Verdict on the Lenovo Idea Tab
The Lenovo Idea Tab is a very affordable tablet that offers attractive equipment including an active pen for a price of less than $200. Other rarities in this price class include a 5G option for mobile Internet in combination with a high-quality metal unibody case with IP certification, as well as the option for a matte display surface without annoying reflections.
While the display could have been a bit brighter, its high 2.5K resolution and smooth 90-Hz refresh rate together with a very good color accuracy are convincing. The lack of PWM flickering also allows for more comfortable viewing.
In terms of performance, the Idea Tab with the Dimensity 6300 is at a solid midrange level, although the Lenovo tablet doesn't feel really fast and you shouldn't expect to be able to use it for any demanding gaming.
Despite their stereo sound and Dolby Atmos, the speakers sound thin and lack bass, which is a bit disappointing. Lenovo is able to get sufficient battery life for everyday operation from the fairly small 7,040-mAh battery.
For students in school or college looking for an affordable tablet that includes a pen, GPS, and 5G, the Idea Tab gets our clear recommendation. It is unfortunate that there is some misleading information on the update period, but the 4 years of software support specified by Lenovo are still decent for this price class.
Pros
Cons
Price and Availability of the Lenovo Idea Tab
The Lenovo Idea Tab is available from the manufacturer directly, starting from ~$190 for a version with 4GB of RAM and the 8GB version costing ~$230.
- $329.00Lenovo Idea Tab Pro, 12.7" 3K (2944 x 1840), Touch, TDDI, 400 nits, 128GB, 8 GB LPDDR5X (Soldered), ZAE40136US, Android 14 with Pen
- $183.00Lenovo Tab M11, 11” Display, MediaTek Helio G88 Octa-Core, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 1920x1200 px, Ambient Light-Sensor, 10 Hour Battery, Comes w/Folio Case, Luna Grey
Table of Contents
- Verdict on the Lenovo Idea Tab
- Specifications of the Lenovo Idea Tab
- Case - The Android tablet uses metal
- Equipment - Lenovo tablet with a slow USB port
- Software - Tablet with Android 15
- Communication and GNSS - Affordable tablet with 5G
- Cameras - Lenovo Idea Tab with autofocus
- Accessories and Warranty - Android tablet without charger but with stylus
- Input Devices and Operation - Affordable Tab without fingerprint sensor
- Display - 11-inch tablet with IPS
- Performance - Lenovo Idea Tab uses a MediaTek chip
- Gaming - Gamers shouldn't expect too much
- Emissions - The affordable tablet stays cool
- Battery Life - Lenovo Idea Tab charges only slowly
- Notebookcheck Overall Evaluation
- Possible Alternatives in Comparison
With the Idea Tab, Lenovo introduces the smaller sibling of the Idea Tab Pro into the market. The 11-inch tablet includes a Mediatek Dimensity 6300 processor and input pen, and its AI features are supposed to make it into an ideal learning companion. According to the EU databank, the affordable Idea Pad will be provided with updates for 7 years. Find out in our review, whether a purchase of the Lenovo tablet is worthwhile.
Specifications of the Lenovo Idea Tab
Case - The Android tablet uses metal
The Lenovo Idea Tab impresses with its attractive workmanship. The metal case in the unibody design conveys a high-quality and robust impression. Thanks to the matte surface, fingerprints are hardly visible. In addition, the midrange tablet includes an IP52 certification, making it dust and water-repellant.
Lenovo offers two display versions for the Idea Tab: a matte display with a structured surface that diffuses light and reduces reflections and a glary display are available. The display-to-surface ratio of the IPS panel is at an attractive level at 83% and provides a modern look with slim bezels. The manufacturer does not give any information on the kind of protection of the display glass.
Unfortunately, the included Lenovo Pen cannot be attached to the case magnetically - neither on the long top edge, nor on the back. The PINs on the long bottom edge allow you to connect an optional keyboard cover.
