We were impressed to find a dedicated GPS chip in the Lenovo Yoga 10, one that even managed to find us without a data connection. This may be a more useful feature on the 8″ model though, as using a 10″ tablet for a GPS is a bit unwise. Speaking of unwise, if you intend to use the rear-facing 5 MP camera on any sort of regular basis, well, we advise you rethink that. Tablet cameras are never the best option. The 1.6 MP model in the front is great for video chatting, but that’s about it.
Lenovo is promoting the Dolby stereo sound on the Yogas, but we aren’t impressed. It’s certainly better than a single speaker, like on an iPad 2, but about on par with the Beats stereo in an HP TouchPad. You’ll certainly enjoy it, but you’re not going to be DJing off the thing.
We’ve been saving for last the two biggest features, the kickstand and the battery. The kickstand is designed to put the Yoga in three different poses: Hold, Stand, and Tilt. In reality, Hold is just basic tablet mode. But Stand and Tilt are handy for getting work done.
Poke it, it won’t fall.
I imagine Stand is even more handy if you spring for the optional Bluetooth keyboard case, which you may want to do if you plan on working for a long time on the Yoga. Which you can totally do. Lenovo shoved a laptop battery in that cylinder, meaning you have more power under the hood than any other Android tablet. Several hours of web browsing and video watching barely made a dent
The Strengths
Let’s be blunt, the main selling point of Yoga tablets is the kickstand feature and the design that comes with it. The cylinder/kickstand is a smart way to get a laptop type battery into a tablet without an appreciable gain in girth, and it manages to create an eye catching look. Most importantly, the Yoga 10 manages to compete on features with other company’s flagship products without a flagship price (see below).
The Weaknesses
Lenovo’s take on Android has improved, but there remains some baffling choices. Also, in a device with such great hardware design, the lower resolution leaves a bit of a bitter taste in the mouth.
Pricing & Availability
The Lenovo Tablet 10 is available now, direct from Lenovo or select retailers. Lenovo is currently offering a $20 instant savings, bringing the Tablet 10 down from $319 to the slightly more manageable $299. Which, coincidentally, is the same exact price you’ll find it for elsewhere. This is an insane price compared to other flagship devices, but as we note above, the Yoga 10 doesn’t exactly match up to those flagship devices in terms of specs. Comparing it to a currently sold device it not only matches up with but beats gives us the iPad 2. The second generation iPad has a lower resolution screen, is heavier, slightly slower, has half the battery capacity, and rings up at $399. Even if you go for a refurbished or used model, you’ll still find yourself paying more for less.
You can find smaller tablets with comparable specs for comparable prices (like the Kindle Fire HDX for $229), but there will be trade-offs (Kindle Fire has no Google Apps or SD expansion) and you’re simply not going to get the battery life. Also, let’s not kid ourselves. Three inches makes a huge difference.
Wrap Up
Choosing a tablet is like dating. Looks aren’t everything, but they’re usually the first thing you notice. The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 has an eye-catching design, but it’s more than a pretty face. The impressive specs and insane battery life make this one a keeper, to the point that we wish we didn’t have to box the Yoga back up to return it to Lenovo. It also doesn’t hurt that the Yoga is a cheap date. A cheap, wonderful date.
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