Hands-On: Lenovo’s New Slim 7 Pro X and Slim 9i Lines Shine With Power, Eye Candy

Lenovo's long litany of laptop families is familiar to frequent PC shoppers: ThinkPad, Flex, IdeaPad, Yoga, Legion. This time around, it's all about the Slim. Lenovo today announced a handful of new Slim models, ranging from trim content-creation to slick general-use systems.

As “Slim” suggests, thin designs are the theme of the day, and two of the more interesting models are the Slim 7 Pro X and the Slim 9i. We were able to go hands-on with samples of these two machines at a preview event in New York, getting the rundown from Lenovo and seeing the designs up close.

The two laptops aim to please different types of users, though both are on the premium side. Watch our initial impressions of each in the video above, and read on for the details.

The Lenovo Slim 7 Pro X: Creators Welcome

Technically speaking, Lenovo will offer two versions of this product, differing according to the CPU platform used inside (a theme common to many of Lenovo's latest laptops). The Slim 7 Pro X is the AMD-based model, while the Slim 7i Pro X is the Intel flavor. More on the exact CPU offerings in a moment.

(Photo: Weston Almond)

Some of the new laptops Lenovo introduced are geared toward general-purpose use, but the Pro X lives up to its name. This is a compact laptop that packs surprising power given its profile, meant for content creators working in video, still images, or demanding web work. The display is an unusual size (14.5 inches!) that we have not seen before. Even as laptops shrink down, most “14-inch laptops” have screens that measure exactly 14 inches, and above that, it's actually 15.6 inches for most “15-inch-class” laptops.

(Photo: Weston Almond)

This joins a recent trend of unusual screen sizes emerging (see: the recent prevalence of 16-inch displays), particularly because this and many other recent laptops feature a 16:10 aspect ratio that is squarer than the traditional 16:9. This can lead to unfamiliar resolutions, such as this laptop’s “3K” measure of 3,072 by 1,920 pixels. The screen also boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and Nvidia G-Sync, which are unusual tech specs in a non-gaming laptop.

This display is set into a small chassis, measuring 0.63 by 12.9 by 8.7 inches (HWD) and weighing in at 3.5 pounds. The weight isn’t quite as low as some laptops with these compact dimensions, but the need for a high performance ceiling, and the likely attendant cooling hardware required, are the parties responsible here for the heft.

Intel or AMD? Top-End Power for Pros

On that note, the Pro X's components. The AMD model can be equipped with Ryzen 5 6600HS, Ryzen 7 6800HS, or Ryzen 9 6900HS CPUs. Similarly, the Intel options are the Core i5-12500H, the Core i7-12650H, or the Core i7-12700H. It doesn’t quite reach up to Core i9, but we’ve found the 12th Generation Core i7 chips quite potent in their own right, particularly the full-power H Series. Regardless, these processor options offer quite a bit of potential for creative professionals.

(Photo: Weston Almond)

You can pair them with up to 32GB of DDR5 memory, and up to a 1TB SSD. On the graphics front, integrated Iris Xe or AMD Radeon graphics are the default, but (as the G-Sync support suggests), Lenovo also offers discrete GPU options. Both the Intel and AMD versions can be configured with Nvidia GPUs, either the GeForce GTX 1650 or the GeForce RTX 3050.

The feature set is rounded out with Lenovo’s X Power tuning for different use cases, a full HD webcam, an IR camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and support for Wi-Fi 6E. Ports include two USB Type-C ports (on the Intel version, these support Thunderbolt 4), an ordinary USB Type-A port, and an HDMI output.

The most interesting aspect distinguishing the two CPU-platformed models from one another is that the Intel version is notably more expensive. This is the case in most of these dual-platform-option systems Lenovo is launching, but the difference is stark here: The AMD-based 7 Pro X starts at $1,499, while the Intel-based version starts at $1,699. Both will launch in June.

The Lenovo Slim 9i: Sophisticated Style

The Slim 9i looks like it has a lot going for it when you open it up, but there’s no denying the standout feature is its lid. Its “3D glass” design resembles a high-end smartphone's back, with transparent curved-edge glass covering an aluminum frame. The white chassis underneath looks classy, and the combination feels very premium in the hand. (It will attract plenty of fingerprints, though.)

(Photo: Weston Almond)

Like the Slim 7 Pro X, the Slim 9i uses a 16:10 display, but it’s a more common 14-inch screen. Another key difference: The 9i’s panel is OLED, and comes in two versions, with either “2.8K” (2,880-by-1,800-pixel) or 4K (3,840-by-2,400-pixel) resolution. It’s difficult for you to tell from photos or videos unless you're already on one of these screens, but OLED displays are brilliantly vibrant, with poppy colors and abyss-deep blacks, and will make using this laptop that much more enjoyable. You simply have to see them in person to appreciate them.

(Photo: Weston Almond)

Between the high-end design, rounded edges, glass lid, and advanced display, the Slim 9i gives off a decidedly premium feel, and indeed, that’s more or less what the laptop is aiming for. It can be equipped with a Core i5-1240P or a Core i7-1280P processor (note the lesser 12th Generation Core P-Series designation) for good performance, but it is not primarily concerned with raw power. This is emphasized further by offering only integrated graphics.

Instead, the Slim 9i is a general-use productivity laptop kicked up a bunch of notches in its design. It's a bit reminiscent of HP's Spectre line, in models like the HP Spectre x360 14. The premium look and feel (and the beautiful OLED screen) are going for a more luxe aesthetic, while still remaining portable at 0.6 by 12.5 by 9.1 inches (HWD) and just over 3 pounds.

The feature set also includes a full HD webcam, an IR camera (with an electronic camera power-off switch), Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E support, and Thunderbolt 4/USB-Type-C ports. There are no USB-A ports here, just three Type-C connections.

(Photo: Weston Almond)

(Photo: Weston Almond)

If you’re seeking your next general-purpose laptop and have more money in your budget than average, the Slim 9i may be for you. It's an eye-catcher and a conversation-starter. Base models will come in at $1,799 and be available this June. (Note that in some regions outside of the US, it will bear the Yoga brand name.)

These are just our initial impressions from seeing and handling these laptops for an hour at a preview event. Check back to PCMag for our testing and full reviews when units become available.