In one look
Expert Rating
Benefits
- Large screen and speakers
- Useful integrated kickstand
- The battery continues to work
- Durable and stylish metal body
The inconvenients
- Disappointing productivity and gaming performance
- Only two major operating system updates
Our verdict
The Lenovo Tab Plus is a versatile tablet with impressive sound, a vibrant display, and a handy kickstand. It’s the perfect companion for entertaining at home or on the go, but it’s not ideal for productivity or gaming.
The Lenovo Tab Plus is an affordable Android tablet designed for entertainment rather than productivity.
At under £280/$290, it’s significantly cheaper than the Google Pixel tablet (whether you bundle it with the dock or not) while offering similar features. With JBL-tuned speakers and a built-in kickstand, it aims to be a versatile device for use at home and on the go.
But how does it perform in practice? I spent a few weeks with the Tab Plus to find out.
Design and construction
- Heavy duty metal construction
- Useful integrated kickstand
- Up to 13.5mm thick, weighs 650g
The Lenovo Tab Plus tablet has a unique design that integrates a built-in kickstand and eight speakers into its frame. My tablet came in the Luna Dark Gray color, which looks stylish.
Made of metal, the body feels sturdy and more premium than its price suggests.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The bottom half of the tablet is thicker to accommodate these features, which makes the device quite unstable if you lay it flat. You’ll almost always want to use this tablet with the kickstand or hold it in your hand.
The body feels sturdy and more premium than the price suggests
The kickstand itself is sturdy and can be adjusted to different angles, making it perfect for media consumption and note-taking. Above the speaker, the rest of the body is a sleek 7.7mm thick, while the device isn’t exactly heavy at 650g.
It’s worth noting, however, that there’s no official IP rating for water and dust resistance, which is a shame.
Screen and speakers
- 11.5-inch FHD+ display
- LCD panel with 90Hz refresh rate
- Eight JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos support
The Tab Plus features an 11.5-inch LCD display with a resolution of 2000×1200 and a refresh rate of 90Hz. The 2K screen is bright and colorful, making it ideal for watching videos and browsing the web.
Despite its price, it manages to hit a 90Hz refresh rate, meaning all content looks smooth. This display is also TUV certified for eye comfort, which is exactly what you want from a display you’re going to be staring at for long periods of time.
The screen is nice to look at and handles blacks quite well. Personally, I prefer to choose an OLED for any type of content to watch, but this screen is almost as good.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The eight JBL speakers deliver an impressive 26W of sound quality, thanks in part to Dolby Atmos tuning that enhances the audio experience. There are four tweeters and four woofers, delivering a balanced overall sound.
When watching Dolby Atmos-enabled content, the surround sound effect is noticeable, although you’ll get a better experience with a pair of headphones. And, of course, it’s no match for a set of dedicated speakers.
The 2K display is bright and colorful, making it ideal for watching videos and browsing the web
The sound is nevertheless quite clear and clearly better than that of a classic tablet. It can reach much lower bass, but the voices in the dialogues are not lost. Do not turn the volume up to full, because it starts to lose a little clarity.
A nice feature is the app’s automatic volume control, which will lower the volume when you are using other apps such as the browser.
Another nice perk is the ability to use the tablet as a Bluetooth speaker, meaning you can connect other devices and enjoy the JBL speakers. And if you want even more control over the sound, the headphone jack supports high-resolution audio at 24-bit and 96 kHz.
Specifications and performance
- MediaTek Helio G99 chip and 8 GB of RAM
- Suitable for most tasks, but struggles with multitasking
- 128GB storage option only, but expandable via Micro-SD
Powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset and 8GB of RAM, the Tab Plus offers decent performance for its price range.
It’s designed for watching content, as that’s the main purpose of this device. You can launch streaming apps and start watching in no time. With a solid connection, buffering and loading times are minimal, and the slate has no issues if you’re switching between shows.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
It handles most apps well, although heavier tasks and multitasking can cause stuttering. It’s safe to say that the Lenovo Tab Plus wasn’t designed with productivity in mind.
