Lenovo Yoga – it helps to be different, and it works

iPad vs Android tablet.  It’s such a common question that it seems strange the marketplace hasn’t created a more defined choice outside of that bland statement.  Lenovo may just have done that with their innovative Yoga tablet.

Reviewing Android based tablets is really nothing more than looking at the form factor and the specs to see if there is anything to set one apart from another, normally there is very little different about them, to the point where the lowest cost $99 Android tablet “at a glance” can be mistaken for the higher end – unless you look under the hood.

That’s where Lenovo has set itself apart.  Take the tablet, rethink the form factor and make it different.  Very different.

The Yoga has a large round edge which helps to grip the device in portrait mode, helps to store some of the technical bulk and therefore make the side profile of the screen area almost ridiculously thin and then there is the nifty little kick-stand.

Wrapped around this round edge, and recessed into the back of the device is a stand, swing it out for a perfect viewing experience at a table, or a tilted type and read view sitting down on a surface.

On the inside the device lacks a little power, something Lenovo are addressing with their updates announced just recently, however your average consumer won’t notice a thing – this little baby is sleek, easy to use and won’t offer you many compatibility or performance issues in regular use.

I left the Yoga with a colleague at work (thanks Ben!) who was in the market for a tablet.  As a keen observer but not a total geek, his observations were:

• The fast WiFi was awesome
• The battery life is outstanding (some of the best in class),
• the light weight makes it easy to hold in one hand for long periods of time
• performance was excellent, even when pushed with multiple tasks and gameplay
• And the design is unique

On the downside, Ben felt the stand that kicks out from the back had rough edges and could have been a tad thicker, and the 8inch form factor (as tested) seemed a bit small for e-reading and magazines.

The good news for Ben is the Yoga also comes in a 10 inch version which would likely tick both those boxes.

Overall, be it the unique design that makes this appealing alone, the fact is when you’re considering an Android Tablet this has to be at the top of your list – it works hard, performs well, and looks the goods.

[schema type=”review” rev_name=”Lenovo Yoga Tablet” rev_body=”A sleek and very different looking tablet from Lenovo which not only looks the part but does the job too” author=”Trevor Long” pubdate=”2014-03-05″ user_review=”5″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]