Review: Lenovo Miix 10 Windows 8 Tablet

If you picked the Lenovo Miix ten tablet out of the box while blindfolded, you might guess it is a Samsung product – and not in a practiced fashion.

The Miix 10 is an Intel Atom Window 8 tablet that comes in at $479, but our hands on fourth dimension with the unit was less than stellar.  From build quality to pricing signal it was difficult to become excited about the Lenovo Miix x.   Read on to learn more about Lenovo's latest Windows eight consumer tablet.

Lenovo one time again provides a tablet that feels sturdy in the hands and is comfy to use. The unit is not bloated with trial software and Lenovo has kept information technology relatively clean (except for McAfee). Optional Keyboard dock should provide great flexibility.	Poor building materials, including a inexpensive feeling and metallic colored plastic backing. Volume rocker switch also feels cheap. Price tag is a fleck too high for what Lenovo is offer. The entire unit is a chip bland and doesn't bring any unique experiences to the tabular array.
The Miix ten isn't necessarily a poor tablet, just it doesn't stand out from a crowd. An average display, decent battery life, and poor building materials create a tablet that might be proficient - at a lower price point. We recommend taking your coin and looking into other options including the ThinkPad Tablet 2 and VivoTab.

Form

Equally the Miix 10 is a consumer tablet, it arrives at your doorstep in a nicely designed black box with a picture of the tablet on the acme. Lenovo's uncomplicated, withal minimalistic, box design is the markings of a premium tablet; unfortunately, once yous open the lid, "premium" seems to slip away

I have handled and worked with a lot of various Windows 8 devices, but the Lenovo Miix 10 seems to scream "inexpensive textile" like no other I accept handled before. I'thou a big fan of Lenovo hardware, it is what I comport effectually every twenty-four hour period, but they really missed the mark on the build materials with this unit of measurement.

The tablet is constructed entirely of plastic, inexpensive plastic. It is near every bit if Lenovo took a look inside the Samsung design volume and decided to follow what they found. The dorsum of the tablet is constructed from a lightweight plastic that has been colored metal grey, in an endeavor to give a premium wait; instead, I'm just reminded every fourth dimension I pick up the unit of measurement  that "Oh yes, that is non metallic, it's plastic."

Even the buttons around the edge of the tablet feel cheap. None of the buttons gave a decent or satisfying feeling click and the giant inch long volume rocker feels like something off of a $99 Polaroid Android Tablet. The forepart of the unit houses a large black border, which once once more, makes the device appear inexpensive on sight.

If you tin go past the materials used to design the tablet, the actual "design language" is not too bad. The grey plastic back creeps up the edge of the tablet, creating a nice balanced look of color. The bottom of the unit of measurement houses a nicely sculpted expanse that houses a dock connector. Overall, the pattern ideas that went into the tablet aren't terrible, just we wish Lenovo would have stepped up the materials used or at to the lowest degree textured the plastic. In some cases it would be best to follow Jonathan I've'south advice of making a device "unapologetically plastic"; instead, Lenovo but seems to be trying to hide the materials used by painting them metallic and argent.

The port selection on the tablet is decent, only we would take liked to run into a full sized USB port. The bottom of the unit, every bit stated earlier, houses a dock connector along with a Micro USB connector. The left side of the unit is left blank, while the right side accompanies the inch long book rocker, Micro-HDMI port, Micro SD card reader, and power adapter. The elevation of the unit houses the book button on the left paw side and a 2-in-i audio jack for headphones and microphones on the correct hand side.

Device branding is minimal with merely two permanent Lenovo logos, i on the upper left of the front end black bezel and one on the back center. Lenovo did load stickers onto the back including an FCC regulation sticker, Lenovo informational sticker, Intel Inside sticker, and a Windows 8 sticker. All stickers can be removed, but make sure to write down your serial number and verbal model number from the Lenovo information sticker. To stay safe, proceed the Lenovo information sticker, in case the unit has to be sent in for repair and they demand information technology be nowadays.

Turning on the tablet can be achieved by pushing the power push or placing your finger on capacitive Windows Logo push that sits on the bottom bezel. We aren't necessarily a fan of this feature, as we felt it was as well easy to striking the logo accidently and wake the tablet.

Function

Once nosotros did wake the device, nosotros weren't very impressed with the units 10. Inch brandish. The 1366 x 768 IPS display lacks the amount of contrast and "color pop" that nosotros would expect to see from a consumer tablet such as this. The screen isn't necessarily bad, but it isn't great. If Lenovo was going to copy Samsung'southward inexpensive plastic design materials, they could have least done what Samsung e'er seems to get right – the LCD display panel.

The one.28 lbs. tablet, doesn't seem capture us with its construction, but perchance it will be improve on the within, or maybe it's just an Intel Atom - which information technology is. The Lenovo Miix 10 houses an Intel Atom processor clocked at 1.80 GHz, ii GB of 800 MHz RAM, Intel HD graphics, and a 64 GB SSD. There isn't necessarily anything bad with an Intel Atom tablet, but yous won't detect yourself quickly flying between applications and multitasking.

Intel's Atom compages limits a unit's RAM to a maximum of ii GB and keeps Windows 8 running every bit a 32 flake operating arrangement. Benefits of tablets with an Intel Atom chipset can include a thinner profile (no demand for fans) and much longer bombardment life than a Cadre series processor (although that is get-go to alter with Haswell). The Cantlet architecture also limits the speed of transfer between the SSD and the ability to integrate USB 3.0 into the device, which doesn't seem to exist an issue since Lenovo picked to forego whatever full-size USB ports.

