
The Lenovo Tab M8 is an affordable 8-inch tablet that comes with a metal body and an HD screen. It also features a very long battery life and a quad-core processor. It has a host of positive features and a few downsides.
Its Google Assistant integration and smart charging station are some of its enviable features. It also boasts multimedia enhancements such as Dolby Atmos and fast connectivity. This review presents all the information you need to know about this tablet. Let’s dive in and find out more about Lenovo Tab M8.
Overview
Lenovo Smart Tab M8 specifications:
- Processor: 2.0GHz quad-core MediaTek Helio A22
- Display: 8-inch HD IPS LCD display, 1280 x 800 px
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 32GB, with expansion via microSD card
- Rear Camera: 5MP
- Front Camera: 2MP
- Weight: 0.67 pounds (305 g)
- Battery: 5,000mAh battery, 10W charging (direct to cable, dock) that can last you between 16-24 hours depending on your usage.
- Color: Iron Gray
What Sets Apart Lenovo Smart Tab M8 From the Rest of the Devices?
This tablet comes with Google Assistant integration, unlike most of the tablets in its category. The tablet also comes with a display that’s easy on the eyes so that you don’t strain all thanks to the light and display technology. The sleek and stylish design is also one to die for with modern simplicity and attention to detail. The device has a 95 percent metal cover and an 83 percent metal-to-body ratio that enhances the style and feel.
This Lenovo tablet gives you the chance to enjoy high-quality features at a fraction of the price. Let’s look at some of these features in detail. In our opinion, it’s the best tablet you can get for under $100, but what we would also like to point out – it doesn’t feel like a cheap budget tablet due to it’s design we would say it feels like a premium one in your hands, comparing to other tablets in that price range.
Features
Here are some of the salient features of the Lenovo Smart Tab M8.
Google Assistant integration is one of the distinct features of this tablet. I spent a few minutes trying to find out how to access Google Assistant via this tablet, luckily I was successful. Its Google assistant Lens can recognize and capture handwritten or typed text. It also lets the camera capture images of various items and searches the internet for similar pictures.
Battery Life
Lenovo Smart Tab M8 battery life is one of its sweetest spots. This tablet comes with a 5,000mAh battery. On standby, the battery can last for over a week without charging. You can recharge the battery using the dock or MicroUSB. It takes about two hours for the battery to be fully charged. When testing the battery life for their first time, it took 23 hours and 20 minutes to stream HD videos at medium brightness.
Performance
The Lenovo Smart Tab M8 HD features 2GB of RAM and it’s powered by a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset and integrated IMG GE8300 GPU. Its limited RAM is not ideal for multitasking, but it’s sufficient for performing simple tasks such as book reading and social media browsing. The tablet is also ideal for playing casual games such as Cytus 2.
Speakers
The tablet comes with stereo speakers, which are great considering it’s a budget tablet. I was able to enhance the sound quality via its Dolby Atmos, which provides different audio settings.
Cameras & Facial Recognition
Although the cameras are not that great, the 5-megapixel shooter on the rear side offers good quality images and videos provided you don’t zoom in. Unfortunately, the videos and photos from the 2-megapixel front camera seem to be blurry. With its selfie camera, you can unlock the tablet using facial recognition. It took two seconds for the device to recognize my face.
Stylish design
What attracted me to this tablet is its stylish design and simplicity. The tablet comes with a metal casing and an eye-catching presentation.
Who Is This Device For?
The Lenovo Smart Tab M8 is not the best device for those in search of a heavyweight productivity tablet. This tablet is ideal for simple tasks such as checking emails and web browsing. It can also be a great device for reading books with it’s large screen.
The software’s processor can also handle games that are not processor-intensive such as Asphalt 9 and Marvel Future Fight. When playing these games, adopt the lowest graphics settings and be ready for occasional frame drops and slow loading times. Simply put, the tablet is good for lightweight gaming and not ideal for high-end games. It can therefore work great if you have small children that need entertainment for a couple of hours.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Superb battery life
- Stereo speaker
- Up to 2TB expandable memory
- Very useful smart charging dock
- Attractive design
Cons
- Mediocre cameras
- Weak performance
- Not ideal for multitasking
What’s inside the box?
