Lenovo's Slim 7 and 7i creator laptops get the latest Intel and AMD CPUs, discrete graphics, and more in a Gen 7 refresh

What you need to know

• Lenovo today announced seventh-gen refreshes for its Slim 7 and Slim 7i laptops in 14- and 16-inch sizes.
• These laptops feature the latest mobile processors from Intel and AMD, as well as discrete graphics options from Intel and NVIDIA.
• These laptops are expected to launch in May and June 2022 with a starting price of $1,199.

Lenovo has today announced refreshes to its Slim lineup of notebook laptops. The Lenovo Slim 7i and Slim 7 in 14- and 16-inch sizes have all hit a seventh generation, bringing some significant updates to performance and features. Lenovo says these laptops are "built for essential performance," allowing you to "create on the go." The smaller models come in Cloud Grey or Storm Grey colors, while the larger laptops come in Storm Grey only.

Focusing first on the 14-inch Slim 7 and 7i devices, there will actually only be the Intel Slim 7i version available in North America. Other geographical regions should be able to get their hands on the AMD-based Slim 7 14 (Gen 7), though it will be called the Yoga Slim 7 Pro in those other markets.

Here's a breakdown of the specs in both of these new 14-inch laptops. I included the Slim 7 14 (not available in North America) for those in other regions.

On the Slim 7i 14 (Gen 7) side, you'll be able to get Intel's 12th Gen Core CPUs from either the H series or new P series. Paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5-4800MHz dual-channel RAM and up to 1TB of M.2 PCIe storage, this laptop is going to shred. And if you plan on some light gaming or just need some graphical acceleration to help with specialized work, you can equip either a NVIDIA RTX 2050 or MX550 discrete GPU. Otherwise you're working with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics.

There are four 14-inch displays to choose from here, all with a boosted resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, 91% screen-to-body ratio (what Lenovo calls active area ratio) and Dolby Vision. The baseline option has a 2240x1400 (2.2K) resolution, 100% sRGB color, 300 nits brightness, and a 60Hz refresh rate.

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Moving up, you're getting into a 2880x1800 (2.8K) resolution. There are two screens with 100% sRGB color and 400 nits brightness; the only thing separating them are 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates. Finally, a 2.8K OLED model is available for anyone who wants the absolute best color and contrast. It hits 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction, 400 nits brightness, and it has a 90Hz refresh rate.

The bezel is super slim around all screens, and the taller aspect ratio eliminates most of the chin below. Still, Lenovo packs in an FHD camera above the display, as well as an IR sensor for Windows Hello biometric logins. Dual 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos and dual microphones take care of audio duties.

Ports are fairly limited due to size — the 16-inch models listed below offer much better port selection — but you still get dual Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 handle wireless connectivity. As for battery, you get a 61Wh package that Lenovo claims can last up to 17.5 hours for FHD video playback. Take that with a grain of salt. The Intel-based Slim 7i 14 (Gen 7) is expected to launch May 2022 starting at $1,199.

Lenovo Slim 7i and Slim 7 16 (Gen 7)

Lenovo's larger 16-inch versions of these laptops are built with more of a focus on specialized tasks like video editing and even gaming. That's thanks to your choice of either 12th Gen Intel Core H-series CPUs or AMD's "Creator Edition" Ryzen 6000 mobile chips, as well as discrete graphics options from Intel and NVIDIA. Yes, Intel's new Arc A370M discrete laptop GPU makes an appearance in the Slim 7i 16. Otherwise, you can equip the AMD models with either a NVIDIA RTX 3050 or an RTX 3050 Ti.

Combined with either 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5 dual-channel RAM and up to 1TB of M.2 PCIe storage, these laptops will handle a tough workload. Note that the Slim 7i seems to still be stuck on PCIe 3.0 storage, while the Slim 7 has made a jump to the faster PCIe 4.0 standard. Here's a better look at the specs as listed by Lenovo.

These laptops have essentially the same 16-inch touch display option, though the AMD version comes with a 165Hz refresh rate compared to the Intel model's 120Hz refresh rate. The screen has a 2560x1600 (2.5K) resolution, 500 nits brightness, 100% sRGB color, Dolby Vision, 16:10 aspect ratio, and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification.

Another area where the AMD-based Slim 7 pulls away is in the camera department. You get an IR camera in both models, but the Intel version sticks with a 720p resolution for its RGB camera. The AMD model bumps that up to 1080p for a better picture. Like the 14-inch Slim 7, you get dual microphones and dual 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos to handle audio needs.

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Intel wins one back by offering up dual Thunderbolt 4 ports on the Slim 7i 16. AMD is stuck with standard USB-C due to platform restrictions. If you have one of the best Thunderbolt 4 docks already on your desk, the Intel model makes more sense.

Powering both laptops is a 75Wh battery. There aren't yet any battery claims made by Lenovo, but this should be a decent pairing with the high-end CPUs and discrete graphics. Both the Intel-based Slim 7i 16 (Gen 7) and the AMD-based Slim 7 16 (Gen 7) are expected to launch June 2022. The Intel version should start around $1,599, with the AMD version starting around $1,499. Check out more of the best Lenovo laptops to see how they compare.