Lenovo had a slightly smaller presence at MWC this year. but nonetheless we still went out to see them and to see what other new products they were announcing.
Phone-wise we have already seen most of their stuff for this year. That is taken care of under the Moto banner. The latest release being the Moto X Force, which I am currently finishing the review of and it will go live at the end of the week.
They did have a new phone to talk about, but once again this will not be coming to the UK so we didn’t really take much notice of it. Even if you were to try and import one it is very difficult to actually get hold of any Lenovo mobiles, which is a shame as they look pretty good. The phone release was the Lenovo K5. It looks a pretty good and has some okay specs, more info can be found about it here.
What we were really there to see was the new Tab3 line up as these have always been very good entry level and affordable tablets. Each year they seem to improve them a little bit more which is great news for the consumer.
The range comes in three different sizes – the 7″, 8″ and 10.1″. That 10.1″ one is aimed squarely at being used in the workplace as it has Android for Work set up on the device. The ones we are going to be focusing in on though are the smaller siblings – the Tab3 7 and Tab 3 8.
Before we get into the bits and pieces here is a video of the Tab3 8 in action..
As you can see in the video this looks like it has some pretty cool features so let’s dig in little deeper. Both Tab3 7″ and Tab3 8″ are powered by a 1GHz MediaTek quad-core processor, 1GB of memory, 5-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front facing camera combinations. Android 6.0 Marshmallow is installed by default albeit with a Lenovo theme on top of it.
The Tab3 7 has a 1280 x 800 resolution while the Tab3 8 has a higher 1920 x 1080 resolution, making that a more obvious choice for media consumption in my opinion. The are both IP52 rated so will survive the occasional splash which is handy as they’re targeting kids.
Moving onto battery and memory and we can see some more differences in this area as well. The Tab3 8 comes with 16GB of internal memory and a larger 4,290mAh battery than the 7-incher’s 3,450mAh cell and 8GB or 16GB storage options. Both devices will also be available as LTE devices in selected markets, although it’s unlikely that the UK will be one of these markets.
As mentioned before the big focus of these two tablets is to be family friendly, and Lenovo have put in a “Kids mode” to keep young users safe. Leigh was able to get a demo of this on the stand for you to see…
The Tab3 7 and Tab3 8 will be available in a vast array of different colours again though this will be market dependent. The ones on the stand were black with blue detailing which looked really very nice.
The Tab3 10 does come with a slightly higher feature set as this one is designed more as a work tool than a family device (something that it will still do admirably).
It comes with 1.3 GHz quad-core chip giving it that little bit more grunt under the hood. It also has up to 64GB of storage with up to 3GB of RAM making this a real workhorse and a very capable device. Again it is running Android 6.0 out of the box with a custom Lenovo theme. Like the smaller devices this too is IP52 rated, so will take a dousing.
We also have a an on-board battery life of 7000mAh meaning you should be able to get though the day without too much hassle. Connectivity-wise this will still support USB OTG for external drives etc and it will apparently allow you to even connect up Ethernet through an appropriate adapter.
A nice line up there from Lenovo. We haven’t seen official pricing but the Tab3 7 and 8 will be most likely be sub-£150 for their base spec and then a bit more for the higher spec devices. I would expect the The Tab3 10 to retail at under £250 for the entry level with the higher spec device being a bit higher. We should see them in stores as early as June 2016
Lenovo Unveils TAB3 Mobile Devices
TAB3 10 Business: An Android tablet tailored for business
TAB3 7 And TAB3 8: Designed for families
TAB3 10 Business optimizes business-critical hardware and software and harnesses the power and versatility of Android 6
Fully supports Android for Work™, the TAB3 10 Business is optimized for enterprise mobility and vertical integration. More durable than most tablets with a P2i water-repellent coating protecting it from the inside out, and scratch-resistant Gorilla® Glass panels
TAB3 7 and TAB3 8 designed to seamlessly pass from the hands of parents to kids with multi-user and kid’s modes and Adaptive Display technology
Barcelona – February 21, 2016: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today unveiled the TAB3 10 Business, an Android tablet engineered for business use, and the TAB3 7 and TAB3 8, Lenovo’s first series of family-friendly tablets. The TAB3 10 Business is designed as the smart company-ready, employee-friendly choice, pairing the power and versatility of Android 6.0 with the optimization and services that matter most to business professionals. Offering full support for Android For Work™, the tablet also boasts an array of security and encryption options to help users keep these devices and the work-related data on them safe and secure.
The TAB3 10 Business is optimized for business mobility, supporting personnel who need to be constantly on the move while on the job. It adapts to any number of business use cases, from conference halls to the factory floor or to a point-of-sale kiosk. Lenovo’s user studies show tablets to be the most shared devices in the family. That’s why we designed the TAB3 8 and 7 for sharing—supporting multi-user modes. And because we know kids will use it, we’ve introduced a dedicated kid’s mode and kid-friendly features such as an adaptive display, making it suitable for everyone in the family.
