Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 11 Review: $2,500 for RTX 5060 Power

What makes the Yoga Pro 9i Gen 11 a creative workstation?

Lenovo's latest 16-inch Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition packs an Intel Core processor, an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, and a 120Hz OLED touch panel into a chassis that still looks like a premium consumer laptop.

TechRadar's review calls it 'an absurdly powerful laptop designed for workstation-level performance in the creative space.' The key ingredients are the RTX 5060 graphics and the 16-inch OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. That combination is rare in a thin-and-light chassis, and it's what separates this from a standard ultrabook.

The OLED panel isn't just about contrast. According to the review, color accuracy is 'jaw-dropping,' which matters if you're grading video or retouching photos. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and pen input feel smoother, though it's not a full 4K resolution—Lenovo apparently prioritized color and motion over pixel count.

Lenovo also includes the Yoga Pen Gen 2, which works on the haptic force trackpad rather than the screen. That's an unusual choice: you draw on the trackpad while looking at the display. It mimics the drawing tablets many designers used years ago, and the review notes that after a couple of minutes of practice, it feels natural. The precision is high, and it avoids putting pen pressure on the OLED panel.

Performance and ports: built for heavy workloads

The Yoga Pro 9i Gen 11 doesn't throttle under sustained load, and it brings back ports that creative professionals still need.

In testing, the laptop handled DaVinci Resolve with multiple 4K video streams without excessive loading or rendering delays. The reviewer also ran heavy LLMs, terminal sessions, and multiple coding agents simultaneously—workloads that would bring lesser machines to their knees. The fans spin up under load, but the system doesn't slow down.

Port selection is a highlight. You get full-size HDMI, USB-A, USB-C, and an SD card reader. That's a welcome change from the USB-C-only trend, especially for photographers and videographers who frequently offload cards. The review specifically praises the return of HDMI and USB-A, noting that many workplaces still rely on legacy connections.

The keyboard and haptic force trackpad also get high marks. For creatives who spend hours typing or using gestures, the quality of these inputs can matter as much as raw specs. The trackpad is large and responsive, and the haptic feedback is precise.

Price and value: who should pay $2,500?

The Yoga Pro 9i Gen 11 starts at $2,499.99 / £2,719.99, and the review unit cost just over $3,000. That's premium pricing, even for a workstation-class laptop.

For general professionals, TechRadar still recommends a ThinkPad like the T14s or T16. Those are cheaper, lighter, and better suited to office work. The Yoga Pro 9i is for a specific audience: photo and video editors, 3D artists, and developers who need GPU acceleration in a portable form factor.

Compared to a MacBook Pro 16-inch with an M-series Pro chip, the Yoga Pro 9i offers similar creative performance but runs Windows. The RTX 5060 gives it an edge in CUDA-accelerated applications and some AI workloads. However, the MacBook Pro likely offers better battery life and a more polished trackpad experience—though it lacks a touchscreen and pen input.

The real question is whether you need this much power in a laptop. If your work is mostly light photo editing or writing, a $1,500 ultrabook will do. But if you regularly render 4K video or run local AI models, the Yoga Pro 9i can replace a desktop workstation for many tasks.

Availability and pricing for US, UK, and EU

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 11 Aura Edition is available now from Lenovo's US and UK online stores, with other territories expected to follow. Prices start at $2,499.99 in the US and £2,719.99 in the UK. EU pricing has not been officially announced, but given the UK price, expect it to land around €2,900–€3,100 before local taxes.

Configuration options vary by region. The review unit, which came in at just over $3,000, likely includes upgrades like more RAM or storage. If you're outside the US or UK, check Lenovo's local site for exact availability and pricing, as these can change.

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 11 Aura Edition is a specialized tool for creatives who need workstation-class performance in a portable package. It's not for everyone—the price alone ensures that. But for video editors, 3D artists, and developers who want an RTX 5060 GPU and a gorgeous OLED screen, it delivers. Just be prepared to pay for the privilege.