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2026 has been a strong year for content-creation laptops running Windows. We've seen machine after machine packing powerful hardware, solid audio systems, and vibrant displays. Two standout examples that exemplify this trend are the Galaxy Book6 Ultra and the Dell XPS 16. I thought those two would define the category as the best, but here comes a new challenger: the Lenovo Pro 9i Aura Edition.

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Lenovo's model enters the conversation as a compelling third option, shaking up what felt like a two-horse race. It strikes an interesting balance with the others, while also sporting features that make the Pro 9i feel distinct and independent, thus creating a neat three-way rivalry among these top-tier creator laptops.

Smartly designed

As the name suggests, this laptop is built for professionals -- creative professionals to be exact. That focus shows up across various features, from the internal hardware to its overall design. I couldn't help but notice a striking visual resemblance between the Pro 9i and the Galaxy Book6 Ultra. Both have near-identical dimensions. 

Lenovo's model measures 0.68 x 14.20 x 9.76 inches and weighs 4.2 pounds, while the Samsung machine measures 14.05 x 9.76 x 0.6 inches and weighs slightly under four pounds. The keyboard on the Pro 9i mirrors the Galaxy Book's, with low-profile keys covered in rubber caps, though Lenovo's approach feels better. Its typing feel isn't as mushy.

Part of that improved feel may come from the smaller trackpad. It doesn't dominate the wrist rest, while being highly responsive to touch and easy to use. The trackpad also supports the Yoga Pen Gen 2 stylus, allowing users to draw directly on it as a mini drawing tablet. Do note that the stylus is not automatically included. It's a separate purchase you'll have to make on top of an already expensive PC.

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A key area where the Pro 9i really differentiates itself is in the thermals. One of my main issues with Galaxy Book6 Ultra was its tendency to run hot under sustain workloads. The Lenovo Pro 9i addresses this issue.

Large vents hidden behind the sturdy hinge push warm air out. The laptop sits on a "thermal bump", which is essentially a big rubber foot. It raises the Pro 9i a bit, allowing cool air to flow in from the bottom. During performance, the laptop stayed perfectly cool across most of the tests I ran. There was one instance where it got hot; I'll get into those details a little later.

For a content creation laptop, you'd expect a high-quality display, and that's exactly what you get. Lenovo has equipped the Pro 9i Aura Edition with a stunning screen. 

The 3.2K PureSight Pro Tandem OLED panel is loaded with visual enhancements: X-Rite Pantone certification for high color accuracy, VESA DisplayHDR 1000 for high contrast, and support for multiple color gamuts, to name a few features. All this to say that the display is top-notch.

High performance

My review unit of the Lenovo Pro 9i Aura Edition came equipped with serious hardware: an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor, 32GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card. This is the kind of configuration you typically see in a workstation-class PC, and it shows.

Also: I used an M.2 PCIe enclosure for data storage, and it made file transfers so much faster

For this review, I ran a series of benchmark and real-world tests to evaluate performance across different workflows. The results were excellent. Unsurprisingly, this system delivers top-tier performance in demanding creative workloads. Editing in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom felt fluid and fast. 

That same level of responsiveness carried over to video editing programs, where scrubbing through timelines felt smooth. Its strong CPU performance translates to fast rendering and export times for high-resolution images and videos. The Pro 9i handles heavy multitasking with ease. Even when I push the hardware, it never faltered.

The cooling system generally does a good job of keeping temperatures in check, though there are instances when the Pro 9i will warm up considerably. In the 3D rendering stress test I performed, the system became pretty toasty, and the fans kicked into high gear. Granted, this is a niche scenario. The 3D render test I used ran for several minutes at a high resolution before the laptop became too warm to touch. I don't think this is something people will run into. Still, I wanted to give a heads-up.

Below is a table comparing the benchmark results of the Lenovo Pro 9i Aura Edition with those of the Dell XPS 16 and Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra.

What's interesting is that all three deliver roughly the same level of performance. While the Pro 9i trails the others slightly, the gap is small enough that it's not super meaningful in real-world use. You'll hardly notice a difference. What sets Lenovo's machine apart is its exclusive features, like the stylus-supporting trackpad and cooling system.

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Before wrapping up, I want to mention the battery life. It's not great. The Lenovo Pro 9i lasted around 10.5 hours on a single charge (with battery saver disabled, mind you). While not bad by any means, it falls short of its rival. The Galaxy Book6 Ultra lasted 20 hours, for example. Luckily, this is offset by the fantastic recharge speeds. It can go from a dead battery to a 70% charge in roughly 30 minutes.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Lenovo Pro 9i Aura Edition is available now through the company's website. Prices starting at $2,660. Customization options are somewhat limited, but you can upgrade to a 3.2K display and opt for an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU if you'd like. At the time of writing, Lenovo is automatically applying a $140 coupon, bringing the effective starting price down to around $2,560.

Overall, the Pro 9i Aura Edition is a strong content creation laptop that I easily recommend. To me, it sits comfortably between the Galaxy Book6 Ultra and Dell XPS 16 in terms of value. Samsung's model has a significantly better battery life, while Lenovo's is more affordable. The Dell XPS 16 is cheaper, but it has fewer features.

Ultimately, choosing between these laptops comes down to priorities. Each has its strengths and trade-offs, so the best option depends on what matters most to you.