Lenovo Slim 7 14 review: A competent, well-executed laptop

Price When Reviewed

$999

Best Prices Today: Lenovo Slim 7 14

The Lenovo Slim 7 14 is a wise laptop computer. It’s the Honda Civic, the Heinz Ketchup, the pair of basic white Reebok sneakers. It’s a laptop computer that does many issues proper, has only a few small flaws, and can hardly ever depart you sad. But, amid a flood of comparable laptops, that’s not fairly sufficient to suggest it.

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops obtainable proper now.

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Specs and options

The Lenovo Slim 7 14’s specs are largely the identical as different mid-range laptops. It has an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 32GB of LPDDR5x, and Intel Arc built-in graphics alongside a 1TB PCIe NVMe stable state drive. Most 14-inch laptops are adopting comparable specs as they transfer to Intel’s new Core Ultra processor line, although a handful are selecting AMD’s Ryzen as a substitute.

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
• Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc built-in
• Display: 1920×1200 60Hz OLED
• Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe stable state drive
• Webcam: 1080p webcam with IR 
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition 
• Battery capability: 65 watt-hours
• Dimensions:  0.59″ x 12.28″ x 8.7″ inches
• Weight: 3.15 kilos
• MSRP: $999

A pair specs stand out, although. Lenovo sticks with a 1920×1200 60Hz OLED display screen, which is ok, however does place the laptop computer behind opponents with a 2880×1800 OLED panel. On the plus aspect, Lenovo gives two Thunderbolt 4 ports with USB-C, which is healthier than common for a laptop computer priced at $1,000. 

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Lenovo Slim 7 14 appears very similar to different Lenovo laptops, which is nice, as a result of the corporate’s design language is my present favourite. It shares the skilled, elegant metallic end discovered on my laptops however deviates from that script with clean, rounded edges that make the laptop computer extra inviting. The particulars are properly executed, too, with an particularly pronounced metallic luster, small show bezels on all sides, and a inflexible chassis that enables solely the slightest flex.

Weight is available in at simply 3.15 kilos and the laptop computer measures a mere .59 inches thick, in addition to a foot and 1 / 4 broad and fewer than 9 inches deep. These aren’t unusually small numbers for a contemporary 14-inch laptop computer, however according to sturdy opponents just like the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, which is lighter at 3.06 kilos however a tad thicker at 0.67 inches, and the HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14, which weighs 3.14 kilos and measures 0.68 inches thick.

I respect the laptop computer’s finer touches. The slight hump used to accommodate the webcam is a helpful grip for opening the laptop computer. The show hinge measures the whole width of the laptop computer and pivots 180 levels. The ports are all positioned far again within the laptop computer’s chassis, which reduces cable litter. These are minor factors however, together, they make the laptop computer straightforward to dwell with day-to-day. 

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

A sticker on the Slim 7 14’s physique boasts of the laptop computer’s key journey, which measures 1.5 millimeters. That’s a wholesome vary for a contemporary laptop computer and contributes to a responsive, tactile typing expertise. Each key prompts easily and finishes its movement with a exact, snappy really feel. I additionally just like the end used for the important thing caps. It barely contrasts with the encompassing physique and has a refined however noticeable matte texture. A keyboard backlight is customary.

The keyboard doesn’t embrace a numpad, which is typical for a 14-inch laptop computer, but the touchpad is barely offset to the left of the keyboard, although nonetheless centered under the spacebar. My left hand felt a bit cramped because the palmrest on that aspect of the laptop computer measures about three inches broad and deep. Fortunately, the remainder of the keyboard structure is spacious.

The touchpad measures about 4.5 inches broad by three inches deep, which is common for a contemporary 14-inch laptop computer. It’s simply sufficient area to make use of frequent multitouch gestures, however not sufficient to really feel luxurious. The touchpad in any other case left me unimpressed. It was responsive and comfy, however no extra so than competing laptops. 

