Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 13IML05 – Powerful 2-in-1 as a notebook alternative

The Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 13IML05 does not measure up to anything less than the Microsoft Surface – and in comparison with the heavyweight it does very well.

Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 Review

Thanks to the built-in Intel Core i7-10510U, the Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 delivers excellent performance values as well as excellent battery life and offers solid equipment. The brilliantly bright 13-inch display is another highlight. However, the device is not a bargain.

Specification for Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 13IML05 (82AS004MGE)

Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 in the test: metal vs. fabric cover

In terms of looks, Lenovo uses a mixture of aluminum and magnesium for the body of the Yoga Duet 7. This creates a high-quality impression when you pick up the tablet element. The material mix is also pleasantly light at around 800 g.

Thanks to its dimensions of almost 21 cm in width, a length of around 30 cm and a depth of less than 1 cm, the tablet is very easy to hold and use.

In contrast to the tablet’s casing, the keyboard dock is made of plastic with a fabric cover on the underside. Opinions differ in the editorial office, because some are reminiscent of a couch cover and others find this design idea extremely refreshing.

The keyboard itself can be illuminated in two stages and makes a good impression when typing.

Thanks to the plastic, the dock weighs only 380 g in total and measures around 30 cm in length, around 23 cm in width and a little over 1 cm in depth. Overall, the 2-in-1 with body, keyboard dock and power supply weighs around 1.5 kg. This makes it easy to transport and is an ideal companion on the go.

Powerful processor and excellent touch display

The 2-in-1 notebook is equipped with a powerful Intel Core i7-10510U. The quad-core processor works at 1,800 MHz as standard and can clock up to 4,900 MHz for performance peaks in Turbo Boost.

As a graphics solution, the 2-in-1 uses the Intel UHD Graphics 620 integrated in the processor. This offers sufficient performance for office applications, web surfing and video streaming.

The 13-inch, glossy touch display has a 16-to-10 format with 2,160 by 1,350 pixels (WQHD resolution). To better protect it in tablet mode, Lenovo uses Gorilla Glass on the display. We measured a strong 423 candelas per square meter and a checkerboard contrast of a very good 137: 1 as the maximum brightness.

With contrast under direct light, we measured one of the best values so far with 9: 1. So you can use the device in bright rooms or in the open air without any problems despite the shiny screen.

 

HDMI only via adapter, but a pen is included

The Yoga Duet 7 has 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. It also has a microSD card reader, supports the current WiFi 6 standard (also known as 802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.1. This enables you to connect the notebook to the network or to connect corresponding devices such as the keyboard dock, a headset or a mouse to it.

If you want, you can use the keyboard without having to plug it into the tablet. Unfortunately, the keyboard does not have any feet or the like so that it can be used ergonomically when it is tilted. So it always lies flat in front of you without aids.

The equipment includes a total of two 5-megapixel webcams on the front and back, which however do not have a flash, as well as a USB 3.2 Gen. 1 (Type-C) with USB function for data transfer and two USB 3.2 Gen. 1 ( Type-C) with DisplayPort 1.2, Power Delivery 3.0 and USB function for data transfer.

The whole package is rounded off by a microSD card reader, a Dolby-certified 2.0 sound system and a microphone. The folio keyboard also has a good touchpad as a mouse replacement.

A pen is also included, which you can use in combination with the display. This works precisely and is not only suitable for signing, but also for drawing sketches, pictures or editing photos. Unfortunately, there is no way to dock the pen on the device or to sink it.

 

A real endurance runner

The battery life is also impressive. With the 2-in-1, you can watch almost 11.5 hours of videos in 720p resolution, surf the Internet for almost eight hours or work around six hours in the office. Overall, these are excellent measurements that underline the mobile character of the Yoga Duet 7.

 

Fair price for what is offered

Overall, the Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 13IML05 is an excellent 2-in-1 notebook that leaves little to be desired. The processor delivers very good performance in general, the hardware is well coordinated.

Thanks to the supplied pen, you can use the excellent touch display extensively right from the start. Users who are looking for an alternative to the Microsoft Surface models should definitely take a closer look at the device. Especially since it is about as expensive as a Surface Pro with a keyboard unit.

Advantages:

• Powerful quad-core processor
• Good equipment
• Great battery life
• Excellent touch display

Disadvantage:

• The fabric covering of the keyboard dock is a matter of taste
• Keyboard cannot be angled