At a look
Professional’s Ranking
Execs
- Nice display and audio system
- Helpful built-in kickstand
- Battery simply retains going
- Sturdy, modern steel physique
Cons
- Underwhelming productiveness and gaming efficiency
- Solely two main OS updates
Our Verdict
The Lenovo Tab Plus is a flexible pill with spectacular sound, a vibrant show and a sensible kickstand. It’s the proper companion for leisure while you’re at dwelling or on the go, although it’s not excellent for productiveness or gaming.
The Lenovo Tab Plus is an inexpensive Android pill designed for leisure relatively than productiveness.
At beneath £280/$290, it’s considerably cheaper than the Google Pixel Pill (whether or not you mix it with the dock or not) but presents comparable options. With JBL-tuned audio system and a built-in kickstand, it goals to be a flexible machine for each dwelling and on-the-go use.
However how does it fare in real-world utilization? I spent a couple of weeks with the Tab Plus to search out out.
Design & Construct
- Sturdy steel construct
- Helpful built-in kickstand
- As much as 13.5mm thick, weighs 650g
The Lenovo Tab Plus has a singular design that integrates a built-in kickstand and eight audio system into its body. My pill got here in the dead of night Luna Gray color possibility, which appears slick.
Produced from steel, the physique feels sturdy and extra premium than the value tag would recommend.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The underside half of the pill is thicker to accommodate these options, which makes the machine fairly unstable should you lay it down flat. You’ll nearly all the time wish to use this pill with the kickstand or held in your hand.
The physique feels sturdy and extra premium than the value tag would recommend
The kickstand itself sturdy and could be adjusted to numerous angles, making it good for media consumption and note-taking. Above the speaker, the remainder of the physique is a modern 7.7mm thick, whereas the machine isn’t precisely heavy at 650g.
Nonetheless, it’s value noting that there’s no official IP ranking for water and dirt resistance, which is a disgrace.
Display screen & Audio system
- 11.5-inch FHD+ show
- LCD panel with 90Hz refresh price
- Eight JBL audio system with Dolby Atmos help
The Tab Plus options an 11.5-inch LCD display with a 2000×1200 decision and a 90Hz refresh price. The 2K show is vibrant and vibrant, making it excellent for watching movies and looking the online.
It manages a 90Hz refresh price regardless of the value, that means all of the content material appears buttery easy. This display can also be TUV-certified for eye consolation, which is simply what you need from one thing you’re going to me gazing for lengthy intervals of time.
The show is nice to take a look at, and handles blacks fairly effectively. Personally, I’d relatively choose an OLED for any type of content material watching, however this display is sort of pretty much as good.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The eight JBL audio system ship spectacular 26W sound high quality, particularly with Dolby Atmos tuning enhancing the audio expertise. There are 4 tweeters and 4 woofers, providing a balanced general sound.
When watching Dolby Atmos appropriate content material, the encompass sound impact is noticeable, although you’d get a greater expertise with a pair of headphones. And, after all, it doesn’t come near a set of devoted audio system.
The 2K show is vibrant and vibrant, making it excellent for watching movies and looking the online
The audio does sound fairly crisp, although, and it’s noticeably higher than a daily pill. It could actually obtain a a lot decrease bass, however voices in dialogue don’t get misplaced. Simply don’t flip the amount as much as full whack, because it begins to lose some readability.
One good function is the auto app quantity management, which is able to flip the amount down while you use different apps such because the browser.
One other cool add-on that’s good to have is the flexibility to make use of the pill as a Bluetooth speaker, that means you may hook up different units and benefit from the JBL audio system. And for while you need much more management over the sound, the headphone jack helps high-res audio at 24-bit and 96kHz.
Specs & Efficiency
- MediaTek Helio G99 chip and 8GB of RAM
- Enough for many duties, struggles with heavy multitasking
- 128GB storage solely possibility, however Micro-SD expandable
Powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset and 8GB of RAM, the Tab Plus presents first rate efficiency for its worth vary.
That is tailor-made for content material watching, since that’s the primary objective of this machine. You possibly can hearth up streaming apps and get began watching very quickly in any respect. With a stable connection, buffering and cargo instances are minimal, and the slate doesn’t wrestle should you flick between totally different reveals.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
It handles most apps effectively, although heavier duties and multitasking could cause stutters – can inform that the Lenovo Tab Plus wasn’t designed with productiveness in thoughts.
