Google may have (somewhat) abandoned tablets, but tablets certainly don’t want to leave Android behind. This is certainly demonstrated by the new Lenovo Tab P12 Pro and also the Lenovo Tab P11 5G.
The former is an interesting alternative to the iPad Pro for its creative options and its fantastic (and huge) screen, while the latter is also an eye-catching option for those who want to enjoy content and also stands out for its native 5G connectivity. Watch out for Project Unity, an option for using these tablets as more than just auxiliary screens for our PC or laptop.
Lenovo Tab P12 Pro and Lenovo Tab P11 5G Datasheet
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | Lenovo Tab P11 5G | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | AMOLED 12.6 inches Resolution 2,560 x 1,600, 120 Hz HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 600 nits | IPS 11 inch Resolution 2,000 x 1,200, 60 Hz Dolby Vision, 400 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 870 5G option | Snapdragon 750G 5G |
| RAM | 6 / 8 GB LPDDR5 | 6 / 8 GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 128 / 256 GB UFS 3.1 Expandable via microSD slot | 128 / 256 GB Expandable via microSD slot |
| Rear Cameras | 13 megapixels with autofocus 5 megapixels wide angle | 13 megapixels with autofocus and flash |
| Front Camera | 8 megapixels and ToF sensor | 8 megapixels and ToF sensor |
| Battery | 10,200 mAh 45W fast charge | 7,700 mAh 20W fast charge |
| Audio | 4 speakers SLS JBL, Dolby Atmos Dual microphone | 4 speakers SLS JBL, Dolby Atmos Dual microphone |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.25G option | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 Integrated 5G |
| Operating System | Android 11 | Android 11 |
| Others | Lenovo Precision Pen 3 optional Full keyboard with optional touch panel Side fingerprint reader | Lenovo Precision Pen 2 optional Optional keyboard pack |
| Dimensions | 285.61 x 184.53 x 5.63 mm | – |
| Weight | 565 g | 520 g |
| Price | $609.99 for Wi-Fi version €899 (excluding VAT) for the 5G version | €499 (without VAT) |
A tablet that wants to be more than a Tablet
This is probably the most ambitious tablet in the history of Lenovo. It combines high-end hardware with some software elements that we will talk about later and that also seems to point to important aspirations not only to enjoy the content but also for creative and even professional users.
The Lenovo Tab P12 Pro stands out first of all for that huge 12.6-inch AMOLED display that also adopts a 16:10 format (with some more valuable pixels of vertical resolution) and also raises support for a 120 Hz refresh rate.
This means that we have a promising fluidity for all content, but in addition that is combined with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and that maximum brightness of 600 nits that certainly make the screen a clear highlight of the experience they want to offer in Lenovo.
The Snapdragon 870 is also a valuable ally in all kinds of scenarios, and it can be accompanied by up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage that can turn this tablet into a singular team for creatives and work.
The design of the tablet stands out for its rather small bezels and above all for its really contained thickness of just 5.63 mm. On the side, by the way, there is a power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor.
This is where its new peripherals can play an important role. First, the Lenovo Precision Pen 3, which magnetically “sticks” to the back of the tablet but does so with a surprise: it charges wirelessly while attached to the back. Its action button is also customizable, and the application that controls it is even capable of helping users locate it if they misplace it.
The keyboard has been adapted to the diagonal of the screen, which allows for a full-size keyboard that is comfortable to work with and with keys that have a travel of 1.3 mm. This keyboard also has an integrated touchpad, which makes it possible to turn the tablet into an interesting laptop that, yes, is based on Android 11.
To ensure prolonged work and leisure sessions we have the help of the 10,200 mAh battery with which they promise up to 17 hours of content playback via streaming. That battery is aided by support for fast charging up to 45 W, although chargers that support such power delivery are sold separately. In the box, there is a 30W charger.
The Lenovo Tab P11 5G remains in the shadow of its big brother
The Lenovo Tab P11 5G is a somewhat more compact alternative (the 11 inches, of course, are no small thing) but also ambitious, especially for its native 5G connectivity options thanks to the Snapdragon 750G SoC.
That SoC is accompanied by up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of capacity, but it is true that here we lose some integrals in the screen (at 60 Hz and with a maximum brightness of 400 nits) and also in other areas such as biometric security, since we do not have a fingerprint reader on the side.
There are other options that are somewhat limited: its 7,700 mAh battery offers up to 12 hours of streaming content playback and 20 W fast charging. Nor will we have access to the Precision Pen 3, and instead we can work with the Precision Pen 2, which for example does not offer the magnetic adjustment system to the tablet or the wireless charging of its big brother.
The last disadvantage of this tablet – revision of the model that arrived in January 2021 – is the absence of support for Project Unity, one of the most interesting software elements of Lenovo’s proposal. Perhaps support will come in time, but for now, the only one to have access to this option is the Tab P12 Pro.
Project Unity turns the tablet into a versatile second screen
Project Unity is a technology that allows the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro to be used as a second screen for Lenovo devices running Windows 10 or Windows 11.
With this software tool, it is possible to wirelessly pair a PC or laptop with these operating systems and make them behave as that auxiliary screen that allows you to extend the conventional Windows desktop to the tablet and replicate the work surface or obtain additional space when necessary.
In fact, unlike other alternatives to take advantage of that second screen, in Project Unity, it is possible to continue using Android applications on this tablet while also using it as a secondary screen.
This can be done in parallel and without compromises to take advantage of the best of both worlds. This hybrid environment allows for example to video conference on the PC while using the touch screen to draw and share them on the virtual whiteboard of the call or to present a PowerPoint on the PC and keep access to the notes on the tablet.
This makes it possible for the extended Windows desktop to coexist with Android apps we have open – for example, with a small video player window that acts similarly to how a Picture in Picture (PiP) system would-and allows us to drag Windows app windows from one screen to the other in a natural way.
Pricing and availability of the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro and Lenovo Tab P11 5G
These new tablets will start to be available now in the United States from October 2021. The 5G variants will only be available in Europe. Prices are as follows:
- Lenovo Tab P12 Pro (Wi-Fi): starting at $609.99.
- Lenovo Tab P12 Pro (Wi-Fi + 5G): starting at €899 (excluding VAT).
- Lenovo Tab P11 5G: starting at €499 (excl. VAT).
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