Only a few need more: Lenovo Idea Tab Pro tested
6-6-2025
Translation: machine translated
What looks like an unspectacular tablet turns out to be a good balance of price and performance. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro provides everything you need for everyday entertainment, note-taking and gaming.
The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro makes an inconspicuous impression at first glance. However, its true strength is revealed precisely where established competitors show weaknesses. If you are looking for an inexpensive overall package for entertainment, note-taking and light office tasks, the Lenovo could be a suitable choice for you.
Display and design: solid, but not exceptional
With a size of 18.91 cm × 29.2 cm × 0.7 cm, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is the size of an A4 sheet of paper. It weighs 620 grams - and is therefore relatively heavy in the hand.
The 12.7-inch LCD display has a resolution of 2944 × 1840 and, although it does not offer black levels quite as deep as OLED, it still provides razor-sharp images and good contrasts. The refresh rate is up to 144 hertz. To save battery power, you can set the rate to 60 Hertz, which is perfectly adequate for reading, for example.
Lenovo doesn't make any daring experiments with the design. On the contrary: the only striking feature on the dark grey tablet is the camera on the back. It is framed by a square glass element.
Next to the camera is a subtle striped pattern that appears to be purely decorative and a magnetic area labelled with a small stylus symbol. This is where the included Lenovo Tab Pen Plus can be magnetically attached to the tablet.
With IP-52 certification, Lenovo has successfully tested the tablet for protection against dust and dripping water. That's why I wouldn't take it into the bath for entertainment. You can find completely waterproof tablets at Samsung's Galaxy S series.
Hardware: mid-range chip with enough power for everyday use
Equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 processor and eight gigabytes of RAM, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro offers good performance. Even graphics-intensive titles such as Infinity Nikki look great. However, I did notice a lot of stuttering from time to time - especially in the cutscenes. The heavy weight and size make the touchscreen controls unwieldy. This affects the gameplay.
Compared to other mid-range devices, the chip performs very well in the benchmarks with Geekbench 6. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is in the same price segment, but with Samsung's Exynos 1580 it offers less performance than my test device. The Lenovo Tab P12, with the predecessor chip MediaTek Dimensity 7050, is completely left behind.
Thanks to Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, I can connect the tablet reliably and quickly to the internet and headphones. If I don't have the latter at hand, the four speakers fulfil their purpose surprisingly well. The Tab Pro packs quite a punch for a tablet. The collaboration with JBL has obviously paid off.
With the 13-megapixel camera on the back, I can take photos of documents or even snap a photo. It's not enough for more, but a tablet doesn't have to be a masterpiece. I also have an 8 MP front camera for video calls.
I can store my photos, documents and apps on the 256 gigabyte internal memory. If I need more, I insert a microSD card.
A 10200 mAh battery provides the necessary stamina. It lasted 8:17 hours when tested with PCMark. The benchmark simulates everyday life with video editing, editing photos and creating documents. The runtime is not outstanding, but it is okay. However, even in limited refresh rate mode (up to 60 Hertz), I only get 15 minutes more out of it. I charge the empty battery with up to 45 watts and quick charge function in around an hour. I need my own power supply unit for this; the scope of delivery only includes a USB-C cable.
There are three pogo pins for accessories on the underside of the tablet. These make it possible to attach a Lenovo keyboard, for example, which is included with the tablet bundle.
Lenovo also includes the Tab Pen Plus in the tablet-only version. The pen also recognises fine pressure gradations and has a button. If I connect it to the tablet via Bluetooth, I can also use the button as a remote control, for example to trigger the camera.
I attach the pen magnetically to the back of the tablet. I don't find that a sensible solution. If I want to put the Idea Tab Pro down, I have to remove the pen. Also, the stylus does not charge on the back but separately via USB-C cable. Fortunately, the stylus has a battery life of 150 hours in standby mode. I didn't have to charge it once during my tests.
Software: useful functions and unloved extras
The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro comes with Android 14. Unfortunately, the amount of pre-installed software, also known as bloatware, is a negative feature. Although the setup process offers a selection option for apps to be installed and I deselect all of them, I still find a number of unnecessary applications on the device.
In terms of software updates, Lenovo offers two years of Android updates and four years of security updates. This is a solid, albeit not outstanding, period for tablets. In comparison, competitor Samsung is much more generous with seven years of security patches and at least five Android versions and sets a higher standard here.
The immersive reading mode is a positive feature. This makes it possible to display PDFs or e-books in black and white or with reduced blue light, which is easier on the eyes, especially in the evening, and makes reading on the LCD screen more pleasant.
Lenovo's «Smart Connect» function offers the option of using the tablet as a second screen for a PC - whether for mirroring, as an extension or for streaming content. While streaming videos or presentations from the tablet to the PC works well, the display adjustment when extending the desktop could be improved. Differences in resolution between the PC and tablet can lead to display problems. File exchange between the devices via «Smart Connect», on the other hand, works smoothly.
Good entertainment: videos and notes are fun
Streaming videos on the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a lot of fun. The display format, slightly longer than A4, is ideal for films: hardly any black bars at the top and bottom. Otherwise, Lenovo makes me happy with a sharp picture and bright colours. Only the screen brightness could be higher. With 400 nits, I'm well equipped indoors, but outside in the sunshine it's not bright enough, especially in dark scenes.
Thanks to the included stylus, I am also perfectly equipped for taking notes and scribbling. The Lenovo Tab Pen Plus is light and comfortable to hold. It recognises fine pressure gradations and even tilt. This means I can also use the tablet as a digital drawing board. For example, I can use the split-screen mode to run a YouTube tutorial on the topic of portraits and doodle on a drawing app at the same time.
In a nutshell
Good and affordable with some compromises
The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro turns out to be a tablet that offers a good balance between price and performance and is sufficient for most everyday applications. It impresses with a sharp display, good hardware performance and practical accessories. You can also get the Idea Tab Pro as a complete package with cover and keyboard at a reasonable price.
It is not suitable for playing graphics-heavy games. It is also quite heavy in the hand. The update policy is mediocre compared to Samsung. The PC mode still has room for improvement and the screen brightness is only sufficient for indoor scenarios. Think of it as an inexpensive entertainment device with the option of using office applications and note-taking programmes.
If longer update periods, a smaller display and less weight in your luggage are important to you, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE would be more for you. It currently costs just under 100 francs or euros more.
Pro
- Good value for money
- Enough performance for office applications and entertainment
- Pen included, also available with keyboard and cover
Contra
- is heavy in the hand
- Short update periods
- mediocre brightness
Header image: Michelle Brändle
In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.
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