Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus review: Work and play on a single device

The AI period is right here, and whereas loads of tablets will begin making guarantees to examine a field on the packaging, the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus may be among the finest tablets round for Android customers.

It’s a really succesful slate in its personal proper, providing a incredible Android software program expertise and being incredible for media consumption. And with loads of efficiency headroom for AI duties, too, it’ll run for years within the present local weather.

The one actual gripe I’ve is the shortage of an OLED panel, however given how brilliant the LCD will get, it’s simpler to forgive, As an added bonus, it contains the Tab Pen Professional stylus and keyboard within the field, which make it a simple alternative to exchange your laptop computer in case your workload will permit it.

Right here’s my full evaluate.

Design & Construct

• Modular keyboard case
• Tab Pen Professional included
• Simple to carry with one hand

I used to be impressed as quickly as I opened the field of the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus. In it, you’ll discover the pill, but additionally an included Tab Pen Professional stylus and keyboard accent. Most tablets provide these as further non-obligatory purchases, so it’s nice to see them right here.

Beginning with the pill itself, that 12.7-inch show dominates, and there’s a slimline bezel across the outdoors. On one finish, you’ll discover a USB-C charging port, in addition to two speaker grilles, whereas there are two extra and a sleep/wake button on the opposite aspect.

It’s curious that the Tab Pen Professional, which has a mixture of matt and shiny supplies, can cost on the identical aspect because the front-facing digicam. Different producers are inclined to hold the sensor on the other aspect or the longer proper aspect for video calls.

On the underside, the keyboard attaches magnetically. It’s among the finest keyboard attachments I’ve used, truly. Keys have extra journey than on my iPad Professional’s Magic Keyboard, although that may be a technology behind now. The trackpad is massive and cozy to make use of, too.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

All in all, the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus appears like a premium pill, and I notably admire that the case is modular. Should you don’t need the keyboard however do need the kickstand on the rear, you possibly can simply connect one with out the opposite.

Display screen & Audio system

• 12.7-inch IPS LCD panel
• 144Hz refresh charge
• 2944 x 1840 decision

I criticised the Lenovo Thought Tab Professional for its IPS LCD panel, however there are ranges to it. Put merely, the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is magnitudes higher, regardless of the identical underlying display expertise.

There’s a zippy refresh charge of 144Hz, and a pointy decision of 2944 x 1840 throughout the 12.7-inch panel. Nonetheless, you gained’t get the identical black ranges and distinction you’d with OLED. Fortunately, it’s considerably brighter than lots of its rivals, together with the Thought Tab Professional, making for nice out of doors visibility.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

There are additionally not two, not 4, however six audio system on provide. With two tweeters and 4 subwoofers, audio is properly balanced, whether or not you’re taking part in video games or watching a film.

Specs & Efficiency

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• 16GB of RAM
• 256- or 512GB of inside storage

AI requires loads of efficiency, and the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus delivers it in spades. It’s not going to rival the M4 iPad Professional, but it surely comes out forward of a lot of the chasing pack.

The chipset right here is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from Qualcomm, and it’s among the finest workhorses round, particularly with a really beneficiant 16GB of RAM. Mixed with a sizeable show, the likes of internet searching, multitasking and social media are all easy and responsive, particularly when mixed with that 144Hz refresh charge display.

Taking part in video games was a delight, too. That horsepower below the hood permits for top body charges on demanding video games, together with taking part in demanding titles corresponding to Genshin Affect and Honkai: Star Rail. The ample efficiency on provide makes the Yoga Tab Plus ideally suited to each work and play.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

The massive focus, as will probably be for years to come back, is AI. Should you do put money into a Yoga Tab Plus, you possibly can relaxation protected within the data it’s filled with the fitting stuff. Particularly, there’s a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU that dovetails with Lenovo AI Now to supply a streamlined AI expertise.

Storage is quick, with 256- or 512GB choices, however there’s no Micro-SD card for expandable storage. That’s a disgrace, given how frequent it’s throughout Lenovo’s different tablets.

Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus benchmarks

Cameras

• 13Mp front-facing digicam
• 13Mp rear digicam
• As much as 4K video at 30fps from rear digicam

The cameras on the Yoga Tab Plus are much like the Thought Tab Professional that I additionally examined. In different phrases, they’re nice in a pinch, however nothing like nearly as good as you’ll get on most smartphones.

Pictures from the only 13Mp foremost sensor lack element, with colors wanting washed out and overexposed. Except you’re actually determined to take footage on a pill, you’re higher off wanting elsewhere.

A lot of the identical applies to the entrance digicam, which can be a 13Mp sensor. Pores and skin tones look washed out, and whereas it’ll work for video calls, there are much better choices on the market.

You’ll be able to see what I imply within the pattern pictures under. My hair has been captured as one singular mass, versus particular person items.

Battery Life & Charging

• 10,200mAh battery
• Robust battery life
• 45W charging means lengthy cost occasions

This part brings good and unhealthy information for the Yoga Tab Plus.

The excellent news is that it’s outfitted with a sizeable 10,200mAh battery, which ensures very sturdy battery life.

Once I used the system for work and a few media consumption, it lasted for over 14 hours on a single cost. AI duties and gaming will deplete the battery extra shortly, but it surely’s spectacular nonetheless.

Actually, PCMark’s Work 3.0 benchmark ran it to 18 hours and three minutes, which is properly above common amongst tablets.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

The unhealthy information is that the dimensions of the battery means it takes a very long time to cost. Regardless of assist for 45W charging, I discovered it took over two hours to go from empty to full.

Software program & Options

• Lenovo ZUI over Android 14
• Three main OS upgrades
• Safety patches for 4 years

At launch, the Yoga Tab Plus ships operating Android 14, however you’re solely assured updates to Android 17.

With Android 16 already obtainable, that’s value mentioning proper off the bat, and it’s unclear how lengthy you’ll have to attend for the newest model of Google’s OS.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Nonetheless, you do get 4 years of safety patches, which isn’t unhealthy. Consequently, anticipate new options to drop off in a few years, however relaxation protected realizing the pill might be safe for a while after that.

Lenovo’s personal ZUI pores and skin sits on high of Android, but it surely solely actually makes comparatively small tweaks to the core Android components. Actually, you won’t discover them till you hook up a keyboard and mouse, turning it right into a Chromebook of types.

Aside from that, it’s the Android you recognize, with the choice to navigate with gestures or on-screen buttons, whereas there’s a brand new AI assistant dubbed Lenovo AI Now. It’s primarily a chatbot that may discover you information, search the net, summarise paperwork, and the opposite surface-level AI duties.

The Yoga Tab Plus suffers from the identical restricted collection of devoted Android pill apps as any of its rivals, however the software program expertise stays typically clear and straightforward to make use of.

Worth & Availability

The Yoga Tab Plus is a premium Android pill, and it’s priced to match.

It begins at £669/$769.99 and features a pen and keyboard cowl within the field, however there are numerous different equipment that may be bundled with it.

You should purchase one from Lenovo or Currys within the UK and from Lenovo or Finest Purchase within the US.

It’s a compelling rival to a few of the finest tablets you should buy, together with the M3 iPad Air, Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ and OnePlus Pad 3.

Do you have to purchase the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus?

Except for the shortage an OLED panel and disappointing cameras, there’s actually nothing else holding again the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus.

It’s lots brilliant, packs genuinely helpful equipment within the field, and has a deal with AI which means it’s prone to final for years. Add to that some genuinely spectacular efficiency and a giant battery, and you’ve got among the finest Android tablets round.

Specs

• Lenovo ZUI, primarily based on Android 14
• 12.7-inch, 2944 x 1840, IPS LCD, 144Hz   
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• 16GB RAM   
• 256/512GB storage  
• 13Mp rear digicam 
• 13Mp front-facing digicam 
• Six audio system 
• Wi-Fi 7  
• Bluetooth 5.4   
• 10,200mAh battery   
• 45W wired charging   
• 290.9 x 188.3 x 8.5 mm
• 640g
• Colors: Seashell, Tidal Teal