Yoga Pro 7: Did We Save The Best Till Last?

Summary

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 is a highly praised 2024 premium Windows laptop, offering strong CPU performance with AMD's Ryzen 9 365 (Zen 5) processor without a dedicated GPU, making it ideal for programmers, audio engineers, and Linux users. It features a stunning 14.5-inch OLED display, a comfortable mechanical-like keyboard, and remains cool under load. However, battery life is underwhelming, the trackpad feels slippery, and fans can be loud in performance mode. Compared to competitors like the HP Omnibook Ultra and MacBook Pro 14, it excels in display and thermals but lags in battery, fan noise, and peripheral quality, making pricing a key factor in deciding which laptop to buy.

Takeaways

• 💻 The Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 is a premium 2024 Windows laptop featuring AMD Ryzen 9 9365 (Zen 5) with no dedicated GPU, targeting users who prioritize CPU performance over graphics.
• ⚡ Performance benchmarks show it slightly lags behind HP OmniBook Ultra in Geekbench but remains strong for portable Windows laptops, especially in single-core tasks.
• 🔥 The laptop handles heat well, staying cool to the touch even under load, and adaptive mode reduces power draw without sacrificing performance, keeping fan noise reasonable.
• 🖥️ It has a vibrant 14.5-inch OLED display with 2880x1800 resolution, 120Hz refresh, ~400 nits brightness, and 100% P3 gamut, offering a crisp and vivid viewing experience without screen door effect.
• ⌨️ The keyboard is satisfying and quiet, with clicky mechanical-like switches, good spacing, and minor backlight glare issues; side-mounted power button is prone to mispresses.
• 🖱️ The trackpad is usable but slippery and slightly loud, which lowers the premium feel compared to competitors like Apple, Microsoft, and Dell.
• 🔌 Port selection includes USB4, USB-C (10Gbps), USB-A, HDMI, and a headphone jack, with charging ports both on the left side; Wi-Fi 6E is included but replaceable, while memory and battery are soldered.
• 🔊 Speakers are forward-facing and decent but lack volume compared to MacBook Pro 14; 1080p webcam is functional but not high-end.
• 🔋 Battery life is a weak point: poor performance under heavy tasks on battery (29% left after 30-min Cinebench loop) and ~12.5 hours video playback, partly affected by non-disableable adaptive brightness.
• 💰 Priced at $1,300 for 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD, the Yoga Pro 7 offers good value but faces strong competition from the HP OmniBook Ultra (frequently on sale for $900) and MacBook Pro 14 (better specs but more expensive).
• ✅ Overall, the Yoga Pro 7 excels in CPU performance, display quality, keyboard, and thermals, but falls short in battery life, fan noise, trackpad quality, and speakers; users should prioritize based on price and feature preferences.

Q & A

What processor does the Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 use, and why is it notable?

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 uses the AMD Ryzen 9 365 from the Zen 5 range. It is notable for delivering excellent single-core performance, making it ideal for programmers, audio engineers, and musicians who prioritize CPU power over GPU performance.

Does the Yoga Pro 7 have a dedicated GPU, and what are the implications?

No, the Yoga Pro 7 does not have a dedicated GPU. This reduces heat, fan noise, and cost, making it attractive for users who do not require heavy graphics performance, though it limits gaming and graphics-intensive workloads.

How does the Yoga Pro 7 perform compared to similar laptops in benchmarks?

In Geekbench, it performs slightly below the HP OmniBook Ultra with Ryzen HX 375. In Cinebench, it performs similarly to the X Elite in slim 7x but lags behind gaming laptops like the Predator Helios Neo4 with Intel Core Ultra 9 series chips.

What are the thermal and noise characteristics of the Yoga Pro 7?

The laptop remains cool to the touch even under load. Performance mode increases fan noise without significantly improving performance, so adaptive mode is recommended for quieter operation.

How is the battery life of the Yoga Pro 7?

Battery life is below average. During a 30-minute Cinebench loop on battery, only 29% remained. In video playback tests, it lasted about 12 hours and 34 minutes. Adaptive brightness issues may contribute to shorter battery life.

What are the main strengths of the Yoga Pro 7’s display and keyboard?

The 14.5-inch OLED display is vivid, bright (~400 nits), has 100% P3 color coverage, 2880×1800 resolution, and 120 Hz refresh rate. The keyboard feels like a mechanical keyboard with clicky yet quiet keys, offering a satisfying typing experience.

What are the drawbacks of the Yoga Pro 7’s trackpad and ports?

The trackpad feels too slippery and the clicks are loud, making it less refined than competitors. Both charging-capable USB-C ports are on the left side, which can be inconvenient.

How does the Yoga Pro 7 compare to the HP OmniBook Ultra and MacBook Pro 14?

The OmniBook Ultra has better battery life, a quieter fan, and a better trackpad, while the Yoga Pro 7 has a better display, keyboard, and cooler touch under load. The MacBook Pro 14 is more expensive but excels in battery life, speakers, trackpad, and integrated graphics.

Is the Yoga Pro 7 compatible with Linux?

Yes, the Yoga Pro 7 works well with Linux (tested with Fedora 41), with full functionality for camera, keyboard, trackpad, Wi-Fi, backlight, and brightness controls.

What is the recommended power mode for the Yoga Pro 7?

Adaptive mode is recommended because performance mode draws more power and increases fan noise without providing a meaningful performance boost.

What makes the Yoga Pro 7 appealing to its target users?

It is portable, has strong CPU performance, a high-quality OLED display, an excellent keyboard, and remains cool under load. It is particularly appealing to Windows and Linux users who need processing power rather than gaming GPU performance.