Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 assessment: good {hardware}, poor software program

Lenovo is a model that’s greatest recognized for highly effective desktop and laptop computer computer systems, however it additionally makes some good tablets for on-the-go productiveness and leisure. Although it appears that evidently the pill market is essentially dominated by Apple’s iPad, the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 is a robust contender.

The issue shouldn’t be essentially that Android tablets have unhealthy {hardware} — it’s extra in regards to the software program as Android remains to be higher optimized for smaller units like telephones, relatively than tablets. That holds true with the Tab P11 Professional Gen 2. Nonetheless, Lenovo does properly even throughout the limitations of Android 12. As somebody who has primarily used iOS and iPadOS for greater than a decade, the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 is a breath of recent air.

Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 design

The design of the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 is similar to the primary technology, although I admit I’ve no expertise with that pill. Nonetheless, the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 jogs my memory of an iPad Professional by way of design. The slim aluminum chassis has flat edges just like the iPad Professional (in addition to many of the iPad lineup today), with the facility and quantity buttons on the sides, in addition to the speaker grills, a microSD card slot, and a USB-C charging port. The show is 11.2 inches, and the gadget is extremely light-weight, clocking in at about 1 pound.

The again of the pill has a singular, dual-tone metallic end, together with a single 13MP digital camera with LED flash within the nook. Although the dual-tone metallic end seems stunning in particular person, it is extremely vulnerable to fingerprints, so I’d suggest a case. There’s a small pill-shaped define on the again, which truly homes a magnet. This magnet stripe is designed to carry and cost the non-compulsory Lenovo Precision Pen 3, which is offered individually.

What’s fascinating, at the very least for me, is the placement of the front-facing digital camera. Like its predecessor, the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 is landscape-oriented, so the front-facing digital camera is definitely on the longer, horizontal aspect. That is like the brand new Tenth-generation iPad, which moved the entrance digital camera to panorama orientation as a substitute of on the high in portrait orientation. Contemplating that individuals will principally use a pill in panorama mode for video calls, this solely is smart.

However in case you’re like me and haven’t used a pill with a horizontal digital camera earlier than, it would take a little bit of getting used to, particularly with issues like Face Unlock. Nonetheless, I feel that is the correct option to go along with a front-facing digital camera on a pill, and need to see it on extra units — particularly Apple’s iPad lineup.

Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 display screen and efficiency

The Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 comes with an 11.2-inch 2.5K OLED show with 2560 x 1536 decision. It additionally has a 120Hz refresh fee. Throughout my testing, scrolling by way of my social networks, electronic mail, messages, and calendars was clean and responsive. The crisp decision additionally means issues look nice, making this a wonderful pill to think about in your media consumption and gaming. Android 12 on the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 additionally has eye safety mode, which reduces the quantity of blue mild that you simply see throughout use. I don’t like utilizing this on most units, as it will probably mess with the colours an excessive amount of for my liking, however it’s useful in case your eyes are feeling strained.

The show can also be shiny and immune to fingerprints. After all, this doesn’t imply that it gained’t ever have fingerprints, however it shouldn’t be too unhealthy. I did discover fairly a bit on my unit’s display screen, although, so I’d nonetheless suggest a display screen protector.

Throughout my time with the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2, I’ve principally used it for consuming media, as I didn’t obtain the non-compulsory keyboard case with my unit. Studying is improbable on the high-resolution display screen, and flicks and reveals have been sharp and filled with smaller particulars due to Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+ assist.

And because the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 has Dolby Atmos spatial audio with the quad JBL audio system, it’s good for an immersive media expertise. I may have the quantity low and nonetheless hear all the things properly, and even at max quantity, there isn’t any distortion.

I used to be despatched the Lenovo Precision Pen 3 with my Tab P11 Professional unit, which I examined out. The design of the stylus is just like that of the Apple Pencil 2 and the pen included with the Amazon Kindle Scribe, with one flat aspect that magnetically attaches to the again of the pill. There’s a single button towards the underside of the pen that may be clicked to convey up the Fast Memo notepad, and whereas in that app, you’ll be able to double-click the button to rapidly swap between the pen and eraser instruments. The Precision Pen 3 can also be strain delicate, so you may get a lighter or bolder stroke, relying on how a lot strain is utilized.