Equipment - Lenovo tablet with a slow USB port
The Lenovo Idea Tab is equipped with either 4 GB or 8 GB of LPDDR4x-RAM. For the storage, versions with 128 GB or 256 GB of fast UFS 2.2 are available. In addition, the internal data storage can be expanded by up to 2 TB via microSD card with exFAT supported as the file system.
Unfortunately, the USB port is only connected with USB-2.0 speed. OTG is supported, allowing you to connect external devices such as USB sticks or keyboards. Although transfer of the display image via the USB port is not possible, the Idea Tab can be used wirelessly as a pen and touch capable monitor for a Windows 11 laptop. A 3.5-mm audio port is available for wired headphones.
microSD Card Reader
We test the card slot using our Angelbird AV Pro V60 reference storage card. At around 30 MB/s in the copy test, the transfer rates aren't very high, although they are still at a class-typical level. In the CPD test, the data transfer remains stable to a large extent.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Average of class Tablet (10.2 - 58.4, n=55, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus (Angelbird V60) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab (Angelbird V60) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software - Tablet with Android 15
The Idea Tab uses AI functions with the in-house apps such as the "AI Note" app that includes the "AI Continue Writing" or "AI Rewrite" functions. Circle to Search from Google and a special mode for operation with mouse and keyboard for productive work are also included.
At the time of our test, the Idea Tab uses Android 15 and ZUI 17 with the security patches from June 2025, resulting in a fairly current system. In its Upgrade Matrix, Lenovo promises two OS upgrades up to Android 17 and four years of security updates until 2029 for its midrange tablet. This is not bad for this price class, although the Idea Tab is also listed in the European Product Database for showing the power consumption (EPREL) – and here it is seven years.
When we follow up, the manufacturer confirms that it basically ensures seven years of free updates. However, Lenovo interprets the EU regulation in a way that the manufacturer only has to offer updates if they are planned anyways. With this, Lenovo doesn't really promise to deliver new updates for seven years.
Sustainability
Lenovo wants to be climate neutral by 2050. In addition, the manufacturer offers a CO² offset service to compensate for the CO² emissions it created.
The packaging of the Idea Tab is free of plastic and made from plant materials. We are unable to find out whether recycled components are used.
The index in the EPREL data bank attests a very good repairability by awarding the top A grade to the midrange tablet. Availability of replacement parts for seven years is also ensured (in theory).
Communication and GNSS - Affordable tablet with 5G
The Lenovo Idea Tab is only equipped with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2. The affordable tablet accesses the WLAN with only a single antenna for sending and receiving, resulting in a reduced data rate and signal strength.
In connection with our Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 reference router, the Idea Tab reaches solid transfer rates of around 300 Mbit/s on average. Even though the speed is quite acceptable for a tablet costing less than $200, due to the limited transfer rates, users with a Gigabit Internet or fiber connection won't be able to make full use of their performance potential.
The optional 5G version offers an additional Nano-SIM card slot for mobile Internet communication. A single microphone is integrated for audio recording, allowing for voice recordings and video calls.
| Networking | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Average 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Average of class Tablet | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
In terms of locating the position, the WLAN models of the Lenovo Idea Tab offer equipment with GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, while the 5G model additionally supports A-GPS. In the test, our WiFi test unit shows itself fairly accurate in determining its location.
In the direct comparison with the Garmin Venu 2 fitness smartwatch that we use as reference in our tests due to its accurate locating capabilities, the Idea Tab fares worse when changing directions. However, these small inaccuracies are rather unproblematic and hardly make any difference for everyday navigation.
Cameras - Lenovo Idea Tab with autofocus
The Idea Tab doesn't particularly focus on photo quality, but this isn't very surprising for an affordable tablet. The front camera offers a 5-MP sensor with a fixed focus, which results in less than optimal exposure of the selfies. Details also become blurry with a soft focus.
The main camera on the back offers 8 MP and an autofocus with a relatively sluggish response. The image quality is sufficient for the occasional snapshot and digitalizing notes with good sharpness and an overall satisfactory color reproduction. Only blue color tones show some visible weaknesses.
