Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
In a market full of me-too Android tablets, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro dares to do things differently – and it does them well, for the most part.
An unorthodox design paired with mediocre performance might not make this the best general-use tablet around, but it's one of the best pure media players you can get.
We liked
When you've seen one Android tablet, you've seen them all – except when it's a Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro. The best thing about the tablet's unique bottom-heavy design is that it's no gimmick.
Rather, Lenovo's thoughtful approach enables the incorporation of great sound, a built-in kickstand, an unusually large battery, and a pico projector, all of which are genuinely useful additions.
Sealing the Yoga Tab 3 Pro's position as a premiere media player is its bright, sharp 10.1-inch QHD display. All in all, we can't think of a better tablet to watch movies on.
We disliked
While Lenovo obviously put a lot of thought into the Yoga Tab 3 Pro's hardware and media-playing credentials, it comes up a little short with its software.
Its custom UI, while neat and relatively unadorned, is glitchy and sluggish, while we would have expected better performance from a premium-priced tablet.
Also, though we generally love the Yoga Tab 3 Pro's unique design, it does make for a slightly cumbersome and unwieldy tablet in typical day to day usage.
Final verdict
With the Yoga Tab 3 Pro, Lenovo has been rewarded for thinking about tablets a little differently.
The ostensibly lopsided design enables a media-playing experience that's pretty much unmatched in the wide world of tablets, making it a great pick as a second screen to place around the home or take with you on your travels.
However, as a general-use tablet it's mediocre at best. If you're after a balanced iPad-like tablet experience that excels across the board, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro isn't for you.
As long as you realise you're getting a premium media player with expanded tablet capabilities as a sideline, however, you can purchase without hesitation.
First reviewed: October 2015
