The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 emerges as a strong Windows contender against the 16-inch MacBook Pro, boasting powerful specs and premium build quality. However, issues with battery life and display accuracy prevent it from fully matching Apple's efficiency. Reviewer praises its performance for content creation despite these shortcomings.
Lenovo's Yoga Pro 9i 16 features a design similar to previous models, with soft rounded edges and a sturdy build described as 'built like a tank.' It is slightly thicker and heavier than the 16-inch MacBook Pro but remains portable. The keyboard and trackpad are 'fantastic,' offering quick typing and precise control, while the six-speaker audio setup delivers solid sound, though not at MacBook Pro levels. A 1080p webcam provides clear imaging with good lighting handling.
Port selection includes two USB-A ports, USB-C, HDMI, and a full-size SD card slot, swapping a Thunderbolt port from the MacBook Pro equivalent. The power button's side placement risks accidental presses.
The OLED display offers 2,880 x 1,800 resolution (upgradable to 3,200 x 2,000) at 212 pixels per inch, reaching 500 nits in SDR and up to 1,000 nits with tandem OLED. Glossy surfaces cause extreme reflections, and color accuracy measured a Delta-E of 4.5, higher than the expected 2.12, possibly due to a bug. HDR support exists but fails in games and apps on the review unit, limiting its use despite touch functionality and flat-laying capability.
Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU and RTX 5050 GPU at 100 watts, it excels in content creation. Benchmarks show Cyberpunk 2077 at 72 frames per second on Ultra preset with DLSS Balanced at 1600p. Battery life reaches 12 hours for video playback with an 84-watt-hour unit but drops to 45 minutes under heavy load.
Compared to the pricier Asus ProArt P16 and Dell XPS 16 Premium, the Yoga Pro 9i 16 offers strong value as a 'valid MacBook Pro competitor' for creators, though Windows efficiency lags behind Apple's M4 chips.