Lenovo Yoga 900 Review: Brains, Beauty, and Brawn
Design and Build Quality
Though the Yoga 900 did gain 0.2 pounds compared to the Yoga 3 Pro, those extra grams are well worth it. The 0.59-inches thick hybrid is light and easily portable, and the massive gains in performance more than make up for a slight uptick in weight. In fact, we wish more companies would consider taking a similar routre. Rather than continuing to push for the thinnest device possible, how about going in the other direction in order to boost things like power and battery life? We're at a point now where our machines are, for most people, thin enough. We suspect many consumers would gladly accept a couple of extra millimeters and a few grams if it meant better performance and longer battery life.
The Yoga 900 is a handsome rig, offering up a classic Lenovo interior that's as suitable for the boardroom as it is for the living room. The exterior is mostly clean with a modern aesthetic, and there's a "YOGA" logo stamped onto the lid. The watchband hinge does nothing to conceal itself; rather, it's allowed to stick out as a matter of pride. We're big fans of the function and the form, so you won't find us griping about it. It's a lovely way to convert the machine from laptop to tablet, and it holds everything in place nicely if using the machine in "tent" mode.
The QHD+ panel on the Yoga 900 we reviewed is excellent. Colors are accurate, Windows 10 looks exceptional, and high-def content looks great. The improvements in display panel technology as of late are very welcome, and it seems that Lenovo has made an excellent choice with the panel used on the Yoga 900. The touch element is worthy of praise as well, as we found excellent responsiveness when using it in tablet mode. The other input mechanisms -- the keyboard and trackpad -- were great as well. The only minor quibble here is the odd placement of a few keys, which tends to be a common complaint on Lenovo laptops.
As for ports, there are two USB 3.0 connectors (Type A), one Type C USB 3.0 socket, a 4-in-1 card reader, and an audio combo jack. There's also a 1MP 720p webcam for video chatting.
The overall look and feel of the Yoga 900 is classy and premium throughout. The machine is thin and light, but provides ample connectivity. It looks clean and sleek, and design elements like the watchband hinge aren't simply eye candy -- it's functional too.
The Yoga 900 is a handsome rig, offering up a classic Lenovo interior that's as suitable for the boardroom as it is for the living room. The exterior is mostly clean with a modern aesthetic, and there's a "YOGA" logo stamped onto the lid. The watchband hinge does nothing to conceal itself; rather, it's allowed to stick out as a matter of pride. We're big fans of the function and the form, so you won't find us griping about it. It's a lovely way to convert the machine from laptop to tablet, and it holds everything in place nicely if using the machine in "tent" mode.
The QHD+ panel on the Yoga 900 we reviewed is excellent. Colors are accurate, Windows 10 looks exceptional, and high-def content looks great. The improvements in display panel technology as of late are very welcome, and it seems that Lenovo has made an excellent choice with the panel used on the Yoga 900. The touch element is worthy of praise as well, as we found excellent responsiveness when using it in tablet mode. The other input mechanisms -- the keyboard and trackpad -- were great as well. The only minor quibble here is the odd placement of a few keys, which tends to be a common complaint on Lenovo laptops.
As for ports, there are two USB 3.0 connectors (Type A), one Type C USB 3.0 socket, a 4-in-1 card reader, and an audio combo jack. There's also a 1MP 720p webcam for video chatting.
The overall look and feel of the Yoga 900 is classy and premium throughout. The machine is thin and light, but provides ample connectivity. It looks clean and sleek, and design elements like the watchband hinge aren't simply eye candy -- it's functional too.