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

Every Lenovo  Slim 7 14 ships with a 1920×1200 OLED non-touch show with a refresh price of 60Hz. It’s a wonderful, immersive show with the deep distinction and vivid colour typical of OLED panels. Games and flicks look particularly wonderful with a crisp presentation and correct colour. 

However, the Slim 7 14 is a step behind the competitors. Many 14-inch laptops bought at present use an OLED panel with 2880×1800 decision that’s often accompanied by an enhanced refresh price of 90Hz or 120Hz. The improve isn’t as significant because it may appear on paper, as each enhancements are refined, however an improve is an improve. Acer, Asus, and HP all ship a greater show for the cash.

A pair of upwards-firing audio system flank all sides of the Slim 7 14’s keyboard. They present acceptable audio with good quantity and readability, however they lack the depth and complexity obtainable in Lenovo’s costlier laptops and 2-in-1s, just like the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14. Still, the Slim 7 14’s  sound is just like aggressive laptops.

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Slim 7 14 has a 1080p webcam in a small lip above the show. I used to be happy by the webcam’s sharpness, colour replica, and talent to regulate its publicity for rooms with combined lighting. It’s nonetheless a webcam with a small picture sensor, so it will probably look grainy in darkish circumstances, however it’s nice for video conferences. 

An digital privateness shutter is included and activated with a bodily swap on the laptop computer’s proper flank. While the swap is bodily, the shutter just isn’t, which could disappoint essentially the most privacy-focused house owners. The digital shutter doesn’t flip the microphone off, both, which is typical however ought to be remembered. Your mic will nonetheless be scorching if the shutter is engaged whereas recording.

Biometric login is accessible by Windows Hello facial recognition. A fingerprint sensor just isn’t included. I favor facial recognition over the fingerprint sensor, anyway, and it really works as properly right here as on any Windows laptop computer with the characteristic. Facial recognition is fast, correct, and works even in a darkish room.

The Slim 7 14 contains Lenovo’s “Intelligent Sensing,” which might detect while you’re close to the laptop computer. It can routinely unlock the laptop computer while you method and lock it while you step away. This, mixed with Windows Hello facial recognition, permits for “Zero Touch” login. It’s a small however helpful comfort. 

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Connectivity

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

A pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports are the main target of the Slim 7 14’s connectivity. Both ports help USB-C, Power Delivery, and DisplayPort, so each can be utilized to hook up with a monitor or cost the laptop computer. Both are on the left flank, which is a minor draw back—I favor to see a port on all sides of a laptop computer for extra handy charging choices. That, admittedly, is a nitpick.

The Thunderbolt 4 ports are joined by an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. It all provides as much as helpful and versatile connectivity that can help the overwhelming majority of wired gadgets and exterior shows. Ethernet isn’t included, nevertheless, so these in search of a wired Internet connection might want to use an adapter.

Wireless connectivity contains Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. I would favor to see Wi-Fi 7, which is now obtainable, however its absence just isn’t unusual amongst funds and mid-range laptops. Most residence companies are nonetheless on Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6, so it’ll be years earlier than the shortage of Wi-Fi 7 is a matter.

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Performance

The Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9 is accessible from Lenovo’s web site with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor and 16GB of reminiscence, however the mannequin I examined acquired an improve to an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and 32GB of reminiscence. Those upgrades don’t add a lot to the value, because the mannequin I examined will hit Costco in April at $999.

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

PCMark 10, a holistic system benchmark, produced a rating of 6,288. That’s a wholesome although unsurprising end result for a laptop computer with an Intel Core Ultra 155H processor and Intel Arc graphics. Many opponents are in comparable territory, although they rating a number of hundred higher or worse. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

Next up is Cinebench R20, a brief length, closely multithreaded CPU benchmark. The Slim 7 14 delivers a mediocre rating of 4,776 on this take a look at, which is the bottom of the 4 Intel Core Ultra 7 155H laptops on this comparability. The distinction isn’t large, however there’s actually a niche forming between the Slim 7 14 and class leaders. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

That hole is amplified in Handbrake, a protracted length, closely multithreaded CPU take a look at. This benchmark places a laptop computer’s capacity to maintain processor efficiency to the take a look at, and the Slim 7 14 falls behind most opponents. This even places the Slim 7 14 behind some Intel Core 13th-gen laptops.

