I have a fondness for large-screen tablets. Despite the recent influx of affordable Android tablets, it’s still challenging to find budget-friendly large-screen options. In many cases, consumers either have to spend a significant amount on a high-end model or settle for a smaller tablet and compromise on their content consumption experience.
Lenovo’s latest offering, the Tab P12, seems to be a tablet that perfectly fits the bill by offering affordability and a large screen. On paper, it boasts a 12.7-inch 3K resolution display, but does it live up to its promise in the real world? Read my review of the Lenovo Tab P12 to find out more about this unique device.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Design
The Lenovo Tab P12 is undoubtedly a well-built device, thanks to its metal unibody design. Despite its large size, I didn’t notice much difference in weight compared to other 11-inch Android tablets, such as the Xiaomi Pad 5 (review), which has been my daily driver for content consumption.
The Tab P12 also offers a few noteworthy features, including a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. The sensor is fast and responsive, and I registered multiple fingers, allowing for easy unlocking in any orientation. Additionally, the tablet is compatible with the folio keyboard case, which transforms it into a laptop-like device and offers a dedicated desktop mode. I even paired my wireless mouse with it, although the cursor input experience was not ideal.
While I didn’t have the official keyboard, I attempted to use the Logitech K480 multi-device wireless keyboard. However, I encountered an issue as it was a bit large to mount horizontally, and vertical mounting was also not possible due to the tablet’s weight. If you plan to purchase this tablet, I highly recommend getting the official folio keyboard case, which can be connected via the Pogo pins located on the bottom.
The tablet features a USB-C port for charging, but keep in mind that its data transfer speeds are limited to USB 2.0, and you won’t be able to dock this tablet to an external monitor. Furthermore, it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, but I was able to use my Samsung Type-C wired earphones without any issues.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Display
If there’s one reason to consider buying this tablet, it’s definitely the display. The 12.7-inch screen on the Tab P12 is nearly as large as the one on my decade-old 13-inch MacBook Pro. Not only is it impressively sized, but it’s also one of the best screens I’ve seen on a tablet in the sub-40,000 price range.
The tablet boasts a 3K resolution screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, which is a bit disappointing compared to Android tablets like the Realme Pad 2, which offer a 120Hz refresh rate at a lower cost. While the resolution is sharp for a device of this size, it does come with its own set of challenges. Since it’s not a 4K screen, most OTT platforms are limited to streaming content in 1080p, with native 4K content available only on YouTube.
The Lenovo Tab P12 excels at content upscaling, making even 1080p content appear sharp and vivid. There’s an option called “video quality enhancement” in the display settings menu that should be enabled for the best experience.
I watched both 1080p and downloaded 4K resolution movies on this tablet, and I didn’t notice any lag or stutter when playing them on MX Player Pro. I also appreciated how well the tablet reproduced colours like red and green, offering ample contrast without making scenes look artificial. This was particularly evident when watching the climax scene of the movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
However, due to its considerable weight (weighing over 600 grams), holding the tablet for extended periods can be uncomfortable. I also found that the screen reflects quite a bit of light, especially when viewing content in daylight conditions.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Audio
Like many tablets these days, the Tab P12 boasts Dolby Atmos certification and features a quad-speaker setup that delivers rich audio even at higher volumes.
Watching movies and TV shows optimized for Dolby Atmos was a delightful experience on this tablet. Watching the latest horror web series “Adhithi” on Disney+ Hotstar sent shivers down my spine, and I could truly sense that the sound was emanating from all directions despite the tablet being right in front of me.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Performance
The tablet is based on the Mediatek Dimensity 7050 SoC with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. While this hardware is pretty capable for content streaming, this isn’t the best device for gamers for two reasons.
The chip just isn’t powerful enough to play games like BGMI or COD: Mobile at full 3K resolution and on top of that, the lower refresh rate screen also hinders the overall gaming performance.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Software experience
The tablet ships with stock Android 13 for tablets, complemented by a few first-party apps like Lenovo Freestyle, which facilitates screen and data sharing between two devices. Stock Android now includes an iPad-like dock that houses my favorite and recently opened apps, allowing for quick app switching without accessing the app drawer.
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Additionally, the tablet includes an app called “Tide,” which is a wellness app featuring exercises to improve focus, reduce anxiety, and my personal favorite, the sleep mode, which plays soothing audio that has put me to sleep on several occasions. Overall, the software experience on the Lenovo Tab P12 is refreshingly clean and straightforward.
Lenovo Tab P12 review: Battery Life
With its massive 10,200 mAh battery, this tablet offers impressive battery life. It comes with a 20W charger, but I was able to fast charge it using my 45W USB-PD charger. The tablet took slightly over two and a half hours to fully charge, and on a single charge, I consistently achieved over seven to eight hours of battery life. For most users, the tablet should easily last through an entire work shift without any issues.
Verdict: A Truly Large-Screen Android Tablet Built for Content Consumption
The Lenovo Tab P12 is undeniably one of the largest Android tablets available in the market for under Rs 35,000. For its asking price, it offers a solid build, an outstanding screen, and impressive speakers. While it may not be a performance powerhouse, it certainly stands out as one of the best tablets in this budget range for content consumption.
