Pros
- Affordable price range
- Mid-range gaming chipset for performance delivery
- Slim form factor
Cons
- Older Android 12 OS
- Comes with limited RAM and storage option
Lenovo has one of the biggest portfolios in the laptop and PC segment. The brand also has created its niche with Android tablets and has released multiple models across different price spectrum. For the budget audiences too, Lenovo is offering some best options loaded with top features at affordable costs. At Giznext, we got a chance to review the Lenovo Tab M9 which is priced under Rs. 15,000 and comes as a suitable options for students and general users.
The Lenovo Tab M9 can be purchased at Rs. 13,999 in India via online and offline market. But does the affordable pricing saves the day for this Lenovo tablet? Is it fit for daily usage? Read on our feedback on the Lenovo Tab M9’s user experience and whether or not you should buy it?
Lenovo Tab M9 Retail Box Contents
- Lenovo Tab M9 Tablet (Main unit)
- Clear plastic back cover
- User manuals and guides
- SIM Card ejector tool
- USB Type C cable
- Power adapter
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Lenovo Tab M9 Review: Design And Display
The Lenovo Tab M9 flaunts a basic and practical design approach which offers a convenient user experience overall. It has a slim form factor which makes it easy to hold during operations. Lenovo has used aluminum body material to construct the Tab M9 tablet.
The tablet does feel rugged with the metallic build but is a bit slippery when used without any case or cover. This along with the large form factor hampers single hand usability. But with a weight of 344g and 7.9mm thickness, its portability factor is least hampered. You will find it super easy to slide it into your backpack and travel.
The dual tone rear panel adds to the overall premium looks. You get to select from silver and Frost Blue shades depending on your preferences. The back panel has a single rear camera island combined with an LED flash. The remaining placement of ports and keys is also neat.
There is a SIM card slot on the left panel, while the right edge has the power and volume keys. At the bottom, the USB Type-C port is placed along with the 3.5mm headphone jack. Usability factor overall is good with the Lenovo Tab M9 tablet.
Speaking of the display, the Lenovo Tab M9 sports a 9-inch display. The panel used is standard IPS LCD which can be found even on premium mid-tier tablet models and some of the flagship grade variants. The Lenovo Tab M9 has an aspect ratio of 5:3 and it supports an HD resolution of 800 x 1340 pixels. The panel supports a basic 60Hz refresh rate and 300 nits peak brightness.
The visibility experience is decent with the Lenovo Tab M9. The visuals are best when you use it for basic web browsing or apps and also online streaming. But it’s average with brightness; specifically outdoors. You might have to struggle a bit to watch content on the screen under harsh and direct sunlight.
Apart from this, this Lenovo entry-level tablet offers good visual experience. The color production is good and you would have to make least of adjustments with the display settings. Thanks to the its Widevine L1 certification, the Lenovo Tab M9’s screen offer a premium experience with video streaming at OTT platforms.
It can easily play high-res videos on Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos, and YouTube. This is one of those features that is missing from most of the low-end Android tablets in the market giving the Tab M9 an edge over the rivals.
Lenovo Tab M9 Review: Camera Performance
The Lenovo Tab M9 uses a standard camera hardware where the back panel features an 8MP sensor with and the front panel is packed with a 2MP sensor. The camera hardware delivers a basic imaging experience overall with the quality being clear and crisp across well lit situations. The same goes for video recording with the back camera.
The stability is average while recording the videos. There are a bunch of camera modes that are readily accessible via the camera app. As for the selfie lens, it is suitable for video calling or conferencing but you will need good lighting conditions for the quality to be appropriate.
Also Read: Realme Pad X 5G Android Tablet Review: An All-Rounder Mid-Range 5G Tablet
Lenovo Tab M9 Review: Hardware, Software, Battery
The Lenovo Tab M9 runs on the Helio G80 chipset. It is an entry-level gaming chipset from MediaTek with octa-cores and Mali-G52 MC2 GPU support for graphics. We already have seen a couple of tablets using the same chipset for power delivery. Now, performance is optimum when you work on different apps and also with other basic tasks including web browing and multimedia playback. In fact, its the best with the latter.
The Lenovo Tab M9 can easily complete any given task swiftly. It is loaded with 4GB RAM that helps with multitasking and 64GB storage space for storing important files and documents. The tablet offers a quick response with all the tasks and speedy switching between different apps. For additional storage space, you get the option to use an external microSD card as well.
The Lenovo Tab M9 ships with Android 12 OS. Now, this is a dated Android version which Lenovo has used but the compromises are least with the user experience. The UI is customized as per tablet which allows it to be used in the laptop mode when required.
While the Tab M9 ships with the Android 12 operating system, it’s worth noting that it’s not the latest iteration from Google. However, Lenovo has committed to delivering the Android 13 OS update in the near future, along with three years of security updates.
The Tab M9 has a bunch of third-party streaming apps included for an effective multimedia experience. It also features Entertainment and a range of productivity centered apps including Google Kids Space. Lenovo is also promising major Android updates for the Tab M9 and it is confirmed to get Android 13 OS update in the future. But the timeline when it will be dished out remains unspecified at this point.
Lastly, the battery, the Tab M9 features an 8,300 mAh battery pack. Lenovo touts around 13 hours of backup with a single charge. We tested the battery with different aspects and the backup is close to what the brand claims. You easily get over 10 hours of battery backup with moderate usage.
Lenovo Tab M9 Review: Final Verdict
In our opinion, the Lenovo Tab M9 comes as one of the most capable Android tablet with a price range under Rs. 15,000. It has all the necessary hardware that not only pits it against the popular counterparts in this segment but also emerge as a powerful option for all consumers. The premium multimedia experience and long battery life further credits to its success in the budget tablet segment.
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