Apple is a business, so its ultimate goal is growing and maximizing its profits. At first, the Cupertino firm was mostly focused on selling its hardware and software. At some point, it entered the subscription services field with a wide range of paid offerings. This acts as an additional revenue stream that builds upon its hardware sales. For the longest time, the company’s dependence on ad revenue has been minimal. After all, the corporation typically sells high-end devices for expensive price tags. By refraining from the aggressive use of ads, its customers feel like they’re truly getting a premium experience. However, we recently learned that Apple could be aiming to more than double its ad revenue. It seems like its new strategy could start affecting users as soon as 2023.
I believe the engineering work is already underway to launch search ads in the Apple Maps app, and we should begin to see it be implemented sometime next year.
In his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has stated that Apple could be injecting ads into its Maps app next year. Right now, the Cupertino overlord’s ad division is generating around $4 billion annually. Apple reportedly wants to increase that to at least $10 billion per year. The new tactic could mean users having to see ads in more of its built-in apps, such as Maps, Podcasts, etc.
The ads in Apple Maps — which users could start seeing in a few months — likely won’t be in the form of banners. Instead, the company might allow businesses to pay money for top slots. This way, when users search for a certain restaurant, paid places appear in top results as ads. By doing so, Apple is ruining the user experience to make an extra buck.
By sacrificing its user experience for the sake of ad revenue, do you think Apple will make more money or lose customers? Let us know in the comments section below.
Shortly after Google rolled out the first developer preview build of Android 13 to users, we learned that it included two new APIs to help users control the flashlight brightness on their phones. The finding led us to believe that Android 13 would introduce a new toggle to help users easily adjust the flashlight brightness. Sadly, there is no such feature in the stable build of Android 13 that rolled out to Pixel devices earlier this month.
While Google hasn’t added a native option to help users control the flashlight brightness in Android 13, you can now use a third-party app for this purpose. Flashlight-Tiramisu by polodarb is a handy app that lets you control the flashlight brightness on Android 13 devices. As you can see in the attached screenshot, the app has a barebones interface with just a slider that lets you adjust the flashlight brightness.
The app works as intended on the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a running Android 13, and you can also use it on the Galaxy S22 Ultra running the One UI 5.0 beta. On the Pixels, the app offers granular control over the brightness, while on the Galaxy S22 Ultra you only get five brightness levels. Flashlight-Tiramisu doesn’t work on all devices running Android 13. In our testing, we found that it doesn’t work on the Oppo Find X5 Pro running ColorOS 13 beta and 9to5Google‘s Max Weinbach reports that it doesn’t work on the OnePlus 10 Pro running OxygenOS 13 beta either.
A few months back, I posted about an API in Android 13 that lets apps adjust the flashlight brightness on supported devices. There’s now an app you can download that uses this feature!
As Esper‘s Mishaal Rahman noted in their previous coverage of the new APIs, the app doesn’t work on some devices as it requires an update to the camera hardware abstraction layer (HAL). “[Since] Google has frozen its new HAL requirements to ensure that vendor implementations built against version N will be certifiable for up to version N+3…device makers can upgrade their devices to Android 13 while reusing a vendor implementation designed for an older Android release that doesn’t include the new camera device HAL and its support for LED brightness control,” Rahman wrote.
This is likely the reason why the app doesn’t work on the Oppo Find X5 Pro and the OnePlus 10 Pro. If you own any of the other supported devices, you can give it a go by downloading the APK from the link provided below.
WhatsApp is one of the best instant messaging apps available out there. With over a billion users actively depending on it, the service has become very popular in many regions. In fact, it has almost replaced SMS in several countries across the world. Lately, Meta has been actively developing this platform, introducing visual changes and notable features in the process. For example, users can hide their online status, create larger group chats, and more. Now, WhatsApp Statuses (also knows as Stories) are starting to appear in the main chat list for users running the latest beta versions on iOS and Android.
As the screenshots above reveal, WhatsApp Statuses are now appearing in the main chat list for some beta users. The dedicated Status tab remains accessible from the navigation bar. So the new user interface (UI) change only acts as a shortcut — rather than a replacement to the aforementioned tab. It very much reminds us of the Direct Messages UI on Instagram.
This new change is available for select WhatsApp beta testers. Considering it’s a server-side rollout, there’s seemingly no way for you to force it. You just have to be patient until the company releases it to more users. If you already see it but aren’t fan of it, there’s a workaround you might want to consider — muting.
