Lenovo’s new Yoga laptops feature the latest Intel and AMD chips

When writing on laptops, “spec bump” is often a code for “boring”. But here’s a spec bump that I’m actually excited about. Here it is: Lenovo renamed its Yoga C740 and Yoga C640 to Yoga 7i and Yoga 6, respectively.

The 7i will feature Intel’s “latest” processors – presumably the next generation “Tiger Lake”. AMD’s Ryzen 4000 line has given Intel a chance for its money this year, so it will be interesting to see if the new chips can bounce back. Intel says it will deliver significantly better speeds while consuming less power than previous generations, thanks to its new 10nm SuperFin design. The chips also include Intel’s new integrated Xe graphics card, which the company has shown to perform smoothly on modern AAA titles.

Like its predecessor, the new 7i appears to be a competitor to the convertible MacBook Air targeting mid-range consumers (this is a tier under the company’s flagship, the Yoga C940). It comes in 14 and 15 inch configurations and includes front-facing Dolby Atmos speakers, Amazon Alexa integration, a webcam with a built-in privacy shutter, and two ports supporting Intel’s new Thunderbolt 4 standard. .

Lenovo claims you’ll get 13 hours of battery life on the 15-inch model and 16 hours on the 14-inch model. It also promises a very fast boot time – according to the company, you’ll see the 7i operational “the moment you open the lid”.

Image: Lenovo

The 13.3-inch Yoga 6 will feature AMD Ryzen processors up to the Ryzen 7 4700U. We can guarantee these chips; they power the 2020 HP Envy x360, which absolutely flies and can handle games as well as expected from a system with a low-powered discrete GPU.

This yoga might be more appealing to budget-conscious buyers. Its predecessor was widely marketed as a solid laptop for students. It has an interesting design, however, with a pretty blue fabric covering the lid. Lenovo claims it is the first laptop designed with a hybrid of metallic and “soft-touch” materials.

The company also claims 18 hours of battery life, a 300-nit screen, and a compact 2.9-pound chassis. This one also comes with Alexa.

The Yoga 6 will hit shelves in October and start at $ 699. The 7i will be available in November starting at $ 799.

Lenovo has also announced a few Yoga Slim 7 models, including the Yoga Slim 7i, Yoga Slim 7i Pro, and Yoga Slim 7 Pro. These don’t come to North America, but European residents can purchase the 7 Pro in August and the 7i models in October. The 7i starts at € 999, the 7i pro starts at € 899 and the 7 Pro starts at € 799.