The Lenovo Miix ten's battery life is lower than we would accept liked to see for an Intel Atom tablet. With some Atom tablets clocking in hands at over 10+ hours, the Miix 10 simply achieved effectually 7 hours of use. The unit of measurement was able to manage long periods of standby in my pocketbook, merely once use kicked in – I found my time cutting brusk. That being said, 7 hours might be more than plenty for you – simply in this tablet world, information technology is a bit low.

Everyday use of the unit was comparable to any other Windows eight Atom tablet in being; it chugged along just as the ThinkPad Tablet 2 had. With only a few Windows 8 applications open, the unit moved along like butter. Once multitasking kicked in, the unit was nonetheless a joy to use, but a slight slowdown was noticeable.

Despite the ability to run a plethora of legacy Windows software on this tablet, I wouldn't run anything across unproblematic essentials. Microsoft Role worked well, as did some of the other basic software I carry (such every bit Spotify), but running anything semi intense brought back nightmares of using a netbook in the early 2000s.

What became the existent star of the show for Lenovo's Miix 10 tablet is the included software. Usually, we hate any software that OEMs load onto their machines, but Lenovo has been on the better side of things by providing pieces of exciting, nonetheless practical, software.

Preinstalled onto the tablet is Lenovo'south Veriface face recognition software; this swell app makes signing into your tablet fast and easy. Face recognition software is one of our favorite pieces of software to find on Windows 8 tablets. While face recognition was a gimmick years agone, the technology has been greatly improved and serves as an efficient method of signing in. Lenovo's software works well, although not equally fast equally Sony's equivalent.

Registration with the software is fast and easy, just enable the software and sign into your user business relationship. As you are signing in, the software will associate your face up with the account and you are all set. Lenovo pops up the old fashion virtual keyboard to take you input your password for the starting time time, which is weird and annoying, simply the payoff is great.

We remind our readers that face recognition isn't the most secure solution for keeping your documents abroad from prying optics, simply it does let fast and convenient admission. The software does have the power to cull between various security modes, but room lighting may affect accuracy and the ability to login. During our testing, nosotros left the software setting on "medium" for a balance between accurateness and efficiency.

Lenovo has also includes their Move Command software which allows users to control basic navigation and functions with hand gestures. Adjusting volume, skipping songs, and resuming/stopping your movies are only a gesture abroad. If you lot are belongings the tablet while lying in bed, the feature is not very useful, simply if you lot take the tablet propped upwardly on a tabular array in front of you – it is fun to play around with.

Too installed on the unit are other collections of software, merely Lenovo has kept it to a minimum. On this unit, we found Lenovo's Cloud Storage software powered past Sugar Sync, Intel's AppUp Heart, and McAfee Anti-Virus (don't get me started). A few other Windows eight apps are pinned to the Start Screen, but can easily exist removed.

One of the unit of measurement's elevation selling points is an optional detachable keyboard case. Lenovo says the attached keyboard carries their "AccuType" keyboard, so nosotros are excited to endeavor it out and see exactly how well it feels. The cover costs $99 and nosotros will be getting a test one in for a review shortly.

Computer manufacturers are racing to evangelize a fun, however productive, tablet with Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system and many are turning to keyboard attachments to do so. Lenovo'due south keyboard attachment may be different from the methodology Microsoft used to design the Surface keyboard, merely the aim is intentional – Windows tablets are designed for productive individuals whether they be consumers or business users.

Other accessories beyond the keyboard case include a page instance that is said to provide a "frail bear on feeling and elegant appearance". The case is only $29 and we suggest yous selection one up to help encompass the plastic on this unit (anything to embrace upwards imitation plastic is a big aid).

Decision

Overall, the tablet is fun to use and volition provide a great experience to most who pick the device up, but if you are searching for the elevation multimedia tablet - this isn't it. We feel Lenovo was really aiming at a budget device with its Miix x tablet, but we besides feel that they missed their mark. Pricing the unit at $479 doesn't create a very competitive price point and we experience other tablets are available out at that place for a much cheaper price. If Lenovo sold the Miix 10 at $399 or even better, $349 – nosotros could see this unit being a huge seller.­

ASUS's Vivotab feels much amend in mitt, while providing longer battery life, and a amend looking screen. If you want to stick with Lenovo, Lenovo'due south IdeaTab Lynx is a better bet; the Lynx still feels like a budget tablet, merely nowhere as cheap as the Miix ten. In addition, the IdeaTab Lynx is $180 cheaper and can exist found starting at $349 on Amazon. Lastly, if y'all are but looking for a cheap "large size" Windows 8 tablet, the Microsoft Surface RT is superbly built and an insane deal at $300 (although it does non run legacy apps).

If yous want to pump out a bit more money and go a better product, you lot can take a look at Lenovo'southward ThinkPad Tablet 2 for $100 more, which has an outstanding screen, build quality, and digitizer pen. Check out our review on the ThinkPad Tablet two by clicking hither.

I really wanted to like Lenovo'due south latest consumer tablet, simply when their business tablet provides a better multimedia experience – there is something to be said. We are more excited for Lenovo's 8 inch variation of the Miix, and look forward to it in the coming future. For now, we advise picking upward a different Windows eight tablet or waiting till a auction hits for this unit. In our eyes, hopefully the embrace keyboard will provide some redemption, unfortunately at $99 – it amend or this is going to look similar an even worse deal than it already is.

Has anyone picked upwardly Lenovo's Miix 10 tablet yet or thinking of picking 1 up – what do yous think and is $479 a skilful pricing point or simply shooting too loftier for too little? Sound off in the comments beneath!

You tin can pick up the Lenovo Miix 10 directly through Lenovo or through tertiary party retailers such as Amazon.com.

Bonus Question: Exercise you currently own a Windows 8 tablet, and if yous practise, how do you similar it? Do you discover information technology makes you more productive?

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/review-lenovo-idespad-miix-10

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