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Review Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H Tablet

Dual SIM card tablet. The A3000 is another model in the IdeaTab series. Its distinguishing feature is the dual SIM card function -- a rare find in tablets. The device also has a quad-core SoC from Mediatek. Here’s to hoping that this chip is capable of more performance than the dual-core processor at work in the mediocre IdeaTab A1000.

For the original German review, see here.

With the IdeaTab A3000, Lenovo tosses another 7-inch tablet onto the market. We recently thoroughly tested the IdeaTab A1000 (also 7-inches) and found it to be generally unimpressive. The device currently up for review is once again an entry-level model, just like the A1000. The A3000 has a considerably higher recommended retail price (199 Euros, ~$270), but it also received a fairly extensive makeover. For instance, the tablet now has a receiver for wireless internet at UMTS speed and has a quad-core SoC at its command. Lenovo also enhanced the back side of their device with a 5 MP camera.

Are these updates enough to change our overall assessment of the device and convince us to recommend it for purchase? Find out in the following review.

Case

The SIM slots are under the battery lid.
The SIM slots are under the battery lid.

From a distance, the A3000 and the A1000 look very similar -- especially when you look at the front side. If you inspect the two 7-inch devices more closely, you notice a few small differences. For instance, the speaker at the top of the tablet is a little shorter lengthwise. On the back side, however, we see something exceedingly rare in a tablet: The back cover can be completely removed, providing direct access to the battery, micro SD card slot and the two SIM slots. Even though the battery is so easily visible, it's still screwed in and covered with a seal, so it can't be simply removed. Like the whole case, the back cover is made of plastic. All in all, the tablet feels about as stable as the A1000, probably partly because its size is almost identical (194 x 120 x 11 mm; ~7.64 x 4.72 x 0.43 inches).  At 339 grams (~0.75 pounds), the A3000 only weighs a tiny bit less. As a result, the two tablets can't be easily distinguished by their size or weight. The A3000's structured and textured battery lid, which stands in contrast to the rest of back case, is the main feature that gives the new device a high-quality look compared to its cheaper counterpart.

Connectivity

In terms of the tablet's external connectivity features, nothing has changed. The audio jack is still on the top of the device, along with the power button and the micro USB port. There are neither keys nor ports on the bottom and left sides of the tablet. The only feature located on the right side is the volume rocker.

The micro SD card slot enables the user to expand on the 16 GB of internal memory. In our IdeaTab A1000 review, we expressed dissatisfaction with the poorly partitioned internal memory -- of the system memory, only 1.49 GB remained open for downloaded apps. Lenovo eliminated this problem in the A3000. The tablet now has only one (visible) partition with 13.08 GB of free space that can be crammed full with apps and games.

No connections on the bottom side.
No connections on the bottom side.
The volume rocker is located on the left.
The volume rocker is located on the left.
Top side: 3.5 mm jack, Micro USB port, power button.
Top side: 3.5 mm jack, Micro USB port, power button.
The left side is free of connections and keys.
The left side is free of connections and keys.

Software

The software Lenovo selected for their new device is Google's Android version 4.2 (Jelly Bean). As was true of the IdeaTab S6000 and A1000 we reviewed, the interface is very reminiscent of the barely modified versions that run on the Google Nexus 4, for example. The developers only made minor adaptations to the system settings, just like we saw with the S6000 and A1000.

Good reception, even indoors.
Good reception, even indoors.

Communication & GPS 

A main feature of the A3000 is its built-in UMTS module with dual SIM function. The two SIM card slots (normal size) are located above the battery and easily accessible via the removable back cover. There is one big difference between the two slots: Slot 1 is capable of establishing a UMTS connection, whereas slot 2 can only make a phone connection. If both SIM cards are installed, in the system settings the user can select which card should be responsible for which function (receiving SMSs, taking calls). Within the user's home network, the tablet generally establishes internet connections via the WLAN module. This module transmits according to the standard 802.11 b/g/n. The reception range is similar to that of the A1000 -- not great. The device can struggle with a connection even when the wireless router is located on the same floor. But this problem isn't as dire as it was with the A1000, since the A3000 switches directly to the cellular network and sustains that connection well. To transmit data over short distances, the A3000 has Bluetooth 4.0 at its command.

