TechComputers & PCsLaptopsLenovo Yoga Slim 7x review: the Snapdragon superstarWith Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite laptops becoming more readily available, here’s arguably the best one of its typeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Future)T3 VerdictWe’re not persuaded everyone needs a made-for-AI laptop. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x makes a pretty compelling case as the best pick for those seeking one. The pricing is sensible, particularly for upgrades, the external hardware is great, the keyboard’s a delight, and battery life for light work is fab.Reasons to buy+Excellent, substantial-feeling keyboard+Long battery life for light work+Glass touchpad feels greatReasons to avoid-Buying a laptop of this style requires a little faith-No headphone jack and speakers could be better-Not the most rigid displayWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
TechComputers & PCsLaptopsLenovo Yoga Slim 7x review: the Snapdragon superstarWith Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite laptops becoming more readily available, here’s arguably the best one of its typeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Future)T3 VerdictWe’re not persuaded everyone needs a made-for-AI laptop. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x makes a pretty compelling case as the best pick for those seeking one. The pricing is sensible, particularly for upgrades, the external hardware is great, the keyboard’s a delight, and battery life for light work is fab.Reasons to buy+Excellent, substantial-feeling keyboard+Long battery life for light work+Glass touchpad feels greatReasons to avoid-Buying a laptop of this style requires a little faith-No headphone jack and speakers could be better-Not the most rigid displayWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
With Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite laptops becoming more readily available, here’s arguably the best one of its type
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)T3 VerdictWe’re not persuaded everyone needs a made-for-AI laptop. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x makes a pretty compelling case as the best pick for those seeking one. The pricing is sensible, particularly for upgrades, the external hardware is great, the keyboard’s a delight, and battery life for light work is fab.Reasons to buy+Excellent, substantial-feeling keyboard+Long battery life for light work+Glass touchpad feels greatReasons to avoid-Buying a laptop of this style requires a little faith-No headphone jack and speakers could be better-Not the most rigid display
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
T3 VerdictWe’re not persuaded everyone needs a made-for-AI laptop. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x makes a pretty compelling case as the best pick for those seeking one. The pricing is sensible, particularly for upgrades, the external hardware is great, the keyboard’s a delight, and battery life for light work is fab.Reasons to buy+Excellent, substantial-feeling keyboard+Long battery life for light work+Glass touchpad feels greatReasons to avoid-Buying a laptop of this style requires a little faith-No headphone jack and speakers could be better-Not the most rigid display
T3 VerdictWe’re not persuaded everyone needs a made-for-AI laptop. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x makes a pretty compelling case as the best pick for those seeking one. The pricing is sensible, particularly for upgrades, the external hardware is great, the keyboard’s a delight, and battery life for light work is fab.
T3 Verdict
We’re not persuaded everyone needs a made-for-AI laptop. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x makes a pretty compelling case as the best pick for those seeking one. The pricing is sensible, particularly for upgrades, the external hardware is great, the keyboard’s a delight, and battery life for light work is fab.
Reasons to buy+Excellent, substantial-feeling keyboard+Long battery life for light work+Glass touchpad feels greatReasons to avoid-Buying a laptop of this style requires a little faith-No headphone jack and speakers could be better-Not the most rigid display
Reasons to buy+Excellent, substantial-feeling keyboard+Long battery life for light work+Glass touchpad feels great
Excellent, substantial-feeling keyboard
Long battery life for light work
Glass touchpad feels great
Reasons to avoid-Buying a laptop of this style requires a little faith-No headphone jack and speakers could be better-Not the most rigid display
Buying a laptop of this style requires a little faith
No headphone jack and speakers could be better
Not the most rigid display
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is part of the first wave of “made for AI” laptops, boastingQualcomm’s Snapdragon X Eliteplatform inside.
Is this a new era of computing when it comes tothe best laptopsor just the latest play from the marketing department? It’s more of the latter, to be honest, but all of these laptops are still killer buys for anyone seeking a super-portable and powerful Windows laptop. And the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is probably my favourite of the AI bunch so far, as I’ll explain in this review.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X: Price & Availability
Today’s best Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (14-inch Snapdragon), Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) dealsLenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (14-inch Snapdragon), Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) dealsLenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (14-inch Snapdragon), Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) dealsLenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (14-inch Snapdragon), Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) deals
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Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)
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The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x launched alongside the rest of the first-wave Co-Pilot Plus AI laptops in June 2024.
There are three key models in the line-up. The base one costs £1250/$1199 and has 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. Most folks will probably be just fine with this one, and all of them use the higher-end Snapdragon X Elite chipset.
One step up, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is available with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD, for £1299/$1289. Or with 32GB RAM for a little more. Compared to the amount Apple and Microsoft charge for such upgrades, this represents a bargain. But Lenovo laptops tend to see more sales and discounts thanthe best MacBooksor Surface laptops, so do some price research to be sure.
Direct from Lenovo you can also pay an additional sum for Windows 11 Pro rather than Windows 11 Home. But you probably don’t need it.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is part of a super-long-standing series of laptops that made its name in the era of the rise of the hybrids. But this isn’t a laptop-tablet hybrid.
