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MagyarLenovo Tab M8 HD Tablet Review: Browsing and streaming for little money
The very affordable Lenovo Tab M7 already gave us a first impression of Lenovo's second edition of tablets. As expected, the hardware won't offer users a particularly high performance but is very suitable for simple everyday tasks. Unlike the Tab M7, the configuration of our current test unit offers slightly higher performance. However, we don't expect any big changes from the Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M, the PowerVR GE8320, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC flash storage.
The Lenovo Tab M8 HD is available for around $140 and will be compared with the competitors listed below. You can add further tablets from our database to the comparison at the bottom of each section.
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 % | 01/2020 | Lenovo Tab M8 HD Helio A22 MT6762M, PowerVR GE8320 | 305 g | 8.2 mm | 8.00" | 1280x800 | |
| 76.5 % | 11/2018 | Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 MT8163 V/B 1.3 GHz, Mali-T720 | 363 g | 9.7 mm | 8.00" | 1280x800 | |
| 78.7 % | 03/2019 | Alldocube M8 T801 MT6797X, Mali-T880 MP4 | 345 g | 8.48 mm | 8.00" | 1920x1200 | |
| 83.3 % | 05/2018 | Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 Kirin 960, Mali-G71 MP8 | 316 g | 7.3 mm | 8.40" | 2560x1600 | |
| 79.6 % | 01/2020 | Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 SD 429, Adreno 504 | 345 g | 8 mm | 8.00" | 1280x800 |
Case - affordable tablet with slim design
The Lenovo Tab M8 HD is available in two different colors and has a stable back made out of metal. The workmanship is of particularly high quality and we did not find any uneven transitions between materials or large gaps. The Tab M8 HD has a modern look compared to other affordable tablets thanks to its narrow bezels. The control buttons sit tight and are positioned on the right side of the case. The microSD card reader isn't loose either.
The Lenovo tablet is the lightest device in our comparison field at only 305 grams (~10.8 oz). It is also smaller than its competition.
Connectivity - Lenovo Tab M8 HD with microSD and 3.5-mm audio jack
The Lenovo Tab M8 HD is powered by a Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M and 2 GB of RAM. The graphics department is taken care of by a PowerVR-GE8320 GPU. The 32-GB eMMC flash storage can be used to store data and applications and can be expanded by up to 2 TB thanks to the microSD card slot. While apps cannot be stored on the card, users can format the card as internal storage.
Apart from a notification LED, the Tab M8 HD also has a 3.5-mm audio jack. The Camera2 API is set to "limited"; DRM Widevine L1 is not supported, which means that you cannot stream FullHD content, e.g. from Amazon Prime or Netflix.
Software - Android Pie without current security patches
Users of the Lenovo Tab M8 HD will we working on Android Pie with security patches dating August 5, 2019. No update with current security patches was yet available at the time of testing. Lenovo has included some third-party apps and also installed some of its own software. The latter includes a tablet assistant that combines a lot of Android functions within a single app. This spares users from going to the OS settings. The tablet manager also helps users perform system cleanups. The kid's mode has an interface that is designed specifically for children and can be set up with a time limit.
These apps can only be deactivated, not deleted, in the settings menu.
Communication and GPS - fast Wi-Fi and good positioning
The Lenovo Tab M8 cannot connect to mobile networks. Users of the Android tablet can connect to Wi-Fi networks using the standards 802.11 a, b, g, n and ac (Wi-Fi 5) and to Bluetooth 5.0. The M8 HD made first place in our Wi-Fi test with the reference router Linksys EA8500 and reached an average of 294 MBit/s when receiving and 271 MBit/s when sending data.
The app "GPS test" can be used to test how well the Lenovo Tab M8 HD can locate its position. It showed that positioning was accurate within three meters (~10 feet) outdoors, but not possible indoors.
We took the Tab M8 HD on our usual bike tour to compare its navigational capabilities with those of our reference device Garmin Edge 500. The Lenovo tablet actually did a little better than the bicycle navigation system. It is sufficiently precise both during steady movement and in sudden changes of direction.
Cameras - weak image quality on the Lenovo Tab M8 HD
Lenovo has equipped its Tab M8 HD with a 5-MP main camera and a 2-MP front camera. The latter takes mediocre portraits with the subject appearing out of focus and very dark. The strong graininess increases the blurry look and makes textures and object borders look muddy. In the settings menu, users can manually adjust the settings for ISO, white balance and exposure and choose from various scenes.
