Positives:
– Excellent presentation
– Great speakers
– Solid build quality
– Dependable performance
– Good set of accessories
– Strong value proposition
cons:
– Below average cameras
– Average battery life with only 20W charging
-There is no cellular connection option
– Must come with a built-in pen
Over the course of the year, we’ve seen several Android tablets flood the market that promise great value. However, most of them make some concessions or the other. It will either come with a terrible display that sucks the fun out of using the tablet, or it will be weakened by the hardware it packs internally and deliver poor performance.
In this regard, Lenovo’s latest release, the Tab P12, is the closest to solving the problem faced by many consumers. It combines affordability, large screen size, and good performance.
For the P12, Lenovo has not only focused on the internals of the tablet but has also revamped its aesthetics as well/we get a much larger display than the previous 11th generation series. Furthermore, under the hood, Lenovo has opted for a different SoC for the P12. P12 tab. Thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, which is a relatively new processor, the tablet offers a significant performance boost.
Despite these changes, the Tab P12 maintains its versatility, and supports several accessories such as a pen and keyboard, making it more functional. In this comprehensive review, we explore whether this comprehensive package justifies its price.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Design
Featuring a 12.7-inch display, the Tab P12 features an aluminum chassis with a slim 6.9mm profile reminiscent of Lenovo’s business laptops, and features a sophisticated two-tone Storm Gray design.
Although it weighs 690 grams, which makes it not the lightest in its class, the XXL tablet offers a comfortable grip. The 8mm bezel surrounding the device contributes to an 87% aspect ratio, ensuring a secure fit without accidental touches on the screen.
The seamless transition between screen, frame and back cover gives the Lenovo Tab P12 a premium feel, balancing quality and stability suitable for family use. While the case can be bent relatively easily, resulting in some creaking, this is unlikely to be a concern in typical use. It is worth noting that the tablet lacks IP certification for water and dust resistance.
In terms of features, the Tab P12 has a fingerprint sensor built into the power button, which provides quick and responsive unlocking. Convenience extends to registering multiple fingers to unlock in different directions. Additionally, the left side has a microSD slot as well as the power button.
One of the most notable features is the tablet’s compatibility with a foldable keyboard case, effectively turning it into a laptop-like device and offering a dedicated desktop mode. Users can also pair a wireless mouse for enhanced functionality.
For potential buyers, it is highly recommended to invest in an official keyboard case, as it connects seamlessly via the screws on the bottom of the tablet. Furthermore, the tablet’s four speakers, with Dolby Atmos support, are strategically placed in pairs on both short sides. The Pogo PIN connection with three contact points on the bottom of the device serves as a base for the optional keyboard, enhancing its versatility.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Display
The standout feature of the Tab P12 that makes it worth considering is undoubtedly its impressive display. It has a 12.7-inch display, and is quite large in size. The Tab P12’s display is among the best I’ve encountered in the sub-40,000 price range.
The tablet has a 3K display with HDR10 support and a 60Hz refresh rate, which, while respectable, doesn’t measure up to some competitors that offer a 120Hz refresh rate at a lower price point. Despite not hitting 4K and featuring an unconventional resolution, the Tab P12’s display limitations are evident when streaming on most OTT platforms, which are limited to 1080p content, with native 4K content limited to YouTube.
However, the Tab P12 excels at upscaling video during playback, enhancing clarity and vividness even for 1080p content. It is worth noting that the display settings menu includes the “Enhance video quality” option, which when enabled improves the viewing experience.
The tablet’s color reproduction, especially for hues such as red and green, is commendable, providing great contrast without sacrificing naturalness. In short, the Tab P12 proves itself as a reliable choice for immersive movie-watching and reading experiences.
Despite its great features, it is necessary to note some drawbacks of the Tab P12. The heavy weight of the tablet, at 600 grams, can cause discomfort when held for long periods.
Another notable concern is the screen’s tendency to reflect a large amount of light due to its glossy appearance, especially in daylight. This hampers the viewing experience and may require users to adjust their position or seek shaded environments for optimal viewing.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Sound and camera
The Tab P12 features Dolby Atmos certification and includes a quad-speaker setup from JBL, ensuring a powerful audio experience even at higher volume levels. This tablet provides an immersive and enjoyable audio experience when enjoying well-designed content.
