When it comes to laptops designed for creators and gamers, Lenovo’s Slim Pro 9i 14-inch stands out with its stunning DisplayHDR 1000 mini LED screen. While competing with OLED-equipped models like the Acer Swift X 14, Lenovo’s display holds its own, thanks to its comparable dense blacks and higher brightness.
This laptop not only shines in the HDR department but also boasts a sturdy build, sleek design, comfortable keyboard, and touchpad, along with robust performance and excellent sound quality. In this review, we’ll delve into the features, performance, and specifications that make the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i a compelling choice for creators and gamers alike.
Lenovo Slim Pro 9i (14-inch)
| Price as reviewed | $1,800 |
|---|---|
| Display | 14.5-inch touchscreen, 3,072 x 1,920 165Hz, 250ppi, 1,200 nits HDR |
| PC CPU | 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-13705H |
| PC Memory | 32GB LPDDR5-6400 (soldered) |
| Graphics | 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD, SD card slot |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C (1 x Thunderbolt 4), 2 x USB-A, 1 x combo audio, 1 x HDMI 2.1 |
| Networking | Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home (22H2) |
| Weight | 3.7 lb/1.7 kg |
Impressive Display Technology
The standout feature of the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is undoubtedly its display. With a 14.5-inch touchscreen boasting a resolution of 3,072 x 1,920 and a remarkable 1,200 nits HDR brightness, it offers an exceptional visual experience. The addition of a 165Hz refresh rate takes the display’s performance a notch higher, making it ideal for tasks like content creation, gaming, and multimedia consumption.
Display measurements
| Preset | Gamut (% coverage of relevant gamut) | Predominant color temperature | Gamma | Peak brightness (nits) | Accuracy (DE2K average/max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sRGB | 100% | 5,350K | 2.19 | 658 | 3.9/10.5 |
| D65 P3 (default) | 97% | 5,300K | 2.19 | 660 (136 at default setting) | 3.9/10.6 |
| Adobe RGB | 72% | 5,400K | 2.19 | 654 | 4.12/10.85 |
| D65 P3 HDR | 99% | roughly 6,000K; darkest blacks and brightest white throw the calculation off | n/a | 1,407 | n/a |
| D65 P3 (after calibration) | 89% | 6,300K | 2.3 | 524 | 1.2/5.9 |
What sets this display apart is its use of mini LED technology and the DisplayHDR 1000 standard. This allows it to deliver dense blacks that rival OLED screens, especially in HDR content. When viewing HDR content, the display’s local dimming and mini LED array enable it to achieve effectively zero-nit blacks, creating stunning contrast and vibrant colors. However, it’s important to note that in standard SDR mode, the display may not deliver the same level of performance, as it’s primarily optimized for HDR content. Calibration can help improve color accuracy, but it’s not as straightforward as with some other displays.
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Solid Performance for Creativity and Gaming
Under the hood, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is equipped with a powerful Intel Core i7-13705H CPU and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. This hardware combination ensures smooth performance for a wide range of creative tasks, from video editing to 3D rendering. It also provides ample power for gaming, allowing you to enjoy popular titles with ease.
Geekbench 6 (multicore)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio —————————>2 9,870
- Acer Swift X 14 —————————->12,628
- Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra —————————->12,717
- Lenovo Slim Pro 9i (14-inch) —————————->13,215
- Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 —————————–>13,250
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance
Cinebench R23 CPU (multicore)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 —————————–>11,223
- Acer Swift X —————————>1414,760
- Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) —————————>14,803
- Lenovo Slim Pro 9i (14-inch) —————————>15,737
- Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra —————————>15,965
- Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 —————————>17,167
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance
One noteworthy feature is the laptop’s ability to overclock the GPU and video memory. While this feature is often associated with gaming laptops, it’s a valuable addition for creative professionals who require extra performance. Enabling overclocking through Lenovo’s Vantage software can significantly boost frame rates in both games and professional software. However, it’s essential to be aware that this can lead to increased fan noise and occasional thermal throttling, which is common in thinner and more compact laptops.
Rich Connectivity and Sturdy Build
Lenovo doesn’t skimp on connectivity options, offering a well-rounded selection of ports for a laptop of this size. You’ll find two USB-C (one of which is Thunderbolt 4), two USB-A ports, a combo audio jack, and an HDMI 2.1 port. Additionally, the inclusion of an SD card slot provides convenience for photographers and videographers who need to transfer media from their cameras.
The laptop’s build quality is impressive, with a matte gray finish that exudes a premium feel. The top section houses the webcam and IR camera for Windows Hello facial recognition, while the rest of the chassis maintains a clean and modern appearance. It’s worth noting that the laptop is slightly thicker and heavier than some competitors, which can be attributed to its advanced display technology.
Battery Life and Everyday Use
In terms of battery life, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i delivers a respectable performance but falls short of all-day usage. On streaming video tests, it manages around 8.2 hours, which should suffice for typical on-the-go tasks. However, it’s essential to consider that increasing the display brightness for comfortable viewing can reduce battery life. Additionally, like many Windows laptops, it’s advisable to disable auto-brightness adjustments to prevent distracting and inconsistent brightness changes.
Stunning but Specialized Display
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i’s standout feature is undoubtedly its display, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize exceptional visual quality. The DisplayHDR 1000 mini LED screen delivers impressive HDR performance with its dense blacks and high brightness. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this display is primarily tailored for HDR content, and its SDR performance may not be as strong.
The laptop’s robust hardware, including the Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU, ensures smooth performance for both creative and gaming tasks. The added ability to overclock the GPU is a valuable feature for those who require extra performance, although it can lead to increased fan noise and thermal throttling.
Despite its advanced display and hardware, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i maintains a solid build and offers a well-rounded selection of ports. Its stylish design, comfortable keyboard, and touchpad, along with the impressive sound quality, make it an attractive package for creators and gamers.
A Competitive Option in a Specialized Market
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 14-inch laptop is designed for users who demand top-tier display performance for their creative and gaming endeavors. Its standout feature is the DisplayHDR 1000 mini LED screen, which excels in delivering HDR content with dense blacks and high brightness. While its SDR performance may not be as strong, calibration can improve color accuracy.
With a powerful Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU, this laptop offers excellent performance for a range of tasks. The ability to overclock the GPU provides an extra performance boost, although it may result in increased fan noise and thermal throttling. The laptop’s build quality is solid, and it comes equipped with a variety of ports for connectivity.
In summary, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is a competitive option in a specialized market. If you prioritize display quality and require powerful performance for creative work and gaming, it’s worth considering. However, it’s important to keep in mind its specific strengths in HDR content and the need for calibration to optimize color accuracy in SDR mode.
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