The main camera of the Lenovo Tab M8 HD only produces rough snapshots outdoors in daylight. Again the photos appear too dark and objects in the image aren't easily distinguishable. The strong graininess also makes surfaces look like a uniform mush with very few details. Closeups in good lighting turn out a lot better. The subject is easily recognizable and there is only a little blurriness at the edges. The strong graininess is mainly noticeable in the background. However, if the lighting conditions are bad, the subject is hardly recognizable. Objects can be vaguely perceived and the entire picture is covered by strong image noise. Apart from the adjustable settings mentioned above, the main camera also offers a beautification mode, although this only includes various color filters.
Videos recorded with the main camera offer a similar quality as our test photos. They are covered with light image noise and movements appear rather washed out. The quality of the videos can be lowered from 720 to 480p in the settings. There are no other settings available other than the ones mentioned above. There is no high framerate mode or similar.
The ColorChecker passport helps us find out how well the Tab M8 HD camera can reproduce colors. The results show that colors tend to be too light and that green and yellow tones are most accurate.
The Tab M8 HD can record our test chart fairly well under controlled lighting. Blurriness is only visible at higher zoom levels, but the color gradient appears rather muddy, particularly the blues and purples. The test chart was not recognizable at one lux.
Accessories and Warranty - no extras for the Lenovo tablet
The Lenovo Tab M8 HD comes with a USB AC adapter and microUSB cable and a SIM tool to open the microSD slot. Lenovo does not offer any other accessories that are made specifically for the M8 HD.
Lenovo gives buyers of the Tab M8 HD a warranty period of 24 months.
Input Devices & Handling - GBoard and face recognition
Users of the Tab M8 HD can use Google's standard keyboard GBoard to type. This virtual keyboard is nice and easy to use - even when writing long sentences - and can also be adapted to your preferences. The touchscreen is very responsive to inputs and offers very little resistance, which makes drag-and-drop movements easy. The position sensor is also reliable and quickly adjusts the screen content to the orientation of the tablet.
Users can either use a PIN code and pattern to unlock the Lenovo tablet or set up face recognition, which is very easy to use and works reliably in good lighting.
Display - strong contrast and no PWM
The screen of the Lenovo Tab M8 HD consists of an 8-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The brightness is in the lower middle range of our comparison field at 346 cd/m² and with a brightness distribution of 88 percent. The Tab M8 HD reached a slightly better result of 387 cd/m² in the APL50 test. The lowest possible brightness is 3.06 cd/m² and there is no brightness sensor.
Our measurements show that Lenovo does not use PWM to regulate the brightness of the Tab M8 HD.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 379 cd/m²
Contrast: 1805:1 (Black: 0.21 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.8 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
85.5% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.23
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD IPS, 1280x800, 8.00 | Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 IPS, 1280x800, 8.00 | Alldocube M8 T801 IPS, 1920x1200, 8.00 | Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 IPS, 2560x1600, 8.40 | Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 TFT, 1280x800, 8.00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -81% | -48% | -49% | -25% | |
| Brightness middle | 379 | 359 -5% | 317.5 -16% | 405 7% | 377 -1% |
| Brightness | 346 | 358 3% | 320 -8% | 392 13% | 372 8% |
| Brightness Distribution | 88 | 89 1% | 94 7% | 92 5% | 87 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.21 | 0.85 -305% | 0.5 -138% | 0.67 -219% | 0.29 -38% |
| Contrast | 1805 | 422 -77% | 635 -65% | 604 -67% | 1300 -28% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.8 | 6.8 -79% | 6.12 -61% | 5.78 -52% | 6.1 -61% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 7.5 | 17.3 -131% | 13.72 -83% | 9.82 -31% | 10.9 -45% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 5 | 7.6 -52% | 5.8 -16% | 7.2 -44% | 6.6 -32% |
| Gamma | 2.23 99% | 2.19 100% | 2.12 104% | 2.278 97% | 2.13 103% |
| CCT | 7514 87% | 7160 91% | 7633 85% | 8405 77% | 7861 83% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
The display of the Lenovo tablet has a very good contrast ratio of 1805:1 and a low black value of 0.21 cd/m², which positions it in first place in our comparison field. This makes colors appear well defined and blacks look very deep.