Because a growing number of businesses are adopting Android tablets to increase employee productivity, we’ve created the TAB3 10 Business, featuring software and hardware optimized for commercial usage.
We’ve made sure the TAB3 10 Business comes with the right system and apps for business. The tablet features Android for Work™, which provides dedicated profiles for business content and affords higher security and manageability. It’s also pre-loaded with productive Android for Work apps, Google Play for Work, and a Kiosk Mode that allows users to set up their TAB3 10 Business as an interactive kiosk. The tablet also supports industry solutions for classroom management, point-of-sale management and e-Health management. And the TAB3 10 Business meets users’ expectations for durability – it can withstand the wear and tear of tough working environments using P2i technology to achieve IP52 performance for dust- and splash-proofing and shielding through scratch-resistant Gorilla® Glass 3 panels.
Fully manageable and secure, the TAB3 10 Business uses hardware encryption software and policy control and distant control capabilities. Lenovo has integrated the TAB3 10 Business with persistent endpoint protection, which shields business networks; and geotechnology, which allows businesses to track devices and even create geofences. Its mobile device management system also boasts remote control, silent installation of applications and hardware and software functions lock-down capabilities.
We also back up the tablet’s workplace flexibility and vertical integration potential with the right hardware and features. The 1.3GHz Quad-core processor gives users quick and powerful multi-tasking and multi-window support. Meanwhile, personnel can stay mobile throughout the day with up to 12 hours of battery life,[1] along with a full suite of on-the-go features such as full USB on-the-go for easily connecting external storage, Y- and T- connectors, RJ45 cables or card readers. A range of connectivity, including NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi AC full GPS[2] and optional 4G, complement this suite.
And as business-specific use cases range from digital displays to conference calls, we’ve packed in graphics and sound that excel, with a 10″ full-HD IPS display with Gorilla® Glass 3 and dual speakers boosted by Dolby Atmos® cinematic movie audio. The tablet’s 8MP auto-focus rear camera and 5MP fixed-focus front camera produce quality pictures with high-resolution clarity.
TAB3 7 and TAB3 8: Engineered for the family
For many families, watching videos or playing games on a tablet requires sharing. We built the TAB3 7 and 8 series of tablets to make it easier for families with multi-user modes and similar features. For younger children, the tablet also comes pre-loaded with dedicated kid’s mode with safe Web-browsing options and the ability to restrict access to the tablet at chosen times or days of the week. Meanwhile, multi-user modes allow families to share tablets without having to share backgrounds, apps and email.
For parents worried about the effects of blue light from device screens on young eyes, the TAB3 7 and TAB3 8 come with Adaptive Display technology that can filter out blue light. The screen can adjust the tablet’s visuals and sounds based on what the user is looking at on the screen. It also adjusts for brightness and color, detecting the ambient lighting of the surrounding environment with the help of sensors.
The TAB3 7 and TAB3 8 are versatile performers, running on 1.0GHz Quad-Core processors, featuring 2MP front and 5MP rear cameras and Dolby Atmos® cinematic moving audio. They’re also available with 4G LTE optional-support for ultra-fast Internet connectivity while on the go.[3]
TAB3 7: The Family Tablet That Fits In Your Pocket
The compact and colorful TAB3 7 comes with a vibrant 7″ SD IPS display and is made for the mobile and active lifestyles of younger users who love to spend time outdoors. The water repellent coating means users can take it just about anywhere without worrying about water splashing over the tablet–in the kitchen, in the rain or even in the bathroom.
TAB3 8: Strikes an Ideal Balance between Portability and Easy Reading
With an 8″ HD IPS display and front-facing dual speakers enhanced with Dolby Atmos® cinematic moving audio, the TAB3 8 makes a perfect multimedia companion for long road trips or at home. Great for all members of the family, the versatile device comes with multi-user support so users can share their tablet with their teenagers or younger kids Like the TAB 3 7, it also provides safe Web-browsing and restricted access as well as safe viewing modes for children in Kid’s Mode.
The TAB3 10 Business is available starting in July 2016; TAB3 7 starting at €119 from June 2016; and TAB3 8 starting at €149 from June 2016, available at all Lenovo Retail Partners.
All Lenovo products are available on www.lenovo.com.
*Prices do not include tax or shipping or options and are subject to change without notice; additional terms and conditions apply. Reseller prices may vary. On-shelf dates may vary by geography and products may only be available in selected markets. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice.
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $46 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial and enterprise technology. Our portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs (including the legendary Think and multimode YOGA brands), workstations, servers, storage, smart TVs and a family of mobile products like smartphones (including the Moto brand), tablets and apps. Join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@Lenovo), or visit us at www.lenovo.com.
[1] Actual battery life may vary from specifications. The listed battery life is only achieved on the select models and configurations tested by Lenovo under specific test settings at the time of publication. This is not an estimate of the system’s battery life under any conditions other than the specific test settings. This battery’s maximum capacity will decrease with time and use, as with all batteries.
[2] With BEIDOU for Mainland China version, and with GLONASS for Rest of the World version.
[3] 4G provided by carrier, separate contract required
