Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro, we've tested it

The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro is the new generation of one of the most original tablets on the current scene. A team that bets on a cylindrical battery on one of the sides , which brings us an autonomy of up to 18 hours of use according to the Asian company. But this battery does not stay there. Since it also serves to create a more comfortable grip of the equipment when we have it in hand and to slightly raise its screen when we lay it on a surface. Another of the singularities of the tablet is in the presence of a small projector with a power of 50 lumens and the capacity to project an image of up to 70 inches.And all this with a technical set up to what is expected in a premium tablet: display IPS resolution QHD 2560 x 1600 pixels , processor Intel Atom quad core , internal memory of 32 GB and rear camera 13 megapixels . A heavyweight in the market with a starting price of 500 euros for the WiFi version (600 euros for the 4G version) . We have had the opportunity to test this equipment in depth, we will tell you what our impressions are.

The cylindrical battery, that great invention

Lenovo has decided to maintain delivery over the cylindrical battery in your Tab 3 Pro . And we rejoice. This battery that runs along one of the sides has been one of the great surprises (for the positive) that I have taken since I analyzed equipment. The first reaction it generated was many doubts, but its usefulness is immediately apparent . Not only it allows the company to raise significantly more than autonomy that reaches the device. The cylindrical battery is a key element of the tablet's design. First of all, because by carrying a large part of the weight of the equipment to one of the sides, when holding the tablet from the battery side, it is much more comfortable to handle. In addition, when placing the tablet on a surface to navigate or watch a video, the battery raises the screen slightly, so that it is more pleasant to move with the touch functionality (than if the equipment were placed completely horizontally).

Finally, in the battery area itself a tab has been included that serves two functions: raise the end of the tablet even more so that its use is more comfortable and above all prepare the ground so that we can use your small projector.

A tablet with a built-in projector and sound with Dolby Atmos

And is that one of the most differentiating elements of the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is the projector that it incorporates. This accessory allows us to project images with a maximum size of 70 inches and a brightness of 50 lumens. Go ahead, we are not facing a great projector, although the improvement over the previous generation is evident. And just the fact of changing placement from one end to insert into the cylindrical area itself is going to be a major leap in comfort when placing the tablet to display images on a wall or an opaque surface. In addition to watching movies and series, it also becomes a very interesting tool to carry outbusiness presentations without dragging a full-size projector with us. This device is very easy to set up, with an on-screen rotating wheel to adjust focus . The projector has auto-correction of the format so that when we pass it from one part of the wall to the other it automatically corrects itself to try to show the image without distorting it.

By the way, here we must highlight the excellent audio system of the tablet , both in terms of power and quality and surround feeling. Without a doubt, it is a perfect complement to enjoy this projection experience thanks to the included Dolby Atmos technology . Through this system we can implement features such as the creation of a virtual surround sound or the ability to sharpen the dialogue in action movies where detail is lost due to sound effects.

Autonomy of up to 18 hours

And here we have another of the strengths of the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro . This equipment is capable of taking its usage time up to 18 hours (according to official Lenovo figures) thanks to its 10,200 milliamp cylindrical battery. For example, a device like the 9.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 has a battery of 5,870 milliamps in comparison (and offers around 8 hours of use).

According to our experience with the equipment we have moved in a time around 12 hours with the brightness close to 75% and a habitual use of the equipment for navigation, apps and YouTube videos. In the case of using the projector function, this figure will drop significantly, but ultimately we are facing one of the most advanced tablets on the market in terms of autonomy.

Good resolution display and elegant design

The panel of the Yoga Tab 3 Pro made an excellent impression on us. This panel IPS 10.1 inch leads to resolution QHD 2560 x 1600 pixels , which leaves a detail of 299 dots per inch . In addition to having good viewing angles, the images have a very remarkable level of brightness and color vividness, which allow us to continue viewing the contents of the tablet even under the impact of sunlight.

In terms of design, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro has an elegant appearance, with dark gray color along its cylindrical battery, the front frame and part of the rear . But in addition, a cover that imitates the touch of leather has also been added in the rear area to make it more pleasant to hold the equipment. The company has included a Micro USB port to carry out charging, two circular buttons at the ends of the battery (one to turn the screen on and off and the other to start the projector), headphone output and buttons to raise and lower the volume . In addition, for the memory expansion a tab has been hidden under the metal hinge.

The full dimensions of the tablet are placed in 25 x 18 x 3 centimeters and a weight of 667 grams. It is not close to the lightest tablets on the market but we must take into account the ease of handling that gripping the equipment from the cylindrical battery gives us. By the way, the Tab 3 Pro is prepared to withstand accidental splashes (IP21 certification).

Own applications and system

To squeeze all the juice out of this computer, Lenovo has incorporated some pre-installed apps that can give us a lot of play. For example, a Netflix widget that we find on the main screen of the equipment is striking . In fact, it may be a good idea to get hold of a video store of this type and spend some time of good entertainment showing our favorite movies and series. When it comes to taking advantage of the projector, a dedicated app is included to quickly access the multimedia content that we have saved on the computer or even to use a split screen projection.

Another of the available apps is SHAREit , designed to facilitate the exchange of files between different devices. Or SYNCit , which aims to back up our important data and save it to the cloud to access it in case any problem occurs. Another option available is to use multitasking so that we can work with several applications at the same time. Finally, we have a portal from Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro itself to learn about all the features that our device can offer us. The chosen operating system is Android 5.1 Lollipop, one of the most recent versions of the Google platform. Beyond its own functions, its great attraction is in the universe of applications it includes.

Technical characteristics and connections

Within the technical section of the equipment, we find a quad-core Intel Atom processor with a power of 1.44 GHz. This power can be taken up to 2.24 GHz at times when we need higher performance, such as a when running more complex games or applications. Along with this chip we have a 2 GB RAM . This is a remarkable set, although it is true that sometimes more RAM is missing . As for the internal memory, it goes up to 32 GB. Once we remove the space used for the system and the pre-installed apps we will have around 25 GB usefulto save our files. This space can be expanded through a MicroSD card of up to 128 GB.

In the field of connections, users can opt for a configuration with WiFi and another that includes WiFi and 4G to be able to surf the net anywhere. We also have Bluetooth to synchronize compatible devices, GPS to be anywhere and navigate or with WiFi Direct .

Price and reviews

The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro will be available in the coming days for a starting price of 500 euros for the WiFi version and 600 euros for the 4G version. In short, a top-of-the-line tablet that has been able to differentiate itself from everything we've seen so far thanks to its cylindrical battery and the use of a built-in projector . Normally, these types of alternative proposals involve sacrificing many aspects such as ease of use or design, but the Chinese company has done an excellent job . Without a doubt, a team to take into account if you are looking for a very high autonomy and additional capabilities to what a tablet normally offers us.