Lenovo Idea Tab Review: A Budget Android Tablet with a Premium Design

Worth When Reviewed

$249.99

Finest Costs Right this moment: Lenovo Concept Tab with Tab Pen

$206.99

There’s no scarcity of tablets to select from. That’s the case whether or not you’re contemplating an Apple iPad or an Android pill. However many sit inside the mid-range to premium sector of the market, with just a few occupying the finances finish. 

Amazon’s vary of Hearth tablets are maybe essentially the most well-known on the cheaper finish of the dimensions, with an amazing choice for adults and youngsters, however there’s one other firm to contemplate – that’s Lenovo.

You would possibly know the Chinese language model higher for its laptops than its tablets however should you’re on the lookout for a pill for lower than £300/$300 that places in a very good exhibiting, the Lenovo Concept Pad with Tab Pen is price a glance. I’ve been reviewing it for the final couple of months to see the way it stacks up.

Design & Construct

• Compact dimension
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Stylus included

Regardless of its low worth level, the Lenovo Concept Tab has a surprisingly premium construct high quality. It’s up there with Apple’s iPads and Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs, providing an aluminium physique with flat edges that appears and feels nice. It’s has extra of a enterprise vibe than you’ll discover on some premium tablets however that’s not essentially a criticism and there’s little question that some will want this look.

Its compact dimension is nice for carting round and at 480g, it’s nearly similar to the common iPad (A16) and lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, making it good and transportable. The Lenovo Concept Pad is available in two color choices: Luna Gray (the mannequin I’ve in for evaluation) and Polar Blue. In order for you a critical pill, the gray color is the one you’ll need however I’ve to say I want the concept of the Polar Blue for an injection of color. 

The graceful aluminium rear is snug to carry and there’s a single digicam lens within the nook, with a glass encompass. It’s positioned inside a strip that spans the width of the system. It provides one thing a little bit completely different to have a look at on the again, although it’s that design element that does make it really feel a little bit extra industrial than different tablets available on the market.

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When held horizontally, there are pins on the backside for connecting a keyboard (offered individually), whereas the USB-C port is positioned off-centre on the best edge. The facility button is on the left edge, whereas the quantity buttons sit on the prime, together with the microSD slot.

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There’s additionally a 3.5mm headphone jack, one thing the marginally costlier Lenovo Concept Tab Professional doesn’t have, nevertheless it’s in a really odd place, sitting proper on the underside proper nook. To me, that is the principle indicator this can be a finances pill as its place feels unconsidered.

Display & Audio system

• IPS show
• 2560×1600 decision
• Quad audio system

The show on the Concept Tab is smaller than the Concept Tab Professional, with an 11-inch display screen in comparison with that mannequin’s 13-inch display screen. It places it on par with the common iPad and the smaller iPad Air and iPad Professional. It’s a very good dimension should you’re on the lookout for an honest steadiness between dimension and portability.

The IPS panel is surrounded by a uniform bezel. It could possibly be slimmer, nevertheless it has a stronger look than numerous tablets at an identical worth. The show is brilliant sufficient for indoor use and greater than enough for watching content material, writing notes or looking the net.

It’s not going to provide the similar expertise you’ll get on tablets twice the worth, however for the cash you’re paying, it’s troublesome to complain.

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Colors have sufficient punch that app icons and the wallpaper pops, although viewing angles aren’t superb. Whites don’t keep all that brilliant as you progress the pill to completely different positions although element is crisp, with parts just like the time stamp and battery icon good and sharp. 

There’s a 90Hz refresh charge too, so scrolling is sweet and easy. It’s not as easy as you’ll discover on the Concept Tab Professional and its 144Hz refresh charge so should you’re seeking to sport in your pill, contemplate that mannequin as an alternative. However for social media scrolling and looking the net, the 90Hz refresh charge is lots.

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Audio efficiency is fairly good too. You’ll discover a set of quad audio system tuned with Dolby Atmos and, whereas I’d at all times advocate utilizing headphones when watching one thing on a pill, if solely to be sure you don’t irritate everybody round you, the audio system right here put in a stable efficiency.

They’re loud sufficient to look at a film and even once you flip them up, there’s not an excessive amount of distortion so that you’ll be capable of perceive dialogue or play your favorite tune for a pick-me-up.