That mentioned, you’ll have the ability to browse the online and social media with ease. Simply don’t attempt to begin multitasking or gaming, which is the place the machine begins to wrestle.
The Tab Plus presents first rate efficiency for its worth vary
When it comes to inside storage, the one configuration accessible presents 128GB. If that doesn’t sound like sufficient, don’t fear – the Tab Plus helps enlargement by way of Micro-SD card should you want it.
Cameras
- 8Mp entrance and rear cameras
- Fundamental however purposeful images
- Respectable video name high quality
On a pill made for watching content material, the cameras aren’t actually a precedence. Nonetheless, the Lenovo Tab Plus contains an 8Mp rear digital camera with autofocus, plus an 8Mp entrance digital camera. Whereas not distinctive, these cameras are ample for the likes doc scanning and video calls.
Nonetheless, they don’t examine to the standard discovered on even price range smartphones. I wouldn’t take images or movies on this machine, particularly if you wish to look again at them or share with family and friends. You’re a lot better utilizing your telephone for that.
I wouldn’t take images or movies on this machine, particularly if you wish to look again at them or share with family and friends
Should you completely want to make use of the digital camera, anticipate some pretty common pictures. Photos can get grainy shortly and aren’t significantly vibrant.
Battery Life & Charging
- 8600mAh battery
- Provides 4 to 5 days of average use
- 45W wired charging, no charger in field
The Tab Plus is provided with an 8600mAh battery which Lenovo says is able to as much as 12 hours of video playback.
In real-world use, it comfortably lasts 4 to 5 days with average utilization – assume a Netflix present or two per day.
Whereas I haven’t used the slate on a long-haul flight but, it’s most likely the machine I’d take with me to look at motion pictures, since I’m assured the battery would get me by a 12-hour flight.
I’m assured the battery would get me by a 12-hour flight
The 45W charging functionality is quicker than many opponents, although a appropriate charger will not be included within the field.
Lenovo reckons you’ll have the ability to juice again as much as full in an hour and a half. In my testing, it took 91 minutes, in order that appears about proper. For 50% cost, it takes round 38 minutes.
Software program & Apps
- Android 14 with ZUI pores and skin
- Near inventory Android, however some helpful additions
- Two main OS updates, 4 years of safety patches
The pill runs Android 14 with Lenovo’s ZUI interface excessive.
It’s near ‘inventory’ Android, however you do get a couple of extra options, akin to a desktop-style PC mode and a customisable standby mode. I think about that most individuals aren’t too apprehensive about these options, although.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The software program itself is straightforward to get round, so it will be excellent for somebody that’s unfamiliar with Android tablets. There’s a small quantity of pre-installed bloatware that I’m not a fan of – the Opera browser and a calculator app, amongst others – however nothing that’s too encroaching.
When it comes to software program help, Lenovo guarantees two main Android OS updates and 4 years of safety patches. The shortage of longer software program help is irksome, but it surely isn’t a deal breaker for me.
The shortage of longer software program help is irksome, but it surely isn’t a deal breaker for me
You’ll have the ability to run streaming apps on barely older variations of Android with none issues. And in a couple of years time, you’ll most likely wish to transfer on to a tool with a more moderen display and audio system if content material watching is a precedence. At this worth level, I don’t assume that’s too unreasonable.
Value & Availability
The Lenovo Tab Plus prices £279.99/$289.99.
Within the UK, you should purchase one direct from Lenovo or by way of Amazon. Nonetheless, regardless of an official US worth, there doesn’t look like any availability in North America on the time of writing.
That pricing means it’s very a lot a price range pill, although competitors from the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (from £239), Xiaomi Poco Pad (round £239) (Google Pixel Pill (£399 with out dock) is robust.
Do you have to purchase the Lenovo Tab Plus?
The Lenovo Tab Plus stands out as a flexible and inexpensive pill, good for leisure and light-weight every day duties.
Its video-watching-first options, such because the built-in kickstand and JBL-tuned audio system, make it an important alternative for media consumption. At this worth level, it’s most likely the machine I’d choose to look at motion pictures or reveals on.
Whereas efficiency isn’t top-tier, it presents wonderful worth for cash, particularly in comparison with dearer rivals just like the Pixel Pill. Consequently, it’s comparatively simple to suggest.