Review: Lenovo Tab Extreme, extended experience

Tablets have seen an overall sales decline over the past few years. It’s no secret that Apple has maintained the highest adoption rate of tablets. Often, Apple wins due to software integrations in its ecosystem and the broadest range of compatible apps. Due to the nature of the Android ecosystem, apps don’t always perform the same between devices, so someone who purchased one brand of tablet and someone who purchased another brand very well could get different experiences. This practice has sometimes left consumers frustrated and confused, so they choose the seamless integration the Apple lineup offers. Android tablet makers were forced to find ways to be different, and to do that, they decided to go bigger.

Both Samsung and Lenovo decided to go big to compete. Today, we’re looking at the Lenovo Tab Extereme. Let me jump in and say right away that when I first received our review unit, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. At 14.5 inches in screen size, Lenovo says it is Extreme. It lives up to that. As I held the device for the first time, I realized how thin and light it was—coming in at just 1.63 pounds and 0.23 inches thick. It’s a 100 percent recycled aluminum unibody. A keyboard kickstand and keyboard folio are included in the box, and we’ll get to that later.

Specifications

I had to get this device before me to understand Lenovo’s intentions. When we think of tablets, we consider them oversized phones used for social media and viewing content, and then we put them back down. That’s when the fractured Android ecosystem kicks in, and consumers become frustrated that applications don’t behave as they do on their phones. So comes another brand of tablet. Lenovo tells you that the Tab Extreme is built to adapt to your needs, whether consuming content, producing it, or creating it.

The 14.5-inch display is a 3K OLED display with 500 nits of brightness and a 120hz refresh rate. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision capable. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 octa-core processor. Android 13 comes out of the box with the ability to upgrade to Android 16, with four years of security updates. A 12,300mAh battery and a 68-watt quick charger are included in the box—eight JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos support. An extra USB-C port allows the Tab Extreme to be used as an external monitor. There is a micro SD card slot to expand on the 256GB storage that comes included. Much higher than others ship by default. The keyboard folio case and the Precision Pen 3 are both optional.

Putting it Together

As I said above, I had to understand Lenovo’s intention to enjoy this tablet, and once I did, I could not put it down. I’m an older gentleman; my vision isn’t what it used to be; the 500-nit OLED screen is welcomed. The text is sharp; it’s got that inky black contrast ratio you expect from OLED. I enjoy consuming content as much as I do making it; the Dolby Atmos six-speaker design is on point for those bedtime movies, a home theatre in your hand. No, but it is more than an adequate experience for traveling, bedtime, or the couch. It’s also good for popping up content in the office.

The keyboard folio and kickstand magnetically attach and stay in place via a robust magnetic system. At first, I thought this was where the tablet didn’t make sense. Why not do a full hinge on the back like the Microsoft Surface? Versatility is why the included kickstand removes easily, making the tablet more comfortable in the hand. It also gives the option of a vertical orientation as well. The folio is a reminder of the Apple Magic Keyboard, which certainly has a similar look and feel. I’m using the setup as we speak to compose this review. The keys are the most comfortable I have felt on an Android tablet. The backlight is a two-stage brightness that works well enough in a dark environment. The trackpad has a sold click mechanism; it’s just not big enough for my liking. I do understand there has to be a trade-off; if the trackpad was bigger, then the typing experience might not be as nice. I still think there’s a better way to balance the trade-off. The screen angle is adjustable in the folio, making for a good experience in the recliner or even propped up in bed. Could you use it as a laptop replacement?

You could use the folio setup as a laptop replacement in a pinch, but I like to refer to it more as a laptop supplement, but that is not a fault of Lenovo. I think I would say that about any Android tablet at this stage. Lenovo does a great job by adding in PC Mode that changes the interface to something more desktop-like and adds in multiple and resizable windows with full trackpad support. However, Android, just still feels like it’s in tablet mode at times, even with its native apps. As I sit here typing this review in Chrome, it’s still behaving as its in a mobile or tablet mode, flashing up the autocorrect options for each word as I type. It’s not desktop Chrome. Again, not blaming Lenovo here, just an observation.

So what are my thoughts, I have nothing bad to say about the Lenovo Tab Extreme. I consider the market and the ecosystem that we’re working with. A tablet maker can only do what the operating system will give them. That’s always been the case with third-party Android devices. I see the Tab Extreme in academic settings, it a great screen; the pen works well for note taking; the battery life for me has been about 8-10 hours on 50 percent brightness. I’m a bit older, and I would have loved something like this in college. I see a place on the coffee table after work or class. I have thoroughly enjoyed our review unit there. Again, with great sound and a 3K OLED display, I picked up the tablet for gaming, media consumption, social media, and even some video editing at the end of the workday. All without a problem.

Why Choose the Lenovo Tab Extreme

Now the elephant in the room is, why pay 1,000 dollars for this combo when you can get a competent full laptop for the same cost? I get it, I first asked myself the same question, as did family members when I first got the tablet. That’s why I took the long-term look; as time passed, and I kept putting the tablet in my workflow, it clicked. The Lenovo Tab Extreme is extreme, as its name says, but it’s a slat of glass full of power and features that’s lightweight, falls right into most bags, and can tackle most everyday tasks. The portability can’t be matched, from the office and the coffee table to wrapping up the night in the bedroom, then lying on a bedside table; I love it. Gaming, is 3K, OLED, 120hz and portable, do I have to say anything else there? We use the Meevo camera system for some of our video content; we can run multiple cameras simultaneously, streaming and recording without lag or issue. Could Lenovo have toned the package down and had a lower price point? Sure, but then it wouldn’t be Extreme. Then it wouldn’t be the large, vibrant, versatile, and powerful tablet it is. It would just be “a tablet” on the list with many others.

I like Extreme and the Lenovo approach. Some small refinements to the PC Mode could make this the perfect Android tablet. Also, remember that the external monitor feature is a bonus. If you’re looking for an Android tablet, give the Lenovo Tab Extreme a look; it’s a stout, complete package that’s hard to beat.