Why This $300 Lenovo Is The Tablet I Recommend To Most People - Including Ipad Users

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is simply a midrange intermezo tablet starting astatine $290 for nan 128GB exemplary and $400 for nan 256GB option.
• This is 1 of nan fewer midrange Android tablets that tin genuinely activity for intermezo and productivity, cautiously straddling some lines.
• This 12.7-inch tablet comes pinch a stylus, but you'll apt request to get a lawsuit to make carrying it easier; it's besides equipped to support only 2 awesome OS upgrades.

Lenovo precocious launched nan Idea Tab Pro, a midrange Android tablet that starts astatine conscionable $290. Even astatine specified an affordable price, its specs are thing short of impressive. 

Also: Will your aged iPhone, Mac, aliases iPad tally Apple's latest updates? Check this list

The 12.7-inch Lenovo Idea Tab Pro features an IPS LCD pinch a 2944 x 1840 solution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The astir affordable $290 action has 128GB of soul storage, while nan $400 action comes pinch 256 GB. The tablet has a microSD paper slot to grow retention to up to 1TB, which provides elasticity for different retention needs without importantly expanding nan price. 

Each Lenovo Idea Tab Pro includes a Lenovo Tab Pen Plus, which intends you don't person to walk much money connected an further stylus. The Pen Plus looks and functions a batch for illustration nan Apple Pencil and nan Zagg Pro Stylus, truthful it's lightweight and has a comfortable nib that glides smoothly connected nan screen. 

My note-taking bosom rejoices anytime a tablet comes pinch a stylus. I emotion putting pen to insubstantial to return notes, make schedules, and doodle, but tablets are easier to transportation each your notes successful 1 place, alternatively of taking journals and notebooks everywhere. They're besides multipurpose devices, truthful they tin do overmuch much than conscionable clasp your notes, and nan Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is simply a premier illustration of this.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Any clip I tin get distant pinch utilizing my iPad alternatively of opening my laptop, I do it. I return my iPad everyplace pinch me, having grown utilized to carrying a instrumentality that is lighter and much compact than my MacBook Pro, but that is besides capable to spell from a activity instrumentality to an intermezo instrumentality successful seconds. 

The Geekbench 6 scores are comparable to nan tablet's real-world capacity during my tests. While nan iPad 11 outperforms nan Lenovo Idea Tab Pro connected CPU and GPU benchmarks, nan Lenovo outperformed nan much costly Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+. 

The Idea Tab Pro is simply a compelling operation of performance, features, and affordability complete nan iPad; however, because it includes a stylus, eliminating nan request to bargain an Apple Pencil, and has expandable storage, which Apple doesn't support.

Also: This ultraportable Android tablet has group a caller barroom for maine - and it's not a Samsung aliases Google

Most midrange tablets I've tested effort to span nan work-to-play gap, but fewer person reliably succeeded. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro does. Its octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 8300 processor and 8 GB of RAM mean it's beardown capable to grip astir of nan multitasking I request successful my activity arsenic a writer. I tin easy trust connected nan Lenovo Idea Tab Pro to guidelines up to my research, writing, and multimedia processing, arsenic agelong arsenic nan second isn't a beardown pull.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Transitioning to intermezo is easy, and nan tablet's show is cleanable for gaming aliases streaming. It shows fluid mobility and a beautiful image, nan second undoubtedly acknowledgment to nan precocious resolution. The Idea Tab Pro has 4 JBL speakers and Dolby Atmos support, offering immoderate of nan champion audio output I've knowledgeable from a midrange tablet. 

Also: I replaced my Kindle pinch an iPad Mini arsenic my ebook scholar - 8 reasons why I don't regret it

The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro's little value intends that you person to discuss connected immoderate features. One of them is that this tablet doesn't person an OLED screen, which has go celebrated successful much costly mobile devices. But you besides only get 2 awesome OS updates. The tablet comes pinch Android 14 and will only support up to Android 16. 

This is communal successful midrange and entry-level Android tablets to equilibrium improvement costs and hardware capabilities. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro does support 4 years of information updates.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is cleanable for anyone looking for a midrange Android tablet to go their go-to instrumentality for activity and play. It's a reliable tablet pinch a awesome show for nan price, and its specifications surpass those of nan iPad 11th generation, which is simply a large compliment for a tablet that starts astatine $290. 

For an affordable price, you get 1 of nan champion Android tablets for mundane use, positive a Lenovo Tab Pen Plus for easiness of use. While it outperforms galore comparably priced tablets connected gaming and entertainment, acknowledgment to its 144Hz refresh complaint and quad JBL speakers pinch Dolby Atmos, nan Idea Tab Pro has a constricted CPU performance, which hinders multitasking and nan usage of demanding apps.