Videos can be recorded with the main camera in Full HD (1080p), and the front camera only delivers videos in HD quality.
Accessories and Warranty - Android tablet without charger but with stylus
The box of the Idea Tab includes a USB-C cable (USB 2.0), the Lenovo Tab Pen, a SIM tool, as well as a quick-start manual and warranty information. In Europe, the corresponding charger has to be purchased separately (MSRP: 29 Euros, ~$34).
Optionally, Lenovo also offers the better Stylus Tab Pen Plus (MSRP: 59 Euros, ~$69) for the midrange tablet. It supports 4,096 pressure levels and angles and has a USB-C port for charging. In addition, you can get a tablet cover in the Lenovo shop: You can choose between a folio cover (MSRP: 20 Euros, ~$23) and a folio keyboard (MSRP: 79 Euros, ~$93), which are affordable prices overall.
In general, the vendor warranty is 24 months (in Europe), either as "bring-in" or courier service. According to the data sheet, there are also warranty packages with one or three years.
Input Devices and Operation - Affordable Tab without fingerprint sensor
The Idea Tab offers a very responsive touchscreen that implements finger inputs smoothly. The MediaTek SoC is also able to handle the 90-Hz panel well with only the occasional delay.
In this price class, the active stylus support needs to be emphasized particularly. The Lenovo Tab Pen is equipped with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and angle and palm recognition. In contrast to the Plus version, it uses a replaceable instead of an integrated battery.
Even though the Lenovo Tab Pen doesn't feel like a particularly high-quality pen, it is still comfortable to hold in the hand and allows accurate writing and drawing. However, the display shows some visible delays with fast movements of the pen, but there is no exact specification of the latency. The Idea Tab is also available in a matte paper-like version that is supposed to bring a writing experience similar to writing on paper with its structured surface.
For biometrics, the affordable midrange tablet doesn't offer a fingerprint sensor but only 2D face recognition via the front camera, which is less secure.
Display - 11-inch tablet with IPS
The 11-inch 2.5K IPS panel in the 16:10 format has a fixed refresh rate of 90 Hz and good pixel density of 276 PPI. For comparison, an Apple iPad Pro only offers 264 pixels per inch. In addition, the LC panel possesses a total of three (German) certifications from TÜV Rheinland (flicker free, low blue light, reflection free).
According to the DRM app, the midrange tablet doesn't support any HDR standards. Considering the maximum brightness of 423 cd/m² in the APL test, this isn't very relevant, though. Lenovo doesn't use any high-frequency flickering to control the display brightness, which should please PWM-sensitive users.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 411 cd/m²
Contrast: 1054:1 (Black: 0.39 cd/m²)
ΔE ColorChecker Calman: 1.06 | ∀{0.5-29.43 Ø4.81}
ΔE Greyscale Calman: 1.3 | ∀{0.09-98 Ø5.1}
96.5% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.232
CCT: 6249 K
| Lenovo Idea Tab LCD IPS, 2560x1600, 11" | Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G TFT-LCD, 2560x1600, 11" | Lenovo Tab K11 Plus IPS, 2000x1200, 11.5" | Oppo Pad SE IPS, 1920x1200, 11" | Huawei MatePad SE 11 LCD, 1900x1200, 11" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -17% | 12% | -74% | -30% | |
| Brightness middle (cd/m²) | 411 | 398 -3% | 473 15% | 518 26% | 461 12% |
| Brightness (cd/m²) | 392 | 354 -10% | 449 15% | 507 29% | 451 15% |
| Brightness Distribution (%) | 91 | 84 -8% | 87 -4% | 93 2% | 87 -4% |
| Black Level * (cd/m²) | 0.39 | 0.28 28% | 0.25 36% | 0.34 13% | 0.3 23% |
| Contrast (:1) | 1054 | 1421 35% | 1892 80% | 1524 45% | 1537 46% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.06 | 1.6 -51% | 1.56 -47% | 4.54 -328% | 2.48 -134% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.92 | 3.2 18% | 3.8 3% | 7.97 -103% | 4.9 -25% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.3 | 3.2 -146% | 1.3 -0% | 4.9 -277% | 3.5 -169% |
| Gamma | 2.232 99% | 2.67 82% | 2.178 101% | 2.243 98% | 2.183 101% |
| CCT | 6249 104% | 6542 99% | 6726 97% | 7504 87% | 7471 87% |
* ... 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 8255 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
The LC display of the Idea Tab has a black value of 0.39 cd/m², which results in a solid contrast ratio of about 1:1,000. In terms of color and Grayscale accuracy, the midrange tablet is able to score with very good measurement results, and the IPS panel shows low Delta-E deviations here.