Even though we activated the GPS module indoors on a very cloudy day, the module quickly established a connection with enough satellites to determine our location -- with reasonable accuracy. We didn't experience a single unexpected break in the connection at any point in our test.

Cameras & Multimedia

Above the removable back cover, you'll find the 5 MP main camera. The sensor on the front side of the device, however, has a resolution of a meager 0.3 MP and is primarily intended for video calls. Neither camera supports an LED flash.

When capturing images indoors, the main camera's small sensor quickly reaches its limits. As soon as the ambient light grows dim, the pictures instantaneously lose their sharpness. Outdoors the camera's snapshots are much, much better. The level of detail is decent and the colors match those from our reference camera fairly well.

Main camera: 5 MP
Main camera: 5 MP
Main camera: 5 MP
Main camera: 5 MP
Reference camera: Canon EOS 60D, 18 MP, Automatic
Reference camera: Canon EOS 60D, 18 MP, Automatic
Reference camera: Canon EOS 60D, 18 MP, Automatic
Reference camera: Canon EOS 60D, 18 MP, Automatic


Accessories & Warranty

The packaging contains nothing spectacular. Alongside the tablet, all you'll find is a modular power supply and a paper quick-start guide.

Like the other models, the A3000 has a 12 month warranty for the main device. The battery is under warranty for 6 months.

Input Devices & Operation

When it comes to the tablet's reaction time and display accuracy, we have little to complain about. The only minor issue is the gyro sensor, which ideally would take a little less time to rotate the display image by 90° or 180°. The capacitive display can interpret input from up to five fingers simultaneously.

Display

IPS panel, but low resolution.
IPS panel, but low resolution.

With the A3000, Lenovo brings a 7-inch tablet to the market that possesses an IPS display with stable viewing angles. Unfortunately, like its cheaper sibling, the display's resolution is still a meager 1024x600 pixels. Using the display size and resolution, we calculate a pixel density of about 170 PPI. To draw a helpful comparison: With the same diagonal display measurements, the current Nexus 7 2013 reaches a pixel density of 323 PPI -- thanks to its Full HD resolution.

At 398 cd/m², the tablet's display's brightest area is in the center of the screen. The average brightness comes to 362.2 cd/m² and is 85% similar across the screen. The display's acceptable black value (0.49 cd/m²) is responsible for the screen's satisfactory contrast of 812:1.

367
cd/m²
359
cd/m²
347
cd/m²
366
cd/m²
398
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
347
cd/m²
378
cd/m²
337
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
kapazitiv tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 398 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 362.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 85 %
Center on Battery: 398 cd/m²
Contrast: 812:1 (Black: 0.49 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.6 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.63 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.18

We used CalMAN 5 software to take a closer look at the display's properties, and discovered that reds and blues are rendered too palely. At 5.6, the average DeltaE 2000 value is too high and is reflected in that some of the colors deviate enough from the ideal that they can also be evaluated as another color. The dark gray tones in the grayscale approach the ideal values, but the lighter the gray, the bigger the DeltaE deviation from the target value.

Color reproduction
Color reproduction
ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Grayscale reproduction
Grayscale reproduction
Color saturation
Color saturation

Because the display's contrast is satisfactory and its average brightness is high, the tablet does well outdoors. As long as the sun's rays aren't directly hitting the screen, the display content is easily visible. This is especially true if you occasionally clean residual fingerprints off the screen and cover it with a matte screen protector.

Thanks to the tablet's IPS display, the screen content is visible and correctly rendered from every viewing angle. Happily, we didn't experience the strange phenomenon that occurred with the A1000. As we tested the earlier tablet, we observed that whether the display image was correctly rendered was dependent not only on the user's vertical viewing angle, but on the horizontal as well.

