Last year was a whirlwind of laptop reviews with three new chipsets from Qualcomm, AMD, and Intel. This year is shaping up to be even better. The Lenovo Slim 7i 14″ Aura Edition takes an already great laptop in last year’s 15″ and makes a bunch of improvements, well worth considering this as your next ultraportable. This Lenovo Slim 7i 14″ Aura Edition review is the first of many laptops I will be reviewing this year. So buckle your seatbelts tightly because 2025 is the year of the Windows laptops. Apple has a lot to worry about, and it’s coming from all sides.
Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
I already have a few Lenovo models in house for review and I have been using them all. And in doing so, I have discovered that, it will be extremely difficult to not like what is coming out of the Lenovo camp. The Slim 7i 14″ is the follow-up to last year’s 15″ Slim 7i, and Lenovo listened to reviewers. There’s no mincing words about it, if you’re looking at the 15″ Slim 7i Aura Edition and the 14″ Slim 7i Aura Edition, forget about the savings, if there are any, and buy the Lenovo Slim 7i 14″. Let’s get into this review!
The Quick Take
The Lenovo Slim 7i 14″ Aura Edition is the follow-up to last year’s 15″ version, but with improvements that make it a better pick over the 15-inch. Improvements like a new OLED display and a better trackpad are just part of the reason this one is better. Here’s the score and the bottom line.
Score and Bottom Line
Lenovo Slim 7i 14″ Aura Edition
Starting at $959.00
Nailed it
- Lenovo build quality is still amazing, great materials and feel
- This has an OLED display, massive improvement over the IPS of the 15.3″ version
- Keyboard is outstanding, as usual
- Trackpad is improved over the 15.3″ version, this is a much better trackpad overall…still would like a haptic pad, but this is good
- Speakers sound improved over the previous version, might be the smaller chassis, but they sound great
- Webcam is decent
Needs work
- The design (while nice and premium) should be different to show this has the Aura features, it doesn’t stand apart from its siblings.
- Bloatware, easy to remove, but please, no more bloatware
Overall, the Lenovo Slim 7i 14″ Aura Edition is almost identical to the Slim 7i 15.3″ version from last year. The most considerable differences are the new and better OLED display and the nicer, much easier to use trackpad. I feel most everything else is about at the same level, though the battery life on this laptop, seems to be better. I would recommend both laptops, but the 14 wins, for me, due to the OLED and better trackpad experience. Though, if you need a display larger than 14-inches, the 15.3″ version is going to suit you best. For OLED technology, I will sacrifice the size. The IPS panel on the 15 is great, but just not as great as this OLED.
Specifications
The Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition I tested has the following features and specifications:
- Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 258V Processor (LPE-cores up to 3.70 GHz P-cores up to 4.80 GHz / 32 GB MOP)
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Neural Processing Unit (NPU): Up to 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS) AI performance
- Graphics: Intel® Arc
- Memory: 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533MT/s (Memory on Package)
- Storage: 1 TB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 TLC
- Battery: 4 Cell Li-Polymer 70Wh – Power Cord: 65W USB-C Wall Mount Slim 90% PCC 2pin AC Adapter – US
- Audio: 4x Speakers Dolby Atmos® Audio – 4x Voice ID Microphones
- Camera: 5MP RGB+IR with Dual Array Microphone
- Ports/Slots: 2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 (40Gbps, DP, PD), Micro SD card reader, HDMI™ 2.1, up to 4K/60Hz, USB-A (USB 5Gbps), Always On, Headphone/mic combo
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 7 2×2 BE 320MHz & Bluetooth® 5.4
- Display: 14″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 500 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 60Hz, Glass
- Dimensions (H (front-to-back) x W x D): As thin as 13.9mm x 312mm x 219.3mm / 0.55″ x 12.3″ x 8.63″
- Weight: Starting at 1.29kg/2.84lbs
- Color: Luna Grey
What’s In The Box
- Lenovo Slim 7i 14″ Aura Edition
- AC Adapter
- Internal Battery
- Quick-Start Guide
Design
The new Lenovo Slim 7i 14 design is fairly similar to that of its older brother, the 15″ version from last year. The overall look of the laptop is mostly the same as the previous version. The same types of premium materials are being used for construction and the build quality is very high. It feels nice in the hand and since it is smaller, it is lighter and makes it even more portable.