The build is that of a classic luxury laptop. All the main body panels are metal, using a bunch of recycled aluminium. Not too long ago less metallic-feeling magnesium alloys were all the rage, but the sustainability angle of recycled aluminium gives it extra kudos these days.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
This laptop weighs 1.28kg. It’s not ridiculously light, but is absolutely thin and light enough for a travel-heavy life. The hinge has the sturdiness to avoid annoying screen wobble should you work with the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x on your knees too.
Lenovo gets a lot right here. I don’t think the webcam lozenge Lenovo now puts into a lot of its laptops is particularly attractive though.Samsung’s Galaxy Book Edge 4is perhaps a little slicker than the Yoga Slim 7x. That Samsung’s screen section is also more rigid. But this is an all-round good-looking and expensive-feeling PC.
The main reason to pause is whether you might prefer a larger 16-inch laptop. Those are great for day-long working, but are obviously larger (and usually heavier). The top larger options in the CoPilot+ class are the above Samsung andMicrosoft Surface Laptop 7(at 15in).
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X review: Display
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Standards among these first-wave “made for AI” laptops are so high that even the Yoga Slim 7x’s brilliant OLED screen comes across ordinary in this company. It’s a 14-inch OLED with a 3K resolution (that’s 2844 x 1840 for those counting the pixels).
There’s really nothing to complain about here. It’s sharp. It’s bright. Colour is rich but not overbaked. The maximum resolution of 90Hz doesn’t quite match the best, which have 120Hz or even 144Hz displays, but that above-60Hz smoothness does make ample difference nonetheless.
Lenovo also hits back with one element you might not consider. I’ve noticed that a lot of laptops with high-end displays these days have a plastic top layer. And it’s not the classic matte style either, but glossy plastic. It’s likely used to reduce weight and cost, seen in theMacBook Airand “made for AI” Asus Vivobook S. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x has a good old glass screen finish. As glass is harder and more rigid than plastic, you see much less distortion in reflections, which is nice.
I also tested the screen to see how bright it can go. It hits 465 nits in ordinary conditions when maxed, but can reach 923 nits when displaying HDR content. That’s super-bright. You can’t take off those training wheels to unlock that scorching brightness whenever you like, but I could comfortably use this laptop outdoors for work.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X review: Keyboard & touchpad
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x also has a much better keyboard than a lot of the first-wave AI PCs. These keys have far greater travel than those of a Samsung Galaxy Book Edge 16, and a bit more substance to their action than the also pretty deep dish Asus Vivobook S 16.
You can feel the DNA of the legendary ThinkPad keyboard in these buttons. And, sure enough, travel is above average (at 1.5mm). Lenovo also says there’s a 0.3mm curvature to the keys, although the bit I notice more is that signature Lenovo shape, with a rounded-out bottom to each otherwise rectangular key.
This is a fab keyboard for long-form typing, one of my favourites of the year so far.
It has a backlight too, of course. It’s a plain old white one, with two intensity levels, plus an Auto mode that turns it on when necessary. I’m not entirely sure this mode works in my specific laptop right now, though, as it stayed on when in a fairly bright train carriage.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The good stuff continues with the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x touchpad. It’s a legit glass pad, not plastic doing its best to masquerade as glass, seen in a depressing number of laptops pushing the four-figure mark or more these days.
It’s not the tallest pad around, and the clicker feel is good rather than truly luxurious. But I still prefer its feel to that of the Samsung Galaxy Book Edge, which also has a lovely slab of glass. Lenovo doesn’t mess around with any new-fangled haptic stuff here either, which can be hit-and-miss. This is a classic mechanical clicker.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x uses one of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processors. These are the heart and soul of these new AI PCs, because they have a punchy neural processing unit (NPU) that can handle some AI tasks without needing the help of cloud computing power.
Remember when Apple started using its own processors rather than Intel’s back in 2020? This Snapdragon move is the closest Windows gets to that moment. And while the AI gumpf isn’t worth upgrading for, boiling down to webcam effects, Microsoft Paint generative tools, and few other bits, these new chipsets are pretty compelling without it.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x has raw power similar to that of the Intel Ultra-powered PCs we were reviewing in the weeks before the Snapdragon X Elite crew showed up. And while these new chipsets have a completely different processor architecture, you can treat Windows as normal.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
You can download apps like you usually would, install Steam and try out games, and so on. This isn’t like previous Windows laptops that had phone-style Qualcomm processors. They weren’t much cop at all.
Some of you will encounter issues though. These laptops don’t seem to like peripherals that aren’t 100% plug and play, and you should research before buying if there’s a particular software package you’ll need to use. But most, fingers crossed, shouldn’t encounter many issues. I haven’t in my Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x testing.
It’s also been silent during most of my testing although, unlike a MacBook Air, it does have a fan-based cooling system. And if you want to so some video editing or gaming, you will hear a pretty substantial whir. It’s a proper cooling system, not one just intended to stop a laptop flat-out overheating.