Reflections outdoors.
Reflections outdoors.
Viewing angle stability.
Viewing angle stability.

Performance

A quad-core SoC from Mediatek drives our 7-inch tablet. This inexpensive model is produced using 28 nm process technology and has 1.2 GHz per core at its command. The Mediatek MT8389 works together with a PowerVR GPU and is supported by 1 GB of working memory. The four A7 processor cores are one of our review device's special features, as they are designed to facilitate a healthy compromise between performance and low energy consumption. This SoC was just used in the IdeaTab S6000 we recently reviewed. Its performance is comparable to that of the Nvidia Tegra 3.

As always, using many different benchmarks, we took a closer look at the A3000's performance. We started once again with the synthetic runtime tests. Our test device put up a good show, especially compared with the competition produced by Lenovo. The A1000's SoC doesn't stand a chance, and because of its higher display resolution, the S6000 struggles too. The Asus Memo Pad HD 7 makes a valiant effort, but comes in behind every time -- though just barely.

Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
1332 Points
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
905 Points -32%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
1299 Points -2%
Google Nexus 7 2013
2531 Points +90%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
1309 Points -2%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
6.4 fps
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
1.1 fps -83%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
4.7 fps -27%
Google Nexus 7 2013
16 fps +150%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
4.5 fps -30%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
2.7 fps
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
2.7 fps 0%
Google Nexus 7 2013
16 fps +493%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
2.6 fps -4%
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
3190 Points
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
477 Points -85%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
3160 Points -1%
Google Nexus 7 2013
11828 Points +271%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
3138 Points -2%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Score (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
1568 Points
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
3171 Points +102%
Google Nexus 7 2013
7245 Points +362%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
1572 Points 0%
AndEBench
Java (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
331 Iter./s
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
199 Iter./s -40%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
294 Iter./s -11%
Google Nexus 7 2013
452 Iter./s +37%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
304 Iter./s -8%
Native (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
6437 Iter./s
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
4404 Iter./s -32%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
6510 Iter./s +1%
Google Nexus 7 2013
10329 Iter./s +60%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
6449 Iter./s 0%
Smartbench 2012
Gaming Index (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
2519 points
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
1640 points -35%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
1930 points -23%
Google Nexus 7 2013
3279 points +30%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
1745 points -31%
Productivity Index (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
3668 points
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
2553 points -30%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
3439 points -6%
Google Nexus 7 2013
5080 points +38%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
3516 points -4%

Legend

 
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H Mediatek MT8389, PowerVR SGX544, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 MediaTek MT8317T, PowerVR SGX531, 16 GB SSD
 
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000 Mediatek MT8389, PowerVR SGX554MP4, 32 GB SSD
 
Google Nexus 7 2013 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064A, Qualcomm Adreno 320, 16 GB SSD
 
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 Mediatek MT8125, PowerVR SGX544, 16 GB eMMC Flash

The results in the browser-based benchmarks are a little more disappointing; the A3000 doesn't do quite as well as it did in the previous section. In the Browsermark 2.0 benchmark, for instance, our test device falls behind every one of the competing models, and its result in the Sunspider benchmark is only marginally better.

Browsermark - --- (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
1841 points
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
2030 points +10%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
1958 points +6%
Google Nexus 7 2013
2380 points +29%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
1864 points +1%
Apple iPad mini
2098 (2036min - 2139max) points +14%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
1464 ms *
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
1347 ms * +8%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
1487 ms * -2%
Google Nexus 7 2013
1105 ms * +25%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
864 ms * +41%
Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
1222 Points
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
1315 Points +8%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
1209 Points -1%
Google Nexus 7 2013
2248 Points +84%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
1339 Points +10%
Apple iPad mini
852 Points -30%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
567 Points
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
497 Points -12%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
561 Points -1%
Google Nexus 7 2013
611 Points +8%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
523 Points -8%

Legend

 
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H Mediatek MT8389, PowerVR SGX544, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 MediaTek MT8317T, PowerVR SGX531, 16 GB SSD
 