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek Dimensity 6300 Processor
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB storage

I discussed the positioning of the audio jack being the primary telltale signal of the Lenovo Concept Tab’s finances worth level, however efficiency is the second. This pill isn’t going to interrupt any data. It’s sluggish to begin up and a little bit laggy, although that’s not unusual at this finish of the market. You probably have by no means used a premium pill, you’re unlikely to note the dip in efficiency. 

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It’s completely fantastic for on a regular basis duties, whether or not that’s writing notes, looking the net, answering emails or maybe doing a little studying. Apps open swiftly and normal responsiveness is nice. However this isn’t the pill to select for gaming. If you wish to play one thing like Genshin Impression, you may pay a little bit extra and have a greater expertise.

The Tab Pen that comes with Concept Tab (if you choose that possibility) presents a pleasant note-taking expertise, although, cementing this pill as a very good productiveness possibility. There’s nowhere to connect the pen to the pill itself, which is a little bit disappointing because it makes it very simple to misplace, nevertheless it was nice to jot down with.

It lacks the precision of the likes of the Apple Pencil on iPad, for instance, however let’s not neglect that the Concept Tab and Tab Pen are half the worth of the common iPad and most elementary Apple Pencil. So long as you retain your expectations affordable, you received’t be disenchanted.

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Supporting the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor is 8GB of RAM and a selection of 128GB of or 256GB of storage. There’s a microSD slot for storage growth as much as 1TB nevertheless, which you received’t discover on numerous extra premium tablets in order that’s one thing to be celebrated.

When it comes to connectivity, Wi-Fi 5 is supported, together with Bluetooth 5.2, neither of that are the most recent protocols however there’s additionally the choice of 5G connectivity.

Lenovo Concept Tab benchmarks

Cameras

• 5Mp entrance digicam
• 8Mp rear digicam
• 1080p/30fps video

I’m significantly in opposition to utilizing a pill to take images as there are only a few cases through which a pill will take a greater picture than the smartphone in your pocket, even when that smartphone is a number of years outdated.

Tablets are too large and too heavy to maintain secure and the cameras are nowhere close to as superior as on smartphones, and that applies whether or not you’re speaking in regards to the iPad Professional (M5) or the Concept Tab.

Nonetheless, should you insist on utilizing this Lenovo pill as a digicam, you’ll get satisfactory pictures on your efforts. 

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In good lighting, issues aren’t too unhealthy and, so long as you’re glad to attend for the main target to kick in, you’ll get some adequate images. There’s lag between urgent the shutter button and the picture capturing, so make sure you stay as nonetheless as attainable otherwise you’ll get extra blur than you’d seemingly respect.

In low gentle, issues are much less constructive however as I stated, that’s the identical for almost all of tablets.

What I do like in regards to the Concept Tab is that it has a devoted ‘paperwork’ tab inside the digicam interface. When on this mode, should you maintain the pill as much as take a photograph of a doc, it can routinely recognise it and spotlight it inside a white field. In my view, rear cameras exist on tablets purely for this goal, so this software program function is one I absolutely respect.

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The entrance digicam on a pill is extra necessary because it’s good for video calls and right here, the Concept Tab does an amazing job. It additionally has facial recognition for unlocking the pill, which labored effectively. Even tablets 3 times the worth don’t have this, counting on fingerprints as an alternative, in order that’s one other tick on this finances pill’s field.

Battery Life & Charging 

• 7040mAh battery
• 20W charging

The Lenovo Concept Tab has an honest battery underneath its hood, which is able to mean you can watch a number of hours of video earlier than it must be recharged. Streaming an hour of YouTube on 50 per cent brightness resulted in a drop of 12 per cent battery, so it is best to be capable of watch a couple of movies on a flight or a commute earlier than you must search for a charger. 

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Its standby stamina is nice too so, with the display screen off, it can survive for a number of days and also you’ll nonetheless come again to some juice left within the tank to mean you can ship an e-mail or lookup a fast recipe earlier than you prepare dinner dinner. 

