Lenovo's Yoga Slim 9i Has an Invisible Webcam and It Sucks
The need-to-know on the Slim 9i is that it's intended as the premiere offering in this lineup, including a hip design, Copilot+ PC features, and a feature that hides the webcam behind the LCD using what's called camera-under-display (CUD) technology. (This isn't the first time we've seen this—ZTE notably had a phone several years ago with a similarly hidden selfie camera.) Teal Shimmer
Before I dig deeper into that camera trick, let's talk about the rest of the package. Though it's crafted mostly from aluminum, the cover of the 14-inch laptop is made from highly reflective shimmering glass in a hue of 'Tidal Teal.' It's eye-catching but may be too flashy for some, which is probably why glass lids went out of fashion a few years back.
Photograph: Christopher Null
Curvy on every corner, the only sharp edges you'll find on the device are where that glass lid comes to an end. And while this laptop doesn't have a notch for its webcam, there is a bulge on the back of the cover where that webcam resides. As such, it's not so much 'under the display' as it is 'behind the display,' an important distinction that creates a distinctly bulbous design conceit that you will likely either love or hate. (A privacy shutter switch is available on the side of the laptop.)
Lenovo has always been known for its input experience, and the Slim 9i 14 offers one of the best I've seen, featuring a spacious edge-to-edge keyboard layout and keys with excellent responsiveness, all atop a surprisingly small trackpad. I greatly prefer this smaller trackpad design, but users more accustomed to enormous ice skating rinks for their fingertips may find it constraining. Five 'Quick Keys' on the right side of the keyboard offer easy access to different power and audio modes, a fingerprint reader, and other extras.
Photograph: Christopher Null
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Tom's Guide
9 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
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Yahoo
13 hours ago
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Breaking From Tradition, ThinkPad X9 Offers a Cheap Path to OLED Ultraportable
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One upgrade not offered that you can get with the X1 Carbon is mobile broadband, a feature many road warriors require for times when they can't connect to a Wi-Fi network. The ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition starts at £1,020 in the UK and AU$1,945 in Australia. Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition performance My ThinkPad X9 14 test laptop isn't a speed machine. It features the baseline duo of the Core Ultra 5 226V and 16GB of RAM, which are the same specs you get with the Acer Aspire 14 AI, which is a fine laptop in its own right but a truly budget model that you can pick up for between $500 and $700. The ThinkPad X9 14 costs double that and beyond, once you start adding upgrades. You don't necessarily need to upgrade the ThinkPad X9 14 with one of the Core Ultra 7 processors, but either of the other Core Ultra 5 options would go a long way toward snappier performance simply for the 32GB of RAM that they include. As configured, the ThinkPad X9 14 finished near the back of the pack on our application benchmarks and was particularly lackluster on the multicore tests for Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024. Graphics performance from the integrated Intel Arc 130V was also so-so, trailing that of Core Ultra 7-based laptops with Intel's integrated Arc 140V graphics but ahead of models with integrated GPUs from AMD and Qualcomm on the 3DMark Steel Nomad test. Its score on Procyon's AI Computer Vision benchmark, which measures integer math proficiency for AI workloads, was slightly behind the scores from other laptops with current-generation AI CPUs but well ahead of the HP Pavilion Plus 14, which features a first-gen Intel Core Ultra chip. What the ThinkPad X9 14 lacks in raw performance, it makes up for in efficiency. It ran for more than 17 hours on our YouTube streaming battery-drain test, which is an excellent result for an Intel-based laptop. You can get longer battery life from a laptop based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X series CPU, where we've regularly seen battery life of more than 20 hours, including Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop, which lasted for more than 24 hours on the same test. The Core Ultra 5 226V from Intel's Lunar Lake series has none of the potential Windows-on-Arm software compatibility issues, however, and it still provides battery life long enough that you can leave your charger at home, take the ThinkPad X9 14 to work all day and return home with plenty left in the tank. Check out CNET's mobile CPU explainer for more details on what to expect from different laptop processors in 2025. A ThinkPad that thinks different Without the matte black finish and slightly chunky, boxy shape, the ThinkPad X9 14 doesn't look all that much like a ThinkPad. And the keyboard has a different look and feel, even without considering the distinct lack of the red TrackPoint in its center. I