Getting into tablets can feel challenging. Either you end up with an iPad that delivers an excellent experience and charges a premium price tag, or you end up at the cheapest section with tablets like the Amazon Fire HD 7. However, the more affordable segment is filled with competition, and one such competitive product is the Lenovo Tab M7.
Lenovo has done it again and brought the 3rd generation of the M7 lineup. The 3rd gen Lenovo M7 7-inch tablet was launched in June 2021, and it brings slight improvements to the device that makes it a remarkable budget tablet. You shouldn’t expect blazing fast performance with a device like this, but you can expect it to be one of the best tablets for casual movie streaming and light gaming. So, if that’s what you want your device to be, then let’s take an in-depth look and see if the M7 can deliver on your expectations.
Lenovo Tab M7 3rd Gen – 2x Better from the last-gen M7?
The 2nd gen Tab M7 was a great deal and came under $90. However, it had performance issues and was generally reserved for the lowest of the lowest category of tablets. With that said, the new 3rd gen Tab M7 brings deserved improvements and bumps the price up to $110. So, is it worth the upgrades? Let’s take a look at everything new with the recently released Tab M7 upgrade.
Better Processor and Graphics
Gone is the dated quad-core Mediatek MT8321 processor and replaced with the new octa-core Mediatek MT8166 or 8766 processor that literally doubles the score in all testing scenarios. Where the old processor scored 400 in the Geekbench score, the new one scores 800. In fact, the overall feel and smoothness of the device are also improved.
Improved RAM and Storage
RAM and Storage is also another department that is getting an upgrade and again has been doubled from the last-gen. The RAM is now 2GB, and the storage is 32GB compared to the measly 1GB and 16GB from before.
Newer, Faster Android
The old Android 9 is replaced with the latest and greatest Android 11 update, and the upcoming release of Android 12 will make the tablet that much better. The new OS means that it has all the new features and security patches, and it will help you maintain a better experience with smoothness over time.
A little more battery
There has also been a slight improvement in the battery capacity, and the six and a half-hour of the screen on time has gone up to around seven and an hour hours for a constant screen on usage.
TLDR; We think that the extra performance and battery are worth the 20 dollar markup and make for a great experience all around. However, we would’ve liked to see USB-C, better cameras for 2021, and some more performance, but it is what it is.
What’s in the box?
The box of the Lenovo Tab M7 comes with a few things in it. It is lightweight, doesn’t take all that space, and includes the following:
- The Lenovo M7 Tablet
- A wall charger
- A micro-USB 2.0 cable
- A SIM card remover tool
- Quick start guide
Specifications
- Processor: Mediatek MT8166 – WiFi version, Mediatek MT8766 – LTE version
- GPU: IMG GE8300 GPU
- OS: Android 11 (Go edition), Android 12 (upcoming)
- RAM: 2GB LPDDR4X DRAM
- Display:7.0 inches600 x 1024 pixels, 16:9TDDI IPS LCD
- Storage: 32GB eMMC 5.1
- Camera: 2MP front camera / 2MP rear camera
- Connectivity: Micro-USB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, GSM / HSPA / LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Dimensions: 176.2 x 102.3 x 8.3 mm
- Weight: 0.55lbs (237 g)
- Battery: 3750mAh, 7 hours of SOT
Defining Features
There are a few features that help the device stand out then the competition. These not only show the device’s capability but even how it can outperform other similarly priced options.
Super Affordable Price Tag
The first and foremost reason that will get you to this device is the super affordable price tag. It comes at around $110, and you can even get it for cheaper with some deals and discounts.
Decent Battery Life
The seven hours of screen on time for a tablet of this caliber is decent, and you can expect to stream two to three movies with ease and still have some battery for the night. However, the charging speed is slow and will take around 2 hours to be fully charged.
Good display for the Price
The 600×1024 resolution may look bad at first, but the 7-inch display makes up for the resolution with an IPS panel. It has decent color reproduction and viewing angles which certainly speaks for the device. You cant expect the iPad Pro’s level of mini-LED display, but it is decent for the price.
Android Go
Android Go is the regular version of Android but with “Go” apps. These apps are lightweight, don’t require much performance to run, and are made explicitly for budget devices with lower-performing components.
Dolby Atmos Speakers
Finally, the Tab M7 comes with Dolby Atmos Speakers with some great punchy bass, and it makes all media streaming a lot better. Oh, and did we mention it has a 3.5mm headphone jack as well for connecting your headphones.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Good display with bright colors
- Incredibly affordable price tag
- Lightweight and premium built
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- microSD expansion
- Latest Android 11 and upcoming Android 12 support
- Small portable size and just 8.3mm thick
Cons
- Average Performance
- Terrible Cameras
- Dated, slow micro-USB connection
Is the Lenovo Tab M7 for you?