Lenovo made the Precision Pen 3 really feel like an Apple Pencil, so I’ve that sense of familiarity with it. I’m not a digital artist, so I’ve used it for fast, handwritten notes. In my testing, the pen feels correct on the display screen, and the strain sensitivity works properly, permitting me to distinguish my strokes on the canvas. I additionally seen that the Precision Pen 3 shows a cursor on the display screen when it’s hovering above the show, just like the brand new Hover Mode discovered with the iPad Professional with M2 and Apple Pencil 2.

Once more although, I primarily simply use the stylus to navigate and do fast little scribbles — nothing too critical or intense. Nonetheless, the Precision Pen 3 has another performance, together with screenshots, a laser pointer, magnifying glass, and a digital camera scanner. Enabling these capabilities might be rapidly achieved by urgent the button on the pen in choose apps.

My Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 unit comes with 6GB LPDDR4X RAM, which is tolerable. I did discover that switching between apps or simply navigating round would generally have some stutter within the animations, and I’d think about that it could be extra irritating in case you are doing work on the pill with the keyboard case and have much more multitasking concerned. Sadly, I wasn’t in a position to actually use the pill for work since I’m missing the keyboard case accent, however I’d not suggest utilizing this as your solely work machine if in any respect attainable. In the event you insist, there’s a productiveness mode that turns the software program into one thing that’s extra paying homage to Home windows with a backside taskbar and floating home windows.

For the value level, 6GB of RAM shouldn’t be too unhealthy. This mannequin additionally has 128GB of storage, and you may broaden the storage capability with a microSD card. However once more, in case you’re in search of a stable pill to make use of full-time for work, I feel an iPad Professional can be a greater total alternative, although I’d personally ditch a pill and follow a laptop computer myself.

Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 software program

The Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 comes with Android 12 out of the field. Based on Lenovo’s web site, the Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 ought to get the subsequent two variations of Android, which ought to finish at Android 14. It’ll additionally include three years of safety updates.

There’s a model of Android 12 that’s optimized for bigger units, Android 12L. Lenovo has mentioned that the Tab P11 Professional will probably be its first pill to get the Android 12L replace, however it gained’t be till subsequent yr. So proper now, the Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 remains to be utilizing customary Android 12.

Merely put, Android 12 is simply not super-optimized for bigger screens. There are some apps that can characteristic a number of sections and make use of the bigger display screen house, however there are nonetheless loads of apps on the Google Play Retailer which are nonetheless simply blown-up telephone variations that simply don’t look good or make use of the larger show.

The Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 additionally has Face Unlock, which I enabled as a result of I’m so used to Face ID on my iPhone and iPad Professional. Nonetheless, I seen that with this turned on, the pill is looking for a face as quickly because the show comes out of sleep mode.

After I was out capturing pictures for this assessment, the display screen saved waking up and in search of a face, although I used to be photographing the again of the pill. Or after I simply decide up the pill to maneuver it, it immediately seems for a face.

When no face is detected, it is going to present haptic suggestions to let you recognize. This is applicable to each direct unlock and slide-to-unlock settings. The suggestions when no face is detected instantly is extra annoying than something. I want it operated like iOS, the place you’ll be able to “wake” the display screen, however not unlock it instantly. Perhaps it’s simply an Android 12 factor, however it simply feels overly delicate for Face Unlock.

Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 cameras

The cameras on the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 are nothing to put in writing residence about. On the rear, you’ll discover a 13MP digital camera with autofocus, and on the entrance is an 8MP selfie digital camera. I’ve by no means been a fan of utilizing a pill for pictures, however the 13MP digital camera is ok when you might want to scan a doc or take a fast photograph to share with somebody.

Nonetheless, the 8MP entrance digital camera is fairly unhealthy, particularly whenever you evaluate it to different fashionable tablets just like the iPad. It’s low decision, for one, and it’s mounted focus, so that you gained’t be capable to modify it if it seems horrible (and it does). I additionally seen that it washed my pores and skin tone out fairly a bit and made my backside lip seem vibrant orange-pink, which is hilariously off from actual life.

