In an increasingly saturated tablet market, Lenovo has managed to carve out a unique space by consistently delivering affordable Android devices with impressive features. The Lenovo Tab Plus is the brand’s latest attempt to raise the bar for budget tablets, especially in the entertainment segment. With a sleek and modern design, this 11.5-inch tablet is aimed at users who prioritize media consumption, casual productivity, and daily multitasking. It boasts a sharp 2K display, immersive quad JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos, and efficient hardware that’s capable of handling everything from Netflix marathons to light gaming. Even more appealing is its price under $300, making it one of the most compelling media tablets for budget-conscious buyers in 2025.
But does it live up to the hype? Can it truly replace more expensive alternatives for streaming, browsing, and everyday use? In this detailed review, we explore whether the Lenovo Tab Plus delivers across the board or falls short in key areas. From its multimedia performance to build quality, battery life, software experience, and real-world usability, we’ll cover every aspect that matters. Whether you’re a student, a casual user, or someone seeking an affordable home entertainment device, this review will help you decide if the Lenovo Tab Plus deserves a spot on your shortlist.
Lenovo Tab Plus build quality
The Lenovo Tab Plus boasts a clean, modern aesthetic with well-defined lines, a symmetrical bezel, and a lightweight design that enhances comfort during prolonged use. Its 11.5-inch display is framed by a smooth metallic chassis that feels surprisingly premium for a device under $300. At just 480 grams, the tablet is easy to hold in one hand, whether you’re scrolling through social media in portrait mode or watching a movie in landscape orientation. The build quality gives off a refined vibe, setting it apart from typical budget tablets with plastic bodies.
Drawing inspiration from Lenovo’s Yoga series, the Tab Plus features a minimal yet functional layout. Button placement is ergonomic the power and volume controls are within easy reach, and the USB-C port is smartly located to avoid interference during use. Most importantly, the quad JBL speaker setup is positioned to deliver optimal stereo sound in landscape mode, which is clearly the intended orientation for media consumption. It’s a design choice that shows Lenovo’s attention to detail in targeting entertainment-focused users.
While the Tab Plus lacks an official IP rating for water or dust resistance, the materials feel solid and resilient enough for everyday use. The microSD card slot is a welcome addition for expanding storage beyond the internal 128GB, and it’s neatly integrated into the chassis. Lenovo also offers optional accessories, like a folio case with a built-in kickstand, that further enhance usability especially for binge-watching or casual typing on the go. These thoughtful design elements contribute to a tablet experience that feels both versatile and polished.
Join our Free Tablet Giveaway and Win a Lenovo Tab – Submit Your application
Lenovo Tab Plus display
At the core of the Lenovo Tab Plus experience is its 11.5-inch 2K IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels. While it doesn’t feature OLED technology, it still impresses with excellent sharpness, vivid colors, and rich contrast that elevate the viewing experience well beyond what most budget tablets offer. The display reaches up to 400 nits of brightness, making it ideal for indoor use and serviceable for shaded outdoor environments. The screen’s clarity and brightness work together to deliver a satisfying visual experience for everything from movies and games to eBooks and web browsing.
Media consumption is clearly the focus here. Whether you’re watching YouTube, streaming Netflix, or reading long articles, the display holds up remarkably well. Text appears crisp, and visuals are punchy without being overly saturated. The aspect ratio, likely 5:3 or 16:10, strikes a sweet spot for widescreen content while minimizing the presence of distracting black bars. This makes the tablet feel like a natural fit for horizontal use, especially when paired with its excellent speaker setup.
In terms of responsiveness, the display performs reliably. Touch input is smooth and accurate, whether you’re scrolling through apps, playing light games, or using multi finger gestures. While the refresh rate is a standard 60Hz, which may not impress power users accustomed to 90Hz or 120Hz screens, it doesn’t hinder day-to-day use. For a tablet in this price range, the Lenovo Tab Plus prioritizes visual comfort and reliability over high-end specs, and in doing so, it successfully delivers a satisfying, all-purpose display for everyday use.
Lenovo Tab Plus audio & multimedia experience
This is where the Lenovo Tab Plus truly sets itself apart from the competition its audio performance. Equipped with quad JBL speakers and enhanced by Dolby Atmos technology, the tablet delivers an audio experience that’s rarely found in devices under $300. Whether you’re watching action-packed Netflix series, enjoying YouTube content, or listening to your favorite playlists on Spotify, the sound is rich, detailed, and immersive. You won’t feel the need to reach for external speakers or Bluetooth headphones just to get decent sound—this tablet handles it all internally.
Each speaker is strategically positioned to take full advantage of the tablet’s landscape orientation, producing true stereo separation and enveloping the user in sound. Bass notes are surprisingly deep for a tablet of this size, while the mids and highs remain clear and well-balanced, even at higher volumes. Perhaps more impressive is the lack of distortion when the volume is cranked up something many budget tablets struggle with. This makes the Tab Plus a standout choice for users who prioritize sound quality alongside visuals for their entertainment needs.
