Lenovo has launched the IdeaPad Yoga 2 13 13.3-inch convertible laptop, trading in some advanced features that are present on the Yoga 2 Pro for suposedly more affordable pricing.
The Yoga 2 13 is still a multi-mode machine which has a 360-degree hinge enabling modes such as classic laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. But, it doesn’t include an QHD 3200 x 1800 display found the the Pro sibling and solid state drive storage is eschewed in favor of cheaper and slower hard drives or optionally hybrid HDDs/SSDs. The display resolution on the ordinary version is still respectable FHD 1920 x 1080 and the display retains IPS technology, while hard drive storage is 500GB. Also, the Yoga 2 13 doesn’t offer the Intel Core i7 CPU options and instead comes with up to the Core i5. In addition, Lenovo doesn’t mention keyboard backlight on the new model, and that feature is present on the Pro. Update: Lenovo has listed keyboard backlight in the specs sheet of the device, so it will be available, at least optionally. Finally, the Yoga 2 13 is made of plastics rather than Pro’s magnesium alloy, so it’s no surprise the former is heavier with a weight of 3.5 pounds instead of 3.1.
Having these trade-offs in mind, one would think pricing between two devices will differ much. That’s unfortunately not the case here, because the crippled (but still well-specced) Yoga 2 13 will have a starting retail price of $999 when it arrives in February, while the Pro edition can be found right now for $949. Hopefully, the announced model will get some price cuts to make it worth any consideration.