Now that we have seen what the device is capable of, let us look at some scenarios if you’re not sure whether you need to buy the device or not.
Buy If
Case 1: Get the Tab M7 if you want to buy an affordable android tablet for your kids or a tablet for your family. It is cheap, and you don’t have to worry if your kids end up destroying it.
Case 2: Get the Tab M7 if you want to use the tablet for media streaming and light casual gaming. Do note light casual gaming and nothing more. It won’t be able to handle high-performing games.
Case 3: Finally, the last case for getting the device is if you need a secondary tablet to help you control all your smart home appliances with ease.
Don’t Buy If
Case 1: If you are a gamer and want to play a lot of games. The Tab A7 is very underpowered and cannot run anything more than some casual games such as Clash of Clans or Chess, Candy Crush, etc.
Case2: Don’t get the device if you want to stream Full HD movies and want fantastic performance comparable to high-end tablets.
Case 3: If you want a work and productivity device that can run all high-end editing tasks and can complement your workflow. If you need a productivity device, we recommend you check out the Microsoft Surface Pro lineup.
TLDR; The Tab M7 is a decent device for the price, but the low performance, unusable cameras, and the general underperforming nature of the devices makes it a lot harder to recommend. In fact, if you end up saving for a while, you can get the larger Lenovo Tab M10 Plus for $150, which is a lot better and delivers an excellent price to performance ratio.
Little Comparison: Lenovo Tab M7 vs Amazon Fire HD 7
Though both of the tablets are low-end devices that don’t perform well, there is still a section of people looking to buy budget tablets for their homes and other uses. However, the Fire HD 7 from Amazon poses a great competition to the Tab M7 from Lenovo, and here’s a basic comparison so that you end up buying the right tablet.
Price
The Lenovo Tab M7 comes at $110 and delivers a decent media streaming experience. In contrast, the Amazon Fire HD 7 just comes shy of $90 and offers around the same experience as the Tab M7 does.
Winner – Amazon Fire HD 7
Performance
The Tab M7 comes with an octa-core chip that performs well for everyday tasks, media streaming, and a little bit of casual gaming, but the Fire HD comes with a quad-core chip that can’t keep up with the Tab M7.
Winner – Lenovo Tab M7
Display
Both the devices come with a 7-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 600 x 1024, which makes for an equal apples-to-apples comparison. However, the Lenovo Tab M7 feels a little better with extra contrast and brightness making for better visibility and color reproduction.
Winner – Lenovo Tab M7
Apps, Games, and OS
This is a section where the Lenovo Tab M7 and the Amazon Fire HD 7 differ a lot. While the Tab M7 runs Android 11, the Fire HD tablet runs Fire OS, a custom OS built on top of Android and heavily filled with Amazon services. Hence, it all boils down to personal preference and whether you need a stock Android device or something with extra Amazon services built-in.
Draw (Depends on Personal Preference)
Accessories
Accessories play an essential role in improving the overall experience of the device, and the Lenovo Tab M7, unfortunately, doesn’t have any first-party accessories built for it. However, the Fire HD 7 has a hard shell for extra protection and also has a rugged, playful cover that converts the tablet into a much more kid-friendly device.
Winner – Amazon Fire HD 7
Note: The cover and the case can be bought separately and are not included when you purchase the device.
Lenovo Tab M7 FAQs
Can we play games on Lenovo Tab M7?
Yes, the Lenovo Tab M7 can run and play games, but it can only run light gaming titles with a low-performance requirement. If you want to play high-end games, you should buy a better tablet for the job as the Tab M7 won’t fulfill your demands.
Can we call from Lenovo Tab M7?
Yes and No. The Lenovo Tab M7 comes in two variants. A WiFi-only model allows you to use the device with WiFi and an LTE model that can accept SIM cards and call other people. However, that model can get a little pricey and hence, we recommend the WiFi-only model.
Does the Lenovo Tab M7 have GPS?
Yes, the Lenovo Tab M7 has GPS and can be used to help you track different locations. However, it doesn’t have A-GPS, which can be an issue if you want precision tracking information comparable to the other tablets of 2021.
Where Can you buy Lenovo Tab M7(3rd gen)?
Availability is an issue since it was just released, but you can buy it on the Lenovo homepage, right now it’s not available on Amazon nor Wallmart as soon as it will become available we’ll update the article and leave a link below.
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Hello. My main purpose for a 7” tablet is to download Overdrive and Libby public library apps from the Google play store for ebook reading.
Will this Lenovo tablet be good for that?
Thank you.
Hi Carole! Yes, the Lenovo M7 would be totally fine for basic things like e-book reading. No need to go higher end really. Thanks for the question 🙂