Performance is middling at best, with the Yoga Slim 7x scoring around the average of the five Copilot+ PCs we’ve tested so far in both typical CPU-intensive applications and graphics-intensive tests, though it did achieve a strangely high score in the Cinebench 2024 image-rendering benchmark that’s hard to explain. It’s an interesting result, but we’re not going to shrug off unexpectedly good performance, even if it was only temporary.
Once again, Snapdragon-based computers have: Compatibility Issues Not all apps can be run. Web browsers, Microsoft Office, Mine SweeperThis isn’t a huge issue, but power users are already experiencing failures with some of their most important software.
Battery life on this laptop, like other Copilot+ PC units, is exemplary: Its score of 15 hours and 36 minutes on the YouTube full-screen test is second only to the Surface Pro’s 17 hours and 20 minutes, and just slightly better than the 15 hours I achieved with the Surface Pro. HP EliteBook Ultra G1qThe audio quality is good but not the best, and in a large room it probably won’t be enough for watching movies.
The actual experience of this laptop is good. The 14.5-inch screen is oddly sized, but it gives the laptop a bit of room without feeling too big. The keyboard has that classic Lenovo snap, the keys are well spaced, and the keycaps have a light powder coating that gives a nice tactile feel under your fingertips. The touchpad is spacious but not overly large, meaning you rarely touch it with your palm while typing.
Photo: Christopher Null
The Slim 7x does have one drawback, and it’s a pretty big one: the fan kicks in even under moderate loads and is loud. It’s by far the loudest of any Copilot+ PC I’ve tested so far. The new Snapdragon chipset is supposed to be pretty power-saving, which allows for very good battery life, so a nasty fan is surprising in this product. An otherwise great package, but unfortunately an eyesore (or ears?).
What makes up for these and other shortcomings is the price. At $1,200, the Yoga Slim 7x is the cheapest Copilot+ PC I’ve tested to date, and no matter what metric you look at (pure performance or battery life), it offers better price/performance per dollar than anything else on the market. If you’re looking for a flashy, show-stopping experience, best-in-class power, and a room-filling multimedia system, it’s probably not the best choice. But if you’re looking for a solid all-around utility player at an affordable price (and Snapdragon appeals to you), you can’t go wrong.