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000 Mediatek MT8389, PowerVR SGX554MP4, 32 GB SSD
 
Google Nexus 7 2013 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064A, Qualcomm Adreno 320, 16 GB SSD
 
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 Mediatek MT8125, PowerVR SGX544, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Apple iPad mini Apple A5, PowerVR SGX543MP2, 16 GB SSD

* ... smaller is better

The A3000's flash memory reads very slowly. All of the competition flies past our review device in this discipline. The memory only scores well during random writing of small files (4 KB). This is the first time our tablet surpasses the new Nexus 7.

AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
0.61 MB/s
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
0.61 MB/s 0%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
0.73 MB/s +20%
Google Nexus 7 2013
0.82 MB/s +34%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
0.71 MB/s +16%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
13.63 MB/s
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
9.59 MB/s -30%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
11.6 MB/s -15%
Google Nexus 7 2013
11.99 MB/s -12%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
12.07 MB/s -11%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
13.53 MB/s
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
13.36 MB/s -1%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
15.72 MB/s +16%
Google Nexus 7 2013
13.97 MB/s +3%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
11.76 MB/s -13%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H
61.9 MB/s
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000
30.08 MB/s -51%
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000
45.54 MB/s -26%
Google Nexus 7 2013
59.7 MB/s -4%
Asus Memo Pad HD 7
48.25 MB/s -22%

Legend

 
Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H Mediatek MT8389, PowerVR SGX544, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 MediaTek MT8317T, PowerVR SGX531, 16 GB SSD
 
Lenovo IdeaTab S6000 Mediatek MT8389, PowerVR SGX554MP4, 32 GB SSD
 
Google Nexus 7 2013 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064A, Qualcomm Adreno 320, 16 GB SSD
 
Asus Memo Pad HD 7 Mediatek MT8125, PowerVR SGX544, 16 GB eMMC Flash

Games & Videos

Lenovo also used the quad-core SoC at work in our A3000 in their IdeaTab S6000. In that earlier review, the SoC proved its performance capability and successfully processed all video formats. Now, in the smaller A3000 with weaker resolution, the demands on the processor are even lower. As a result, our review device had no problem running videos. All our Full HD videos could be played on the preinstalled player without any lags or choppy behavior.

We observed the same thing when we ran both 3D and 2D games. The tablet has no problem playing Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Modern Combat 4 or the ever-popular Angry Birds Star Wars.

Modern Combat 4
Modern Combat 4
Angry Birds Star Wars
Angry Birds Star Wars
Fruit Ninja
Fruit Ninja

Emissions

Even though our review device's performance is far superior to that of the A1000, it still scores points for remaining at low temperatures under full load. We measured averages of no more than 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) and 33 °C (91.4 °F) under full load (front and back sides respectively). Thanks to its larger case, the 10-inch S6000 tablet keeps itself at even lower temperatures. When the SoC is in idle mode or under very little load, the temperature drops to 28.4 °C (83.1 °F). In both scenarios, our 7-inch tablet remains at a comfortable temperature, and the power supply keeps its cool too.

Max. Load
 32.9 °C
91 F
30.3 °C
87 F
27.7 °C
82 F
 
 34.4 °C
94 F
31.1 °C
88 F
29.2 °C
85 F
 
 36.3 °C
97 F
35.4 °C
96 F
31.6 °C
89 F
 
Maximum: 36.3 °C = 97 F
Average: 32.1 °C = 90 F
29 °C
84 F
31.1 °C
88 F
33.3 °C
92 F
30.7 °C
87 F
33.3 °C
92 F
37 °C
99 F
31.7 °C
89 F
33.7 °C
93 F
37.3 °C
99 F
Maximum: 37.3 °C = 99 F
Average: 33 °C = 91 F
Power Supply (max.)  38.6 °C = 101 F | Room Temperature 22.9 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 32.1 °C / 90 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 36.3 °C / 97 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 37.3 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.4 °C / 83 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.