Charging is fairly sluggish, nevertheless, so you will have to plan a little bit in the case of topping the battery up. The Concept Tab helps 20W charging so it takes some time to get from 0 to 100 per cent. I acquired round 6 per cent each quarter-hour so that you’ll want a few hours to cost it from flat to make it useable for the day.

If you happen to’re planning to convey it in your morning commute, I’d advocate charging the evening earlier than slightly than once you rise up within the morning.

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The Lenovo Tab Pen runs off a AAAA battery, so it’s not rechargeable. The corporate claims you’re going to get over 180 hours of steady writing, which is a good whack. To begin, tip the battery out of the stylus so the small black disc falls out, pop the battery again in and it’ll instantly connect with the Concept Tab.

Software program & Options

• Android 15 
• Lenovo ZUI 17 overlay
• Solely two years of updates 

The Lenovo Concept Tab runs on Android 15 with the Lenovo ZUI 17 software program overlay on prime. There are a selection of pre-loaded apps from Lenovo Vantage to Nebo, so if you’d like a cleaner software program expertise, the very first thing you would possibly wish to do is delete a couple of of the apps you don’t assume you’ll use.

On the entire, the software program expertise is an efficient one. It’s shut sufficient to inventory Android (other than a couple of little tweaks right here and there) and it’s good and straightforward to make use of. As with most tablets lately, synthetic intelligence guarantees to make your life simpler and the Concept Tab comes with a few tips to do this.

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It helps Google’s Circle to Search, which lets you circle something in your display screen, both along with your finger or the Tab Pen and be introduced with related search outcomes. It’s helpful for locating out issues like what trainers your good friend is sporting in an Instagram image. There’s additionally the choice to immediately translate an internet web page with out leaving an app, which was helpful and labored effectively. 

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Elsewhere, there’s a preloaded app referred to as Squid for freeform notes, Nebo for structured writing, and diagrams and MyScript Calculator for fixing equations in actual time. Throughout the Lenovo AI Be aware app, there’s additionally an AI Writing function that may show you how to summarise notes, rewrite or proceed writing.

The one factor to notice other than all of the options is that Lenovo solely presents two years of software program updates, by way of to Android 17. It means you’ll get a few years of latest options however past that, you’ll must make do with what you’ve. 4 years of safety updates are promised nevertheless, which ought to not less than make this pill safe for a little bit longer.

Worth & Availability

The Lenovo Concept Tab with Tab Pen begins at £209, although on the time of writing, it’s out there beginning at £129 (from Amazon) or £159 from Lenovo, making it very moderately priced for what it presents. It is available in two storage choices of 128GB and 256GB, each of which have 8GB reminiscence. You may see the way it stacks up in opposition to the competitors in our round-up of the most effective finances tablets.

You may bundle the Concept Tab with a keyboard as an alternative of a pen or with a keyboard and adapter. Browse all choices at Lenovo. The Concept Tab can be out there by way of different retailers, together with Amazon and Argos within the UK.

Within the US, you may presently purchase it from Amazon from $209.

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Must you purchase the Lenovo Tab with Tab Pen?

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a finances Android pill that provides a premium design and might do on a regular basis duties effectively, the Concept Tab with Tab Pen is a superb purchase. It’s not the quickest by way of efficiency and the Tab Pen isn’t essentially the most exact regardless of being responsive, however this compact pill has an amazing construct high quality, good show, first rate audio system and a stable battery life.

For the cash, it’s an amazing pill and one which’s greater than as much as the duty of on a regular basis productiveness. If you happen to’re after a pill for gaming, I’d look elsewhere however as an inexpensive productiveness companion, the Concept Tab is a critical contender within the finances pill market and one price your consideration.

Specs

• Android 15 with Lenovo ZUI 17
• 11-inch IPS, 90Hz
• 2560 x 1600 (274ppi)
• 4-speaker audio
• Passcode, Face Recognition
• 128GB/256GB
• As much as 1TB expandable storage through microSD card
• 8GB RAM
• MediaTek Dimensity 6300
• 5G (optionally available)
• Wi-Fi 5
• Bluetooth 5.2
• 8Mp auto focus rear digicam
• 5Mp fastened focus entrance digicam
• USB-C port
• 254.6 x 166.2 x 6.99mm
• 480g
• 7040mAh
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Out there in Luna Gray and Polar Blue