There isn’t a big middle ground in the Windows tablet world right now. It’s really a pity. There’s no question that people want high-resolution screens or tons of options, but don’t want to pay for a fast processor that might go to waste. That’s what makes the Lenovo ThinkPad 10 so appealing at first glance—it’s a well-appointed 10-inch Windows tablet that won’t put a huge dent in your wallet. The question is whether it strikes the right price/performance balance it deserves. In some ways that is true, but there are also some huge sacrifices involved. Read on to see if they are worth your time.
The ThinkPad 10 doesn’t fundamentally change its design; it looks very similar to the ThinkPad 8, and not even that different from its ancestor, the ThinkPad Tablet 2. Not that there’s much reason to complain. You still get an aluminum machine that’s both thin and light (0.35 inches and 1.3 pounds, respectively), and everything feels as
comfortable and well-made as you’d expect for $599+. While this thinness doesn’t extend Lenovo tatablet battery life, this is definitely the large Windows tablet you want if you do a lot of standing and computing. It may not be as light as mobile OS-based tablets like the Galaxy Tab S or iPad Air, but it puts significantly less strain on my wrists than the larger Surface Pro 3’s 1.8 pounds and Dell’s 1.6-pound Venue 11 Pro.
Not everything is rosy with metal bodies. This is the same material and finish found on the ThinkPad 8, so scuffs and scratches may appear if you ditch the case. I was lucky enough to avoid them during my test runs, but I’m known to be very protective of my hardware. And you may never be able to keep it completely pristine. Almost every dirty fingerprint on the dark aluminum will show up for at least a while, and there are only so many times I’m willing to wipe them off.
Display, pen and sound
You’re more likely to see higher-resolution displays on larger tablets, but the ThinkPad 10’s LCD still manages to stand out in a fairly crowded space. It uses a higher 1,920 x 1,200 resolution rather than the 1080p screens you’re more likely to find at this price point; those extra vertical pixels may not look like much, but they’re helpful when browsing the web or writing reports. The 224 ppi density is also just right for Windows 8.1, which is very finicky about scaling high resolutions to the right size. The display is sharp enough that content looks good, but not so sharp that you have to squint or click a lot of tiny buttons when you switch to a traditional desktop.
Given the lack of pen input on the ThinkPad 8, you might be willing to forgive these shortcomings. You can draw with varying degrees of pressure or hover your mouse above the screen. There’s no trick to the Surface Pro 3’s OneNote shortcuts, but you do get both a right-click button and an eraser. I found that I liked the pen more than I thought – it’s light and comfortable, and I had no problems with handwriting recognition or scribbling. That being said, this is really more of a productivity tool than an art tool. It’s difficult to apply the exact force you want in a drawing, so you probably won’t”Not creating masterpieces.
performance and battery life
The ThinkPad 10’s performance is a real pain in the ass. In theory, its quad-core 1.6GHz Atom processor should make it one of the fastest Windows tablets in its class. In practice, however, it is relatively cumbersome. Even compared to older devices with 1.33GHz chips, its average benchmark score was the lowest of any Windows tablet we’ve tried. You can’t blame it on the high-resolution display, either, as the equally sharp-looking ThinkPad 8 is still faster. Synthetic testing isn’t the be all and end all of a device, but obviously a higher clock speed won’t give you any extra bragging rights.
The same is true in the real world. Like other recent Atom tablets, this larger ThinkPad can easily run the Windows 8.1 interface and browser or typical apps like Evernote, but it won’t replace a desktop or a premium laptop; it’s not meant for serious work. Creative work or high-end gaming. It’s also slow to boot, taking around 14 seconds (the Acer Iconia W4 takes 8 seconds), and the back gets noticeably hot when you play action-heavy games like Halo: Spartan Assault.
Lenovo didn’t initially position the ThinkPad 10 as a speed demon, but it’s nice to see some tangible improvements, you know? 2GB of RAM is more than enough for common tasks, though if you’re going to be juggling multiple apps at the same time, I highly recommend getting the top-tier 4GB version.
The real deal-breaker might be the poor tablet battery life I mentioned earlier. When looping a 1080p video at half brightness, the ThinkPad 10 lasted just 6 hours and 44 minutes on a charge. This result is better than the bottom-ranked ThinkPad 8 , but I’d hardly call it an encouraging success. Even playing the less strenuous SD clip, the runtime was a subpar 7 hours and 38 minutes. No, you won’t mind the shorIn the US, the ThinkPad only comes in two models: a $599 entry-level version with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and a $699 version with 4GB and 128GB of storage. If an entry-level device is just a companion to your main computer, you’ll generally be fine with it, but if it’s your main computer, you’ll want to seriously consider the price of both.
As with many tablets, you’ll likely need at least one or two accessories to complete the experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy the $45 Quickshot Cover; camera tricks aside, it does a great job of protecting the screen or propping up the tablet for watching movies. If you type a lot (which you probably are if you’re (already a ThinkPad fan), you should consider spending $90 on the Touch Case or $120 on the Ultrabook Keyboard. Sadly I haven’t had a chance to try them yet, but they should serve you better than third-party Bluetooth keyboards.
It’s hard to figure out where the ThinkPad 10 stands among its competitors. As I mentioned before, it occupies a rare middle ground in a field that’s largely divided between affordable Windows tablets and high-performance laptop alternatives. The most obvious similarity is with the Venue 11 Pro, although whether it represents a better deal depends on the discount you get.
As of this writing, you can get similar hardware and a full copy of Office for $500. Lenovo’s $100 premium does get you a slightly higher pixel count, pen input , and a lighter chassis, but those are generally perks rather than must-haves. If you’re considering a $699 ThinkPad, it’s hard to resist spending another $100 on the high-end Venue 11 Pro or the base Surface Pro 3. Both have faster Core i3 processors, and the Surface makes up for what it loses in storage. Equipped with a 12-inch screen and a more refined pen. If you’re going to spend money on a really good Windows tablet in the first place, doesn ‘t it make sense to buy something really powerful?
That last point really sums up the ThinkPad 10’s dilemma.
There’s no doubt you’re getting a lot, including a beautiful display, pen input, and top-notch industrial design. However, I can’t help but think this is an awkward, in-between product. In order to fit a ThinkPad into your life, you’ll need a reasonable budget, but not one so high that you can buy the highest-end tablet. This wouldn’t be a huge issue if the device had a long-lasting battery to give it an advantage, but it’s not – it’s actually worse than more powerful hardware like the Surface Pro, and Lenovo ThinkPad battery life is expected to be shorter3. While I really enjoy using the ThinkPad, it’s more of a tool for experts than a Swiss Army Knife. That’s great if it meets your needs, but your best bet may be to use lower-end technology to save money, or invest in something more powerful.