Optimized for Dolby Atmos, the Tab P12 improves your movie and TV show viewing experience. It is worth noting that watching a movie like… Bird box It showcases the tablet’s ability to deliver audio as the director intended, providing an incredible level of sound quality. Although it may not match Apple’s spatial audio excellence, the Tab P12’s speaker setup works admirably, especially considering its price point.
However, the notable drawback is the lack of a 3.5mm jack. While this omission may be acceptable to some users, it may be a cause for concern, especially for a device as heavily focused on content consumption as a tablet. The absence of a traditional audio jack limits users’ flexibility to connect wired headphones or external speakers, affecting the tablet’s versatility for some users.
The Lenovo P12 is also equipped with a single 13MP rear camera and an 8MP selfie camera, and the Lenovo Tab P12 offers average camera performance, especially under controlled lighting conditions. In ideal settings, the camera produces satisfactory results; However, challenges arise in low-light environments.
Images captured in low light show noticeable noise and muted colours, indicating limitations in low-light performance. The overall sharpness of images is compromised in such conditions, potentially dampening the effect of noise.
While the microphones work adequately for video calls, there is room for improvement in the picture quality. Improvements in the camera system could elevate the overall photography and video calling experience on the Tab P12. Users should be aware of these camera limitations when considering a tablet for tasks that require advanced photography capabilities.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Performance, software and features
The Lenovo Tab P12 is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7050 SoC and comes with 8GB LPPDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage in the variant under review.
Performance across various benchmarks is commendable, with the Dimensity 7050 SoC proving to be a stable chipset in throttle tests. However, it is worth noting that the Xiaomi Pad 6, which features the Snapdragon 870 SoC, outperforms the Tab P12 in most performance-oriented benchmarks.
In daily use, the Lenovo Tab P12 proves reliable, especially for multimedia consumption. Although there may be some noticeable stuttering when switching between apps, it’s not major. The tablet runs Android 13-based Lenovo ZUI 15, and offers a mostly clean UI, with a few pre-installed apps. It is worth noting that the Lenovo Freestyle app stands out, allowing users to mirror their computer screen onto the tablet. Lenovo promises two years of Android updates and four years of security updates, which is respectable in this segment.
Gaming on the Tab P12 is smooth, and the four speakers contribute to providing an immersive audio experience. For example, in PUBG Mobile, the tablet maintains a constant rate of 40 FPS in HD/Ultra settings. The device also handles less GPU-demanding games like Armajet and Subway Surfers well, although the 60Hz display limits the frame rate.
The tablet runs Android 13 for tablets, and features an easy-to-use interface with an iPad-like platform for quick switching between apps. Lenovo includes first-party apps like Lenovo Freestyle, which makes it easy to share screen and data. The Tide app offers health features, including exercises to improve focus and reduce anxiety, making the program experience refreshing and straightforward.
While the Lenovo Tab P12 can serve as a laptop alternative for light browsing and schoolwork using Google apps, it is recommended not to expect high-end laptop performance. Additionally, the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus which sells separately at Rs 5,000 (MRP) adds versatility, making it possible to quickly doodle and take photos, but professional creatives may find its capabilities limited.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Battery
The Lenovo Tab P12 has an impressive battery life, thanks to its massive 10,200 mAh battery. Although it comes with a 20W charger, users have the flexibility to avail faster charging with a 45W USB-PD charger.
On a single charge, the Lenovo Tab P12 offers over seven to eight hours of battery life, making it well-suited for extended use. For the average user, the tablet should easily last through an entire shift without experiencing any battery issues.
However, the noteworthy battery performance is affected to some extent due to the slow charging capacity of the tablet. Using the included 20W charger, the Lenovo Tab P12 reached approximately 25 percent battery power in the first 30 minutes of charging. A full charge can take up to 2 hours.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Verdict
While the Lenovo Tab P12 may not be a perfect tablet, its price-performance ratio is great. The combination of excellent speakers and a large, high-resolution display positions it as a great entertainment tablet. Although the performance may not reach the highest levels, it is sufficient to run many games at medium graphic settings.
The tablet offers an almost pure Android experience, promising updates to both versions, features like a reliable stylus and keyboard, as well as conveniences like a fingerprint reader. The only drawback seems to be the fact that the stylus is an optional extra.
However, considering its asking price, the Lenovo Tab P12 impresses with its sturdy build, exceptional display, and great speakers. Although it doesn’t have a strong performer, it stands out as one of the best tablets in its budget range, and particularly excels at content consumption.
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