Unfortunately, you would need to manually mute the status updates for each contact individually. So there’s still no way for WhatsApp users to hide all Statuses from the chat list automatically. While this might annoy some users, the company is likely trying to get more people to take advantage of this feature — by placing it in the tab we use the most.
What do you think of this change? Do you like it, or do you think it’s too intrusive? Let us know in the comments section below.
In a bid to attract more subscribers, Netflix is currently working on a cheaper, ad-supported tier. Although the company has not revealed much about the upcoming tier so far, recent reports suggest that it might not give users access to all of Netflix’s content library. In addition, we’ve learned that users on the ad-supported tier will lose out on some app functionality, like downloading content for offline viewing. While these omissions make the ad-supported tier seem like a bad deal, a new report reveals that Netflix might offer users some respite from ads in select programming.
Sources familiar with Netflix’s plans have revealed (via Bloomberg) that the service won’t run commercials during original kids programming and newly-released original movies, at least at first. In addition, some studios won’t allow the streaming giant to show ads during licensed kids programs. If this turns out to be true, the upcoming ad-supported tier might become a lucrative option for new parents and those who only use the service to watch original movies. But we’ll have to wait a few months to see how things pan out.
At the moment, Netflix has not confirmed these details. The company is likely still in the process of finalizing plans for its ad-supported tier, and it may make further changes by the time it rolls out to users. Recent reports suggest that the ad-supported tier will go live sometime early next year, and it will cost less than the service’s current subscription tiers. The pricing details are still under the wraps, but we expect to learn more in the coming months.
Will you subscribe to Netflix’s upcoming ad-supported tier if it doesn’t show ads during kids programming and newly-released original movies? Or have you already canceled your Netflix subscription and don’t plan on going back? Let us know in the comments section below.
Samsung recently introduced its latest flagship phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, featuring number of upgrades over their predecessors. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, specifically, comes with a wider cover display, a more compact hinge, along with obvious improvements to performance. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the battery, which is still a 4,400mAh unit. And if you’re wondering about wireless charging support, nothing has changed on that front, meaning it’s still supported and to the same level as before.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 supports fast wireless charging at 10W, provided you have a compatible charger. No charger is included in the box, whether that’s wireless or wired, though you do get a USB Type-C cable you can use for wired charging if you already have a power adapter. If you don’t have one, we have a list of the best chargers you can buy for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, including both wireless and wired options.
In addition to that, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 also supports reverse wireless charging – which the company calls Wireless Powershare – at 4.5W. This means you can place another phone, or an accessory like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro or the Galaxy Watch 5 (it can be any other brand that supports Qi wireless charging, too) on the back of the phone to charge them. It’s a quick way to get your accessories ready to go if you forgot to charge them at home.
As for wired charging, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 still supports fast charging at 25W, so that’s still the fastest way to charge, albeit not as convenient. Aside from that, the phone packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, 12GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of internal storage. There’s also a 6.2-inch cover display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 7.6-inch main display, also with a 120Hz refresh rate.
If you’re interested, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 below, or you can check out the best deals you can get on it, in case you can find a cheaper price elsewhere.
The Razer Viper family of gaming mice was always designed with one thing in mind: Performance. From the start, the mouse was developed alongside top professional gamers to provide a product they wanted to use. From the shape to the weight, and the cable (or lack of), everything on the Viper has been designed to be the best of the best. With the Viper Ultimate, the first go at losing the cable, it was hard to imagine how Razer could possibly make it better.
But that is never a thought that crosses the minds of the Razer boffins. And so here we are with the Razer Viper V2 Pro. On the box, you’re reminded of why this thing exists. It’s an “ultra-lightweight wireless esports mouse.” As a follow-up, it’s less of a revolution than the original Viper was. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t as impressive in its own right.
The Viper Ultimate has been my own gaming mouse of choice for some time, though I confess, I am no professional gamer. But the idea of a newer version is certainly exciting, though I’m still waiting for a mouse that actually makes me a better gamer.
Included in the box with the Razer Viper V2 Pro you get:
The Razer Viper V2 Pro.
1 x USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and wired connection.
1 x 2.4GHz HyperSpeed Wireless dongle.
USB dongle adapter.
Razer mouse grip tape.
This review was conducted using a Razer Viper V2 Pro provided for review by Razer. At no point did Razer have any input into the contents of this review.
