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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 Tablet Review

Luxurious Digital Frame. It is easy to confuse the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 with a digital picture frame. However, thanks to its kickstand and Windows 8.1, the device has a lot more to offer.
In Review: Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
In Review: Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8

For the original German review, see here.

In the land of iPad clones, the Lenovo Yoga tablets are a breath of fresh air. The cylinder-shaped battery/grip makes the tablet a little thick, but it looks stylish and is handy. Furthermore, the device offers 4 different ways to enjoy the tablet experience: hold, tilt, shift and hang. These modes are made possible thanks to the integrated kickstand, which has a hole, allowing users to hang the tablet on a wall. In addition, the larger Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is equipped with a projector in the kickstand.

Although the smallest model, the Yoga Tablet 2 8, does not have a projector, the other familiar features are on-board. The Yoga tablets are available with Android or Windows 8.1 with Bing. Our test model is equipped with the Microsoft OS. It runs on an Intel Atom SoC and 2 GB of RAM.

Competitors in this price range include the HP Stream 8, the Acer Iconia Tab 8 and the Dell Venue 8 Pro.

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 (Yoga Series)
Processor
Intel Atom Z3745 4 x 1.3 - 1.9 GHz, Bay Trail-T
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Core: 778 MHz, 10.18.10.3925
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
8.00 inch 16:10, 1920 x 1200 pixel, capacitive touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 22.8 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio jack, Card Reader: microSDHC, Sensors: Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Vibration, GPS
Networking
802.11a/b/g/n (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.1 x 210 x 149 ( = 0.28 x 8.27 x 5.87 in)
Battery
24 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 with Bing
Camera
Webcam: Front: 1.6 MP, Back: 8 MP, f2.2
Additional features
Keyboard: virtual keyboard, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
419 g ( = 14.78 oz / 0.92 pounds), Power Supply: 84 g ( = 2.96 oz / 0.19 pounds)
Price
300 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Connectivity

The shape of the device may be unusual, but it offers a better grip. Furthermore, this allows the manufacturer to put all the hardware in one place and keep the rest of the tablet slim. Basically, the case is made of synthetic material, but the kickstand of the device is metal.

The sturdiness of the case could have been better: the panel can be bent inwards, which causes distortions. Bending the case forces a distinct squeak from it.

The display shines thanks to its high resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. The 32 GB storage can be increased using microSD cards. The connectivity is simple and an LTE module is optional. Lenovo also offers the option to use any stylus or character device with their AnyPen for the tablet.

The OS is Windows 8.1 32-bit with Bing, which means that Bing is set as the default search machine in Internet Explorer (can be changed at any time). Windows 8.1 runs well on the 8-inch tablet as long as one uses the Metro UI. Once on the desktop, the interface is awkward due to the icons being too small. To make up for this flaw, Microsoft and Lenovo offer one year of Office 365 free.

Left: volume rocker, micro USB 2.0, standby button
Left: volume rocker, micro USB 2.0, standby button
Right: 3.5 mm audio combo jack, Windows key
Right: 3.5 mm audio combo jack, Windows key
Top: no ports
Top: no ports
Bottom: no ports
Bottom: no ports

Communication & GPS 

The primary communication module for the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 is of course its WLAN module which supports the 802.11 a/b/g/n standards and can also operate on the 5 GHz frequency. Bluetooth 4.0 is also on-board. A GPS module is included and, in our test, it was reliable and fast.

Cameras & Multimedia

Lenovo is generous with the cameras: the rear camera offers 8 megapixels, which is a far higher resolution than that offered by the HP Stream 8 or the Dell Venue 8 Pro. The pictures have decent colors and thanks to its wide-angle lens, it is very easy to capture the desired subject. However, pictures blur easily and object borders are often not clear. Overall, it will not be fun to zoom into these pictures but the picture quality is decent. The front camera with 1.6 megapixels offers decent Selfies.

Front camera (1.6 MP)
Front camera (1.6 MP)
Rear camera (8 MP)
Rear camera (8 MP)

Input Devices & Interface

The 8-inch capacitive touchscreen is the primary input device for the tablet. It works reliably, even in the corners, and can support up to five fingers simultaneously. The on-screen keyboard can be put in its own window and then moved around freely. In landscape mode, the keyboard takes up a lot of space, but it is simple and easy-to-use.

Display

The high resolution of 1920x1200 pixels scores the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 a lot of points. In comparison, the competitors all offer a mere 1280x800 pixels. Our test model has very sharp details, but the icons are far too small on the desktop. The brightness is the highest amongst the four devices and the illumination of 88% is just right.