The bottom of the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 has two rubber feet and one long rubber foot for stabilization. There is a very long vent for cooling purposes and there are two speaker grills, though the laptop does have four speakers. There are a few stickers on the bottom and a bit of FCC printing and regulatory jargon.
Flipping the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 over, the lid has the Lenovo branding and the now familiar camera housing at the top. Most Lenovo laptops have this now and I like how it looks. That camera housing design also gives this a slight lip that helps when opening the laptop. There’s nothing on the back edge of the laptop, other than the hinge.
Along the left side of the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 you’ll find some of the ports which include, one HDMI port, two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a microSD card slot. Along the right side of the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 is one USB-A port, headphone/mic jack, power button, and camera shutter. The power button was a sore point for some reviewers, as some found themselves accidentally pushing it when moving the laptop. This button is more flush with the chassis, so I think people should find themselves hitting it accidentally. It isn’t recessed like on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13, but I think it’s fine.
Opening the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 up, you’re greeted by the beautiful 14″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 500 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 60Hz, Glass display. This is a touch display, and it is OLED, and it is miles better than the 15″ version from last year. The bezels aren’t super thin, but they aren’t ugly, and the cameras for web and Windows Hello are at the top.
Moving down to the deck, this looks like the 15″ version but smaller. The same wonderful keyboard is great to use and comfortable. Other reviewers have complained that the coating on these keys is slippery, I disagree, and I found the keyboard great to use. There are two speaker grills along the sides of the keyboard.
The glass diving board style trackpad is here as well, and I feel this trackpad is better than what was on the 15″ version. It feels much more responsive and gestures are easy and fluid. I do wish haptic pads would just become a thing and not an option. But this is a great trackpad. The Intel Ultra 7 sticker is neatly placed on the deck.
Overall, this is a wonderfully designed laptop. It looks and feels premium, and the build quality is excellent. It’s not perfect and there are things I would change, but those things really aren’t dealbreakers for other users. I think most users will be pleased with the Lenovo Slim 7i 14.
Display
The 14″ OLED display on the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 Aura Edition is fabulous and a major improvement over the 15″ from last year! This panel is a touch display, and it has a glossy look to it that does give plenty of reflections. More reflection than I like. It’s only an issue if you’re in a space with many lights that shine into the display. I found I could adjust the display to certain angles to get rid of it. But I know some might not like this.
Off axis viewing is a lot harder with this display, due to the reflections and glossy panel. But again, it depends on how much light is in the room you’re in and where the light is coming from. Again, this might bother some of you, so be aware of it.
This is an OLED panel, so those blacks are rich and deep, with contrast levels just off the chain. The colors are vibrant and rich, and the whites are crisp and clean. The text is easy to read and comfortable. This is a FHD+ display, but I would have loved to see a 2K display on it. Still, it is a great panel.
Overall, this is a fantastic and beautiful display that is just a joy to use. At this price point, I think you’re getting a tremendous value.
Software
The Lenovo Slim 7i 14 Aura Edition is running Windows 11 Home, and there’s not a lot to say about Windows in general. It’s gotten better over the years, and I actually now prefer it over macOS. I actually think macOS has gone backwards and Windows is going forwards.
There are a few Lenovo and Intel-centric features on this “Aura Edition” laptop worth mentioning.
- SmartShare: Smart Share connects your smartphone to your laptop instantly via an AI virtual sensor. Just tap your Android™ or iOS device to your laptop — then drag and drop. Edit photos and share easily. Plus access and send text messages from your PC.
- SmartCare: With Smart Care, you’ll enjoy convenient access to Lenovo’s online support tools and chatbot for real-time problem-solving. Or upgrade to one of our enhanced Premier Support services to unlock access to dedicated support connecting you via remote camera sharing, with one-click access to voice or chat with live elite Lenovo engineers 24/7* through your PC or smartphone.
- SmartModes: Various features designed to help you in your day-to-day like, Power Mode, Collaboration Mode, Wellness Mode. Think of these as programs to sort of move you along without you having to put the effort of remembering in.