mean, there are still some ThinkPad touches, like the ThinkPad logo in the corner of the lid with the "i" getting the glowing-red-dot treatment, the notch above the display for the webcam and the sturdier single hinge for the display that runs nearly the width of the laptop. Instead of the traditional matte black, the ThinkPad X9 14 features a brushed aluminum finish in a dark gray that's between Apple's space gray and midnight black options for its MacBooks. It's fairly rigid but doesn't have a very distinctive look, which maybe you won't mind if you aren't looking to make a statement with your work laptop. The keyboard also lacks distinction. The squared-off keys are a departure from the usual ThinkPad shape, where the keys have a rounded bottom. There's a hint of the rounded shape as the bottom edge of the X9's keys is gently sloped, but the keys certainly have a different look. They also have a different feel -- one that's not quite as plush as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon's. Because the ThinkPad X9 14 is so thin, key travel is shallower than on the X1 Carbon and feels rather generic, bordering on mushy. The ThinkPad X9 14 scores points for being very thin -- it's less than 18 millimeters thick, or roughly 0.7 inches -- but it's not very light. At 2.8 pounds, it's merely average for its size. Other 14-inch laptops are much lighter, including the 2.2-pound ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and the 2.6-pound HP EliteBook Ultra G1i. And among similarly sized consumer models, the 13.6-inch MacBook Air weighs 2.7 pounds and the Asus Zenbook A14 weighs just 2.2 pounds. The ThinkPad X9 14 achieves its remarkable thinness by putting the cooling fans in the Engine Hub, a rectangular bump-out on the bottom panel. Between the two cooling fans is the Core Ultra 5 226V CPU and its integrated memory module. The ports are also located on either end of this hub: a Thunderbolt 4 port on either side, along with an HDMI out on the left and a headphone jack on the right. By placing these items in this vented strip, Lenovo says, the cooling and performance are optimized. I don't know if it helped the X9's performance any, but the laptop did stay cool and quiet during my time with it. The ThinkPad X9 14 lacks many of the advantages you get with the flagship X1 Carbon, but it includes two features I'd want in my primary work laptop: an OLED display and a haptic touchpad. Even the baseline X9 model comes with an OLED, and our unit included the upgrade option that delivers a higher resolution, a higher (and variable) refresh rate, increased brightness and touch support. It's a 2.8K-resolution OLED panel (2,880-by-1,800 pixels) with a variable refresh of up to 120Hz. Text and images look incredibly crisp with such a high resolution on a 14-inch display, and you get the vibrant colors and stellar contrast you'd expect from an OLED. It's definitely worth the modest $100 up-charge. The haptic touchpad comes standard, and it's excellent. It's generously portioned, especially for a ThinkPad whose touchpad surface is usually squeezed by the two added mouse buttons wedged between it and the spacebar for the pointing stick. But without a pointing stick, there's more space for the touchpad. I loved having a consistent and customizable click response across its entire surface instead of just along its bottom half, as you'd get with a basic mechanical touchpad. So, what's with this Aura Edition business, you might be wondering. It comes from Lenovo partnering with Intel on a handful of "smart" features, such as smart sharing for swapping files between the laptop and your phone via Intel's Unison app. There's an attention mode where you can set a timer to limit or disable notifications, and a wellness mode that reminds you to take a break to rest your eyes or sit up straight when you begin to slouch. I don't like the idea of the camera monitoring me as I work, but maybe you miss having your mom or dad giving you proper posture reminders. Perhaps the most useful part of the Aura Edition thing is Smart Care, which provides specialized support for one year, where you get access to dedicated virtual and live agents. The ThinkPad X9 14 offers both biometric options -- facial recognition via the webcam and a fingerprint scanner on the power button -- for secure logins. These are appreciated features on a consumer laptop and must-haves on a business machine. And the webcam itself is great: an 8-megapixel sensor that captures sharp, well-balanced images and video. Should I buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition? If you're a ThinkPad traditionalist, then it's best to pass on this model. But if you're looking for a business laptop for basic office tasks and want an OLED display and roomy haptic touchpad for a great price, then the ThinkPad X9 14 starts to look like a winner.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
How AI, Creators And Sports Are Shaping Marketing's Next Chapter
