This big-screen Lenovo carries portable aura for serious creatives

It’s no surprise that I’m a fan of the Lenovo Yoga range. I’ve reviewed quite a few of them, including the previous Lenovo Yoga Pro i9, and so far, none have fallen short. And the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition (161AH10) is no exception. As a longtime MacBook user (some may say fan girl), it takes something genuinely amazing to pull my attention elsewhere, and Lenovo have managed to do that with this laptop that doesn’t just feel productivity-friendly, but also creator-focused.

With an Ultra 9 processor, dedicated GPU and a generous 32GB of RAM, this laptop is ready for some serious work straight from the box. It handled everything from batch editing to web research and serious multi-tasking without any signs of slowing down. For me, the standout feature is the OLED screen, which is crisp, bright and colour-rich, making it an absolute joy to work on. It is worth noting that the fans do kick up a bit of noise when under pressure, and the 16-inch body has a bit of weight to it, but not too heavy to fall outside of the ultra-portable category.

For creative professionals looking for a machine that can comfortably handle real creative workloads, then this laptop should be on your shortlist. In fact, I’d happily place it among the best laptops for photo editing and content creation currently on the market. So, read on to find out what I loved about this laptop and why it should be one to think about when you’re ready to upgrade.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

Design, Build and Display

• Sleek aluminium chassis with a premium feel
• 16-inch OLED panel with rich colours and sharp detail 

Yes, performance matters more than looks when it comes to laptops, but it doesn’t hurt to have something that looks as good as it performs, does it? Thankfully, this Lenovo ticks all the boxes. This laptop feels premium from the moment it comes out of the box. Its aluminium chassis is sleek while still feeling strong and durable. The hinge opens smoothly and positions well, so you can get fantastic viewing angles, and also opens up a full 180º so you can lay it flat. Connectivity-wise wise there’s plenty of ports, you’ll find two USB-A, an HDMI 2.1 and two USB-C as well as an SD card reader, which is perfect if you’re like me and constantly misplacing your dongle.

The keyboard is lovely to work on, it’s comfortable to use, and the keys are well spaced out. The full number pad is also welcome, whilst not essential, if you’re working on spreadsheets or even sorting your monthly bills, having that makes numbers a lot quicker to input. The trackpad is a good size, but it’s not so big that it gets in the way. It’s really well placed and very responsive, ideal for gesture control.

The OLED display is where this laptop really shines. The colours are vivid and rich. The blacks are deep, and the detailing remains sharp. The 16:10 ratio also gives you plenty of space, which is ideal if you’re a multitasker and like a lot of windows open at the same time. The viewing angles are excellent, and the panel stays consistent, which is perfect if you’re collaborating. Brightness is more than adequate, too. I found it easy to work in well-lit rooms without feeling any eye strain.

It does have a built-in 5M infrared (IR) webcam, which holds up well for video calls. The images are clear and sharp. It also comes with a webcam privacy shutter, in the form of a physical switch on the side of the laptop. This may be a small feature, but it's nice to know you can block that camera from connecting.

Despite being made from aluminium, the chassis does have a little weight to it. It’s not too heavy to carry or to take with you on the commute, but at 1.93kg, you’ll definitely notice it in your bag. But that is worth it when you consider how premium and well-built this laptop is.

Design Score: 4.5/5

Features

• 32GB RAM
• Strong speaker system and extras like touch support

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition (161AH10) isn’t just another boring laptop; it’s packed full of features that are actually useful, not just gimmicks. Let’s start with the Intel Ultra processor, dedicated GPU and the 32GB of RAM. This is a laptop that has been designed to handle a heavy workload and plenty of multitasking, which makes it ideal for someone like me who may be typing something out one minute but editing sections of a video the next.

Connectivity is a huge plus point: you get plenty of ports, including a full-sized SD card slot and 3.5mm mic and audio jack, which makes it easy to plug in everything you need without having to mess around with hubs or dongles.

There are a few different specs with this laptop, and the one that I tested did include touchscreen support. To be honest, this isn’t really something I would consider essential, but it does come in handy when you need to zoom in or scroll quickly.

The speakers deserve a special mention; usually, laptop speakers fall into two categories: dreadful and really dreadful. But the speakers on this laptop are amazing, and you won’t have to rely on headphones to be able to get good audio when using this machine. There are six speakers in total on this machine, and they deliver crisp, clear audio regardless of what you’re listening to. A huge plus point, especially if you use your laptop to stream and watch content.

There’s also plenty of built-in smart technology. It has different modes, kind of like the focus modes you’ll find on an Apple machine. These include an attention mode which will minimise distractions so you can just focus. If you’ve a neurodivergent brain like mine, then you’ll find that this feature will totally change how you work, especially if you struggle to keep focus.

There’s also a wellness mode, which will send you alerts to encourage you to get up and move around and to shift your gaze to something in the distance for good eye health. This is surprisingly handy too, especially if you’re working long days on a project. It also allows you to sync your other devices via a smart share app so you can access images as well as text messages on your laptop - again, something Apple have been doing for a long time, but a feature that is really useful and can help with productivity.

Features Score: 4.5/5

Benchmarks

Performance

• Handles large RAW files, multi-layer edits and timeline scrubbing without buffering or lag
• Impressive battery performance

For everyday creative work, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 10 Aura Edition (161AH10) didn’t skip a beat. Opening Photoshop, Lightroom, Chrome and various documents was near instant, and even when I stacked programs and swapped between them, it stayed snappy and responsive. It feels like a machine that wants you to multitask, which can make a huge difference, especially when you’re working to a deadline.

Image work was particularly seamless. Large RAW files opened without hesitation, and moving between shots was easy. Batch editing also didn’t slow this machine down. Working with video was just as impressive, and with a 120Hz refresh rate, motion was super smooth. Tasks that would usually see my MacBook choke a bit were effortless on this machine.

The battery performance was also another pleasant surprise. Light work like browsing, emails and document creation meant that I could get through a whole work day without being tethered to a charger. This is perfect if you like to work away from your desk on a regular basis. The fans do get loud when under pressure, but not so much that it becomes distracting. It did handle heat very well, too. The chassis got a little warm but never hot, and it certainly didn’t affect the performance.

Overall, this laptop is one that will work when you need it to. While it’s a good machine for those who need something fast and powerful for content creation, it would also be a good choice for someone looking for a solid machine to do productivity tasks too, so if you’re running a business and need something reliable, it’s ideal.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Price and availability

There are a few different variations of this model available with prices starting at MSRP £1,700 and rising to £2,500.

The model I tested out sits at £2,199.99, but at the time of writing, you can actually pick this model (Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Processor, 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD) for just £1,872.99, which still keeps it in the premium price bracket but a great saving when you consider how much laptop you get for your money.

You can purchase this laptop directly from Lenovo, where you’re going to see the best savings, but it’s also available via the Lenovo store on Amazon; however, be aware it’s full price if you purchase from Amazon.

Value Score: 4/5

Who's it for?

• Content creators

The Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition is perfect for anyone who needs a solid, reliable and fast laptop that can keep up with heavy, creative workloads. But whilst I mention this laptop being great for content creators, it’s also a solid choice for anyone who wants a reliable machine for business and productivity.

If you multitask or use power-hungry apps on a regular basis, then it is ideal because it can stand up to the pressure without slowing down or lagging. It’s a great all-around machine that will give you the power of a desktop in a package designed for portability.

Score card

Buy if...

• You need a powerful laptop that can handle multitasking
• You want a stunning OLED screen

Don't buy if...

• You need a laptop on a budget
• You prefer a lightweight laptop