Pricing and availability
The Razer Viper V2 Pro is on sale now from Razer’s own store and authorized resellers such as Amazon and Best Buy. It’s available in two colors, black and white, and both versions cost $150.
If you’re looking to save a little, the Amazon Renewed program has the Viper V2 Pro available in refurbished condition for $25 less.
Razer Viper V2 Pro specs
Category
Razer Viper V2 Pro
Connectivity
Razer HyperSpeed Wireless (2.4GHz)
Razer SpeedFlex cable
Battery life
Up to 80 hours (1,000 Hz)
Up to 24 hours (4,000 Hz)
Sensor
Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor
30,000 max DPI
Programmable buttons
5
Switch type
Optical mouse switches Gen-3
Rated for 90 million clicks
RGB lighting
No
Dimensions and weight
Length: 126.7 mm / 4.99 inches
Grip Width: 57.6 mm / 2.27 inches
Height: 37.8 mm / 1.49 inches
59g
Design and features: No longer truly ambidextrous
Incredibly lightweight.
Retains traditional Viper shape but is no longer suitable for left-handed use.
Only a single onboard profile can be stored.
One of the defining features of the Razer Viper has always been its incredibly lightweight body without the need to have holes drilled into it. The original was already lightweight at 69g, but now we’re at the Viper V2 Pro, Razer has managed to shave another 10g off that. On paper that sounds small, but on a device that already weighed so little, it’s a huge amount. Holding both at the same time you can clearly tell the V2 Pro is a decent amount lighter. And don’t forget, there’s a battery inside this mouse. Even if it feels like it must be powered by fresh air.
The Viper V2 Pro isn't as friendly to left-handed gamers as its predecessors.
One change that’s not quite so impressive is a move from being properly ambidextrous to merely symmetrical. The overall shape of the mouse is unchanged, but the only additional programmable buttons are now on the left-hand side. This means it’s usable, but not really designed for left-handed gamers. Razer has typically been one of the better supporters of mice for left-handers so it’s a little disappointing to see. However, the Viper V2 Pro is extremely comfortable to use, just as its predecessors have been. The shape doesn’t look targeted at ergonomics, but the overall package is superb. The combination of the curved body and the fact it weighs so little make it one of the better mice to use all day, gaming or not.
There are a total of five programmable buttons, but this includes the regular buttons and the scroll wheel. You get two additional buttons positioned over the thumb. As on previous Vipers, these are perfectly placed for activation without the need to relocate your thumb along the side of the mouse. They’re so light to press you can simply twitch your thumb to activate.
Unfortunately, you only have space on the mouse to store a single profile. If you primarily play one game you won’t have a problem, but if you like to have different profiles for different games you’re going to have to use Razer Synapse to switch those as required. Synapse will sync your profiles through the cloud across devices, but to get the most from this mouse you will always need to have it handy. Synapse is still only available on Windows, which is naturally where the majority of gamers play. But if you want to use this with a Mac, you’ll need a Windows PC handy to make any settings changes.
Perhaps surprisingly there's no RGB on this mouse.
Perhaps surprisingly you won’t be setting up profiles for any Chroma RGB lighting, Razer has chosen to omit this from the Viper V2 Pro. It’s hardly a deal-breaker but those who enjoy a little RGB glow will have to make do without it. Razer does include a set of its grip tape, though, and honestly, you’re going to want to use it. The side of the mouse is smooth plastic and the added tactility makes all the difference.
It’s also worth highlighting that Razer continues to keep a dedicated DPI switch on the bottom of the mouse out of harm’s way. We’ve all been there, in the heat of battle, accidentally increasing the DPI at just the wrong moment. On the bottom of the mouse, the power button also doubles up as a way to change your DPI. What seems to be missing from the bottom is anywhere to store the wireless dongle. So if you travel with the Viper V2 Pro, take good care of it.
Performance and battery life
Incredibly fast and accurate.
Battery life is decent even if you’re using it at higher polling rates.
Easy recharging with USB-C cable.
The Razer Viper V2 Pro is built for performance and gamers who demand the most from their mouse. You don’t have to be a pro to use, it though. The Viper V2 Pro is packed with Razer’s latest and greatest, including 3rd-gen optical switches and a 30,000 DPI optical sensor. I’ve been a fan of Razer’s optical mouse switches from the very first generation. They’re incredibly light and being optical versus mechanical means virtually instant actuation. The sound of the click is pretty satisfying, too.