Adding to its appeal for audiophiles, the Lenovo Tab Plus also supports Hi-Res Audio, making it compatible with lossless audio formats for premium listening experiences. It even includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, a rare and welcome feature in a market increasingly pushing for wireless-only solutions. This inclusion allows users to connect high-quality wired headphones or speakers, maintaining audio fidelity without relying on adapters or Bluetooth. Altogether, the Lenovo Tab Plus offers an audio setup that not only meets expectations it exceeds them, making it one of the best-sounding Android tablets in its class.
Performance of the hardware
Under the hood, the Lenovo Tab Plus is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 processor, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD). While the G99 isn’t a flagship chip, it’s one of the most efficient and capable processors in the mid-range Android space.
Apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth, and there’s virtually no lag during routine operations. Web browsing, YouTube streaming, and social media apps like Instagram and TikTok run effortlessly. You can even dabble in some light gaming—titles like Asphalt 9, COD Mobile, and PUBG Mobile run well on medium graphics settings.
The Helio G99 is also power-efficient, ensuring that thermal management is solid. The tablet remains cool during long usage sessions and doesn’t throttle easily.
This isn’t a tablet for high-end video editing or console-level gaming, but for its target audience, media consumers and casual users it’s more than sufficient.
Software & Features
The Lenovo Tab Plus ships with Android 14 out of the box, offering a clean and near-stock interface with minimal bloatware. Lenovo has kept its customizations subtle, avoiding the pitfalls of heavy skins that bog down performance.
Some thoughtful software features include:
- Google Entertainment Space: A curated hub for movies, books, and games.
- Kids Space: A safe environment for children with parental controls and age-appropriate content.
- Split-screen multitasking and floating windows allow productivity on the go.
- Smart charging and battery protection modes, which optimize battery lifespan.
Lenovo has also promised at least two years of OS updates and three years of security patches, ensuring long-term usability something not always guaranteed in this price bracket.
The tablet doesn’t support stylus input officially, but basic capacitive styluses can be used for light note-taking or navigation.
Camera Performance
Tablet cameras aren’t meant to replace smartphones, and the Lenovo Tab Plus is no exception. It features an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera, both of which are functional but unremarkable.
In daylight, the rear camera can capture decent stills for documents, QR codes, or casual snapshots. However, low-light performance is below average, with noticeable grain and soft focus.
The front camera, while serviceable for video calls, isn’t ideal for professional meetings. It lacks the AI enhancements or portrait modes found in modern smartphones, but for Zoom calls or Google Meet sessions, it does the job.
Ultimately, the camera setup is a utility not a feature highlight and that’s acceptable for this category of device.
Battery Life & Charging
Lenovo has equipped the Tab Plus with a generous 8,600mAh battery, making it a true all-day device. Thanks to the power-efficient Helio G99 chip and well-optimized software, you can expect:
- 10–12 hours of video playback on moderate brightness
- 8–9 hours of mixed-use (browsing, streaming, multitasking)
- Up to 20 hours standby with light background activity
The tablet supports 20W fast charging via USB-C, and a charger is included in the box something that’s becoming rare in 2025. A full recharge takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, which is decent given the battery size.
Lenovo also includes battery protection features like limiting charge to 80% for those who plug in overnight helpful for extending long-term battery health.
Connectivity & Extras
The Lenovo Tab Plus includes the essential modern connectivity options:
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): Fast and reliable for most users
- Bluetooth 5.2: Good range and compatibility with wireless accessories
- USB-C (USB 2.0) port for charging and data
- 3.5mm headphone jack a win for wired audio lovers
- microSD slot – supports expansion up to 1TB
There is no HDMI-out or fingerprint scanner, but face unlock using the front camera is supported. An LTE version of the tablet is expected in select markets, though availability may vary.
Unfortunately, the device lacks GPS and an accelerometer, which limits its use for turn-by-turn navigation or advanced motion-based apps.
Pros and Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| 1. 11.5” 2K display with vibrant colors 2. Quad JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos 3. Excellent battery life (up to 12 hours) 4. Clean Android 14 experience 5. 3.5mm jack + microSD slot | 1. No stylus support or accessories included 2. Average camera quality 3. Lacks GPS, accelerometer, and HDMI-out 4. No cellular version in some markets |
Conclusion
The Lenovo Tab Plus stands out as a top-tier entertainment tablet in the sub-$300 range. With its immersive quad-speaker setup, high-resolution display, clean software experience, and solid battery life, it punches well above its price tag.
While it isn’t designed for heavy productivity or photography, it excels in what it promises, a compelling, reliable, and affordable media tablet.
If your main use cases include streaming, reading, light gaming, and casual web browsing, the Lenovo Tab Plus is one of the best options currently available in 2025.