Lenovo Refreshes the Yoga Lineup With Ryzen and Next-Gen Intel Core Processors
by Brett Howse on August 18, 2020 9:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
- Lenovo
- Yoga
- Ryzen
- Tiger Lake
- Renoir
- Ryzen 4000
There are several iconic designs in the PC space that have spawned many competing clones, and Lenovo is the proud parent of one such design in the Lenovo Yoga. The 360° hinge and touch support proved to be one of the most useful convertible designs around, with an uncompromised laptop feel, but added versatility of tent, tablet, and stand modes. Today Lenovo is announcing a refresh of their consumer range of Yoga convertible laptops, with not only new internals, but also a new naming scheme.
Lenovo hasn’t released a full specification list for all of the models yet, but there will be both Intel and AMD models available. The AMD models will be based on the 4000-series Renoir platform, and since Intel has not formally announced their new Tiger Lake range of chips, the Intel models are only listed as “next-generation” Intel Core, but with Xe graphics and Thunderbolt 4 support, there is little doubt these will be based on Tiger Lake.
Lenovo Yoga 7i
The Lenovo Yoga 7i will be available in both 14 and 15-inch models with a 1920x1080 display with Dolby Vision, with the larger 15-inch model also offering VESA DisplayHDR 400. Lenovo has also managed to shrink the bezels by 20% compared to the outgoing Yoga C740, and there will be two color choices this year, with the traditional Slate Gray as well as a Dark Moss finish. Both units offer a color-matched backlit keyboard, with the larger 15-inch version also squeezing in a number pad.
The 7i features Intel processing, with up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 1 TB of SSD storage. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports as well for high-speed expansion. Despite the bezels shrinking, Lenovo has managed to increase the battery capacity to 71 Wh, which gives a rated battery life of 13 hours on the 15.6-inch model, and 16 hours on the 14-inch laptop. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 round out the connectivity.
For sign-in Lenovo offers a fingerprint reader, and to get to the sign-in quicker, there’s now an instant-boot when the laptop lid is opened. For those that need a stylus, Lenovo supports an active pen as well.
Despite all of the tech, the new Yoga 7i starts at only $849.99, with the larger model starting at $799. Availability is expected in November.
Lenovo Yoga 6
Lenovo’s much-anticipated AMD powered Yoga is the Yoga 6, which can be outfitted with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, and up to 1 TB of SSD storage and Wi-Fi 6. The 13.3-inch laptop weighs in at just 2.9 lbs and offers a 300-nit 1920x1080 display. With the included 60-Wh battery, Lenovo rates the Yoga 6 at a very impressive 18 hours of battery life.
The design of the Yoga 6 is very interesting though, with an “Abyss Blue” color and a very sharp looking fabric lid. It’s a great looking notebook that easily stands out from the crowd.
Lenovo also includes a fingerprint reader, webcam shutter, and the Yoga 6 can also be used with a digital pen.
The Lenovo Yoga 6 will be available starting in October, starting at $699.99.
Source: Lenovo
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Spunjji - Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - link
This circular reasoning never fails to annoy me. By that rationale AMD will never be popular with consumers, because they'll never be in any decent devices, because they were never popular with consumers, because...It doesn't take a genius to see that the cycle can be broken with a good product at the right price - most consumers aren't so brand-loyal to Intel that they'd reject a comparable (or superior) product for a lower price.
So - I could understand a few of the OEMs going with that "steady as she goes" rationale, but all of them? I don't buy that at all.
Irata - Tuesday, August 18, 2020 - link
Maybe for the same reason that no OEM offers Renoir laptops with a GPU above a standard RTX 2060 (i.e. not even the super) or higher end screen options ?romrunning - Tuesday, August 18, 2020 - link
Yeah, the quality/construction for the models should be the same, along with the options. There's no reason why they can't be, with just very slight changes due to CPU socket/size and supporting chipset unique to each. Cooling, display quality, storage, and the other options should be basically the same. Check out Hardware Unboxed's video on the XMG Core 15 for an example of how it's done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM86auSGb2MIrata - Tuesday, August 18, 2020 - link
Totally agree and saw the video but having identically specced machines is not in Intel‘s interest and I am quite sure they will make it worthwhile to the OEM to not offer too highly specced AMD machines.Remember Intel‘s marketing slides pointing out that you could only get high end Geforce GPU in Intel based laptops? How did they know this before all Renoir based laptops were presented ?
romrunning - Tuesday, August 18, 2020 - link
Yeah, Intel has been busted before for their illegal activities, and I wouldn't put it past them to continue to try to influence the OEMs in whatever way possible.However, Renoir-based laptops haven't had a lot of time in ODM/OEM design centers to really create good designs with the appropriate cooling and parts. I think we've seen a number of "fast" efforts so far. Part of the issue for the OEMs is that AMD in a laptop used to be a cheaper, under-performing part; thus, they were sold in primarily budget laptops. Renoir is almost a complete 180 on that part, and now they are faced with designing an appropriate laptop with a price that is just above budget-pricing so as to start bumping the purchase price higher. It will take some time for the public to see Ryzen as the "performance" laptop, not just the budget laptop. With the desktop version going so well, that could happen pretty quickly, though, perhaps even within two mobile CPU generations.
I do think Dell, HP, and Acer could be doing more with Renoir models, especially Dell. Dell has a long history with Intel, but I imagine even Dell is rethinking their product portfolio, despite any under-the-table dealings that might be going on.
lmcd - Tuesday, August 18, 2020 - link
Intel also has had more money for "partner" programs where Intel basically designs half the motherboard and approves the part list. This has happened since before Athena to be clear.By contrast, my Thinkpad E485 uses Synaptics audio which still is blocking me from receiving the 2004 update.
Worth noting that the pricing advantage AMD has on core count with desktop Ryzen might not be as advantageous on mobile. Chiplet design reduces die size and thus increases yield -- that's not available on laptops, so it's possible that laptop makers are struggling to deliver the typical AMD price advantage that customers expect, and/or designed for a lower cost than AMD ended up delivering.
brantron - Tuesday, August 18, 2020 - link
Renoir is the same size as quad-core Tiger Lake, and quite a bit smaller than the prior Zen APUs.8 cores and a large GPU makes binning convenient. There's something like 26 SKUs of the one die. The big mark up would be on the 4900HS and 4800HS.
Chiplets help the platforms with lots of IO, which wouldn't scale down as well to be cost effective at 7nm. The same IO chips are also used for the motherboards, so there's an economy of scale advantage.
AMD said a while back it's a minor difference for the high desktop sellers like the 3600, but double for 16 cores, and it keeps going up from there.
Zen 3 could very well have more variations of SoCs, rather than IO dies. They just need the sales volume to justify another dedicated die.
ZolaIII - Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - link
Well you have option for 1000 (720) nits displays with Envy x360 13" but for now US only regarding availability.leo_sk - Friday, August 21, 2020 - link
I think its the case of U vs H. Amd anticipated that most OEMS would go half hearted with their chips and put cheap parts. The H versions of chips are always paired with best hardware, while U is just the OEM doing what it wantsikjadoon - Tuesday, August 18, 2020 - link
The Slim 7 Pro is Renoir-H w/ LPDDR4X (and 16:10, to boot).https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Yoga-Slim-7-P...
But no US pricing, so perhaps why Anandtech hasn't written about it yet.