But that theme of speed is what the Viper V2 Pro is all about. The inability to distinguish between wired and wireless performance. Average players, like myself, will always struggle to actually feel the benefit of this speed, but it’s there. But it’s not just the raw, ridiculous numbers that this mouse brings. One of Razer’s best points is the feature set it can provide across the range, features that everyone can enjoy. Asymmetric cut-off will dynamically adjust lift-off and landing distances based on the current surface you’re using. The calibration tools are exceptional, and whatever your ability or your setup, you can tailor the Viper V2 Pro exactly to your requirements.
This is a fast, light, comfortable gaming mouse with the tools to customize it perfectly to your needs.
Of course, it is also incredibly fast and accurate. The tech inside is part of that, but when wrapped up in a body this light, the mouse truly becomes an extension of your hand. It feels like you’re floating across the desk while lining up some crispy headshots. I’m not much of a PvP player these days, but using a Viper mouse is about the only way I can even tolerate the Crucible in Destiny 2.
Battery life is good without being outstanding. Naturally, turning up the polling rate will help it drain faster, but the fact there’s no RGB on this mouse does help. Razer’s claims feel about right, I’ve been charging it once every couple of weeks having used it for a mixture of work and gaming. Though it should be said the 1,000 Hz polling rate has been just fine for me.
It’s worth highlighting as well that Razer has done away with the first-party USB cables of old. Likewise with the wireless charging dock that the Viper Ultimate had. This is a simple, standard USB-C cable. Huzzah!
Who should buy the Razer Viper V2 Pro?
The Viper V2 Pro is still a great choice for competitive gamers.
Those who play primarily one title will find it easiest to use.
The older Viper is still a good alternative for a lot of players.
I won’t lie, I’m a little conflicted with the Razer Viper V2 Pro. There are obviously areas in that Razer has improved things. It’s got the latest and greatest of everything and somehow it’s even lighter. But I expected a sequel to the old Viper Ultimate and I just don’t think this is it. If you already use the Viper Ultimate or even the original wired Viper, I’m not sure this is the one to upgrade to.
A good gaming mouse but there are compromises.
The price is comparable to the Viper Ultimate, but there are compromises. And sadly, I expected more from Razer. Many recent products have touted the onboard profile storage so that reliance on its Synapse application could be reduced. But this does away with that. And yet has “Pro” in its name. I guess for single-game professionals it’s still fine, it has onboard storage for a single profile. But I play different games on my laptop to my desktop, and even I find this change really frustrating.
That’s not to say the Razer Viper V2 Pro isn’t a good mouse. Because it is. The form factor and lightweight nature of the beast continue to make it one of the most comfortable competitive gaming mice around. And the performance continues to be class-leading. The Viper V2 Pro is an excellent mouse.
But I can’t get away from the compromises over its own predecessors, let alone competing products from other manufacturers. If you can find a cheap Viper Ultimate, I’d still personally go for that one, especially if you’re a left-handed gamer. There’s so much to love about this mouse but on the whole, it does feel like a rare miss.
On its own, this year’s Lenovo Yoga 7i is an excellent laptop. What I mean by that if that if no one told you that this is a mainstream device, you wouldn’t think less of it. It’s just that good. It’s got a great keyboard that feels awesome to type on, a new design that feels premium, and excellent Dolby Atmos speakers.
The one thing that I don’t care for is the screen. The 300-nit 2.2K LCD doesn’t feel bright enough. Luckily, there’s an OLED option, which you should totally opt for if you can.
But while this is a great laptop overall at $1,199, it’s actually $300 off at Best Buy at the time of this writing. For $899, it’s an absolute steal, offering more value than any other laptop in the game. There’s also a base model that’s on sale for $699. You can’t beat it.
The Lenovo Yoga 7i comes in Stone Blue and Storm Gray, and starts at $999
Available now, the Lenovo Yoga 9i starts at $999.99, and you can get it from retailers like Lenovo.com and Best Buy. That price will get you a Core i5-1235U processor, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, a 512GB SSD, and 2.2K LCD. At the time of this writing though, it’s actually $300 off at Best Buy.
The unit that Lenovo sent me for review includes a Core i7-1255U, 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 2.2K LCD, and that one will run you $1,199.99 at Best Buy. It’s also $300 off right now. It also comes in the new Stone Blue color, with the other option being the more traditional Stone Grey.