In addition to the "Standard" profile that we used in our test, users can also select another color mode or adjust the color temperature manually following their personal preference.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 21.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 11.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 10.4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 46 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (20.4 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 34.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 18.7 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 15.7 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 46 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (31.9 ms). | ||
Outdoors, the available contrast ratio in combination with the fairly low brightness often leads to insufficient readability of the display. Our test unit with its highly reflective screen shows annoying reflections on its glass surface even in the shade. In direct sunlight, the tablet is hardly usable.
Even though the brightness drops sharply from very steep viewing angles, the viewing angle stability of the Lenovo tablet is good.
Performance - Lenovo Idea Tab uses a MediaTek chip
While the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 is anything but a high-end SoC, the Cortex-A76 performance cores still ensure high values in Geekbench 6 – at least for this price class.
The results in our system benchmark measurements are also solid, approximately corresponding to the performance level of a Helio G100.
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Average of class Tablet (2597 - 74821, n=63, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (4545 - 6441, n=2) | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| AImark - Score v3.x | |
| Average of class Tablet (138 - 55794, n=56, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (n=1) | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Geekbench AI | |
| Single Precision NPU 1.4 | |
| Average of class Tablet (211 - 1483, n=15, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (n=1) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Half Precision NPU 1.4 | |
| Average of class Tablet (154 - 9666, n=15, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (n=1) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Quantized NPU 1.4 | |
| Average of class Tablet (88 - 13178, n=15, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (n=1) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
Users of an affordable midrange tablet surely won't be disappointed by the Mali-G57 MP2, even though the GPU doesn't offer a very high performance. In the GFXBench test with a high 4K resolution, we only reach a value smaller than 3 FPS with the Idea Tab, but the affordable competitors won't offer any more graphics power either.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
Smooth surfing is quite possible with the Lenovo tablet and websites are rendered fairly quickly. In the browser benchmarks, the Idea Tab reaches a very good position in our comparison field, mostly finishing in first place.
| Jetstream 2 - 2.2 Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (61.3 - 456, n=22, last 2 years) | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (n=1) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab (Chrome 139) | |
| Speedometer 3.0 - Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (1.25 - 36.8, n=56, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab (Chrome 139) | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (4.28 - 6.54, n=2) | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus (Chrome 131.0.6778.260) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 (Hauwei Browser V14) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Average of class Tablet (26 - 315, n=71, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab (Chrome 139) | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (84 - 91, n=2) | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus (Chrome 131.0.6778.260) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 (Hauwei Browser V14) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (763 - 111219, n=99, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab (Chrome 139) | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (24975 - 29211, n=3) | |
| Oppo Pad SE (Chrome 136) | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus (Chrome 131.0.6778.260) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 (Hauwei Browser V14) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 (Hauwei Browser V14) | |
| Average of class Tablet (319 - 27101, n=80, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus (Chrome 131.0.6778.260) | |
| Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (1435 - 1681, n=2) | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab (Chrome 139) | |
* ... smaller is better
The internal storage of the Lenovo Tab isn't very fast for the UFS 2.2 specifications. But the data throughput when reading and writing data blocks is still convincing.