Speakers

The two built-in speakers reside on the back side of the device and have an extremely high maximum sound pressure level. At only 50% of its maximum volume, the tablet is already louder than some of the competing products. If you want to have a pleasant listening experience, you probably shouldn't turn it up any higher than that. The sound doesn't grow intolerable, but it becomes slightly aggressive and uncomfortable. The high tones slowly go into overdrive and the sound is distortedIf you use the speakers in the appropriate environment, the sound is decent, but it can't compare with external speakers -- as is true of most tablets and smartphones.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Our review device's energy consumption is comparable with that of the A1000 -- even though it has better hardware. Interestingly, with its 3-inch bigger display, the S6000 needs less energy under both levels of load. Our A3000 uses a battery with a capacity of 3500 mAh (13 Wh). We can assume that this battery is the same one Lenovo installed in the A1000.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.8 / 2.9 / 4.3 Watt
Load midlight 5 / 5.8 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

When it comes to battery life, our review device leaves something to be desired. At 3 hours and 46 minutes, the runtime under full load is very good, but we expected more in the WLAN test. After just 7 hours and 26 minutes, the tablet needed to be plugged in to an outlet. That's about 90 minutes earlier than the IdeaTab A1000 -- even with the same battery and similar energy consumption rates. Even more disappointing is the amount of time you have between recharges when the processor is idle. At less than 10 hours, our test device can't stand up to the rest of the competition from Lenovo. A full recharge takes 3:18 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
9h 45min
WiFi Surfing
7h 26min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 46min

Verdict

A better alternative to the A1000 - The IdeaTab A3000.
A better alternative to the A1000 - The IdeaTab A3000.

The IdeaTab A1000 we recently reviewed didn't meet our expectations. It's true that you can't expect wonders from a device with a recommended retail price of 129 Euros (~$175), but there are other tablets in the same price range with better overall performance. With the IdeaTab A3000, Lenovo tries to make corrections for the cheap predecessor's weakness -- by installing a 3G module, for instance. However, the recommended retail price rose to 199 Euros (~$270), and you might question whether the improvements Lenovo made are enough to justify the higher price.

We're very happy about the new quad core SoC; now you can play Full HD videos on the tablet. The 5 MP main camera is another upgrade, though it fails to impress with the photos it captures indoors. We're content with the display, as the IPS panel has good contrast and a high average brightness -- two traits that come together to make the screen easily visible outdoors. The sum of the new features definitely justifies the price jump from the A1000 to our review device. Still, we advise potential buyers to take a look at the other competing models. If you can do without the 3G module, the Asus Memo Pad HD 7 (recommended retail price: 149 Euros, ~$200) is a good option. If you're not rushed for time, it's worth it to take a look at the new Nexus 7.

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In Review: Lenovo IdeaTab A3000. Test device courtesy of Lenovo Deutschland.
In Review: Lenovo IdeaTab A3000. Test device courtesy of Lenovo Deutschland.

Specifications

Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H (IdeaTab A Series)
Processor
Mediatek MT8389 4 x 1.2 GHz, Cortex-A7
Graphics adapter
PowerVR SGX544, Core: 300 MHz
Memory
1024 MB 
, LP-DDR2
Display
7.00 inch 5:3, 1024 x 600 pixel, Multitouch, kapazitiv, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB iNAND Flash, 16 GB 
, 14 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: Micro SD card slot, Sensors: Acceleration sensor, Brightness sensor, aGPS module
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, UMTS 1900 MHz/1800 MHz/900 MHz
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 11 x 120 x 194 ( = 0.43 x 4.72 x 7.64 in)
Battery
13 Wh, 3500 mAh, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 7 h, Standby 3G (according to manufacturer): 14 h
Operating System
Android 4.2
Camera
Webcam: Rear camera: 5 MP, Front camera: 0.3 MP
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo speakers, Keyboard: Virtual, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
339 g ( = 11.96 oz / 0.75 pounds), Power Supply: 58 g ( = 2.05 oz / 0.13 pounds)
Price
199 Euro