Can you game on a Yoga Slim 7x? Sure, within limits. I had to take a hatchet toCyberpunk 2077’s settings to make it vaguely playable, and it made the game look pretty soft. Despite all the fuss about these AI processors, I’d probably still pick an Intel CPU model for gaming.
The best integrated GPUs of those chipsets still seem to be a bit more performant, and they seem to work better with Intel’s Xess upscaling – graphics upscaling is needed when you’re dealing with super-limited GPU power.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X review: Battery Life
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
While AI might be the headline benefit of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s Snapdragon brain, its efficiency is perhaps the most meaningful benefit. I was able to get 19 hours of YouTube video playback out of the Yoga Slim 7x, at the sort of brightness you might use while indoors.
Lenovo says you can get up to 23.8 hours of use off a charge. It might be possible if you lower the screen brightness and do something even less demanding than video streaming. But 19 hours isn’t to be sniffed at. It’s more than two full days of work.
And with more demanding stuff? The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x lasts at most two hours when playingCyberpunk 2077. As I’ve seen with the other laptops in this class, they don’t quite have the staying power under pressure of a MacBook.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s speakers don’t quite match Apple’s either. There is a small amount of bass. They aren’t thin, though, and sound decent enough all considered. But they also don’t have the sheer output or low-end punch of the best and are a little treble-heavy.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X review: Verdict
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is the greatest, in a very limited and specific way. It’s the best all-rounder in the first-wave of “made for AI” laptops with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors.
No wrong moves have been made: the screen, the design, the keyboard, the battery – nothing has been neglected. That sees the Yoga Slim 7x hit the perfect sweet spot when reflecting on price too.
Sure, the connectivity is limited, the speakers aren’t world-beating, and whether you should actually want one of these PCs is still a question more pressing than it ever was with Apple’s M1 MacBooks. Even so, Lenovo has come out on top.
Also consider
Okay, so you want aSnapdragon X Elite PC. What else is there? The most compelling reason to go for something else is if you decide you want a larger 16-inch model. Then your best option is theSamsung Galaxy Book Edge 4. It costs more, of course, and has a less substantial keyboard – but it’s a brilliant larger option.
The Asus Vivobook S is also great, but uses a plastic touchpad. TheAcer Swift AIas an alternative? It also has a plastic touchpad. But it’s more cost-effective.
TheMicrosoft Surface Laptopis another top option, and the 13.8-inch model is actually more affordable than this Lenovo, surprisingly enough, but at its entry-level spec. Price it up to the level of the Yoga Slim 7x, though, and it costs abunchmore. Lovely touchpad, though.
TheMicrosoft Surface Prois a compelling alternative if you want a hybrid that can also do stylus-led digital art. But then we’re talking about a completely different style of PC. And different amounts of money, too.
Today’s best Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, Asus Vivobook S15, Acer Swift 14 AI, Microsoft Surface Pro 11, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (14-inch Snapdragon), Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) dealsSamsung Galaxy Book4 Edge$999.99$849.99ViewSee all pricesAsus VivoBook S15$459ViewSee all pricesAcer Swift 14 AI$1,009.99ViewSee all pricesMicrosoft Surface Pro 11th Generation$872.53ViewSee all pricesLenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, Asus Vivobook S15, Acer Swift 14 AI, Microsoft Surface Pro 11, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (14-inch Snapdragon), Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) dealsSamsung Galaxy Book4 Edge$999.99$849.99ViewSee all pricesAsus VivoBook S15$459ViewSee all pricesAcer Swift 14 AI$1,009.99ViewSee all pricesMicrosoft Surface Pro 11th Generation$872.53ViewSee all pricesLenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, Asus Vivobook S15, Acer Swift 14 AI, Microsoft Surface Pro 11, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (14-inch Snapdragon), Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) dealsSamsung Galaxy Book4 Edge$999.99$849.99ViewSee all pricesAsus VivoBook S15$459ViewSee all pricesAcer Swift 14 AI$1,009.99ViewSee all pricesMicrosoft Surface Pro 11th Generation$872.53ViewSee all pricesLenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, Asus Vivobook S15, Acer Swift 14 AI, Microsoft Surface Pro 11, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (14-inch Snapdragon), Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) deals
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge$999.99$849.99ViewSee all pricesAsus VivoBook S15$459ViewSee all pricesAcer Swift 14 AI$1,009.99ViewSee all pricesMicrosoft Surface Pro 11th Generation$872.53ViewSee all pricesLenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge$999.99$849.99ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge$999.99$849.99ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge
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Asus VivoBook S15$459ViewSee all prices
Asus VivoBook S15$459ViewSee all prices
Asus VivoBook S15
Asus VivoBook S15
$459View
$459
$459
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Acer Swift 14 AI$1,009.99ViewSee all prices
Acer Swift 14 AI$1,009.99ViewSee all prices
Acer Swift 14 AI
Acer Swift 14 AI
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Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Generation$872.53ViewSee all prices
Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Generation$872.53ViewSee all prices
Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Generation
Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Generation
$872.53View
$872.53
$872.53
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Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)$1,289.99$1,029.99ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9)
$1,289.99$1,029.99View
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$1,029.99
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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