The display of the Tab M8 HD can be adjusted in the settings menu by choosing between the two color modes "standard" and "bright" as well as the preset color profiles "standard", "warm" and "cold". The color temperature can also be freely adjusted along a scale. If both settings are set to "standard", the CalMAN analysis shows that reds are too weak and blues appear too strong. The combination of "bright" and "standard" keeps the colors the same but increases the DeltaE 2000 deviation significantly, which is visible in less shading and a higher contrast. Combining "warm" and "standard" improves the reds and slightly lowers blues. The image appears warmer.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 37.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 19.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 17.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 95 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 60 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 27.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 32.4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 95 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Outdoors, the Lenovo Tab M8 HD can only really be used in the shade . Users should also make sure they look straight at the screen as the reflections are very strong when looking at the device from the side.
The IPS panel of the Tab M8 HD has a very stable viewing angle. Screen content can be read from almost any angle without the image distorting or colors inverting.
Performance - simple tablet for simple applications
The Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M used in the Lenovo Tab M8 is a mid-range SoC from 2018. In combination with the 2 GB of RAM it is mainly suitable for simple applications and only has little reserves for more demanding tasks. The same can be said for the PowerVR GE8320 GPU which can only display undemanding graphical content.
Our benchmarks position the Lenovo tablet on a good position in the midrange of our comparison field. The results of graphically demanding tests are slightly lower, however, and can only beat the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2018).
| Geekbench 4.4 | |
| 64 Bit Multi-Core Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (1418 - 15310, n=16, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 | |
| Alldocube M8 T801 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M () | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 | |
| 64 Bit Single-Core Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (745 - 5713, n=16, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 | |
| Alldocube M8 T801 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M () | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 | |
The browser benchmarks position the Tab M8 on second to last position. Again, the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2018) is the only device that offers even lower results.
Websites can be scrolled through easily and content loads quickly during everyday browsing. Only media content takes a little longer to appear.
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (57.3 - 135.7, n=5, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 (Chrome 66) | |
| Alldocube M8 T801 (Chrome 72.0.3626.105) | |
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD (Chrome 79) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 (Chrome 79) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M (23.6 - 25.7, n=2) | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 (Silk Browser 66.2.10.3359.126.10) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Tablet (34 - 342, n=42, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 (Chrome 66) | |
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD (Chrome 79) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 (Chrome 79) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M (30 - 34, n=2) | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 (Silk Browser 66.2.10.3359.126.10) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Tablet (14.7 - 376, n=52, last 2 years) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M () | |
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD (Chrome 79) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 (Chrome 79) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (2672 - 74614, n=72, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 (Chrome 66) | |
| Alldocube M8 T801 (Chrome 72.0.3626.105) | |
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD (Chrome 79) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M (4332 - 4378, n=2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 (Chrome 79) | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 (Silk Browser 66.2.10.3359.126.10) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 (Silk Browser 66.2.10.3359.126.10) | |
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD (Chrome 79) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6762M (10740 - 10894, n=2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 (Chrome 79) | |
| Alldocube M8 T801 (Chrome 72.0.3626.105) | |
| Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 (Chrome 66) | |
| Average of class Tablet (451 - 34733, n=59, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
The internal storage of the Lenovo Tab M8 HD offers average write- and read rates compared to its competitors. The results are slightly better than average for eMMC flash storages with a capacity of 32 GB.
The internal microSD card reader reaches good results in our test with the reference card Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 - the results are on par with those of comparable devices.
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD | Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 | Alldocube M8 T801 | Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 | Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 | Average 32 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Tablet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -45% | -34% | 60% | 5% | -5% | 431% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 297.1 | 158.5 -47% | 142.8 -52% | 268.6 -10% | 291.9 -2% | 242 ? -19% | 850 ? 186% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 79.6 | 41.89 -47% | 103 29% | 132.2 66% | 108.5 36% | 100.5 ? 26% | 532 ? 568% |
| Random Read 4KB | 77.4 | 26.98 -65% | 19.5 -75% | 62.8 -19% | 57.8 -25% | 43.2 ? -44% | 167 ? 116% |
| Random Write 4KB | 15.84 | 12.25 -23% | 10.01 -37% | 65.1 311% | 16.89 7% | 22.4 ? 41% | 150.8 ? 852% |
| Sequential Read 256KB SDCard | 83.8 ? | 51.4 ? -39% | 84.9 ? 1% | 87.1 ? 4% | 71.8 ? -14% | ||
| Sequential Write 256KB SDCard | 64.3 ? | 34.03 ? -47% | 70.7 ? 10% | 69.9 ? 9% | 52.9 ? -18% |
Games - only limited gaming suitability
The Lenovo Tab M8 HD uses a PowerVR GE8320 to display graphical content. The GPU is suitable for simple to medium demands and can therefore be used for simple games. We tested "Arena of Valor" with Gamebench and were pleased with the fairly smooth gaming experience at high graphics levels. The significantly more demanding game "Asphalt 9:Legends", however, had difficulties displaying a smooth image even at the lowest settings.