Inside the box, you’ll find the tablet, a MicroUSB cable, documentation, a 10w charger, a smart charging dock, and a SIM ejector tool.
Comparing Lenovo Tab m8 and Its Previous Model
Lenovo Tab M8 (HD) vs. Lenovo Tab M7
Lenovo Tab M8 has several improvements over Tab M7. Its resolution is 1.67 higher, 1280 x 800pxvs1024 x 600px. The screen is 14.29%; 8″vs7″. The tablet also comes with 39.28% extra battery power; 5000mAhvs3590mAh. Its main camera is 2.5x more megapixel; 5MPvs2MP while it’s CPU is 1.54 x faster than Tab M7 (4 x 2GHzvs4 x 1.3GHz).
Model | Lenovo Tab M8 | Lenovo Tab M7 |
Screen | 8 inches | 7 inches |
RAM | 3GB | 1GB |
Processor | 2.0GHz quad-core MediaTek Helio A22
IMG GE8300 GPU |
1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8321 |
Storage | 32GB | 8GB |
Rear Camera | 5-megapixel | 2-megapixel |
Battery | 5000mAh | 3590mAh |
Weight | 305g | 236g |
Lenovo Tab M8 (HD) vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0
Although these two tablets are similar, they are designed for different consumers. The Lenovo Tab M8 comes with a faster CPU speed of 4 x 2GHzvs. 4 x 1.2GHz of Galaxy Tab 4 8.0. It also has 0.5GB more RAM and an extra 16 GB of internal storage compared to Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0. These features mean that Lenovo Tab M8 will offer better performance than Galaxy Tab 4 8.0. It will also offer better gaming performance because of its superior features.
Both tablets have a screen of 8 inches so none is superior to the other.
Lenovo Tab M8’s main camera has 1.67 x more megapixels than Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0(5MPvs3MP), while its front camera has 1.54 x more megapixels than its rival (2MPvs1.3MP). This means the Lenovo Tab M8 has a superior camera.
Model | Lenovo Tab M8 | Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 |
Screen | 8.0 inches | 8.0 inches |
RAM | 2GB | 1.5GB |
Processor | 2.0GHz quad-core MediaTek Helio A22
IMG GE8300 GPU |
1.2GHz quad-core processor |
Storage | 32GB | 16GB |
Camera | 5MP rear and 2MP front camera | 3MP rear and 1.3MP front camera |
Battery | 5000mAh | 4450mAh |
Weight | 305g | 320g |
Comparing the two tablets, it’s clear that they both appeal to different consumers. If you’re looking for a device that you can use for web browsing, reading or sending emails, or even store data, either of the two tablets can work fine. If you’re looking at a better-performing tablet, the Lenovo M8 takes the trophy as it has a faster processor that can handle basic games. Lenovo also has more storage compared to the Samsung tablet making it better for users who store a lot of data.
Final Verdict
The Lenovo Smart Tab M8 is an affordable tablet with excellent battery life and an attractive display, but its performance can keep up with processor-intensive tasks. If you’re looking for a great tablet for simple tasks such as watching YouTube, surfing the web, or book reading, the Lenovo Smart Tab M8 is an ideal option. Its cameras and speakers also don’t match what you’d find in premium tablets.
If you want a cheaper tablet with similar performance, you can go for Amazon Fire HD 8. It comes with a similar HD screen.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-T290 is a direct competitor of Lenovo Smart Tab M8 and an excellent choice if you wish to get updates faster.
FAQ about Lenovo Smart Tab M8
Can I make Lenovo Smart Tab M8 faster?
Yes. Instead of purchasing a new tablet, you can implement several methods to make the tablet faster. One way is to remove any pre-installed applications you may not need. Ensure your tablet is updated to the latest software version. You can also install an antivirus.
Is it safe to conduct a hard reset or format?
The process may not bring any risk to your tablet, but you need to follow all the steps correctly. If you have any doubts, take the tablet to a professional. When resetting or formatting the tablet, the tablet should be connected to a charger or fully charged.
What happens if I forget my Lenovo Smart Tab M8 PIN code?
If you forget your PIN code, don’t enter the wrong code more than twice to avoid blocking the SIM card. Contact your telephone company to get a PUK code, with this code, create a new PIN code.
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