Lenovo's pre-CES 2014 launch flood continues with the release of the Yoga 2, the sequel to last year's convertible laptop line that could fold into a Stand, a Tent and into a Tablet thanks to a dual-hinge design. Lenovo says that the new models, arriving in 11 inches and 13 inches, feature new smart software functionality and a more affordable mainstream price starting at $529.
According to the specs, the 13.3-inch model's screen will feature a 10-point touch input and 178 degree viewing angles. Configurations will include up to a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, integrated Intel HD graphics, up to 8 GB of DDR3 memory, and a battery promising up to 8 hours on a single charge.
The 13.3-inch model will also provide several storage options including up to 500 GB of hard drive storage or up to 500 GB of SSHD storage. Additional features will include a 3-in-1 card reader, HDMI output, one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, Wireless N and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, a 1MP camera, support for Dolby Home Theater v4, and a backlit dual-layer AccuType keyboard.
"Lenovo Voice Control enables users to execute simple commands by speaking to the Yoga 2," reads the product sheet. "Lenovo Motion Control allows users to quickly flip through photos, presentation slides, e-books and more with simple gestures."
As for the 11.6-inch model, this version will have a resolution of 1366 x 768, 178 viewing angles and 10-point touch input. Configurations will have up to a quad-core Intel Pentium processor, integrated Intel HD graphics, up to 4 GB of RAM, and a battery promising up to 6 hours on a single charge. Configurations will also have up to 500 GB of HDD space.
This smaller Yoga 2 will also provide one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, HDMI output, a 3-in-1 card reader, Wireless N and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, Dolby Home Theater v4 support, and a 1MP camera. This model will measure just 0.67 inches thin and weigh 2.9 pounds, whereas the 13.3 model will measure just 0.68 inches thin and weigh 3.5 pounds.
The Yoga 2 13-inch will start at $999 and become available beginning in February at Best Buy, Best Buy Canada, Future Shop and Lenovo's website. The Yoga 2 11-inch will start at $529 and become available beginning in late January at the same locations.