- CoPilot+: Copilot+ integrates advanced AI capabilities to improve task management through real-time suggestions, automation of routine processes, and personalized insights. It learns your preferences and seamlessly supports everything from creating documents to drafting communications. Plus, with the touch of a key, Copilot launches to help keep you ahead in fast-paced work environments.
SmartModes is probably the most extensive cluster of Aura software on the Lenovo Slim 7i 14. Generally, I don’t like a lot of extra software, but the new Aura software looks to be very useful and I don’t mind it. It’s out of the way unless you want it, and that’s what matters.
Overall, the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 software is typical of a Windows laptop now and the new AI features are a hit-and-miss. You may use some or none of them, you just need to poke around and see what catches your eye.
Performance
What’s fantastic about the performance of the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 Aura Edition is that because of the Lunar Lake chipset, it competes with all other laptops with this chip. Intel made such a good chip with integrated GPU and NPU that everyone is on a level playing field here. Daily tasks and even some light photo and video editing were no issue here, and battery life is excellent.
I had no issues running my day-to-day tasks and using this laptop as I would any laptop I normally use. I was even able to accomplish some light video editing in DaVinci Resolve. These were small projects, some in 4K and others in 2K. This display is small for video editing, for me. So I don’t do a lot of video on this size laptop and prefer doing heavier and larger projects on my desktop with monitor.
I don’t do benchmarking commonly, and I just rely on my use case. Yours will be different, and that’s OK. Go and read more reviews and parse out the info you collect to come to your conclusion. Overall, Lunar Lake performance has been fantastic and I think is only getting better with updates.
Camera
The Lenovo Slim 7i 14 Aura Edition 1080p FHD IR camera works fine, it’s not the best in low light for web conferencing, but most webcams aren’t super great in those conditions. It works fine in well lit conditions. It also has IR, so you can sign in with Windows Hello. Not much more to say here, it’s a good webcam, it’s just a little soft around the edges. But you do get the AI features like blurring backgrounds, which is nice.
Battery Life
Battery life on the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 Aura Edition was far better than the 15. Some users had battery life issues on Lunar Lake chips when they first came out, but I think updates have fixed those. On the 15, I remember getting 8 to 9 hours of battery life, but that is much better here, with numbers hitting closer to 14–16 hours.
Intel Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake chips are godsends for Windows laptops, as they are now in the same realm as Apple’s M-chips. They compete in performance and battery life, really, Intel has done excellent.
My use case is probably different from yours. Web browsing, email, writing, word processing, light photo editing, YouTube, messaging, and just day-to-day tasks that most people do on the regular is mostly how I used this laptop. You could do light gaming on this laptop, but the battery will not be as good with gaming.
It is important to remember that battery life is subjective, and you may get more or less than what I get depending on how you use your device and what settings you use.
Speakers/Audio
The 4x speakers with Dolby Atmos Audio and 4x Voice ID microphones on the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 are outstanding for this price point. Windows laptops are stepping up in this department, and this guy is no exception.
There are speaker grills on the deck and on the bottom. The sound is full, and you could get away using them to watch movies, even. Of course, these aren’t a substitution for a good pair of headphones, but they sound great for what they are. They are excellent for video calls and conference calls.
Overall, excellent speakers and mics for a laptop of this size and price point.
Price/Value
Starting under a grand, the Lenovo Slim 7i 14 is a spectacular value. I currently have the ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition Gen 1 in for review as well. That laptop is nicer than this, but, given the lower price of the Slim 7i 14, I think this is the one most buyers are going to go for. The features to price ratio is nearly perfect on this laptop. It really is that good.
Wrap Up
Overall, the Lenovo Slim 7i 14″ Aura Edition is almost identical to the Slim 7i 15.3″ version from last year. The most considerable differences are the new and better OLED display and the nicer, much easier to use trackpad. I feel most everything else is about at the same level, though the battery life on this laptop, seems to be better. I would recommend both laptops, but the 14 wins, for me, due to the OLED and better trackpad experience. Though, if you need a display larger than 14-inches, the 15.3″ version is going to suit you best. For OLED technology, I will sacrifice the size. The IPS panel on the 15 is great, but just not as great as this OLED.
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