Review of Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 Tab: Powerful and Reliable

Lenovo unveiled the second generation of its mid-range tablet, the Tab P11 Pro Gen 2, running on Android 12. This new iteration features a Full HD OLED screen, is powered by MediaTek’s Kompanio 1300T chip, and boasts an impressive 8000 mAh battery. Compatibility with the Precision Pen 3 stylus adds a creative dimension to the user experience. Compared to the previous Tab P11 Pro, this version incorporates some features from Lenovo’s flagship tablet, the P12 Pro, while leaving behind a few functionalities from the previous model.

Presentation

Lenovo has established itself as a serious player in the tablet market since 2020 and shows no signs of slowing down. The brand is now focusing on the mid-range segment, offering highly capable products. While Lenovo has successfully competed with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S and Apple’s iPad Air in the high-end market, the mid-range market presents a different challenge. Lenovo’s strength lies in providing an ecosystem of products bundled with its tablet, rather than sold separately. This significant advantage allows for a comprehensive experience, positioning its products as more than just tablets, especially with software features complementing this vision.

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Technical Specifications of Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2

Ergonomics

The design of the new P11 Pro Gen 2 doesn’t deviate much from that of the Tab P11. The tablet feels just as comfortable in hand, and while the 5:3 aspect ratio, which was already present on the Tab P11 two years ago, may be a bit surprising, it’s easy to adapt to. The display occupies 81% of the front surface, similar to the P11 and P11 Pro. The bezels remain thin, and the front camera is horizontally positioned – the ideal layout for video calls.

In terms of connectivity, it offers Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6. The USB-C port complies with the 3.0 standard, an improvement over the Tab P11’s 2.0, but a slight step back from the first P11 Pro, which had 3.2. Additionally, it now supports the Precision Pen 3 stylus, which was previously only compatible with the Tab P12 Pro. The stylus attaches magnetically to the back of the tablet for both connection and charging, although the placement remains somewhat impractical.

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Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 Display

For the second iteration of the Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2, Lenovo has reworked the display. The screen size has been reduced to 11.2 inches but gains a 120 Hz refresh rate, a 5:3 aspect ratio, and HDR10+ compatibility. The OLED panel from the 2020 P11 Pro has been retained, emphasizing the upgrade over the Tab P11.

The default calibration of the display is quite surprising, so it’s recommended to select the Natural color mode for the most accurate colors (6499 K temperature, with a delta E of 4.2) or the Normal mode for a compromise (6647 K color temperature, with a delta E of 3). In both cases, it’s a significant improvement over the default tablet display, which has a much colder temperature (8081 K) and noticeable color deviations (delta E of 5.5).

Lenovo promises a peak brightness of 600 cd/m², and our measurements confirm a maximum brightness of 619 cd/m². This is excellent for a tablet that already handles sunlight reflections well (measured reflectance at 47.3%). At its lowest, the Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 display can reach 5.1 cd/m², which is not very dim.

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As expected from an OLED panel, the contrast ratio is nearly infinite, and there is no noticeable motion blur (zero persistence). The touch response time is 59 ms.

Performance of Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2

Lenovo has made a significant change in the SoC department by opting for MediaTek over Qualcomm. However, it’s important to note that the tablet is powered by the Kompanio 1300T chip paired with 8 GB of RAM, which is designed exclusively for tablets.

While RAM management isn’t perfect, it’s still excellent despite some minor bugs and slowdowns. The tablet shines in gaming, boasting an impressive score of 157, making it the leader in our rankings. With an average frame rate of 88 fps, it can handle even the most demanding titles from the Play Store.

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Camera

Lenovo has chosen to equip the 2022 Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 with a single 13-megapixel camera module, opting out of an ultra-wide-angle lens.

Compared to Samsung’s tablet, the P11 Pro Gen 2 offers superior results with accurate colors, better exposure control, and sharper images. However, low-light photography is less impressive, with Lenovo’s tablet exhibiting strong software processing and a reddish tint. While the Tab S7 FE Wi-Fi performs similarly, it has slightly better exposure and color tones.

When compared to Apple’s iPad 10, the Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 falls short in terms of naturalness and detail in photography, though it still delivers respectable results.

Front Camera, Portrait Mode, and Video

The tablet features an 8 MP front camera, sufficient for casual snapshots. However, image quality lacks detail, and the portrait mode, while adjustable, doesn’t match smartphone standards. For video recording, the Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 supports up to 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps, similar to the previous model and the Tab Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2.

Battery of Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2

With a slightly reduced form factor, the P11 Pro Gen 2 had to sacrifice some battery capacity, offering an 8200 mAh battery compared to the previous model’s 8600 mAh. In our testing using SmartViser, the tablet managed to last for 13 hours and 17 minutes. It’s likely that with the display refreshed at 60 Hz, battery life would be slightly better.

For charging, the tablet relies on a 20 W charger (included in the box), which can replenish the tablet’s battery in approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 Interface & Operating System

The Tab Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 runs on Android 12 with a lightweight Lenovo-branded software interface. Numerous options are available to enhance tablet use with the stylus, including quick memo recording, camera control, slide navigation during PowerPoint presentations, text copying, highlighting, and screenshot capture. It’s clear that the Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 + Precision Pen 3 combo is quite effective for boosting productivity.

To take it a step further, Lenovo introduces the Lenovo Freestyle application with this new tablet. It transforms the P11 Pro Gen 2 into an extended display. By downloading the companion app from the Windows Store and a quick pairing process, your computer gains a secondary screen. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and you’ll need to create a Lenovo account, but the performance is impressive without noticeable latency.

You can even control software on the tablet using the stylus, bypassing the need for a mouse. This means that for digital artists, the Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 can serve as a graphics tablet. Additionally, using the tablet as an extended display doesn’t hinder its regular functionality; a swipe up brings you back to the home screen without losing the connection with the computer.

Pros and Cons of Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2

Pros

High-quality finish.

Excellent OLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate.

Best Android performance to date.

Decent camera module.

Cons

Battery life is just average.

Conclusion

Despite slightly lacking in battery life compared to its competitors, the Tab Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 remains an excellent mid-range tablet. Designed around its accessories, it seamlessly transitions from a regular tablet to a PC, or even a graphics tablet or secondary screen with Lenovo Freestyle. It’s an incredibly versatile product that should cater to a wide range of users.

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