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

Moving on to 3D efficiency, 3DMark Time Spy hit a rating of 3,222. That’s a superb end result for built-in graphics and demonstrates the benefit of Intel’s new Arc graphics, which roughly doubles efficiency when in comparison with the Intel Iris Xe graphics that shipped with 13th-gen Intel Core cellular processors. The Slim 7 14 isn’t a gaming laptop computer, in fact, however it will probably deal with many video games from the PlayStation 4 / Xbox One console period at 1080p and low to medium element. 

All of the efficiency outcomes above had been achieved within the laptop computer’s default “Intelligent Cooling” energy mode. Though it claims to stability efficiency and noise, it appears timid about sucking down watts to spice up efficiency, because the benchmark outcomes present. The mode helps an choice to routinely swap to Extreme Performance mode when the laptop computer detects it’s required, however the laptop computer usually didn’t appear to note I used to be slamming all cores with heavy hundreds, in order that characteristic wasn’t helpful.

I additionally examined the Extreme Performance by switching it on manually, which led to vital beneficial properties. The PCMark rating surged from 6,288 to 6,700 and 3DMark Time Spy elevated from 3,222 to 3,905. The Slim 7 14 Gen 9’s efficiency is extra aggressive with different Intel Core Ultra 7 155H laptops when the Extreme Performance mode is turned on. Fan noise is fixed when this mode is used, nevertheless, so it’s not nice except you intend to begin a long-duration process and depart the room (or flip up your headphones).

There’s one closing side of the Slim 7 14’s efficiency story, and that’s RAM. The mannequin I examined had 32GB of RAM, which is quite a bit for a $999 laptop computer. An common consumer gained’t achieve a lot from the added RAM, however customers working with giant picture or video information, or some other app or process that consumes giant quantities of RAM, ought to be well-served by the Slim 7 14.

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Battery life

The Lenovo Slim 7 14 has a 65 watt-hour battery. That’s a standard measurement for a 14-inch laptop computer: opponents just like the HP Pavilion Plus, Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, and Acer Swift Go 14 all have batteries with capacities a number of watts greater or decrease. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

Battery life roughly tracks opponents, too, although it’s a bit decrease than common. Even so, the Slim 7 14 achieved a decent 11 hours and two minutes in PC World’s customary battery take a look at, which loops a 4K file of the brief movie Tears of Steel. That’s greater than sufficient for typical use. 

My real-world expertise squared with the benchmark. Battery life was often lowered by 1 / 4 each two to 3 hours, relying on the apps I used to be utilizing and the brightness of the show.

The Slim 7 14 is charged with a compact 65-watt USB-C adapter and the laptop computer helps Rapid Charging, which might add as much as two hours of battery life in 15 minutes. The characteristic labored as anticipated in my expertise and, as a result of the laptop computer solely requires 65 watts to energy, it pairs properly with all kinds of USB-C screens and third-party USB-C adapters. That’s particularly helpful for vacationers, as they will pack a single USB-C charger for all of your gadgets, together with your laptop computer.

Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9: Conclusion

The Lenovo Slim 7 14 is boring in one of the simplest ways attainable. It’s a reliable laptop computer that delivers good construct high quality and stable efficiency at an inexpensive worth, but it lacks any single characteristic or benefit that may give it a transparent edge over the competitors. In this it differs from Lenovo’s costlier laptops, which regularly embrace cutting-edge options like Mini-LED shows or a miniature soundbar constructed into the hinge. 

The result’s a reliable, well-priced laptop computer that ought to make most individuals glad, however your shopping for resolution will in the end come down to cost. If the Slim 7 14 occurs to be on sale for lower than an Asus Zenbook 14 OLED or the HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14, get the Lenovo. And if the other is true, go along with the competitor.