Projector included
Like your average Sandton yogini, the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is glossy, thin and gorgeous in a sharp-angled way.
This tablet is striking straight out of the box. At 13,3 inches, it is large, really large. In fact, it feels like one half (the screen half) of a Macbook, especially with its brushed metal finish. It weighs 900 g. By no means light for a tablet, but nonetheless surprising, given the sheer size of it.
The screen packs a quad-HD display (2 560 x 1 440 pixels). All those pixels make for supersharp video playback, and the device will likely appeal to the home entertainment market segment for this. It is an audience Lenovo is clearly gunning for, because the single most surprising feature of the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is the inclusion of a projector, tacked on to the end of the battery cylinder.
The tablet is capable of projecting its screen or media con- tent (up to 50 inches) on any wall or flat surface. It is not the best or brightest projector available, but it is integrated into an attractive and functional tablet, meaning one fewer gadget is needed. This will also make it useful for on-the-fly work presentations.
On the downside, the focus slider for the projector is awkwardly placed, and the screen just a smidgen too big to be comfortable when held in the portrait orientation.
The kickstand is sturdy, though, and can even be used for hanging the device if necessary. It folds flush with the back of the tablet or holds it firmly in the tent or stand positions, even when one is typing.
The tablet runs Android, with an Intel Atom processor and 2 GB Ram, making for an intuitive and fairly fast user experience, with all the Google Play store apps your heart desires. Like all Android devices, you can also sign into Chrome and the Google “ecosystem” to take all your settings and features with you from your other signed-in devices.
It comes with 32 GB internal storage (expandable with miniSD card) and the battery performance is great — up to 15 hours in theory, and a full work day (with hours to spare) in my experience.
Using the projector slashes the battery life dramatically, of course, but it will still take you through a feature-length film. It takes a Sim card for extra mobility, and has front (1,6 MP) and rear (8 MP) cameras, too.
With its giant screen, you know the device is styling itself as a niche offering. Despite this, it has solid extra features that will have you rethinking the case for using a tablet. In many ways, the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro offers the best of both PC and tablet worlds, especially when paired with a Bluetooth keyboard. Admittedly, though, it is too large for a handbag or pocket, so you’ll need to lug it with you in a laptop bag or sleeve.