| Lenovo Idea Tab | Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | Oppo Pad SE | Huawei MatePad SE 11 | Average 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Tablet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 41% | 44% | 39% | -39% | 3% | 81% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB (MB/s) | 534.11 | 975.3 83% | 1003.25 88% | 980 83% | 528.79 -1% | 732 ? 37% | 1516 ? 184% |
| Sequential Write 256KB (MB/s) | 489.67 | 913.33 87% | 876.29 79% | 885.6 81% | 103.41 -79% | 527 ? 8% | 1129 ? 131% |
| Random Read 4KB (MB/s) | 226.81 | 214.81 -5% | 244.03 8% | 221.2 -2% | 166.24 -27% | 192.9 ? -15% | 223 ? -2% |
| Random Write 4KB (MB/s) | 227.97 | 228.14 0% | 232.16 2% | 215.3 -6% | 119.02 -48% | 183.8 ? -19% | 253 ? 11% |
Gaming - Gamers shouldn't expect too much
The Lenovo tablet surely isn't suited for enthusiastic gamers, but current games from the Play Store are still playable. We look more closely at two Android games using the app from GameBench.
In the graphically demanding Genshin Impact open-world game, the Mali-G57 MP2 doesn't allow for smooth game play at high details. If we reduce the graphics setting, playing with the Idea Tab can be enjoyable, although it still remains far from the maximum possible 60 FPS.
A less demanding game such as PUBG Mobile can be played at 40 FPS in the HD setting, and the GPU can reach a constant 60 FPS at lower details. The shooter's currently best possible display quality (UltraHD) cannot be used.
Emissions - The affordable tablet stays cool
Temperatures
The case of the midrange tablet stays relatively cool and remains comfortable to hold in the hands even under high load. In addition, we evaluate the behavior of the Dimensity 6300 under extreme load in the stress test of 3DMark.
The Idea Tab reaches very good values here, attesting the Lenovo tablet with constant performance capabilities.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.6 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33.7 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 36.5 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33.2 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.3 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.
3DMark Steel Nomad Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Oppo Pad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G | |
| Lenovo Tab K11 Plus | |
Speakers
The Idea Tab comes with four speakers and stereo sound including Dolby Atmos support. But the sound experience is still slightly sobering. The Lenovo tablet doesn't really produce any bass and the high frequencies also sound relatively thin.
For wireless connections, Bluetooth 5.2 can be used for sound output with many audio codecs supported: SBC, AAC, aptX HD, Opus, LC3, and LDAC. The Idea Tab also offers an audio port to connect wired headphones.
Lenovo Idea Tab audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.8% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (12.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 55% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 37% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 21%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 51% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 41% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Oppo Pad SE audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.6% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 32% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 64% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 21%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 20% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - Lenovo Idea Tab charges only slowly
Power Consumption
Power is delivered by a Lithium-Ion battery with a capacity of 7,040 mAh, which is fairly small for the tablet's 11-inch size. It can be charged at a maximum of 20 watts. In our test, it takes about 2 hours to recharge a completely empty battery using the Xiaomi 25000 powerbank.
Despite the low power demands of the Dimensity 6300, the power consumption of the midrange table is a bit high at times. More than 3 watts in our measurements during idle operation leaves plenty of space for efficiency optimizations.