Emily Ketchen | Chief Marketing Officer & SVP, Intelligent Devices Group & International Markets at Lenovo | Global Marketing Executive. It's hard to believe that another year of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has come and gone, and I was fortunate enough to attend for a third consecutive year. Cannes is always a flurry of activity, from different sessions to panels to the judging and awards. But above all, it's a unique time when you can find some of the greatest minds in marketing in the same place. That's how I like to view it. Each year, I approach the festival with two goals: to share what Lenovo is doing to bring smarter technology to all and to gather new insights that can guide our future marketing. This year was no different, as there were so many opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from our peers. Here are some of my top takeaways from this year and what they reveal for the future of marketing. Marketers' confidence in AI lends to boosted creativity. Even as creative industries increasingly use AI to help inform their work, it's important to remember that it's people, not AI, who are creative. Creative spirit, talent and timely cultural relevance can't be replaced by AI, but creatives must be willing to explore AI as an important tool that can maximize their work through refinement and customization. This greater understanding of how to effectively use AI was evident as brands used the technology in more compelling, smarter ways across campaigns. An award-winning campaign like Dove's 'Real Beauty,' which used AI to reprogram Pinterest's algorithm to prioritize natural and inclusive beauty over AI-generated images, illustrated how AI can be used purposefully within a marketing mix to breathe new life into a long-standing, purpose-driven campaign that's relevant for the modern era. Brands' internal frameworks around AI were also discussed in relation to how they support marketers to become more confident AI users, so they can create, experiment and collaborate with the right AI knowledge, tools and guardrails in place. Rather than superficial and ad hoc experimentations of AI, we've seen how marketers' maturing AI proficiency is leading to bolder marketing that also demonstrates how it can be used for good, which goes a long way in building trust with consumers around AI and drives business forward. The creator economy is growing stronger. Creators were at the forefront of this year's discussions, being positioned as much more than just amplifiers for traditional influencer marketing. They are now viewed as strategic cultural partners who contribute creative ideas, co-develop content and even shape brand narratives from ideation to execution. As a nod to this shift, Cannes rebranded its 'Social & Influencer Lions' into 'Social & Creator Lions.' They also introduced various subcategories to address topics such as culture, social content marketing and social insights. There was an increase in both creators and campaigns alike. Vaseline Verified, for example, where more than 450 creators (registration required) shared hacks and different uses for Vaseline, went on to win the Health and Wellness Grand Prix. This increased presence shows how important the creator economy is in amplifying brand relevance and trust. By leveraging a creator's authenticity, relatability and influence, brands can foster genuine connections with consumers. Sports are playing a bigger role in marketing than ever. The role of sports in marketing is certainly nothing new. The sports sponsorship market is expected to reach $115 billion in 2025, but it has gained increased popularity at the festival, particularly as sports like Formula 1 take off as cultural phenomena in the U.S. At Stagwell's annual 'Sport Beach' at Cannes, the tech and innovation track examined how technology is changing consumer interaction with sports, such as wearables, augmented reality and data analytics and visualization. That fusion of sports and technology is reshaping not just what fans experience, but how teams think, react and compete—allowing fans to become interactive participants and turning stadiums into smarter ecosystems. Sports partnerships were also discussed in how they present unique opportunities to further build brand trust by putting your product (and subsequently your brand) right in front of customers. This helps showcase technology solutions that enhance the fan experience while meeting consumers where they are and presenting the opportunity to demonstrate confidence in a brand's technology. At Lenovo, we've experienced this firsthand through our multiyear partnership with Formula 1, one of the most technologically advanced sports in the world. A Glimpse Into Future-Ready Marketing The conversations, campaigns and collaborations at Cannes Lions proved that the convergence of AI, creators and immersive sports partnerships isn't a trend—it's a new playbook. To lead in this era, marketers can work to embed AI intentionally to enhance creativity and build trust, elevate creators as true co-developers of content and harness the cultural power of sports to drive brand relevance. Cannes Lions is a powerful yearly reminder that bold, culturally attuned, tech-enabled storytelling is no longer optional—it's the price of entry, and something I'll take into the next year. Forbes Communications Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