372
cd/m²
366
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
384
cd/m²
389
cd/m²
362
cd/m²
392
cd/m²
372
cd/m²
345
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 392 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 371.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 389 cd/m²
Contrast: 1556:1 (Black: 0.25 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 10.28 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 9.65 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 1.25
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Screen
1%
-29%
-18%
Brightness middle
389
380.2
-2%
313
-20%
340
-13%
Brightness
371
365
-2%
298
-20%
327
-12%
Brightness Distribution
88
86
-2%
80
-9%
88
0%
Black Level *
0.25
0.312
-25%
0.57
-128%
0.61
-144%
Contrast
1556
1219
-22%
549
-65%
557
-64%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
10.28
7.03
32%
7.3
29%
4.89
52%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
9.65
7.12
26%
8.38
13%
4.19
57%
Gamma
1.25 176%
1.59 138%
2.43 91%
2.44 90%
CCT
6657 98%
6988 93%
6145 106%
7344 89%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
53.88
46
46.5

* ... smaller is better

The black value and contrast are the best in our test group, but the decent black value of 0.25 cd/m² does not prevent us from seeing a gray tinge in dark areas (subjective). The contrast of 1556:1 is very high, but the colors do not standout on the panel.

We analyzed this issue with the CalMAN tool and a spectrophotometer. Overall, the colors and gray values deviate strongly from ideal values of the sRGB color spectrum. Gray levels are far too bright and even colors are often much brighter than they should be.

CalMan Color accuracy
CalMan Color accuracy
CalMan Grey levels
CalMan Grey levels
CalMan Saturation
CalMan Saturation

In the outdoors and bright sunlight, the panel suffers from strong reflections, which prevent us from reading anything off the device. However, working with the device indoors, even when it is quite bright, is comfortable.

Thanks to the IPS panel, the viewing angles are perfect from all directions: the content does not change, regardless of the viewing angle.

Outdoors
Outdoors
Viewing angle
Viewing angle

Performance

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 is equipped with the usual Intel Atom Z3745 SoC, which belongs to the Bay Trail T platform. This processor runs at 1.33 to 1.86 GHz and has 4 cores. In comparison, the Yoga Tablet 2 8 performs slower than the other devices as they all employ stronger Intel Atom SoCs. The user can easily navigate around Windows 8.1, but demanding software can push the CPU to its limits.

Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
929 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
961 Points +3%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
945 Points +2%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
958 Points +3%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
2491 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
3219 Points +29%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
2881 Points +16%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
2925 Points +17%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
437 ms *
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
496.2 ms * -14%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
517 ms * -18%

Legend

 
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 Intel Atom Z3745, Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Dell Venue 8 Pro Intel Atom Z3740D, Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W Intel Atom Z3735G, Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
HP Stream 8 5900ng Intel Atom Z3735G, Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), 32 GB eMMC Flash

* ... smaller is better

PCMark 7 reveals that the Lenovo tablet beats the competition by a large margin, which is probably due to the fast memory and decent graphics performance.

PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
2402 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
2317 Points -4%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
2174 Points -9%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
2157 Points -10%

The 32 GB eMMC storage, which is installed in the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8, offers fast read and write speeds. Most competitors cannot keep up with our test model.

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8Dell Venue 8 ProAcer Iconia Tab 8 WHP Stream 8 5900ng
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-32%
2%
-6%
Read Seq
176
53.8
-69%
172
-2%
160.2
-9%

87.2
-50%

Write Seq
71
40.15
-43%
80.8
14%
74.5
5%

52.3
-26%

Read 512
156
51.7
-67%
141.7
-9%
143.9
-8%

81.2
-48%

Write 512
43
32.57
-24%
59.3
38%
65.2
52%

37.9
-12%

Read 4k
12
8.043
-33%
12.76
6%
17.52
46%

16.43
37%

Write 4k
10
8.888
-11%
9.26
-7%
6.871
-31%

4.944
-51%

Read 4k QD32
26
28.75
11%
26.31
1%
37.23
43%

35.69
37%

Write 4k QD32
13
10.65
-18%
9.491
-27%
9.406
-28%

5.833
-55%

The Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) runs quite fast in our test model: 778 MHz. This allows the test model to beat the competition in terms of graphics performance. In the next section, we will discuss the gaming performance.

3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
1222 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
1217 Points 0%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
1013 Points -17%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
994 Points -19%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
1213 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
1203 Points -1%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
1013 Points -16%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
994 Points -18%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Physics (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
1255 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
1269 Points +1%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
1014 Points -19%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
998 Points -20%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
14701 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
15800 Points +7%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
13145 Points -11%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
11580 Points -21%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
14566 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
16047 Points +10%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
13317 Points -9%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
11319 Points -22%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Physics (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
15195 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
14993 Points -1%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
12577 Points -17%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
12600 Points -17%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
225 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
216 Points -4%
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
199 Points -12%
HP Stream 8 5900ng
196 Points -13%

Games

32 GB of storage and relatively weak hardware mean that games, which typically run well on laptops or PCs, will not run on our test model. This statement is supported by the benchmark of "Anno 2070". Thankfully, even demanding games from the App Store, like "Asphalt 8: Airborne", run smoothly.