Lenovo Yoga 7i (2022) specs
Processor
Intel Core i7-1255U
Graphics
Intel Iris Xe
Body
12.47″ x 8.67″ x 0.68″ (326.66mm x 220.25 mm x 17.35mm), 3.3lbs (1.5kg)
2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4.0 / PD / DisplayPort / USB 4.0)
1 x HDMI 2.0
1 x microSD Card Reader (UHS-1(104) PCIe Gen 1)
1 x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
1 x Audio Combo Jack
1 x Power Button
Connectivity
Intel Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2
Audio
2 x 2W user-facing tweeters and 2 x 2W woofers Dolby Atmos Speaker System
Keyboard
6-row, multimedia Fn keys, LED backlight
Precision Touchpad
Battery
71Wh
Material
Aluminum
Color
Stone Blue
OS
Windows 11 Home
Price
$1,199.99
There’s also an option for a 2.8K OLED display, and not only does it have a better screen, but that model is 0.2 pounds lighter.
Design: It comes in a pretty new Stone Blue color
It has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB Type-A port, HDMI, and a microSD card slot
It features Lenovo’s Comfort Edge design
There are two key things to know about the look and feel of the Lenovo Yoga 7i. One is that there’s a new color. You can get it in Storm Grey, which is the normal gunmetal gray color that Lenovo has been putting in consumer laptops for ages, or you can get it in the all-new Stone Blue. Personally, I love the new color.
I also hate Storm Grey. It’s boring, and nothing about it feels inspired at all. Stone Blue is a nice change. It’s a subtle shade of blue that could be mistaken for gray in the wrong lighting, but it’s not a light color like Microsoft’s Ice Blue or Apple’s Sierra Blue. This is a darker color, and it gives it a stylish and personalized look that doesn’t come off at too flashy.
Stone Blue feels stylish and personal without being too flashy.
The other thing that you need to know is that it has Lenovo’s new Comfort Edge design, which ddebuted with the Yoga 9i. Comfort Edge is coming to most of Lenovo’s consumer laptops, and I’m here for it. It offers soft, curved edges instead of the flat edges and sharp corners that we’re used to. Not only is it more stylish, but it’s more functional, making it easier to life the lid.
A key difference between the Yoga 7i and the Yoga 9i is that the more premium Yoga 9i has mirrored edges, where the Yoga 7i is all matte. It’s a bit more subtle, which is probably better for many people.
The port selection is about what you’d expect from one of Lenovo’s consumer laptops these days, meaning that there are two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. The left side actually has the two Thunderbolt 4 ports, microSD, and an HDMI port. Dual Thunderbolt ports are nice to see at this price point, since so many companies have cheaped out and included only one.
On the right side, you’ll find the USB Type-A port, a headphone jack, and the power button.
The port selection is fine. Like I said, you’ll find that combo of two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port on tons of Lenovo consumer laptops; the same goes for HP too, in fact. HDMI is great if you need it, as is microSD.
I’m personally just a big fan of the design of Lenovo’s newest laptops. They’re not wedge-shaped like many devices are; they’re a uniform thickness throughout. It makes it feel good to use, and it makes it feel like the weight is evenly distributed.
Display: The good model comes with 2.8K OLED
The two display options are 2.2K LCD and 2.8K OLED
As usual, the Yoga 7i comes with a 14-inch display, and this one is 16:10. The aspect ratio is pretty common now, and frankly, it’s just better than the 16:9 displays that we’ve seen in previous years. There are two options: 2.2K LCD and 2.8K OLED. Obviously, OLED is better, but it’s actually a lot better.
For one thing, the OLED model can go up to 90Hz, while the LCD one is capped at 60Hz. The OLED screen is also brighter at 400 nits instead of 300 nits. Frankly, the 2.2K screen on the variant that Lenovo sent me – while offering sufficient resolution – isn’t very good.
As you can see, it supports 99% sRGB, 76% NTSC, 80% Adobe RGB, and 81% P3. You can bet that the OLED screen would be in the 90s across the board. On the 2.8K OLED screen on the Yoga 9i (presumably, it’s the same panel), it supported 100% sRGB, 92% NTSC, 94% Adobe RGB, and 100% P3.
Brightness came in at 299.5 nits, right around the 300 nits that were promised. The Contrast ratio maxed out at 1,280:1, which is fine, but again, it’s nowhere near what you’d see with OLED.