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  2.2 / 2.7 / 3.1 Watt |
| Load |
5.7 / 8.8 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Lenovo Idea Tab 7040 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G 9000 mAh | Lenovo Tab K11 Plus 8600 mAh | Huawei MatePad SE 11 7700 mAh | Average Mediatek Dimensity 6300 | Average of class Tablet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -30% | 32% | 14% | 13% | -34% | |
| Idle Minimum * (Watt) | 2.2 | 0.89 60% | 1.1 50% | 1.7 23% | 1.465 ? 33% | 1.994 ? 9% |
| Idle Average * (Watt) | 2.7 | 5.02 -86% | 1.3 52% | 1.9 30% | 2.34 ? 13% | 3.79 ? -40% |
| Idle Maximum * (Watt) | 3.1 | 5.05 -63% | 1.6 48% | 2.2 29% | 2.56 ? 17% | 4.15 ? -34% |
| Load Average * (Watt) | 5.7 | 4.4 23% | 5.9 -4% | 5.7 ? -0% | 9.14 ? -60% | |
| Load Maximum * (Watt) | 8.8 | 9.8 -11% | 9.7 -10% | 8.8 ? -0% | 12.9 ? -47% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power Consumption: GFXbench (150 cd/m²)
Battery Life
The battery life of the Idea Tab is neither very good nor really bad. In our WLAN test at a display brightness adjusted to 150 cd/m², the Lenovo tablet lasts for more than 12 hours, and in our test constantly playing videos with the WLAN module deactivated, the battery of the 11-inch tablets dies after more than 13 hours.
| Lenovo Idea Tab 7040 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G 9000 mAh | Lenovo Tab K11 Plus 8600 mAh | Oppo Pad SE 9340 mAh | Huawei MatePad SE 11 7700 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 31% | -7% | 90% | 14% | |
| Reader / Idle (h) | 28.4 | 25.3 -11% | 33.2 17% | ||
| H.264 (h) | 13.3 | 12.1 -9% | 15.9 20% | ||
| WiFi v1.3 (h) | 12.3 | 16.1 31% | 12.2 -1% | 23.4 90% | 15.5 26% |
| Load (h) | 4.6 | 4.3 -7% | 4.2 -9% |
Notebookcheck Overall Evaluation
With its affordable price and pen support, the Lenovo Idea Tab is an ideal companion for school or college. The unclear update support represents a minor blemish, though.
Lenovo Idea Tab
- 08/29/2025 v8
Marcus Herbrich
Total Sustainability Score: Possible Alternatives in Comparison
Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Drive | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 78%  | Lenovo Idea Tab Mediatek Dimensity 6300 ⎘ ARM Mali-G57 MP2 ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | Amazon: 1. $359.99 Lenovo Idea Tab Pro with Goo... 2. $329.00 Lenovo Idea Tab Pro, 12.7" 3... 3. $183.00 Lenovo Tab M11, 11” Displa... List Price: 200€ | 480 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 11.00" 2560x1600 274 PPI LCD IPS |
2. 77.6%  | Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 4G Mediatek Helio G100 ⎘ ARM Mali-G57 MP2 ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 2.1 | Amazon: 1. $8.00 NEW'C 2 Pack Designed for Xi... 2. $7.99 Fhyeugfy [2+1 Pack ] for Xia... 3. $8.99 Suttkue For Xiaomi Redmi Pad... | 519 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 11.00" 2560x1600 274 PPI TFT-LCD |
3. 78.1%  | Lenovo Tab K11 Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 610 ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 2.1 | Amazon: 1. $189.99 Lenovo Tab K11 TB330XU Table... 2. $236.95 Lenovo Tab Plus - 2024 - Pre... 3. $48.89 TabPen Plus for Lenovo Tab P... | 520 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 11.45" 2000x1200 204 PPI IPS |
4. 78.4%  | Oppo Pad SE Mediatek Helio G100 ⎘ ARM Mali-G57 MP2 ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | Amazon: 1. $17.89 for OnePlus Pad Lite/Oppo Pa... 2. $9.99 TMahhbid 2Pcs Matte Screen P... 3. $9.99 Fast Wireless Charger,20W Ma... List Price: 269€ | 530 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 11.00" 1920x1200 206 PPI IPS |
5. 76.2%  | Huawei MatePad SE 11 HiSilicon Kirin 710A ⎘ ARM Mali-G51 MP4 ⎘ 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.0 | Amazon: 1. $31.99 GYSDCAZ Spanish Ñ Keyboard ... 2. $21.89 Rotating Case for Huawei Mat... 3. $36.99 GYSDCAZ Spanish Ñ Keyboard ... List Price: 219€ | 475 g | 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 11.00" 1900x1200 204 PPI LCD |
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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