The touchscreen and the position sensor responded reliably and transmitted every input to the system without delay.
Asphalt 9: Legends
Arena of Valor
Emissions - the sound is no good
Temperature
According to our measurements, the Lenovo Tab M8 HD reaches surface temperatures of up to 25.9 °C (78.62 °F) while idling and a maximum of 26.2 °C (79.16 °F) under load. The tablet feels warm to the touch and never becomes too hot to hold.
The demanding GFXBench continuous load tests ES 2.0 and Manhatten 3.1 also show that users do not need to worry about heat-related performance limitations.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 26.2 °C / 79 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 25.9 °C / 79 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.
Speaker
The speaker of the Tab M8 HD offers a relatively high volume with a particular focus on high frequencies. Therefore, it not really ideal for playing media content. We would recommend users to use external speakers or headphones that can be connected via the 3.5-mm audio jack, for example. The jack is nice and tight and does not have a negative impact on the sound quality.
Lenovo Tab M8 HD audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.9% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 12.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (27.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 82% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 15% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 82% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 15% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.2% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 45% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 50% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 40% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Energy Management - energy-efficient tablet with long battery life
Power Consumption
Our measurements attest that the Lenovo Tab M8 HD has a minimum power consumption of 0.66 watt while idling and up to 3.49 watt under load. This makes it the most energy-efficient model in our test field.
The included USB AC adapter has a rated output of 5 watt and is sufficiently large to reliably supply the Tab M8 HD with energy.
| Off / Standby |   0.01 / 0.14 Watt |
| Idle |  0.66 / 2.15 / 2.18 Watt |
| Load |
2.48 / 3.49 Watt |
    
| |
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD 5100 mAh | Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 4750 mAh | Alldocube M8 T801 5500 mAh | Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 5100 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 5100 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -72% | -213% | -142% | -21% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.66 | 0.97 -47% | 3.4 -415% | 2.1 -218% | 0.62 6% |
| Idle Average * | 2.15 | 3.26 -52% | 5.1 -137% | 3.74 -74% | 2.68 -25% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.18 | 3.37 -55% | 5.3 -143% | 4.33 -99% | 2.7 -24% |
| Load Average * | 2.48 | 5.68 -129% | 6 -142% | 6.32 -155% | 3.61 -46% |
| Load Maximum * | 3.49 | 6.21 -78% | 11.5 -230% | 9.13 -162% | 4 -15% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
The Lenovo Tab M8 HD reached a very good runtime in our realistic Wi-Fi test: 18 hours and 44 minutes. This means that the tablet makes great use of the 5100 mAh battery and easily beats its competition.
The included AC adapter does not have a quick-charge function and the tablet needs about 5 hours to fully recharge.
| Lenovo Tab M8 HD 5100 mAh | Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 4750 mAh | Alldocube M8 T801 5500 mAh | Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4 5100 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 Wifi SM-T290 5100 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -53% | -63% | -48% | -23% | |
| Reader / Idle | 3581 | 1168 -67% | 1154 -68% | 3132 -13% | |
| H.264 | 1696 | 498 -71% | 701 -59% | 934 -45% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 1124 | 490 -56% | 420 -63% | 627 -44% | 831 -26% |
| Load | 374 | 316 -16% | 298 -20% | 342 -9% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - good-quality Lenovo Tab M8
The Lenovo Tab M8 HD has presented itself as a simple tablet for browsing and watching occasional videos. Its battery life is particularly impressive, as is its slim design and high-quality workmanship. Our test unit easily outpaces the Amazon Fire HD 8 in these areas. Its performance is a little better than that of the Amazon tablet as well, although the Tab M8 HD still can't keep up with its other competitors.
Lenovo's Tab M8 HD is a good alternative in the affordable tablet segment.
Don't expect too much from the tablet's cameras, however. Its limited internal storage is also a little disappointing, although this issue can be dealt with by formatting the microSD card as internal storage. Opinions may be divided on the usefulness of the wide range of software Lenovo has included in this tablet. The kid's mode definitely gives a good impression and the tablet manager might save less experienced users some time looking through the Android settings menu. Users whose expectations aren't particularly high will be very pleased with the Tab M8 HD.
Lenovo Tab M8 HD
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01/06/2020 v7
Mike Wobker
Pricecompare
