Lenovo launches Yoga Mini Gen 11 with compact design and new features
A new compact computer, the Lenovo Yoga Mini Gen 11, hits the market with a rounded shape and exclusive features. The device, which stands out for its small size and hardware capable of meeting daily use, has been tested and recommended as a solid option for work and productivity.
Its design draws attention to its aluminum structure, which not only provides a modern aesthetic, but also helps with efficient heat dissipation, allowing the system to maintain high performance for long periods. The PC’s compact size is ideal for tight workspaces, although it brings some challenges, such as cable management.
What really sets the 11th generation Yoga Mini apart in the competitive mini PC market is the combination of its hardware with a set of features never before seen in equipment in this category. Even though it is not an extreme high-performance machine, this fusion of elements creates its own identity for the model.
Details on specifications and innovative design
The computer’s compactness was a notable point during testing. To give you an idea of its size, the device has the same dimensions as the Soundcore Space One Pro headset when folded, known for its ability to shrink. Weighing just 0.6 kg, the device is easy to transport between work and home.
Lenovo has equipped the Yoga Mini with a good array of ports. The back includes a Thunderbolt 4 with Power Delivery, a USB-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, another USB-C with DisplayPort, a USB-A, an HDMI 2.1 and an RJ45 Ethernet port. On the side, there is a Thunderbolt 4 with Power Delivery and a headphone/microphone combination. This connectivity is sufficient to support multiple peripherals without the need for a docking station.
Despite the good supply of ports, the circular shape of the Yoga Mini Gen 11 presents a challenge in cable management. With the connections pointing in different directions, the connected cables tend to spread out, forming a mess of wires. For example, the Ethernet cable and power adapter point to the right, while the headphone jack and keyboard point to the left.
Around the base of the computer, an LED ring implements Adaptive Lighting, one of the device’s distinctive features. This lighting activates in response to different stimuli: it pulses gently when receiving a notification or flashes in time with the music playing. At the top, a touchpad lets you toggle Adaptive Lighting with a single tap or activate voice chat mode with a double tap.
The touch panel and lighting can be configured to trigger connected applications through the AI Turbo Engine, a customization software with a simple interface. Although they are not revolutionary features, these features add a “personality” to the desktop that most competing systems do not offer.
Perhaps the most intriguing feature is Intel’s Wi-Fi Sensing. An internal sensor in the PC is capable of detecting changes in nearby Wi-Fi signals that are caused by the presence of people. Upon recognizing a user’s approach, the computer automatically “wakes up”, turns on the Adaptive Lighting Ring and allows login. This is the purpose of the functionality in theory.
In practice, the Wi-Fi Sensing functionality proved to be inconsistent. Sometimes the Yoga Mini would wake up as soon as the user approached; at other times, it would remain inactive until the power button was pressed, and at times it would wake up during the night. The work environment, which had many different devices, may have interfered with the sensor, but the lack of consistency made it impossible to fully trust the resource.
Assessment of performance and usability
The reviewed unit, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 processor and 16GB of RAM, does not position itself as a high-powered computer, but it stood out as an efficient machine for productivity tasks. Tests with the Geekbench 7 program recorded a maximum score of 2,363 in single-core and 11,371 in multi-core.
These results demonstrate robust everyday performance with responsive multitasking and fast application launches. Usage experience confirmed these numbers, as most programs were installed within a few seconds and the system woke up from sleep mode almost instantly.
The Yoga Mini easily handled a typical workload, which included dozens of Chrome tabs open, Spotify running in the background, Microsoft Office apps, and high-res YouTube live streams. The combination of the Intel processor and 16GB of RAM worked cohesively, keeping everything running smoothly. It was even possible to play Genshin Impact via Google Play Games with minimal performance drops.
While the hardware is solid overall, it does have its limits. The Yoga Mini is not designed for complex 3D projects or professional video editing. It also lags behind some competing mini PCs, like Lenovo’s own IdeaCentre Mini X, which offers greater raw processing power. However, for everyday productivity, the 11th generation Yoga Mini delivers a refined experience at an affordable price, available from August 5, 2026.
