Lenovo Announces Sub-2lbs Entertainment Tablet
Lenovo is releasing a lightweight Android tablet in early June sporting "amped up" multimedia features.
On Wednesday, Lenovo announced the upcoming IdeaTab S2109, an Android-based tablet with "amped up" multimedia features. It's also one of the lightest 9.7-inch tablets on the market, weighing in at just 1.27 pounds and measuring just 1/3-inches thick. The pricetag is rather lightweight too, starting at $349.
"The IdeaTab S2109 tablet is an entertainment maven’s dream device, boasting powerful processing and graphics for multimedia use," said Yao Li, director of Innovation Product Operations, Lenovo. "The tablet’s Ice Cream Sandwich OS and amped-up features give consumers something that will keep them conveniently entertained anywhere, anytime in an incredibly slim package."
Lenovo's new tablet features a unibody shell with a gunmetal finish. Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" is the OS of choice, backed by a Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 dual core SoC. Additional specs include up to 1 GB of RAM, an extra-bright IPS display, HDMI output, four SRS surround sound speakers, and a battery life of up to 10 hours.
Also on the hardware list is a microSD card slot, a microUSB port for charging and connecting other devices, and a 1.3MP front webcam for crystal-clear video chatting. Running on top of Google's Android 4.0 will be Lenovo's own user-friendly interface, displaying custom content in addition to providing easy access to the Lenovo App Store and Google Play.
Presently Lenovo doesn't offer a detailed list of specs, as the tablet isn't due to arrive until early June. That said, storage capacities and pricing is unknown at this point. The product website states the tablet will offer "up to 1 GB LPDDR2 memory" and "up to 32 GB storage," so we expect to see multiple options next week.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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wasabiman321 I would hardly call an OMAP 4430 powerful >_> Multimedia is supposed to include gaming right? Seems like this is just a glorified general use tablet with a focus on watching movies and videos. For the price it seems fair, but misrepresented, bad marketing IMHO.Reply -
amuffin wasabiman321I would hardly call an OMAP 4430 powerful >_> Multimedia is supposed to include gaming right? Seems like this is just a glorified general use tablet with a focus on watching movies and videos. For the price it seems fair, but misrepresented, bad marketing IMHO.Tablet gaming, NOPE!Reply
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ojas Hmmm. The Dell tablet that we were told about was more powerful than this yet it was flamed. Why? Heaven knows.Reply
Seriously, i mean people say that a SSD + 1.8GHz dual core Atom is under-powered but not this?
I mean hell i don't see a keyboard here either. This isn't a netbook, yet it's in the same price range. Shall i flame it?
That thing even had a user serviceable battery.... -
dark_lord69 eh... pass..Reply
I'll wait for a nVidia's Tegra 3.
That will be better than this one for sure! -
huron I can't ever complain about manufacturers competing and driving the prices down for the consumer. Sure...this isn't high-powered, but I'd guess most users don't need anything too powerful anyway.Reply
On a completely different note...I always wonder what the net loss or net gain is for these companies if products do not sell well...or in that same regard, what happens to the unsold products... -
Considering that Lenovo showed the S2 10 at CES in January with an S4 Krait and 1280x800 screen this is a real let down. It's obvious that they are de-contenting this in order to match the iPad2 specs and beat it by $50 in price. This is what we get when Apple offers their old tech at a lower price. Their competitors are content just to match the lowest bar. Lenovo should be beating the ipad2 on both price and specs. $50 is worth diddly-squat to a potential Apple customer.Reply