That said, you’ll be able to browse the web and social media with ease. Just don’t try multitasking or playing games, because that’s where the device starts to struggle.
The Tab Plus offers decent performance for its price range
In terms of internal storage, the only available configuration offers 128GB. If that doesn’t seem like enough, don’t worry: the Tab Plus supports expansion via a Micro-SD card if you need it.
Cameras
- 8MP front and rear cameras
- Basic but functional photos
- Decent video call quality
On a tablet designed for viewing content, cameras aren’t really a priority. Still, the Lenovo Tab Plus includes an 8MP rear camera with autofocus, as well as an 8MP front-facing camera. While not exceptional, these cameras are adequate for tasks like scanning documents and making video calls.
However, they are not comparable to the quality found on budget smartphones. I would not take photos or videos with this device, especially if you want to review them or share them with friends and family. It is better to use your phone for that.
I would not take pictures or videos on this device, especially if you want to review them or share them with friends and family.
If you absolutely must use the camera, expect fairly average shots. Images can quickly become grainy and aren’t particularly bright.
Battery life and charging
- 8600mAh battery
- Provides four to five days of moderate use
- 45W wired charging, no charger in the box
The Tab Plus is equipped with an 8600mAh battery that Lenovo claims is capable of providing up to 12 hours of video playback.
In real-world use, it comfortably lasts four to five days with moderate use – think one or two Netflix shows per day.
While I haven’t used the slate on a long-haul flight yet, it’s probably the device I’d take with me to watch movies, as I’m sure the battery would last me a 12-hour flight.
I’m sure the battery would last me a 12 hour flight.
The 45W charging capability is faster than many competitors, although a compatible charger isn’t included in the box.
Lenovo estimates that you can fully charge your battery in an hour and a half. In my tests, it took me 91 minutes, which seems like a good time frame. For a 50% charge, it takes about 38 minutes.
Software and applications
- Android 14 with ZUI skin
- Close to stock Android, but some useful additions
- Two major operating system updates, four years of security patches
The tablet runs Android 14 with Lenovo’s ZUI interface.
It’s close to the “stock” Android version, but it offers a few extra features, like a desktop-like PC mode and a customizable sleep mode. I imagine most people won’t be too worried about these features, though.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The software itself is easy to use, so it would be ideal for someone new to Android tablets. There are a few pre-installed bloatwares that I’m not a fan of – the Opera browser and a calculator app, among others – but nothing too intrusive.
In terms of software support, Lenovo promises two major Android OS updates and four years of security patches. The lack of longer software support is annoying, but it’s not a deal breaker for me.
The lack of longer software support is annoying, but not a problem for me
You’ll be able to run streaming apps on slightly older versions of Android without any issues. And in a few years, you’ll probably want to upgrade to a device with a newer screen and speakers if watching content is a priority. At this price, I don’t think it’s too unreasonable.
Pricing and Availability
The Lenovo Tab Plus costs £279.99/$289.99.
In the UK, you can buy one directly from Lenovo or via Amazon. However, despite an official US price, there doesn’t appear to be any North American availability at the time of writing.
That price means this is a budget tablet, although there’s plenty of competition from the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (from £239), Xiaomi Poco Pad (around £239) and Google Pixel Tablet (£399 without dock).
Should you buy the Lenovo Tab Plus?
The Lenovo Tab Plus stands out as a versatile and affordable tablet, perfect for entertainment and light everyday tasks.
Its video-watching features, like the built-in kickstand and JBL-powered speakers, make it a great choice for media consumption. At this price, it’s probably the device I’d choose for watching movies or shows.
While its performance isn’t top-notch, it offers excellent value for money, especially compared to more expensive rivals like the Pixel Tablet. As such, it’s relatively easy to recommend.
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