Gadget Review: Build quality & performance make Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 impressive

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 (8.0)
Price: Rs 20,990
Rating: 4.5
Specs: 1.86Ghz quad core Intel Atom, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage + microSD ( up to 64GB), 8-inch IPS LCD (1200 x 1920), SIM card with 3G/4G and calling, 8MP rear + 1.6Mp front cam, WiFi, BT 4.0, GPS, USB host, 6,400mAh battery, 429 grams.
Pros: Great design and build quality, excellent full HD screen, innovative new kickstand (can hang on wall), stellar performance & battery life, loud stereo speakers.
Cons: Only works with Lenovo supplied flip case (because of kickstand), limited after market accessory support.

The second iteration of Lenovo's 8-inch Yoga tablet offers much of the same but with a few key improvements. It has a higher resolution screen (1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 800 before), improved camera with a higher resolution sensor, better performance with a shift to a faster quad core Intel Atom processor and a slightly larger battery.
It still offers terrific build quality, 3G and calling with a built in SIM slot, expandable memory and the unique shape. There are multiple benefits to the shape. Firstly, the rounded edge holds a large, cylindrical battery which provides up to 18 hours of battery life. You can hold it in your left or right hand: the rounded shape provides a firm & comfortable grip, like a magazine that's been folded over. Finally, it's an ideal shape to house a kickstand. As before, the kickstand can make it stand upright and prop it on a table - but the addition of a small eyelet means that you can now also hang the tablet on a flat surface without any additional hardware - pretty neat!

The new screen is a delight - the higher resolution and more vibrant colours make the screen stand out. It's a definite improvement and makes using the device a lot more fun. In addition the Dolby front stereo speakers are really loud - obviously, the speakers are larger than conventional tablets plus have more room, thanks to the large kickstand. Many people prefer stock Android, but the Lenovo custom UI is pretty and takes advantage of the larger screen without presenting any lag. Performance from the quad core Atom processor is strong and it tackles any type of multimedia and heavy games with ease.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S (8.4)
Price: Rs 37,600
Specs: 8.4-inch super amoled (2560 x 1600), Octa core Exynos processor, 3GG RAM, 16GB + microSD (up to 128GB), fingerprint sensor, 8MP rear + 2.1MP front cam, WiFi, BT 4.0, GPS, 4,900mAh battery, 298 grams.

By Hitesh Raj Bhagat, | 27 Nov, 2014