Lenovo presented a new series of Copilot+ PC laptops called Aura Edition at IFA 2024. They are built on the Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) platform with Intel Core Ultra 7 and Ultra 9 processors and some software add-ons that should set this series apart from other AI laptops. The first models with the Aura Edition prefix are the 15.3-inch Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition and the 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition. I will tell you what they have to offer in this article.
What is Aura Edition?
Lenovo and Intel have been longtime partners, and as the chipmaker makes a big push for its Core Ultra (Series 2) processor line, they decided to emphasize their capabilities by consolidating some of the software features available in Windows 11 for Copilot+ PC on the Intel platform, as well as those developed by Lenovo itself.
Thus, in Aura Edition models, the user has access to smart modes that make it easier to enable certain functions.
For example, you can apply your VPN settings and activate the desired "studio effects" for your camera in Windows with a single key.
Here you can also turn on the focus mode, blocking notifications and sites that can distract you from your work for a certain period of time.
Another mode is to take care of the user's health; thanks to the webcam, the system analyzes your distance from the screen and shoulder position in real time, urging you to sit more comfortably and not hunch over. Lenovo calls this feature Wellness, but I would call it "just like my mom said."
An interesting addition to the Aura Edition models is the deeper integration of Intel Unison technology, which allows you to connect your Android and iOS smartphone with Intel-powered computers, allowing you to transfer files, receive calls, send messages, and view notifications.
In general, it seems like nothing new, but Lenovo has come up with a cool way to transfer photos from a smartphone to a laptop. To do this, a sensor is built into the right frame of the display, which activates the file transfer as soon as the user lightly taps the smartphone body on the frame. Of course, to do this, the smartphone must have Intel's Unison app installed and running, but it is available for both Android and iOS.
This feature works really well and has a certain wow effect. From the outside, it looks like you're just tapping a photo from your smartphone to your laptop. By the way, this also works in the opposite direction, but without tapping.
So far, these are all the features of the Aura Edition that distinguish Lenovo laptops with Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors among other models of the manufacturer and the market in general. It's hard to say whether this series will be further developed and whether new features will be added to it. However, since the Aura Edition includes Lenovo's flagship laptops, we can confidently say that they will find their users. Let's take a closer look at their characteristics.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition
This is a 15.3-inch flagship laptop with an all-metal body that is slightly rounded on the edges and has a thickness of only 13.9 mm.
Despite the diagonal, the model is quite compact, with dimensions of 343.8 x 235.4 mm, and lightweight at 1.46 kg.
All ports in the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition are located on the sides, on the left side there is an HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
And on the right, there is another Thunderbolt 4 and one USB-A 3.2 Gen 1.
The model has 4 speakers with Dolby Atmos support, two of which are located on both sides of the keyboard, and two more on the bottom of the case.
Above the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition screen is a Full HD webcam with an infrared sensor for face recognition.
The laptop has a 15.3-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2880x1800 pixels, 120 Hz refresh rate, 16:10 aspect ratio, 500 nits peak brightness, and 100% P3 color space display. The model can also be supplied with a touch screen.
As I mentioned above, the Aura Edition prefix means that the laptop is powered by a new generation of Intel processors. The Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition has an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, an 8-core chip that runs at up to 5 GHz, has built-in Intel Arc 140V graphics, and up to 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8533 RAM. For data storage, the laptop uses a PCle Gen 4 M.2 SSD with a capacity of up to 1 TB. Other features of the platform include support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition has a built-in 70 Wh battery, so you can count on a good level of autonomy. Lenovo claims that it reaches 29 hours, but this is in "greenhouse" conditions with the wireless modules turned off and during video playback. We will find out how well the laptop holds a charge during full testing.
The price of Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition in Europe will start at 1399 euros.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition
One of Lenovo's most compact business laptops. It has a body in the traditional ThinkPad design in Eclipse Black, is 14.31 mm thick and weighs only 980 grams. This was achieved through the use of materials such as carbon fiber and magnesium alloy.
The laptop is easy to open with one hand and opens 180 degrees, which is a traditional feature of the ThinkPad series.
All ports are located on the sides: HDMI 2.1, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, and a combo audio jack on the right side, and another USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 and two Thunderbolt 4 on the left.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition's backlit keyboard with classic TrackPoint remains one of my favorites for typing long form. The touchpad is available in two versions: a glass TrackPad with three buttons or a Haptic ForcePad.
The 14-inch OLED display of the model has a resolution of 2.8K (2880x1800 pixels), an aspect ratio of 16:10, supports 100% of the DCI-P3 color space and HDR True Black 500 and Dolby Vision technologies. The maximum screen brightness is 400 nits and the refresh rate is 120 Hz. Above the screen is a Full HD camera with an infrared sensor for face recognition.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition can be powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 or Core Ultra 7 processor, integrated Intel Arc graphics, and up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM. For data storage, a PCle Gen5 SSD with a capacity of up to 2 TB is used.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition has a 57 Wh battery and is charged by a compact 65W GaN power supply.
The price of the model is also traditional for the flagships of the ThinkPad line, and in Europe it will start at 2699 euros.