I’ve always considered the 8-inch device size to be a particularly comfortable form factor so far as tablets go. It’s inherently reminiscent of a paperback book, is easy to hold in one hand, and all too convenient to slip into a briefcase or knapsack. I’ve used a 2012 Nexus 7 over the past two years for everything, from catching up on on my New York Times reading list, to binge watching Walking Dead, and I’ve simply loved it, never once considering moving to a larger tablet.
Which is why I was particularly intrigued with this 8-inch tablet from Lenovo. Based on an interestingly different construction, packing decent specifications and with a higher-than-HD screen, it was practically begging to be reviewed.
Out of the box, the unpacking experience is as spartan as it gets. Sitting up top in the box is the tablet in its plastic sheathing, and the only other bits you’ll find besides are the quick start manual/warranty booklet, power adapter and USB cable. Sorry, no bundled earphones.
The first thing thing that strikes you about this tablet is its all-metal, magnesium alloy body. There’s something about holding a device that feels cold and solid that no amount of plastic can match up to. And it is indeed very well crafted--it feels monolithic, yet lightweight. The 8-inch screen pops colors (maybe a tad too saturated for my liking), but its 1200x1920-pixel resolution makes for a very sharp viewing experience. Then there are the front facing stereo speakers that put out a surprising amount of punch, with a particularly immersive Dolby Digital Plus sound enhancement that does a pretty darn good job of creating a virtual surround sound field using just those two speakers.
Unlike most other mobile devices that sport a Qualcomm processor, this one packs Intel’s new ‘Bay Trail’ mobile processor. This particular one--the Atom Z3745--is a Quad Core 1.33GHz part that does a fine job of running the show. Coupled with 2GB of RAM, there were virtually no instances of stuttering while swiping through the interface or launching apps. It happily took on playing full HD videos and demanding 3D games like Real Racing 3, which looked spectacular on that high-def screen. It has 16GB of built-in storage, and there’s a MicroSD slot that can take on an additional 64GB card.
On the imaging front, you get a par-for-the-course 8MP f/2.2 rear camera and a 1.6MP front-facing camera. The fact that there is no built-in flash is a downer, making it less than suitable to any situation with low light. It’s a different matter the built-in LED flash in mobile devices do little to light up the scene anyway.
Getting back to the construction of this tablet--it bears a second look--everything from the tubular battery along the edge, to the knurled texture engraved into the back, to the good balance in the hand makes it ooze premium. But the kicker is the nifty little kickstand that flips out in three positions, lending it that perfect viewing angle no matter where and how you use it. Whether you’re lying prone or sitting at your desk, or even working out, the tablet holds itself up to give you a truly hands-free experience. This one feature sets it effectively apart from the rest of the tablet pack. One niggling downside we did notice was the unusually flimsy port flap for the MicroSD and SIM card slots at the back--clearly out of place in an otherwise well-built device.
Rounding up its already impressive feature listing is built-in 4G (LTE) connectivity and a hefty 6,400mAH battery that saw it through three days of mixed use (comprising browsing, news reading, gaming and watching movies). The unit we used had Android 4.4.2 KitKat, and there’s no official word on when the Lollipop update will be available.
This tablet hits a very sweet spot in the midst of stellar build quality, hardware that delivers zippy performance, and a screen and audio system that will make you want to show off your movie and audio collection. If you don’t plan to use it for selfies at twilight, this may just be one of the finest 8-inch tabs in its price range today.
The stuff we liked: Excellently built, a useful kickstand, a brilliant screen, fast performance
The stuff we didn’t: No built-in flash, an irritatingly flimsy port flap
At a glance:
Screen: 1200 x 1920 pixels, 8.0 inches (~283 ppi pixel density)
OS: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Key hardware: 1.33GHz Quad Core Intel Atom Z3745, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory (expandable to 64MB via MicroSD)
Wireless: 3G, 4G (LTE) cellular with voice calling
Battery: 6,400mAH
Price: Rs 22,499
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 "Lenovo, tablet, review, Android,Kitkat")
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