On the LCD panel that this model has, it’s just fine. After all, the Yoga 7i is all about value. With some of the deals that are offered, you can get this unit that has the 2.2K LCD, a Core i7-1255U, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD all for under $900. And despite all of that, it’s a really good laptop. But if you want that kind of value for the price, OLED simply won’t come standard.
One thing that’s nice is that it has a 1080p webcam, which is pretty good. It’s not as good as the 5MP sensor that HP is using these days, but it’s much better than we’ve seen on the 720p cameras that were on previous years’ laptops. It also has a privacy guard that you can use in case you’re worried about that.
The one issue with the privacy guard, of course, is that it will also block Windows Hello facial recognition, which this laptop does include. I’ve started keeping Windows Hello off by default, given that Microsoft has done virtually nothing to improve the experience since it was introduced with Windows 10 in 2015. If you’re OK with typing a PIN, then turning on the privacy guard won’t be an issue.
Keyboard and touchpad: Excellent for a mainstream laptop
As usual, Lenovo offers one of the best keyboards
It has Dolby Atmos speakers on the keyboard deck
The keyboard really hasn’t changed generation over generation. Probably the biggest difference is just the feel since it’s not a wedge-shaped design anymore. I really do like this design for Lenovo’s laptops a lot.
The keyboard is both comffortable and accurate. When you type on it, it feels premium. The keys don’t seem to wobble, it’s fairly quiet, and the amount of force required to press a key feels just right. Naturally, it’s backlit as well. Considering how premium it feels, it’s really nice to see at the price point.
The touchpad is great too. It’s a Precision touchpad, as you’d expect, and it takes up most of the available real estate. You can see to the right that there’s also a fingerprint sensor, in case you’re not a fan of facial recognition.
The speakers are located right on the keyboard deck, and they’re pretty great. The two speakers that flank the keyboard are 2W tweeters, while there are two 2W woofers on the bottom of the laptop. They’re both loud and clear, and they sound fantastic whether you’re using the laptop in laptop mode, tent mode, or anything in-between.
Performance: It uses Intel’s 12th-gen U-series processors
Intel’s 12th-gen U-series processors are the right choice
Battery life is pretty great thanks to a 71WHr battery
The Lenovo Yoga 7i packs Intel’s 12th-gen U-series processors, and I love it. There are lots of choices for laptops at this point. Intel has three of its own, but in my experience, when you try to pack a 28W P-series processor or a 45W H-series processor into an ultrabook chassis, you end up with issues with sustained performance, and it eats up battery life. AMD has some great new Ryzen 6000 U-series processors, but those, like their predecessors, struggle with performance when not connected to power.
Intel’s 15W 12th-gen U-series processors just feel like the sweet spot for me. This is a productivity-focused machine, and the performance is great for that. It’s also good for photo editing. Intel didn’t really offer any improvements to Iris Xe graphics with this generation, but it’s still pretty good.
For benchmarks, I used PCMark 10, 3DMark, Geekbench, Cinebench, and CrossMark.
If you want battery life, you came to the right place.
As you can see, there isn’t that much of a performance difference between the three tiers of Intel processors that are showing up in ultrabooks. The Yoga 9i does better with the P-series processor, but it’s also using a similar chassis. I have other test results, like the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, that use a 28W processor and actually gets a lower PCMark 10 score.
Battery life is pretty great too. The worst I got was five hours and 18 minutes, and the best I got was six hours and 50 minutes. As usual, this was with the power slider set to balanced. Screen brightness was set to 75%, since that’s the lowest that was comfortable with this 300-nit screen. If you can average six hours of battery life on an x86 laptop, and you can with this one, that’s pretty great.
Should you buy the Lenovo Yoga 7i (2022)?
The Lenovo Yoga 7i is an excellent convertible laptop. Here’s who should buy it.
Who should buy the Lenovo Yoga 7i (2022):
People who want a lot of value for their money
People that work from home
Anyone that takes their laptop on the go and needs battery life
Who should not buy the Lenovo Yoga 7i (2022):
Customers that need a lot of power for editing video
Those that want the best of the best
Using the Yoga 7i, I’m kind of in love with it. It’s such a great convertible. But still, I’m even more in love with the Yoga 9i. After all, that’s why it tops our best laptops list. So if you do want the best of the best, you should totally go for the Yoga 9i. For a bit more value, the Yoga 7i is a fantastic choice.
