The Yoga Slim 7i Carbon Lenovo offers a real lightweight among ultrabooks. Thanks to a Core 5i CPU of the eleventh generation, the device promises sufficient office tasks and multimedia with long battery life. We show how good the flat laptop is with a QHD display.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is available in three versions exclusively in color “Moon White.” The entry-level model with a Core i5 and 8 GB of RAM starts at just under 1180 USD. For around 100 USD, you get the version with 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. The top version with Core i7, 16 GByte RAM, and 1 TByte SDD is 1420 USD.
| PROS | CONS |
| Extremely light and yet durable | No touchscreen support |
| Matte 16:10 display | The display could be brighter |
| Vibrant QHD display | |
| Comfortable keyboard | |
| Thunderbolt 4 |
General Info
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon | |
| Brand | Lenovo |
| $ | CHECK PRICE |
| Model | Yoga Slim 7i Carbon |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i7-1165G7 |
| Graphics | Intel® Iris® Xe |
| OS | Windows 10 Home |
| Weight | 966g |
| Display | 13.3-inch 2K (2560 x 1600) IPS |
| Dimensions | 296x208x15mm |
| Type | Laptop |
Design
The small Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon looks very chic and elegant at first glance. Unlike many other notebooks in this category, it does not use aluminum or a dark finish, but a carbon and magnesium housing in snow white, which sets it apart from the competition.
Its very compact dimensions of 30 x 20 x 1.5 centimeters makes it easy to fit in a more oversized handbag or a small backpack. The weight of less than one kilogram is outstanding. This makes it the lightest laptop in its class that we have tested so far. Even the lightweight Acer Swift 5 (review) is over the kilogram limit. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is particularly suitable for users who often take the device with them.
The design of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is excellent. The gaps are minimal, and the pressure point and stroke of the keyboard are firm and crisp. The hinge of the screen moves stiffly and remains firmly in the desired position. The on/off switch is located on the right side edge next to the headphone output and a USB-C socket. This means there is no risk of accidentally pressing the power button while typing – which can happen quickly with smaller laptops.
Display
| Display Type | IPS |
| Display Size | 13.3-inch |
| Display Resolution | 2560 x 1600 |
| Display Features | 13.3-inch 2K (2560 x 1600) IPS Dolby Vision 300 nits 100% sRGB |
| Dimension | 296x208x15mm |
Compared to the Acer Swift 5 or Honor Magic book 14, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon offers a significantly better resolution: The 13.3-inch screen has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels (QHD), other devices in this price range usually only offer full- HD. It makes for a pixel density of 227 PPI, which is a good value for a laptop. The image quality of the display is convincing across the board. In addition to the high image sharpness, the display offers rich and robust colors with pronounced contrasts. The viewing angle stability is also at a high level from most angles. Unlike the Swift 5 from Acer, the Yoga Slim 7i does not have a touch display.
Where there is light, there is also shadow. It is true, to some extent, of the screen. The weak point is the display’s brightness – Lenovo specifies 300 cd / m² here; we measured a maximum of 270 cd / m². Values beyond 350 cd / m² would be desirable for a device in this price range. It is sufficient for most tasks when working outdoors – as long as the sun is not shining directly on the screen. When playing video clips outdoors, however, the limits are quickly reached. Particularly dark film scenes are challenging to see and reflect quickly, even though the display has a matt surface.
Performance
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i7-1165G7 |
| Graphics | Intel® Iris® Xe |
| RAM | Up to 16GB LPDDR4X dual-channel |
| Storage | Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD |
The tablet comes in two configurations 11th Generation Intel® Core i5 and i7 with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. This configuration can be found in many compact laptops in this price range and ensures astonishingly good performance for all-around and office tasks.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon focuses on an outstanding performance for general work and media consumption. The device lacks a dedicated graphics chip for current, graphically demanding games. The Intel Iris Xe still packs older games in a lower resolution. The device is on par with the competition from Acer or Honor.
Multimedia
| Webcam | Yes | |
| Webcam resolution | 0.9 Megapixel | |
| Network | Built-in WiFi 6 | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.0 | |
| Ports | USB 3.0 Gen 1 (Type-C) 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt™ 4 (1 x DisplayPort / power delivery) Headphone / mic combo | |
| Keyboard Numpad | Yes | |
| Keyboard Type | Backlit | |
| Other Features | Windows Hello face recognition Backlit keyboard Dolby Atmos MIL-STD-810G standard certified |
The RAM is not exactly generous at 8 GB, but it is sufficient for most everyday tasks. It is firmly soldered and therefore cannot expand. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is also available in a version with 16 GB of RAM.
The SSD hard drive offers enough storage space with 512 GB and, thanks to M.2 PCIe 3.0, is also pretty fast with an average speed of 275 MB / s. That is significantly faster than the high-priced Microsoft Surface Book 3 but slower than the cheaper Honor Magic book 14.
As far as the connection options are concerned, it looks a bit thin – but this is now almost the case for most devices in this size and price range. There are no connections for USB-A or HDMI – only three USB-C slots. At least one of the connections supports USB 3.1 and Displayport 1.4; the other two sockets offer Thunderbolt 4. One of the slots is already occupied by the power supply – so that often only two free slots are accessible in everyday life. Here it is recommended to use a hub or dock to be able to connect sufficient peripheral devices. At least there is a classic jack plug for headphones.
The webcam offers good resolution with 0.9 megapixels, supporting a maximum of HD videos (720p) for video chats from the home office. Infrared is integrated for face recognition, which makes it more secure against attempted deception with printed photos. It works reliably as long as it is not too dark. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon does not have an additional fingerprint sensor.
Everything is state-of-the-art for wireless connections: the device supports Wifi-6 and Bluetooth 5.1. The distinct sound with spatial sound is pleasing, and there is also Dolby Atmos. The device lacks depth for listening to music, but that’s enough for films or video clips. The touchpad behaves precisely and doesn’t bother, the keyboard convinces with a good journey and solid pressure point, and it is pleasantly quiet.
Battery
| ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 | |
| Battery Type | Li-ion |
| Battery capacity | 50WHr (15 hours claimed) |
| AC Adapter | 65W adapter |
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon comes with a 50 Wh battery with a 65-watt power adapter with a USB-C connector. This combination ensures a long battery life.
Many competitors, only the more expensive Microsoft Surface Book 3 and the inexpensive Honor Magic book 14, are even more durable.
It means you can use the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon for a whole working day without a power adapter for standard tasks.
When playing videos, the Yoga Slim 7i manages 10 hours before the battery runs out. The battery lasts about 2 hours under high performance, which is also okay. The charging process is also quick and takes just under 90 minutes.
Conclusion!
If you are looking for a powerful and, above all, light notebook, the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon is a good choice. It’s the most lightweight laptop we’ve tested so far. The 11th generation Core i5 provides more than enough performance; the device also lasts a fantastic working day with regular use without a power supply unit. The laptop is only less suitable for gamers.
The 13.3-inch display delivers a razor-sharp image with rich colors and strong contrasts with a QHD resolution. The display only weakens when it is used outdoors due to the lack of sufficient brightness. Touch input, a fingerprint sensor, and various connection options are not found in the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon.
For almost 100 USD more, the Acer Swift 5 offers comparable performance and a fingerprint sensor, and the ultrabook weighs almost the same but only offers Full HD resolution. The Honor Magic book 14is a bit cheaper and has a similarly strong performance, and impressed us with its very long battery life. However, you have to cut back on the screen. We show more compact devices for the home office in our guide Ultrabook vs. Convertible: That can cost a touch laptop.