 

The IdeaTab comes with a 7-inch display.
The IdeaTab comes with a 7-inch display.
The display can interpret input from up to 5 fingers simultaneously.
The display can interpret input from up to 5 fingers simultaneously.
Near the top you'll find the 5 MP main camera...
Near the top you'll find the 5 MP main camera...
...near the bottom the stereo speakers.
...near the bottom the stereo speakers.
The back cover is structured...
The back cover is structured...
...and feels good in your hands. The front side, however...
...and feels good in your hands. The front side, however...
...very closely resembles that of the A1000.
...very closely resembles that of the A1000.
Under the back cover, you'll find the SIM slots...
Under the back cover, you'll find the SIM slots...
...and the micro SD card reader.
...and the micro SD card reader.
The battery can't be swapped out so easily...
The battery can't be swapped out so easily...
...as it's screwed in and sealed.
...as it's screwed in and sealed.
Android 4.2.2 comes on the A3000 without much bloatware.
Android 4.2.2 comes on the A3000 without much bloatware.
There is 16 GB of system memory. About 13 GB of that is open for the user.
There is 16 GB of system memory. About 13 GB of that is open for the user.
The system settings now include additional features for the GPS module.
The system settings now include additional features for the GPS module.
The menu for managing the SIM cards is easy to use.
The menu for managing the SIM cards is easy to use.
The height of the virtual keyboard is very comfortable...
The height of the virtual keyboard is very comfortable...
...but space gets tight in landscape mode.
...but space gets tight in landscape mode.
Unfortunately, the quad-core processor sucks battery life...
Unfortunately, the quad-core processor sucks battery life...
...even when the tablet's energy consumption isn't especially high.
...even when the tablet's energy consumption isn't especially high.
The price increase compared to the A1000 is definitely worth it.
The price increase compared to the A1000 is definitely worth it.

Similar Devices

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Review Lenovo S5000-F Tablet
SGX544, Mediatek MT8125
Review Asus Memo Pad HD 7 Tablet
SGX544, Mediatek MT8125

Devices with the same GPU

Lenovo Tab A8 Tablet Review
SGX544, Mediatek MT8121, 8.00", 0.36 kg
Lenovo A10 Tablet Review
SGX544, Mediatek MT8121, 10.10", 0.5445 kg
Review Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8
SGX544, Mediatek MT8389, 8.00", 0.401 kg
Review Lenovo IdeaTab Yoga Tablet 10
SGX544, Mediatek MT8125, 10.10", 0.61 kg
Review Acer Iconia A1-810 Tablet
SGX544, Mediatek MT6589, 7.90", 0.41 kg

Links

Price Comparison

Pros

+Quad-core SoC
+Dual SIM card slots
+IPS display
+Good contrast and good average display brightness
+Expandable memory
+Remains reasonably cool
 

Cons

-Price
-Display resolution
-Battery life
-Camera quality

Shortcut

What we like

The Dual SIM function is well thought-out and the slots are easily accessible. Also, the back side of the device is well manufactured.

What we'd like to see

The battery performance leaves something to be desired, especially since the device's energy consumption is almost identical to that of the A1000. A few more hours in the WLAN test would have brought the device a higher score.

What surprises us

The combination of an IPS panel, high contrast and good display brightness is appealing to us -- the weak resolution is not.

The competition

Lenovo IdeaTab A1000

Lenovo IdeaTab S6000

Asus Memo Pad HD 7

Google Nexus 7 2013

Apple iPad Mini

Rating

Lenovo IdeaTab A3000-H - 09/16/2013 v3(old)
Daniel Schuster

Chassis
79%
Keyboard
60%
Pointing Device
85%
Connectivity
42%
Weight
100%
Battery
93%
Display
84%
Games Performance
36%
Application Performance
48%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Add Points
70%
Average
74%
84%
Tablet - Weighted Average
Daniel Schuster, 2013-09-25 (Update: 2018-05-15)