The Yoga Tab 3 Pro is similar to the previous 8-inch Yoga Tab 3 but that’s where the comparison ends. The new 10.1-inch Pro version has a premium design, larger, sharper screen, a built in projector and a faster processor. Lenovo have dubbed it the ultimate video tablet which is not far off the mark.
Similar to what you will find in other high-end tablets like the Apple iPad Air 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab but if your focus is watching video then the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro is worth a closer look.
Design and Features
The Yoga Tab 3 Pro measures 9.72 by 7.05 by 0.18 inches at its thinnest point and weighs a measly 1.47 pounds. Most of the weight is concentrated in the cylinder which houses the power button on one end and projector button on the other end. The back panel is covered with a faux leather material to add to a premium look and feel.
The projector is situated in the middle of the cylinder, and once the kickstand is flipped out you can project the screen image onto a wall or screen. To focus the image, while projecting, all you need to do is rotate your finder on the screen. There is also a microSD slot which is hidden under the kickstand if you want to read external images or videos
The Yoga Tab 3 Pro comes with a 10.1-inch screen with 299 pixels per inch resolution at 2,560 by 1,600 IPS which makes it great for watching video. Below the display you’ll find the speaker grille containing volume buttons and a micro USB port on the left and nothing on the right.
Performance
The Yoga Tab 3 Pro has an Intel Atom x5-Z8500 processor with a clock speed of 2.24GHz making it similar to other high-end tablets. So you won’t have any problem switching between apps or running graphic intensive games.
The main reason for looking at the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is for the video and you won’t be disappointed. The pull-out kickstand is robust and provides 360 degrees of motion so you are not limited to viewing positions. The sound projection from the front facing for rows of speakers gives the Yoga Tab 3 Pro great sound as projects right out from under what you are watching.
Once you turn the projector on and face it at a wall or screen it delivers a bright (50 Lumens), live feed up to 70 inches at 480p resolution. It can’t compete with a dedicated projector but the ability to zoom and focus via the tablet screen makes it easy to get a sharp picture.
Another high-point is the 13-megapixel camera which takes clear, detailed pictures with true to life colour which is surprisingly good for a tablet. The front facing 5MP shooter takes great selfies and is handy for video calls.
The Yoga Tab 3 Pro has a pretty good battery. Its 10,200mAh battery lasted more than 7 hours streaming video over Wi-Fi at full brightness. Naturally, using the projector will run the battery down a lot faster than just browsing so this is a reassuring result.
Conclusions
The Yoga Tab 3 Pro, dubbed the ultimate video tablet, comes at a premium price which may scare off potential customers. However, having said this, dedicated projectors can go for hundreds, sometimes thousands of euros so the built in project is definitely a value added feature. Other top tablets don’t offer this feature and sell for similar prices.
If you’re looking for a tablet that can project and you are willing to pay a premium, then the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is a solid choice.