In the event you completely should use the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 for issues like video calls or snapping a fast photograph, it is going to technically work — simply don’t anticipate it to look nice.

Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 battery life

Lenovo packed an 8,000mAh battery into the Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 and claims that the pill can final round 14 hours on a single cost. Since I used to be unable to make use of it as a piece machine, I’ve been testing it primarily as an leisure gadget.

With mild use, the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 can final for just a few days earlier than needing a recharge. If I am going heavy on the streaming and gaming, it is going to nonetheless make it by way of the day, however it will be greatest to cost it up in a single day.

Lenovo’s pill can present the battery remaining within the standing bar, however it additionally tells you ways for much longer you need to use it with the present cost. Nonetheless, this may be inaccurate relying on what you’re utilizing the pill for, so don’t rely closely on it.

Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 value and availability

You’ll find the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 on Lenovo’s web site beginning at $400 for the bottom mannequin with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. The mannequin I obtained for assessment, which has 6GB of RAM, is barely extra at $430. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to simply discover it on sale for much less money.

The Lenovo Precision Pen 3, which is the non-compulsory stylus that works with the Tab P11 Professional, prices $70 individually. The Lenovo Keyboard Pack, which provides a protecting again cowl with a kickstand and keyboard for the pill, prices $100. Each of those equipment can be discovered on Lenovo’s web site.

Actually, it’s exhausting to discover a good Android pill in a market that’s largely dominated by Apple’s iPad. If you’re in search of an Android pill that’s principally going for use for multimedia and possibly a sensible residence hub, then you must think about Lenovo’s older Yoga Sensible Tab as a substitute. Efficiency is fairly good with the Snapdragon 439 processor, and you’ve got twin JBL Hello-Fi audio system with Dolby Atmos assist. The Yoga Sensible Tab additionally has a built-in kickstand, so that you don’t want further equipment in case you simply need to prop it up and watch a film — you’ll be able to even cling it! It’s additionally barely more cost effective, coming in at below $300 frequently.

Samsung additionally has some inexpensive tablets, just like the Galaxy Tab A8. The ten.5-inch measurement is moveable, and also you get respectable midrange efficiency with the Unisoc Tiger T618. It’s light-weight, slim, and has good battery life too. However if you’d like the perfect total Android pill, then check out the marginally costlier Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus. It’s a little bit bigger at 12.4 inches, however it has a 120Hz AMOLED show, fingerprint sensor, 12MP front-facing digital camera, and extra. It’s costlier at $700, however it’s a much better total pill.

After all, I feel for the value, an iPad is a greater total purchase. The iPad Air tops our greatest tablets checklist, however you can even think about the latest base mannequin iPad as properly, which has similarities to the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 in some options and value.

In the event you actually desire a panorama front-facing digital camera, the iPad is healthier by way of high quality, and Heart Stage is a neat characteristic that all the time retains you within the middle of the body.

Android pill, however not an awesome one

The Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 shouldn’t be a nasty pill by any means. The truth is, it’s fairly respectable for the midrange value level. It’s only a bit restricted because of the present inclusion of Android 12 — Android 12L optimization is not going to arrive till someday in 2023. My utilization was additionally barely hindered since I didn’t have the accompanying keyboard case, so I couldn’t attempt doing a full day of labor on it, which is what I’d usually use a pill for.

It’s fairly good for a media consumption gadget due to the sharp 11.2-inch 2.5K OLED show with Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+. And with a quad-speaker system with Dolby Atmos spatial audio, you may get immersed in no matter it’s you’re watching. Even at max quantity, there’s no distortion, which is good for a pill on this house.

For the value, the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 is an effective journey companion or leisure consumption gadget. The additional equipment will full the expertise, however they’re offered individually and can add to the general value. The {hardware} is good and feels principally premium (sans the entrance digital camera), and it’s simply the software program that’s holding the pill again from being nice.

In the long run, although, I feel there are some higher choices on the market, particularly whenever you take a look at the Apple iPad lineup. That’s been the case for lots of cheaper Android tablets for some time, and the Lenovo Tab P11 Professional Gen 2 doesn’t actually do something to alter it.

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