How to open Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 (Gen 9, 15ILL9) – disassembly and upgrade options


    Opening the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 (Gen 9, 15ILL9)

    Hint: Ensure the laptop is powered off and unplugged before beginning.

    1. Undo the five Torx-head screws securing the bottom panel of the laptop.
    2. Use a thin plastic tool to carefully pry open the back panel, starting with the top two edges.
    3. Work your way around the sides and the front to fully release the internal clips and remove the panel.

    More info: The bottom plate features a thermal pad for the SSD and a large SMD power inductor on the motherboard.


    Battery Removal

    Caution: Handle the battery with care to avoid damage or electrical hazards.

    1. Disconnect the battery connector by gently pulling it toward the battery.
    2. Undo the five Phillips-head screws securing the 70Wh battery to the base.
    3. Carefully lift and remove the battery from the chassis.

    More info: The 70Wh battery provides approximately 13 hours of video playback, making it suitable for long usage sessions.

    You can find compatible batteries here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)


    Memory Upgrade

    Note: The memory is soldered and not user-upgradeable.

    More info: The laptop can be configured with 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM in dual-channel mode. Ensure you select a configuration that meets your future needs when purchasing.


    Storage Upgrade

    Hint: Handle SSD components carefully to avoid damage or data loss.

    1. Locate the single M.2 slot compatible with 2242 Gen 4 SSDs.
    2. If applicable, remove any screws or covers protecting the SSD slot.
    3. Insert the new M.2 SSD into the slot and secure it with the appropriate screw.

    More info: The SSD is equipped with a thermal pad and covered with a Mylar film for enhanced cooling and protection.

    You can find compatible SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)


    Wi-Fi Card

    More Info: The Wi-Fi 7 card is soldered and it has a thick thermal pad on top which makes contact with the metal bottom plate.


    Cooling System Overview

    More info: The thermal system of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is substantial for an iGPU-only device.

    1. The system includes two large fans for efficient airflow.
    2. A pair of long heat pipes direct heat away from critical components.
    3. Two top-mounted heat sinks and a heat spreader complement the cooling system, ensuring consistent thermal performance.
    4. The CPU and SSD are protected by Mylar films to prevent heat buildup.

    Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition (15ILL9) in-depth review

    The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 (Gen 9, 15ILL9) is a thin Copilot+ PC paired with efficient 17W Intel Lunar Lake processor options. These chips are also suitable for AI productivity because of the powerful NPU. This premium compact device is full of useful tech such as Intel Evo certification (which boosts the battery life), an IR Web camera, Wi-Fi 7, and a Microsoft Pluton TPM 2.0 security chip. Interestingly, there is no fingerprint reader, which is strange.The impressive 2880x1800 120Hz IPS display can be found with or without touch capabilities. The panel also offers Dolby Vision and HDR fu[...]

    Pros

    • Quiet fans during max CPU stress in "Extreme Performance" mode
    • Compact for a 15-incher (1.53 kg / 13.9 mm)
    • Very good overall performance
    • PWM-free touchscreen (LEN8BAA)
    • 120Hz refresh rate and 2880x1800 resolution (LEN8BAA)
    • 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 coverage + incredibly accurate colors with our "Design and Gaming" profile (LEN8BAA)
    • Above 510 nits of max brightness in SDR and HDR mode
    • Solid aluminum chassis
    • 1080p IR Web camera with an E-Shutter
    • Comfortable backlit keyboard
    • Smooth and accurate touchpad
    • Modern port selection with 2x Type-C and 1x Type-A ports
    • Type-C charging
    • The Core Ultra 7 258V can sustain a 2.82 GHz / 3.31 GHz P and LP E-core frequency in long loads
    • Very long battery life (~13 hours of videos)
    • Fast SSD (SAMSUNG PM9C1a)
    • Quality quad-speaker setup
    • Good comfort during full loads
    • Up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM
    • Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4
    • Intel Evo certification
    • 180-degree hinge
    • Great iGPU performance

    Cons

    • You can't open the lid with one hand
    • Soldered RAM + one M.2 slot
    • No fingerprint reader
    • You can rely on just two USBs when the charger is plugged in
    • The power presets are only accessible via the BIOS
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