I am going to admit that I have been a fan of bigger tablets for so long as I can keep in mind, as they’re extra snug for my growing older eyes. However in some unspecified time in the future final 12 months, my mind switched issues up on me, and I began wanting one thing in between my foldable telephone and laptop computer. Enter the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3, with its 8.8-inch, 165Hz show, and the truth that it is at the moment on sale for round $450.
Till just lately, our solely choices for a flagship pill meant that we needed to take care of bigger shows, maxing out with the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely. Most tablets round 11 inches and under often meant you have been going to finish up with a mid-range or funds pill, none of which supplied flagship energy.
That is not the case, as choices just like the Legion Tab Gen 3 have arrived right here within the States. Earlier iterations have been solely out there in different areas, with Lenovo’s providing falling beneath the Y700 branding umbrella.
High-notch efficiency, surprisingly good visuals
With the Legion Tab Gen 3, you are getting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 together with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Though it is not the newest and best chip, it is not such as you’ll actually expertise any slowdowns, even when messing round with higher-end emulation.
It is also price declaring that the Y700 4th Gen was launched in China final month, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Nevertheless, we do not but know if it will ultimately make its means right here.
Nonetheless, all of this energy is housed inside a slim and compact type issue, hidden behind an 8.8-inch IPS panel. Usually, that is the place I might complain in regards to the determination to forego an OLED display screen, however that is not the case right here. It virtually seems like Lenovo stumbled upon a stockpile of the very best LCD panels at this dimension, because the Legion Tab Gen 3 appears to be like completely unbelievable.
It is similar to the display screen discovered on earlier Y700 fashions, which was the identical panel used within the unique Lenovo Legion Go. It doesn’t matter what the rationale, this is among the few occasions that I really have no issues with the choice to go together with an OLED display screen.
Go small or go dwelling
There are a few explanation why I take pleasure in having a strong pill that is smaller than my iPad Professional or Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely. The primary is that the Legion Tab has basically grow to be my digital pocket book, particularly with a matte display screen protector put in.
Oh yeah, the Legion Tab helps stylus enter when paired with Lenovo’s Tab Pen Plus. Whereas there are occasions when a bigger canvas is good to have, it will get fairly cumbersome if you happen to want a scratchpad by your facet all through the day.
The opposite foremost purpose why I take pleasure in having a flagship pill at this dimension is the plain one — gaming and emulation. Technically, it is potential for me to make use of the 14.6-inch Tab S10 Extremely with the GameSir G8 Plus, however as you may suspect, it is past comical.
As an alternative, the Legion Tab Gen 3 is suitable with quite a lot of cell controllers, and you will not look completely absurd if you happen to have been to tug this out whereas ready on the airport. Okay, perhaps a bit absurd, however nowhere close to as dangerous because the Tab S10 Extremely.
A number of gripes, however nonetheless price each penny
Admittedly, this is not the excellent pill for all the pieces I need it to do. For example, my greatest gripe is that you simply’re restricted to only one storage configuration. Anybody who’s messed round with higher-end emulation is aware of that will not final very lengthy, at which level you are both transferring recordsdata backwards and forwards, or must depend on a transportable SSD.
I am additionally very confused as to why Lenovo did not embody biometrics past “Face Unlock.” It is also not the good model from the Pixel, which means it is not as safe. Absolutely Lenovo might’ve spent a few cents and embedded a fingerprint scanner within the energy button. It isn’t a deal-breaker by any means, however extra of a curious and complicated omission.
However, the Legion Tab Gen 3 remains to be one in every of my favourite tablets of the 12 months, and as talked about earlier than, it can save you a couple of bucks. At the moment, it may be had for round $100 off, which is $50 under the anticipated retail worth earlier than the tariff nonsense compelled OEMs to lift costs.
