Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i (14 Inch, Gen 10) Review: Hidden Webcam

God assist us, there are so, so many Lenovo Yoga laptops on the market now. There’s the Yoga 9i, the Yoga Pro 9i, the Yoga Book 9i, and now this new arrival—the Yoga Slim 9i. So a lot Yoga. So a lot 9i. If you’ll be able to’t hold all of them straight, take consolation in the truth that I am unable to both.

The need-to-know on the Slim 9i is that it’s supposed because the premiere providing on this lineup, together with a hip design, Copilot+ PC options, and a characteristic that hides the webcam behind the LCD utilizing what’s known as camera-under-display (CUD) know-how. (This is not the primary time we have seen this—ZTE notably had a telephone a number of years in the past with a equally hidden selfie digital camera.)

Teal Shimmer

Before I dig deeper into that digital camera trick, let’s speak about the remainder of the package deal. Though it’s crafted largely from aluminum, the duvet of the 14-inch laptop computer is constituted of extremely reflective shimmering glass in a hue of “Tidal Teal.” It’s eye-catching however could also be too flashy for some, which might be why glass lids went out of trend a couple of years again.

Photograph: Christopher Null

Curvy on each nook, the one sharp edges you’ll discover on the gadget are the place that cup lid involves an finish. And whereas this laptop computer doesn’t have a notch for its webcam, there’s a bulge on the again of the duvet the place that webcam resides. As such, it’s not a lot “under the display” as it’s “behind the display,” an necessary distinction that creates a distinctly bulbous design conceit that you’ll possible both love or hate. (A privateness shutter swap is offered on the aspect of the laptop computer.)

Lenovo has all the time been identified for its enter expertise, and the Slim 9i 14 gives probably the greatest I’ve seen, that includes a spacious edge-to-edge keyboard structure and keys with glorious responsiveness, all atop a surprisingly small trackpad. I enormously favor this smaller trackpad design, however customers extra accustomed to monumental ice skating rinks for his or her fingertips might discover it constraining. Five “Quick Keys” on the suitable aspect of the keyboard provide quick access to completely different energy and audio modes, a fingerprint reader, and different extras.

Photograph: Christopher Null