Lenovo’s Yoga Pro 7 with Intel’s Core Ultra 9 shows the problem with high power limits

Intel processors have high power limits and this can be an issue. The performance in short load scenarios benefits from high TDP settings and especially benchmarks with short peak load (like Geekbench) will get good scores, but this also creates issues for everyday usage scenarios. This is also the case for the multimedia laptop Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i 14 Aura Edition, which is equipped with the Core Ultra 9 285H. This is a 45W processor, but it can be configured in a TDP range between 35W all the way up to 115W.

Lenovo utilizes the full 115W, which obviously creates a challenge for a compact 14-inch device and it is not very surprising that this value cannot be maintained for long periods. The problem is that this level does not make a whole lot of sense, which is shown by the performance on battery power. While the laptop cannot maintain 115W for long on mains before it drops to 75W, the maximum consumption on battery power is 95W. The cooling unit can handle this value for a longer period before it eventually drops to 75W as well, but this results in a slightly higher Cinebench 2024 Multi score, as we have shown in our review.

In addition to the performance, the high power limit creates other problems. The 100W power adapter is insufficient for the load consumption, so the battery has to compensate for the difference in peak load scenarios. This is obviously not great for the battery health over time. The second problem is the fan noise, because the high consumption results in a lot of heat, so the fans are quickly audible. Overall, slightly lower power limits would be the better option for users. Please see our comprehensive review for more information about the new Yoga Pro 7i 14 Aura Edition.