Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel vs Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus Comparison

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Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

16 inches | January 2024

Speed 4.5

Size 8

Display 3.5

Gaming 2.5

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Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

12.3 inches | January 2021

Speed 3

Size 9.5

Display 6.5

Gaming 1.5

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Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel vs Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Surface Pro 7 Plus, two laptops from Lenovo and Microsoft. Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel was introduced to market in January 2024 and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus was launched in January 2021. As you can see, Surface Pro 7 Plus is 3 years older than Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel Key Specs

Launched in January 2024
16.0" TouchScreen - IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
GPU: Intel Arc iGPU (4-Cores)
8GB Ram
361.79 x 249.95 x 16.99 mm (14.24 x 9.84 x 0.67 inches)
Weight: 1.99 kg (4.39 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
12.3" Touchscreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i3 1115G4
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
8GB Ram
292 x 201 x 8.5 mm (11.5 x 7.91 x 0.33 inches)
Weight: 0.77 kg (1.7 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus was replaced by Microsoft-Surface-Pro-8. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Microsoft-Surface-Pro-8 vs Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Microsoft-Surface-Pro-8 vs Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Surface Pro 7 Plus compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel over Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~82.1% vs ~76.7%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	8.6 mm vs 16.1 mm	7.5 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	16 inches vs 12.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Response Time	27 ms vs 35 ms	Faster Response screen
CPU Fabrication Process	7 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	2.24-2.56 TFLOPS vs 0.84 TFLOPS	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	LPDDR5X vs LPDDR4X	Faster RAM
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	2x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.1	Faster USB-A
USB-A Port Type	3.2 vs 3.1	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.1	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.1	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus over Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Weight	0.77 kg vs 1.99 kg	1.22 kg lighter
Contrast Rate	1200:1 vs 800:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	267 ppi vs 142 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2736 x 1824 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
sRGB Color Space	96.8% vs 61.4%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
Adobe RGB Profile	63.7% vs 42.3%	Wider Adobe RGB Coverage
Max Brightness	400 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen

Common Strengths of Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus and Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Screen Type	Touch Screen vs Touch Screen	Interact with your fingers
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
RAM Type	LPDDR5X vs LPDDR4X	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus and Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel vs Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.99 kg (4.39 lbs)	0.77 kg (1.7 lbs)
Surface Area	904 cm2 (140.1 inches2)	587 cm2 (91 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~82.1%	~76.7%
Side Bezel Thickness	~8.6 mm	~16.1 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.12 kg/inch	0.06 kg/inch
	0.264 lbs/inch	0.132 lbs/inch
Colors	Gray	Black, Silver

Comparison of the Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus External Dimensions

Weight

Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel weighs 1.99 kg (4.39 lbs), whereas the Surface Pro 7 Plus weighs 0.77 kg (1.7 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Thickness Comparison

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel is 0.12 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus is 0.06 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel vs Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core Ultra 5 125U Intel Core Ultra 7 155U	Intel Core i3 1115G4 Intel Core i5 1135G7 Intel Core i7 1165G7
Base Frequency	1.7 GHz	1.7-3.0 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.3 GHz	4.1 GHz
Number of Cores	Arc Graphics (4-	2
Number of Threads	14	4
L3 Cache	12 MB	6 MB
Integrated GPU	Arc Graphics (4-Cores)	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
CPU Fabrication Process	7 nm	10 nm
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1664	1330
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	10296	3144

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core Ultra 5 125U

Laptops with: Intel Core i3 1115G4

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Arc Graphics (4-Cores)	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	W	15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	2.24-2.56 TFLOPS	0.84 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR4X
Memory Speed	7.47 Gbps	4.27 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	64	384
TMUs	4	24
ROPs	2	12

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel has a FLOPS value of 2.24-2.56 TFLOPS whereas the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus ' has a FLOPS value of 0.84 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB	8GB 16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x4 GB	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	7467 MHz	4267 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR4X
Upgradable	No	No

Both laptops, the Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and the Surface Pro 7 Plus, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 (16 Intel)	Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 5 125U (NPU - 11 TOPS)	Intel Core i3 1115G4
GPU	Arc Graphics (4-Cores)	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
Memory	8 GB	8 GB
Available for LLM total	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 (16 Intel)|Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	71 Wh	48.9 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Right
Charge Power	65 W	65 W
Full Charging Time	1:30 hr	1:40 hr

Moreover, the Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel boasts a larger battery capacity of 71 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Surface Pro 7 Plus's49 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 2 TB, the Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Surface Pro 7 Plus's max. storage capacity of 512 GB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	1
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel vs Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel has a display size of 16.0".On the other hand, Surface Pro 7 Plus has a smaller 12.3" display.The total usable screen area of the Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the Surface Pro 7 Plus's total usable screen area is 451cm² / 70inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Surface Pro 7 Plus features a higher pixel density with 267 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Refresh Rate
Both Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Surface Pro 7 Plus offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Furthermore, the Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel boasts a faster response time of 27.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The Surface Pro 7 Plus offers a higher maximum brightness of 400 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel vs Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Surface Pro 7 Plus (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Surface Pro 7 Plus have USB-A ports. Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Surface Pro 7 Plus has 1x USB 3.1 USB-A ports.
Both Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Surface Pro 7 Plus have USB Type-C ports. Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Surface Pro 7 Plus has 1x USB 3.1 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Surface Pro 7 Plus does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Pro 7 Plus does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Surface Pro 7 Plus come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Yoga 7i Gen 9 16 Intel and Surface Pro 7 Plus are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.3	v5
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.1
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.1
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Optional	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	No	No