Lenovo expands Yoga line-up with 11in and 14in models
Lenovo's flexible hinge laptop range grew by two at CES this week, with new business models too
Lenovo introduced a slew of new products at this year’s CES show across its business and consumer ranges, but the highlight was the expanded Yoga 3 laptop range. We’re big fans of the Yoga’s 360-degree hinge which lets you use it in four different positions, and now customers will get a wider choice of screen sizes in the shape of 11.6in and 14in models.
The smaller 11.6in Yoga 3 will use Intel’s ultra low power Core M processor, while the larger 14in model will be available in a range of SKUs with the top-end models using Intel’s more powerful Core i7 chips. Lenovo has switched to the latest 5th generation Core processors, otherwise known as Broadwell, for 2015, meaning they should be even more power efficient than the outgoing chips.
Unfortunately neither new launch has the beautiful watch band hinge found on the Yoga 3 Pro, opting instead for a simpler two-hinge mechanism. They still allow for 360-degrees of movement, letting you use the Yoga in laptop, stand, tend and tablet modes. The hinge has been improved over previous models so the screen can now lay completely flat at 180-degrees.
They are still sleek machines, however, with the 11in model measuring less than 16mm at its thickest point and weighing 1.1kg. Lenovo has squeezed the 14in display on the larger model into a chassis no larger than the average 13in laptop, which should make it ideal for taking on the move. Both models will run Windows 8.1 and include Full HD displays, complete with 10-point multitouch. They will also use the faster 802.11ac wireless standard for faster transfer speeds on supported networks.
The Yoga 3 11in will be going on sale in the UK from February onwards for £549.99, while the 14in model will arrive two months later in April. Prices are set to start at £650.
Business customers also get in on the convertible action, with new ThinkPad Yoga models in 12.5in, 14in and 15.6in screen sizes. The largest model will be shipping with an optional RealSense camera module, which can be used for depth-sensing, gesture recognition and 3D modelling, while all three can be equipped with 5th Generation Intel Core processors and up to 1TB of storage. They all ship with Windows 8.1, but the 12.5in model inlcludes optional vPro secure computing.
Despite the business credentials, all three new models have the same four usage modes as the standard Yoga 3, with identical lay-flat, 360-degree hinges.
The 12in and 15in ThinkPad Yoga models have yet to be confirmed for the UK, although US customers will be able to pick one up from February onwards, with prices starting from $999 for the 11in and $1,199 for the 15in model. The 14in version should follow a few months later in May.