Lenovo has a strong contender against Microsoft’s surprise Surface Book super-laptop in the form of the Yoga 900. This 13.3-inch laptop has a powerful Intel sixth generation “Skylake” processor (the exact model depends on the SKU), 8GB of RAM, high res 3200x1800 IPS display and large 256GB SSD. Its only drawback is that it does not have the discrete GPU offered on some Surface Books.
The laptop’s highlight feature is its elegant and durable watchband hinge that carries over from its year-old predecessor, the Yoga 3 Pro. The hinge allows the screen to rotate 360 degrees and Lenovo says it has improved it for smoother operation. It also supports the new Adaptive Display feature in Windows 10, which automatically adjusts the desktop UI to suit the usage mode.
Tech Times points out that the Yoga 900 is thinner and lighter than the Surface Book at 0.59 inches and 2.8 pounds versus 1.09 to 1.17 inches and 3.34 pounds. Its pixel density is higher too at 276 ppi compared to the Surface Book’s 267 ppi.
Other standout features include a backlit keyboard and trackpad, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, a 1MP front camera and a recessed button that activates OneKey Recovery. It is available in four colors and has an excellent selection of ports including two USB 3.0 Type-C, a USB 2.0 charging port, a combo analog/digital audio jack and a 4-in-1 card reader. It is missing an IGZO panel and active pen support though, which could be deal-breakers for some customers.