The Appleton Times

Truth. Honesty. Innovation.

Technology

The new Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i laptop has a super-bright tandem OLED and magnetic stylus

By Jessica Williams

3 days ago

Share:
The new Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i laptop has a super-bright tandem OLED and magnetic stylus

Lenovo introduced the Yoga Pro 9i and Yoga Slim 7i Ultra at CES 2026, featuring advanced OLED displays, Intel Panther Lake processors, and ultra-portable designs starting at $1,499.99 for Q2 2026 launch. These models target creators and mobile professionals with innovative features like magnetic stylus attachment and high-brightness screens.

Las Vegas, NV – At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, Lenovo unveiled two new additions to its popular Yoga lineup, positioning them as the company's most powerful and portable laptops yet. The flagship Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition, aimed at creators and professionals, features a stunning 16-inch 4K tandem OLED display that boasts an impressive 1,600 peak nits of brightness, making it one of the brightest screens available in a laptop. Accompanying it is the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition, which Lenovo describes as its slimmest and lightest Yoga model to date, weighing just 2.15 pounds (975 grams) and measuring a mere 0.55 inches (13.9 mm) thick.

The announcements, made during Lenovo's press event on the show floor here in Las Vegas, highlight the company's push toward high-performance computing in increasingly compact forms. According to details shared by Lenovo representatives, the Yoga Pro 9i is powered by Intel's upcoming Panther Lake processor options, paired with up to an NVIDIA RTX 5070 discrete GPU for demanding tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. This combination, officials said, allows the laptop to handle professional workflows with ease while maintaining the versatility of the 2-in-1 Yoga design.

One standout feature of the Yoga Pro 9i is its integration with the Yoga Pen Gen 2 stylus, which magnetically attaches to the laptop's lid—either standalone or in its protective case. The pen supports input on both the display and the trackpad, offering creators a seamless drawing and note-taking experience. "This magnetic attachment ensures the stylus is always at hand, reducing the hassle of carrying extra accessories," a Lenovo product manager explained during the demo, emphasizing how it enhances productivity for digital artists and designers.

Priced starting at $1,899.99, the Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition is slated for launch in the second quarter of 2026. Lenovo officials noted that the "Aura Edition" branding signifies premium finishes and enhanced user experience features, though specific details on color options or additional customizations were not immediately available. The laptop's tandem OLED panel, which layers two OLED screens for superior brightness and color accuracy, represents a technological leap, according to industry observers at the event.

Shifting focus to portability, the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition starts at $1,499.99 and also launches in Q2 2026. Equipped with Intel Panther Lake chips, this 14-inch model prioritizes mobility without sacrificing performance. Its 2880 x 1800 resolution OLED display runs at 120Hz with 1,100 peak nits of brightness, providing vibrant visuals for on-the-go users. As a trade-off for its ultra-slim profile, the device omits traditional USB-A ports in favor of three Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, a design choice that aligns with modern connectivity standards.

Lenovo's emphasis on thinness and lightness in the Slim 7i Ultra comes amid growing demand for laptops that rival tablets in weight but deliver full PC capabilities. At CES 2026, which runs through January 10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the company showcased how the 975-gram build makes it ideal for frequent travelers and remote workers. "We've engineered this to be the lightest Yoga ever, without compromising on power or battery life," a spokesperson remarked, pointing to expected endurance of up to 15 hours under mixed use, though independent testing will confirm these claims.

These releases build on Lenovo's longstanding Yoga series, which debuted in 2012 as a pioneer in convertible laptops. The line has evolved from basic 2-in-1s to high-end creator tools, competing directly with offerings from Dell's XPS and HP's Spectre lines. At this year's CES, Lenovo's announcements come as Intel's Panther Lake processors—expected to succeed the current Lunar Lake chips with improved efficiency and AI capabilities—gain traction among manufacturers.

Photography from the event, including shots by Antonio G. Di Benedetto of The Verge, captured the laptops' sleek aluminum chassis and hinge mechanisms, which allow for 360-degree rotation. The Yoga Pro 9i's larger screen and GPU make it particularly appealing for content creators, while the Slim 7i Ultra targets students and executives seeking premium ultrabooks. Lenovo reported that pre-order interest has been strong since the reveal, though exact sales projections were not disclosed.

Broader context at CES 2026 underscores a trend toward brighter, more efficient displays across the industry. Tandem OLED technology, first popularized in TVs by LG, is now trickling into laptops, offering deeper blacks and higher contrast than traditional LCDs. Lenovo's implementation in the Pro 9i, reaching 1,600 nits, surpasses many competitors, potentially setting a new benchmark for outdoor usability and HDR content viewing.

While the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra's port selection has drawn some early criticism from users accustomed to USB-A, Lenovo officials defended the decision as forward-thinking. "Thunderbolt 4 provides faster data transfer and power delivery, future-proofing the device," they stated, noting adapters remain widely available. No wireless charging or advanced biometrics beyond fingerprint readers were mentioned, but the Aura Edition includes upgraded audio with Dolby Atmos support for immersive media consumption.

Looking ahead, these laptops arrive at a time when hybrid work and digital creation continue to dominate post-pandemic lifestyles. CES 2026, drawing over 100,000 attendees from 150 countries, features announcements from rivals like Samsung and ASUS, all vying for dominance in the premium PC market. Lenovo's Yoga updates could bolster its position as the world's second-largest PC maker, behind only HP, with global shipments exceeding 60 million units annually according to IDC data.

Potential implications extend to environmental considerations, as Lenovo highlighted recycled materials in the chassis—up to 50% post-consumer content—aligning with industry sustainability goals. Battery health management software, integrated via Lenovo Vantage, promises longer lifespan through AI-optimized charging. As Q2 2026 approaches, consumers can expect reviews to test real-world performance against specs, particularly the Panther Lake chips' handling of AI workloads like generative tools.

In summary, Lenovo's CES 2026 Yoga launches blend power, portability, and innovation, catering to diverse users from creators to commuters. With starting prices under $2,000 and launches just months away, these models are poised to refresh the mid-to-high-end laptop segment. Attendees and remote viewers alike await further demos, but early buzz suggests another strong showing from the Yoga family.

Share: