Lenovo Tab Extreme tablet review: Big pro pad also a pro gamer

A tablet as big as a laptop screen? No longer a pipe dream. At least not since the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra . Lenovo doesn’t want to be left behind either and is launching the Lenovo Tab Extreme, an extremely large tablet with a 14.

5-inch OLED screen. At an estimated base price of around US$950, it is not necessarily aimed at occasional users, but rather at professionals who, thanks to pen support and a keyboard cover, get a creative tool and workhorse. Let’s take a closer look at Lenovo’s first attempt to create such a large Android tablet for the high-priced sector.

The case is made of 100% recycled aluminum and Lenovo ships the tablet in plastic-free packaging with minimal printing. On the back there is a raised module across the entire width of the upper edge, which is covered with glass. This houses the cameras and the LED flash on the one hand, and the magnetic storage and charging option for the Lenovo Precision Pen 3 on the other.

Such a large tablet, which is only a little more than 5 millimeters thick (excluding the camera module), always carries certain risks in terms of stability. The Lenovo Tab Extreme has a high-quality build, but it yields to torsional stress at the corners and bends a little under pressure in the center. It should be stable enough for everyday use, but users should take care not to subject it to physical stress.

The material transitions are smooth and the front is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The Tab Extreme is slightly heavier than the competitor from Samsung. At 740 grams, the large tablet tires your arms quickly when held for long periods of time.

The Lenovo Tab Extreme comes with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB of mass storage and costs US$950. A 5G version is also available on request, but this is only available as an optional configuration for business customers. Lenovo’s tablet offers two USB-C ports i.

e. one with USB 3. 0 specification and one USB 2.

0 port. Very convenient, for you can charge the Tab Extreme while accessories remain connected, use it as a secondary monitor, or operate an external monitor via the USB 3. 0 port.

On the back are pogo PINs that can be used to connect a keyboard cover or a docking station. The magnetic charging and storage port for the Precision Pen 3 fully charges the pen within 30 minutes. The Tab Extreme also has a microSD reader so that data can be transferred quickly and the storage expanded.

In tests with our Angelbird V60 microSD reference card, the reader proves to be quite fast, but somewhat slower than the module in Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Ultra . Lenovo preinstalls Android 13 on the tablet and superimposes version 15 of its in-house ZUI. This results in slight changes to the settings and the design, but overall you get an Android that resembles the vanilla version quite closely.

The security patches were from June 2023 and thus still reasonably up-to-date at the time of review, but you shouldn’t expect monthly updates. The manufacturer promises 3 new Android OS upgrades, so up to Android 16 and at least four years of security updates. Third-party advertising software are not an issue, since only a few applications for the S Pen are preinstalled.

Lenovo also provides Widevine-L1 certification so that streaming content can be enjoyed in full quality on the large screen. Our test device is the WiFi variant of the Lenovo Tab Extreme and it comes with WiFi 6E, meaning it can connect to the less-used 6 GHz band. Our test with the Asus ROG Rapture AXE11000 reference router shows that a gigabit internet connection can also be utilized quite well in the 5 GHz band, but there are clear drops.

Significantly higher data rates are possible via the 6 GHz band, but the speeds fluctuate here as well. We tested the signal strength of the tablet right next to the router, where maximum reception is available and websites load quickly. At a distance of 10 meters and through 3 walls, the signal becomes much weaker with half or even a quarter of the bars remaining.

Nevertheless, complex websites are loaded very quickly, including images. Lenovo’s tablet also has a tracking module installed in the Wi-Fi version. After a few seconds outdoors, the Tab Extreme pinpoints our location at an accuracy of 2 meters.

All major satellite networks are utilized, including SBAS for even higher accuracy. Of course, we also carried out a practical test to determine the tablet’s real-world tracking capabilities. So we jumped on our bikes and took a Garmin Venu 2 smartwatch, which has high positioning accuracy, along as a comparison device.

The Lenovo Tab Extreme shows that route tracking does not count among its strengths: on rather open terrain, the given location often deviates significantly from the actual route taken, and the loop is almost not mapped at all. The tablet places us in buildings or on the wrong side of the street in the narrow streets of the old town. In short, the Lenovo Tab Extreme is adequate only for those who want to know approximately where they are, but precise navigation is out of the question.

Due to its size and weight, users will rarely use the Lenovo Tab Extreme to take photos on the go. Nevertheless, the Lenovo Tab Extreme offers an additional wide-angle camera on the back. The 5-megapixel lens is likely to be used for snapshots, which shouldn’t be enlarged, as details become visibly very coarse.

The 13 MP main camera mainly has problems with dynamics, i. e. the reproduction of very bright or very dark areas, and the sharpness of photos is also rather mediocre.

The camera can certainly be used for snapshots without hesitation, but you shouldn’t expect photos on the level of high-quality smartphone optics. Videos can be recorded in 4K and the image quality is quite good thanks to quick brightness adjustment and precise autofocus. The front camera also has a resolution of 13 megapixels and takes decent selfies in good light.

However, detail deficiencies in sharpness and contours become visible when photos are enlarged. The main camera also has to prove itself in the lab, where it shows significant sharpness problems in good lighting. But the contrast is still quite good.

Content can still be made out at an illumination of only 1 lux, but the image is very grainy in detail. Lenovo provides a decent package of accessories. Not only do you get a corresponding charger, a high-quality USB cable and a SIM tool, but also a double-sided cover that has a recess for the pen and can also function as a stand.

In addition, Lenovo supplies the Precision Pen 3, which can be used to draw on the tablet. If you want to use the Tab Extreme as a laptop replacement, you also get a keyboard case with 2 hinges, which allows you to easily adjust the angle of the screen. The large touchscreen can be operated very precisely; the surface is smooth and the display accepts commands reliably right up to the corners.

Thanks to the 120 Hz screen, operation feels very responsive. The fingerprint sensor, which can be used to biometrically unlock the tablet, is located in the standby button on the right side of the case. It reads fingers quite quickly, but it takes a moment before the Tab Extreme is actually unlocked.

Facial recognition is also possible, but this is susceptible to manipulation due to the use of 2D images. Lenovo’s Precision Pen 3, which is included, can be attached to the tablet via a magnet, either on the back or on the bottom edge in landscape mode. However, it is only charged on the back.

The pen has 4,096 pressure levels, a 30 mAh battery and weighs 16 grams. It fits well in the hand, is very easy to paint and draw with. If desired, the pen’s integrated button can be used as a remote control, meaning that it can be used to stop and start a video or music or to scroll forward in a presentation.

The Lenovo Tab Extreme comes with an OLED screen and a high resolution of 3,000 x 1,876. The limited brightness shows that the tablet is more intended for use indoors than outdoors. Lenovo specifies a maximum of 500 cd/m² and we measured 479 cd/m² in High Brightness mode, which has to be individually activated.

Other large tablets offer a little more brightness here, but are also rather poorly equipped for outdoor use on bright days. We observed PWM flickering between 130 and 280 Hz at low brightness. Unfortunately, there is no way to mitigate this with DC dimming on the Extreme Tab.

If you select the color profile “Natural”, colors are displayed very accurately; only strong green and red deviate slightly from the optimum. Overall, the display is suitable for professional use, especially since the white balance can be optimized manually. If desired, the tablet can also automatically adjust the colors to the ambient light.

As previously mentioned, the Tab Extreme is not optimally equipped for outdoor use, as the screen is quite reflective and does not provide the necessary brightness in order to display content well enough on bright days. On the other hand, those who retreat into the shade will be able to work well with the tablet. The viewing angles are very wide thanks to OLED technology, so you can view the display from the sides without issue.

The Lenovo Tab Extreme is able to display a 4K game at 19 fps, which speaks to high graphics power, but the Apple iPad Pro 12. 9 offers a frame rate that is more than twice as high. The tablet has no issues generating a smooth display in 1440p or FullHD, so it can also be used for demanding graphics processing in real time.

In the browser benchmarks, our test device is more in the upper midfield among the comparison devices. Detailed and extensive websites load quickly in everyday use and images are usually already available when scrolling. So if you like web browsing, you’ll get a very fast tablet in the Tab Extreme, but the device does not quite come close to the speed of an iPad Pro.

With UFS 3. 1 storage, the Lenovo tablet is very fast and has a competent storage controller that can utilize the possible speeds very well. Apps are loaded quickly and data transfers are carried out very swiftly.

Upon testing various games, we are pleasantly surprised: the Lenovo Tab Extreme is a fantastic gaming tablet. Why? Well, 60 fps is easily achieved in a lot of games, but the screen’s high frame rate can also be exploited. For example, PUBG Mobile runs at a fairly stable 90 fps in low settings, while the fast 2D shooter Armajet sees up to 120 fps.

The controls are also very precise, so demanding gamers who can afford it should have the Tab Extreme on their radar. Very localized, high temperatures of up to 40. 5 °C occur on the Lenovo Tab under prolonged load.

This is noticeable, but not critical. The tablet’s large surface provides enough space for cooling. The SoC also seems to feel comfortable in the case and does not throttle its performance after numerous repetitions of a benchmark.

4 speakers are common for such large tablets, but the number alone does not guarantee good sound. If you like really loud music, you’ll have to settle for a maximum of 81. 2 dB(A) on the Lenovo Tab Extreme, but the soundscape is otherwise solid.

Balanced mids and highs with occasionally very clear bass ensure that music can be enjoyed. Those who prefer to connect headphones or speakers can simply use the USB-C port or Bluetooth 5. 3.

The sound is output cleanly here. However, the selection of Bluetooth codecs could be larger; only the most important standards are supported in the form of SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and LDAC. At 12,300 mAh, the Lenovo Tab Extreme has a very strong battery compared to other tablets.

Indeed, you also notice that such a large battery is necessary due to the large screen, as more than 11 hours is not possible in WLAN surfing. On the other hand, the fact that up to 5 hours of operation under high load is possible speaks for the energy management of the large tablet. If you like watching films, you should be able to manage all parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the extended edition on one battery charge, provided they are downloaded in advance.

Even if it does get a little tight with a total duration of just over 11 hours. Lenovo has made a very good entry into the league of professional tablets with its Tab Extreme. A big plus is that you get an extensive accessory package with a folio cover and pen, which makes the overall investment lower than the Apple iPad Pro 12.

9 . The huge screen pleases with a high resolution and good color reproduction, but there is no way to mitigate the PWM flickering at low brightness levels. Two USB ports increase flexibility, and business customers can also have the tablet configured with 5G support on request.

The fact that Lenovo manufactures the back out of recycled aluminum is a small step towards more sustainable devices, and the update promise also helps to keep the device in use for as long as possible. All good so far. However, the low-resolution wide-angle camera and the tablet’s tracking capabilities, which are more gimmicks than anything else, function more poorly than well.

The WLAN is fast, the operation is precise and, as a small surprise, the Lenovo Tab Extreme proves to be a gaming expert: high frame rates are possible in some games and at least 60 fps is maintained quite reliably in others. The Lenovo Tab Extreme is a high-quality tablet with a very large screen that is well suited to professionals thanks to the pen support and keyboard cover. Home users should also take a look, for the tablet is also a great entertainer.

The iPad Pro 12. 9 is a little more compact and offers a special feature with its rather angular format. It’s even faster, but also very expensive with the corresponding accessories and memory/storage upgrades.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is cheaper in view of the recently-released successor. Availability of the Lenovo Tab Extreme appears to be limited at present, depending on location. On Lenovo’s US website , viewers can take a look at the product page of the tablet, which is marked as “Available Soon”.

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