Lenovo's Yoga hybrid line has already gone through several iterations, from the original, fold-back screen version, to the 3,200x1,800 Yoga 2 Pro, to the recently announced lower-cost Yoga 2.
Despite a strong fan base, if there's one thing that's bothered people about the Yoga products, it was the way the keyboard and touch pad remained exposed to the elements, even when the system was folded into tablet mode.
For the uninitiated, the Yoga, in any of its iterations, looks like an ordinary ultrabook-thin clamshell laptop, but its lid and display fold back a full 360 degrees to form either a thick tablet, or a stand/kiosk device when only folded halfway back. While the Yoga's keyboard is deactivated, it's still pointing out from the back of the tablet, which is suboptimal, to say the least.V
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Lenovo has a new take for the ThinkPad version of the Yoga that should make a lot of people very happy. This model has a re-engineered keyboard and chassis that pulls the keys flush with the body as you fold it over backward into the tablet mode. It's exactly what we've been waiting for in a Yoga, although it's a shame that this new feature is only included in the ThinkPad Yoga as of right now, not the more consumer-targeted IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro and the upcoming (less expensive) Yoga 2.
To dive a little deeper, the keyboard itself doesn't actually retract. It's more that the slightly sunken keyboard tray rises up to be flush with the keys, while a secondary locking mechanism prevents the keys from being depressed while in tablet mode. Lenovo calls it a lift-and-lock system. Impressively, it doesn't feel much thicker than the standard Yoga, although the screen measures 12.5 inches rather than 13 inches.V
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What we're left with is a kind of split in the Yoga line, with the sharp, coffee-shop-friendly design and the impressive 3,200x1,800 display going to the consumer version, while the much-requested retractable keyboard goes to the business line. It's almost cruel to force laptop shoppers to choose between them, especially as both start at around $1,000.
A starker difference presents itself, however, when you go through the available configuration options for the ThinkPad Yoga. The $999 base model includes only an Intel Core i3 processor, basic 128GB SSD, and, most disappointingly, a 1,366x768 touch display. Our review unit includes several welcome upgrades, including an Intel Core i5 processor, 256GB SSD, faster 802.11ac WiFi, and a full HD 1,920x1,080 display, all of which drive the price up to $1,579. Not unreasonable, but at more than 50 percent over the base price, a different purchase calculation.
| Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga | Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro | Apple Macbook Pro 13-inch (October 2013) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,579 | $1,049 | $1,499 |
| Display size/resolution | 12.5-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 touch screen | 13.3-inch, 3,200 x 1,800 touch screen | 13.3 -inch, 2560 x 1600 screen |
| PC CPU | 1.9GHz Intel Core i5 4300U | 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 4200U | 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-4850HQ |
| PC Memory | 4096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz | 4096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz | 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1600MHz |
| Graphics | 1792MB (shared) Intel HD Graphics 4400 | 1792MB (shared) Intel HD Graphics 4400 | 1GB Intel Iris Graphics |
| Storage | 256GB SSD hard drive | 128GB SSD hard drive | 256GB SSD |
| Optical drive | None | None | None |
| Networking | 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 | 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 | 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Operating system | Windows 8.1 (64-bit) | Windows 8.1 (64-bit) | OS X Mavericks 10.9 |
