How to open Lenovo Yoga 7a 2-in-1 (16″, Gen 11) – disassembly and upgrade options

More info: Once inside, the layout is clean and easy to understand, with the battery at the front, the cooling system across the upper half, and the upgradeable modules grouped on the right side.

Step 2: Battery removal

Disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard before touching any other internal component.
Undo the 3 screws securing the 70Wh battery pack.
Lift the battery out of the chassis carefully.

More info: The battery is not heavily buried or glued in place, which makes future replacement relatively simple.

Step 3: Memory Upgrade

The memory is soldered directly to the motherboard.
There are no SODIMM slots, so RAM upgrades are not possible after purchase.
Our reviewed configuration comes with 32GB of LPDDR5X-8000 memory in dual-channel mode.

More info: The 32GB configuration is also the maximum officially listed for this model, so choosing the right RAM capacity at purchase is important.

Step 4: Storage Upgrade

The laptop has a single M.2 slot for 2242 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSDs.
Lenovo rates the slot for drives up to 2TB.
Our configuration comes with a 1TB Kioxia EG7 SSD installed.
To upgrade the storage, remove the existing 2242 SSD and replace it with a compatible higher-capacity model.

You can buy M.2 2242 NVMe SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com.au (#CommissionsEarned)

Hint: Don’t forget to check out our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings for insights on the best storage options available.

Step 5: Cooling system overview

The cooling system uses one fan, a substantial heatpipe assembly, and a wide rear heatsink near the hinge area.
The processor is positioned under the cooling module.
The fan is easy to reach once the bottom cover is removed, which makes routine dust cleaning straightforward.

More info: The Wi-Fi card is modular and sits next to the SSD. Our unit uses a Wi-Fi 7 solution with Bluetooth 5.4 support, so replacement is possible if needed.

More info: Overall, the Lenovo Yoga 7a 2-in-1 (16″, Gen 11) is easy to service for cleaning, battery replacement, SSD swaps, and Wi-Fi card replacement, but the soldered memory and single short M.2 slot limit its long-term upgrade potential.

Lenovo Yoga 7a 2-in-1 (16", Gen 11) in-depth review

The Lenovo Yoga 7a 2-in-1 (16", Gen 11) aims to bring flagship luxury to the masses. Dressed in a sophisticated, fingerprint-resistant "Seashell" aluminum chassis, it looks and feels like a laptop that should cost significantly more. With its expansive, vibrant OLED display and the versatility of a 360-degree hinge, it’s designed to be a centerpiece for both creativity and entertainment. But achieving this premium aesthetic at a more accessible price point inevitably means compromises must be made behind the scenes. We dive deep to find out if its restrictive upgrade options and middling[...]

Read the full review