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.
Again, keep in mind that Snapdragon-based computers have compatibility issues and not all apps will run on them. 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.
The laptop’s battery life, like other Copilot+ PC units, is exemplary. Its score of 15 hours and 36 minutes in the YouTube full-screen test is second only to the Surface Pro’s 17 hours and 20 minutes, and just beats the 15 hours achieved by the HP EliteBook Ultra G1q. Audio quality is good but not the best; in a large room, it probably won’t be enough for movie watching.
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.
