Lenovo Refreshes Yoga Tablet 10 with HD Display

By Jane McEntegart
published

Lenovo is growing its Yoga brand with a new tablet.

Lenovo today announced a refreshed version of its Yoga Tablet 10 slate. Announced last fall, the original Yoga tablet hasn't been out for that long, so an update already is a bit of a surprise. Still, we love when a device gets better, so we're not complaining, though early adopters of the original might not feel too great.

 

This year's Yoga Table 10 HD+ has a higher resolution display (1920 x 1080), a quad-core Snapdragon clocked to 1.6 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, up to 32 GB of storage, MicroSD support, an 8-megapixel camera with a 1.6-megapixel camera around back, and a 9000 mAh battery. The tablet ships with Android 4.3, but Lenovo is promising an OTA update for Android 4.4. Hardware aside, this year's model features the same sloped form factor for a thick, rounded edge on the bottom of the device and a tapered edge up top. There's also the same built-in stand for when you don't want to hold all 1.35 pounds of the Yoga tablet in your hand.

 

In comparison, the original Yoga 10 had a 1.2 GHz CPU, 1 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage. The display was a 1280 x 800 LCD panel and Lenovo claimed the battery, the same 9000 mAh pack that's in this year's model, could achieve 13 to 21 hours, depending on screen brightness. We're assuming that the more powerful specs in the 2014 Yoga 10 HD+ are taking that down a bit, because Lenovo's press sheet promises only 18 hours of battery.

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ is coming out in April and will cost $349. It's not clear if this version will be sold alongside the current model or if it will take its place. We'll find out for you.

Stay tuned for a hands on and pictures from the show floor!

Check out all our Mobile World Congress 2014 coverage here!

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Jane McEntegart
Topics
Lenovo
MWC
Tablets
10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • amk-aka-Phantom
    Yoga 10 HD was a solid device whose only downsides were mediocre (in terms of resolution) screen and a mediocre Mediatek CPU. Now, a FHD screen and a quad-core Snapdragon? All that at $349? My hatred for Lenovo is slowly fading. This might even be able to run Cyanogenmod (previous one can't, thanks to Mediatek)
    Reply
  • K2N hater
    Always nice to see improvements but it seems like Lenovo missed the bus. It's pretty easy to spot similar tablets everywhere.
    Reply
  • vaughn2k
    ... At a price you can't miss...??
    Reply
  • CaptainTom
    How hard would it be for MS to make the full version of Windows 8 work with ARM cpu's?
    Reply
  • joe nate
    How hard would it be for MS to make the full version of Windows 8 work with ARM cpu's?
    Very very hard. It'd likely be buggy as hell. The architecture is just too different. It's like trying to build a full size mansion - with all the luxuries of one, with match sticks.
    Reply
  • amk-aka-Phantom
    Always nice to see improvements but it seems like Lenovo missed the bus. It's pretty easy to spot similar tablets everywhere.
    Excuse me? Please point me at another tablet with 9000 mAh battery, integrated kickstand and FHD screen that costs $350!
    How hard would it be for MS to make the full version of Windows 8 work with ARM cpu's?
    Very very hard. It'd likely be buggy as hell. The architecture is just too different. It's like trying to build a full size mansion - with all the luxuries of one, with match sticks.
    It does not have to be buggy. It'll just be a lot of work. In essence, it's impossible, because what we consider "a full version of Windows" is the OS itself plus its ecosystem. Which is by now thousands of thousands of applications made for x86-based Windows. No one is going to be porting them. Why? Instead, MS simply asked Intel to make x86 efficient enough to run on mobile. And they delivered with the new Atom series. As fast as some new Pentiums/Celerons, as energy-efficient as Snapdragons. ARM is already irrelevant, it just doesn't know it.
    Reply
  • bebangs
    the built in stand is ugly, everything else is fine. If only the built-in stand comes as extra/plugable device this would have been perfect. what's the stand for? i cant stand it.
    Reply
  • amk-aka-Phantom
    the built in stand is ugly, everything else is fine. If only the built-in stand comes as extra/plugable device this would have been perfect. what's the stand for? i cant stand it.
    I recommend reading the review of the device over at Notebookcheck. It's very sturdy, allows to use the tablet in many ways (put on the table, watch a movie, no additional support needed), hides SIM and SD slot behind it and the round part of the case is that allows for a huge-capacity battery. Sure, it's not for everyone, but it can be kept closed, so it's completely invisible. Alternatively, buy a different tablet. I, for one, don't like Lenovo much, but I commend them for actually making stuff that differentiates the otherwise growing boring tablet market. It won't change my decision about my next tab being Windows based, but this is an interesting product.
    Reply
  • rwinches
    @bebangs
    The stand is great for viewing videos and for using the touch screen when placed on a desk using the different settings.

    The stand is wrapped around the battery which fits very comfortably in your hand when using the tab in portrait mode for reading eBooks.

    The optional keyboard-cover makes this a great tab.

    The only thing that kept me from purchasing after a hands on was the very thing that this update addresses.
    Reply
  • amk-aka-Phantom
    BTW, Jane: according to Lenovo (http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1772) the resolution is 1920x1200, not x1080.
    Reply