Lenovo tablets may not have as much of a following as other Android models, much less iPads, but they’re excellent devices offering good value at low to midrange prices. The latest in its lineup is the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (2nd Gen), which was released early this year. We compare this new tablet with the current standard for entry-level tablets, the Apple iPad (7th Gen), to see whether it’s worth recommending.
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iPad vs Lenovo Tablet Comparison Chart
| Model | Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (2nd Gen) | |
 |  | |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
| Rating | 13,770 Reviews | |
| Display Size | 10.2″ | 10.3″ |
| Resolution | 2160 x 1620 pixels | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Pixel Density | 264 ppi | 220 ppi |
| Height | 9.8″ | 9.6″ |
| Width | 6.8″ | 6.0″ |
| Depth | 0.29″ | 0.3″ |
| Weight | 1.09 lbs | 1.01 lbs |
| System Chip | A10 Fusion | Octa-core 2.3 GHz |
| GPU | M10 Coprocessor | n/a |
| Internal Storage | 32GB, 128GB | 32GB, 64GB |
| Expandable Storage | No | Yes |
| Front Camera | 1.2MP | 5MP |
| Rear Camera | 8MP with HDR, 1080p HD video | 8MP |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard | None |
| Colors | Silver, Gold, Space Gray | Iron Grey |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours | Up to 7 hours |
| Released | September 2019 | January 2020 |
Design
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus is slimmer and has thinner bezels than the
Lenovo has definitely stepped up its efforts on the design aspect of its tablets. The Tab M10 Plus (2nd Gen) doesn’t look like a typical Android tablet, which is just the brutal truth among its other models. Its all-metal body sports an “ultramodern” design, according to the brand, and we’d agree that it looks more premium than its price suggests.
The most noticeable difference between previous Lenovo tablets is the slimmer bezels surrounding the 10.3-inch display. This gives it the slightly larger screen over the iPad 7th Gen despite being much narrower. Its back casing looks quite sleek though we still heavily favor the matte aluminum of the iPad. The rear camera of the Tab M10 Plus also sticks out a little while the one on the iPad 2020 remains flat with the casing.
Because of its smaller profile, the Tab M10 Plus is easier to handle with one hand, though both are highly portable. It doesn’t feel cheap or heavy, which is a solid plus since it costs way less than the iPad. We’re frankly surprised at how good it looks especially with those thin bezels. Meanwhile, the look of the iPad 7th Gen is practically unchanged from previous generations.
Performance
The
We can expect that any Android tablet that can match the iPad’s base performance will have a comparable or higher price tag. As it is, the iPad 7th Gen will be able to dance circles around the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus. It’s much faster and can handle multiple apps easily, letting you utilize split-screen mode or switch between apps smoothly. Moreover, it can churn through more intensive tasks like video editing quicker.
In comparison, the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus is intended to be a family tablet. It’s built to be a portable entertainment device that streams videos and plays games well, but that’s about it. You can try to do some work on it, but you’d be better off just getting off the couch and opening your laptop instead. Meanwhile, the iPad 7th Gen can function as a productivity tablet, especially with the Apple Pencil.
There’s still no getting around how much smoother and just overall better the iOS experience is for tablets. Now that Apple has launched a fully separate iPadOS for its tablet line, the operating system along with apps and future patches will be better optimized for its larger mobile devices. Android does provide a lot more flexibility, but it’s still yet to match how optimized the iPadOS is.
Cameras and Storage
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus has expandable storage while the
While you can get an iPad 7th Gen with 128GB of internal storage, the 64GB memory of the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus can be further expanded with a microSD card. This can boost its storage by up to 256GB, so you can install all the apps you want on it. Note that the Lenovo tablet is offered in either 32GB and 64GB versions, with 2GB RAM and 4GB RAM, respectively, so opting for the larger storage also gets you better performance.
If you want to take photos and record videos with a tablet, the
The cameras on the iPad are also integral for another use besides photography: augmented reality. Apple is pushing the AR capabilities of its tablet line, improving its cameras to provide a more impressive AR experience for educational and fun applications.
Battery and Accessories
The
The Apple Pencil has been the gold standard for tablet styluses, providing a smooth and responsive drawing and writing experience still unmatched by other casual devices. It’s highly recommended getting this tool if you plan to use the iPad for studying, drawing, or doing some work. Its price hasn’t budged even though previous generations of the iPad have dropped, which just says how confident Apple is in this accessory.
There’s also a Smart Keyboard for the iPad 7th Gen that doesn’t require charging like other Bluetooth keyboards. It’s also quite expensive but it’s not nearly the must-have the Apple Pencil is. Still, they’re great add-ons for an already great tablet. They have no counterparts for the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus, though you can of course try third-party accessories.
Perhaps due to its slimmer size, the Tab M10 Plus only has enough battery life to last up to 7 hours playing videos or 8 hours while browsing the web. Actual usage will of course affect this, but the 10 hours of the iPad 7th Gen looks pretty attractive in comparison. Lenovo plans to package the Tab M10 Plus with its smart charging station though, similar to its Smart Tab bundles, which keeps the device powered as long as it’s docked.
Verdict
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus offers good value but the iPad 7th Gen is still the more fully-featured tablet.
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus has a lot going for it: a premium look and feel with reasonable power for casual day-to-day tablet use. It’s one of the better Android tablets to come out recently, especially at its price point. This is of course it’s most attractive feature; you’ll save quite a lot or buy two of them for the price of the iPad. If you’re after an affordable alternative, the Tab M10 Plus should be in your Android shortlist.
We’d still recommend shelling out the extra bucks for the Apple iPad 7th Gen if it’s at all possible. It’s just too good for its price. You’ll be able to do everything you can do on the Lenovo tablet, only faster and smoother. Its value as a portable device goes up even further with the Apple Pencil though that means spending even more. However, you won’t be disappointed at all and will consider it well worth the money spent.
Last update on 2020-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API