many largest modifications to this technology’s Yoga 6 is a transfer to a taller 16:10 show. That is the development for many laptops nowadays, and it is a welcome change. You get extra display screen house, thinner bezels, and a boosted decision to maintain up.
There’s only one contact show possibility obtainable for the Yoga 6 (Gen 7), however it’s fairly good for this value level. It has a 1920×1200 (FHD+) decision, IPS panel, TÜV Rheinland low blue mild certification, and Dolby Imaginative and prescient for HDR in supporting content material. Distinction is superb, with deep coloration all through. Inking is supported, although the laptop computer does not include an energetic pen.
I examined the show’s coloration copy and brightness with a SpyderX Professional colorimeter. It hit 100% sRGB, 82% AdobeRGB, and 85% DCI-P3 coloration, all glorious outcomes. The brightness meter will really utterly flip off the show, with simply 3.9 nits one step up. You will simply be capable of use the laptop computer in a darkish room. It topped out at 327 nits. You might need some points with glare from the shiny display screen end, however solely in significantly vivid areas. General, the show ought to fulfill so long as you do not thoughts the FHD+ decision cap.
Efficiency and battery
My Yoga 6 evaluate unit is supplied with an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U CPU, 8GB of soldered LPDDR4x RAM, and a user-upgradeable M.2 PCIe 3.0 SSD. Lenovo lists PCIe 4.0 as an possibility, which ought to imply you possibly can replace to the sooner storage in case your specific mannequin does not already include it. There’s simply the one M.2 SSD slot inside, however it may possibly match a full 2280 or smaller drive. One fan with a reasonably chunky warmth pipe handles cooling, and there is a sizable consumption vent on the underside panel.
The Ryzen 5 5500U performs effectively in testing, matching up in most benchmarks to the eleventh Gen Intel Core chips. Extra particularly, in Cinebench R23 the AMD CPU beat the Core i7 within the Floor Professional 8, and it got here shut in Geekbench 5. The PCMark 10 Fashionable Workplace bench additionally positioned the Ryzen 5 simply behind the Professional 8’s Core i7. When you want even higher efficiency, you possibly can at all times improve to a Ryzen 7 5700U.
The Yoga 6 (Gen 7) is a stable performer, however there’s a caveat. As we have mentioned earlier than, some AMD methods scale back efficiency on battery to lengthen life from a cost. I’ve included AC and DC efficiency numbers within the graphs beneath to provide you an concept of how drastic this slowdown will be. The excellent news right here is that the SSD does not undergo from any efficiency loss on battery energy.
Battery life is excellent when Home windows 11 is ready to a Balanced profile, with a slight discount when set to the Efficiency profile. The system will not really feel as snappy when on battery, however it’ll final via a full day of labor and extra. It’s best to be capable of get a full workday in on a cost even in the event you’re pushing the system.
AMD’s new Ryzen 6000 cell CPUs have been introduced at CES 2022, and we’re beginning to see them in new laptops. It is a disgrace they did not make it into the Yoga 6, nevertheless it’s anticipated that the subsequent laptop computer technology will make the most of the efficiency beneficial properties.
Warmth is not actually a problem for the Ryzen 5 5500U. The one fan does a superb job of holding the laptop computer cool with out working quick and loud. You will hear a woosh occasionally in the event you’re taxing the system, however nothing out of the abnormal.
Competitors
When you’re involved in a real 2-in-1 PC with separate parts, the Floor Professional 8 is a superb different. Its eleventh Gen Intel Core CPUs provide about the identical efficiency as AMD’s Ryzen 5000 chips, it has a beautiful contact show with inking, and it is constructed with the standard consideration to element anticipated from Floor. Fashions begin at about $870, although you’ll have to pay individually for an attachable Kind Cowl keyboard and touchpad.
HP’s Envy x360 13.3 can be a predominant competitor to the Yoga 6. Up to date Envy x360 13.3 fashions with twelfth Gen Intel Core CPUs have been introduced Might 2022, and they need to be hitting the market any day. The newest model has a 13.3-inch show with 16:10 side ratio and a number of resolutions as much as 2.8K; it additionally comes with an energetic pen. It has Thunderbolt 4, an IR digicam, and a bigger battery. Costs are anticipated to start out round $900 for the most recent fashions, with older PCs utilizing eleventh Gen Intel chips nonetheless obtainable at HP beginning round $1,000.
Dell’s Inspiron 14 7425 convertible has a barely bigger 14-inch show with 16:10 side ratio and pen help. The system makes use of AMD’s Ryzen 5 5625U CPU with 8GB of RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD, and built-in Radeon graphics. It has an enormous touchpad, a beneficiant port choice, and an FHD digicam, all beginning at about $600. That is much more reasonably priced than the Yoga 6.
Lastly, in the event you love Yoga and need the most effective of the most effective, you must go along with the Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7). It is presently our high pick of all laptops, and it additionally sits atop the record of the greatest Lenovo laptops.
Must you purchase the Yoga 6 (Gen 7)?
Who it is for …
- Those that wish to spend lower than $1,000 on a convertible laptop computer
- Those that are OK with an FHD+ display screen decision cap
- Those that want lengthy battery life and stable efficiency for productiveness work
- Those that want a high-res webcam, biometrics, snug keyboard, and big touchpad
Who it is not for …
- Those that would reasonably persist with Intel CPUs
- Those that do not usually make the most of a convertible’s 360-degree nature
- Those that want a higher-res show
Lenovo’s Yoga 6 (Gen 7) demonstrates how full the Yoga lineup has develop into. It is probably the most reasonably priced of the sequence with costs beginning at a modest $750, but it does not make many sacrifices.
There’s nothing incorrect with the show save the shiny end, and even then the 300+ nits brightness may also help negate glare. The FHD webcam is obvious for video conferencing, and also you get IR and fingerprint biometrics for added safety. High-firing audio system are crisp although they may use a bit extra quantity, and the keyboard and touchpad promote productiveness.
I like the brand new rounded-edge design that was lately launched, and the elective material high is certainly one thing I would take into account if I used to be shopping for my very own Yoga 6. It is too unhealthy that the brand new Ryzen 6000 CPUs did not make it into this technology, however you continue to get stable efficiency, particularly on AC energy. And as for battery life, you should not have any points leaving your charger behind on lengthy flights or prolonged workdays.