Anno 2070
 ResolutionSettingsValue
 1920x1080Very High Preset, on AA, 4xAF1.1 fps
 1366x768High Preset, on AA, 2xAF4 fps
 1366x768Medium Preset, on AA7.6 fps
 1024x768Low Preset16.1 fps

Emissions

Stress test
Stress test

Temperature

While idling, the test model does not heat up. At maximum load, the surface temperatures can reach up to 44.5 degrees Celsius (~112 °F). These levels can be felt but are not so bad, especially as they are restricted to small areas. During the stress test, the CPU and GPU are pushed to full load to see if they continue running at maximum speeds: they do. At full load, the full performance of both the CPU and GPU is available. The CPU temperature rises to up to 82 degrees (~180 °F) which is acceptable.

 24.7 °C
76 F
25 °C
77 F
26.3 °C
79 F
 
 25 °C
77 F
25 °C
77 F
25.1 °C
77 F
 
 25 °C
77 F
24.6 °C
76 F
24.8 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 26.3 °C = 79 F
Average: 25.1 °C = 77 F
25.1 °C
77 F
26.3 °C
79 F
25.7 °C
78 F
25.1 °C
77 F
25.9 °C
79 F
26 °C
79 F
24.8 °C
77 F
25.1 °C
77 F
24 °C
75 F
Maximum: 26.3 °C = 79 F
Average: 25.3 °C = 78 F
Power Supply (max.)  30.3 °C = 87 F | Room Temperature 22.7 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33 °C / 91 F, compared to the average of 30 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 35.1 °C / 95 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 44.5 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.1 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.

Speakers

The sound system of the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is quite good for a tablet. This is not always the case, especially since the Yoga Tablet 2 10 had some serious issues with sound. Thankfully, our test model has the advantage in this case: the forward facing speakers deliver sound directly to the user. The volume is quite high and the sound is heavy on the middle and high notes. As with the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro, the test model lacks precision, especially when multiple instruments are being played at the same time. Overall, the 8-inch tablet has a decent sound system. The 3.5 mm audio jack allows the user to enjoy better sound with headphones or external speakers.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 has significant weaknesses in this department. In comparison to other tablets, like the HP Stream 8 and the Acer Iconia Tab 8 W, our test model requires more power in all modes. At maximum load, the device draws up to 10 W! This is highly unusual, as even the power-hungry Dell Venue 8 Pro stops at 8.6 W. While idling, the device requires at least 1.3 W, whereas the HP Stream 8 and the Acer Iconia Tab 8 W survive on 0.4 W.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.3 / 3.2 / 3.4 Watt
Load midlight 8.6 / 10 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

Due to the high power consumption, the Yoga Tablet 2 8 cannot run for very long: Despite a battery capacity of 24.3 Wh, our test model offers relatively poor run times. The HP Stream 8 has 10 Wh less, yet it can almost match our test model in run time (falls 11% short). In everyday use the Yoga Tablet 2 8 will last long enough, but Lenovo has a lot of room to optimize.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
13h 49min
WiFi Surfing
6h 08min
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Battery Runtime
-3%
-5%
-11%
Reader / Idle
829
782
-6%
768
-7%
748
-10%
WiFi
368
373
1%
362
-2%
324
-12%

Pros

+ Innovative kickstand
+ FHD screen
+ Decent speakers
+ Reliable communication modules
+ Precise interface
+ Large battery...

Cons

- ... but also large power consumption.
- Poor picture despite great monitor values
- Small desktop icons make the interface awkward
- Case can be bent slightly
- Very reflective panel

Verdict

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8. Test model provided by Notebooksbilliger
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8. Test model provided by Notebooksbilliger

Of course, one can simply use the Yoga Tablet 2 8 as a digital picture frame, but it would be a shame to employ the tablet in this manner, as it has a lot to offer. Its practical cylindrical grip and integrated kickstand are nice, ergonomical features. The tablet has good workmanship and decent sturdiness. However, if pressure is applied to the case, distortions are visible on the screen. We find it especially annoying that despite such a great design, the tablet has some serious flaws, like high power consumption, and the odd colors of the panel.

In terms of practical use, the Yoga Tablet 2 8 is definitely good, but it is not the slimmest tablet available - the grip requires a lot of room.

Windows 8.1 may or may not be a good choice for a small tablet, especially as an Android tablet can be recognized on a laptop/PC as an external storage device whereas a Windows tablet is simply not recognized. Furthermore, the small icons in desktop mode make the interface awkward. Perhaps the Android version is a better option, especially if you do not absolutely need a Windows 8.1 tablet.

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 8 - 03/10/2015 v4(old)
Florian Wimmer

Chassis
77%
Keyboard
69 / 80 → 86%
Pointing Device
93%
Connectivity
36 / 65 → 55%
Weight
84 / 40-88 → 92%
Battery
91%
Display
77%
Games Performance
31 / 68 → 46%
Application Performance
54 / 76 → 71%
Temperature
91%
Noise
100%
Audio
58 / 91 → 64%
Camera
65 / 85 → 76%
Average
71%
83%
Tablet - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Florian Wimmer, 2015-03-23 (Update: 2018-05-15)