I replaced my iPad Air with a $400 Lenovo tablet for a month - here's my buying advice

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a midrange entertainment tablet starting at $290 for the 128GB model and $400 for the 256GB option.
• This is one of the few midrange Android tablets that can truly work for entertainment and productivity, carefully straddling both lines.
• This 12.7-inch tablet comes with a stylus, but you'll likely need to get a case to make carrying it easier; it's also equipped to support only two major OS upgrades.

Lenovo recently launched the Idea Tab Pro, a midrange Android tablet that starts at just $290. Even at such an affordable price, its specs are nothing short of impressive. 

Also: Why I prefer this Lenovo tablet over competing models that cost twice the price

The 12.7-inch Lenovo Idea Tab Pro features an IPS LCD with a 2944 x 1840 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The most affordable $290 option has 128GB of internal storage, while the $400 option comes with 256 GB. The tablet has a microSD card slot to expand storage to up to 1TB, which provides flexibility for different storage needs without significantly increasing the price. 

Each Lenovo Idea Tab Pro includes a Lenovo Tab Pen Plus, which means you don't have to spend more money on an additional stylus. The Pen Plus looks and functions a lot like the Apple Pencil and the Zagg Pro Stylus, so it's lightweight and has a comfortable nib that glides smoothly on the screen. 

My note-taking heart rejoices anytime a tablet comes with a stylus. I love putting pen to paper to take notes, make schedules, and doodle, but tablets are easier to carry all your notes in one place, instead of taking journals and notebooks everywhere. They're also multipurpose devices, so they can do much more than just hold your notes, and the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a prime example of this.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Any time I can get away with using my iPad instead of opening my laptop, I do it. I take my iPad everywhere with me, having grown used to carrying a device that is lighter and more compact than my MacBook Pro, but that is also able to go from a work device to an entertainment device in seconds. 

The Geekbench 6 scores are comparable to the tablet's real-world performance during my tests. While the iPad 11 outperforms the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro on CPU and GPU benchmarks, the Lenovo outperformed the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+. 

The Idea Tab Pro is a compelling mix of performance, features, and affordability over the iPad; however, because it includes a stylus, eliminating the need to buy an Apple Pencil, and has expandable storage, which Apple doesn't support.

Also: This ultraportable Android tablet has set a new bar for me - and it's not a Samsung or Google

Most midrange tablets I've tested attempt to bridge the work-to-play gap, but few have reliably succeeded. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro does. Its octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 8300 processor and 8 GB of RAM mean it's strong enough to handle most of the multitasking I need in my work as a writer. I can easily rely on the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro to stand up to my research, writing, and multimedia processing, as long as the latter isn't a strong pull.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Transitioning to entertainment is easy, and the tablet's display is perfect for gaming or streaming. It shows fluid motion and a beautiful image, the latter undoubtedly thanks to the high resolution. The Idea Tab Pro has four JBL speakers and Dolby Atmos support, offering some of the best audio output I've experienced from a midrange tablet. 

Also: I replaced my Kindle with an iPad Mini as my ebook reader - 8 reasons why I don't regret it

The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro's lower price means that you have to compromise on some features. One of them is that this tablet doesn't have an OLED screen, which has become popular in more expensive mobile devices. But you also only get two major OS updates. The tablet comes with Android 14 and will only support up to Android 16. 

This is common in midrange and entry-level Android tablets to balance development costs and hardware capabilities. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro does support four years of security updates.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is perfect for anyone looking for a midrange Android tablet to become their go-to device for work and play. It's a reliable tablet with a fantastic display for the price, and its specifications surpass those of the iPad 11th generation, which is a big compliment for a tablet that starts at $290. 

Also: Why I prefer this Lenovo tablet over the iPad for multimedia consumption - and it's $130 off

For an affordable price, you get one of the best Android tablets for everyday use, plus a Lenovo Tab Pen Plus for ease of use. While it outperforms many comparably priced tablets on gaming and entertainment, thanks to its 144Hz refresh rate and quad JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos, the Idea Tab Pro has a limited CPU performance, which hinders multitasking and the use of demanding apps.