Lenovo Legion Tab (8.8, Gen 2) Review: A Gaming Powerhouse in Your Hands

In today’s fast-paced, tech-centric world, gaming tablets have carved out a niche for themselves, catering to gamers who demand both power and portability. Recognizing this growing need, Lenovo has answered the call with its latest offering, the Legion Tab. Positioned as a high-performance device with an attractive price tag, the tablet has been generating significant buzz among tech enthusiasts and gamers alike. Now that the Lenovo Legion Tab has been officially unveiled, it’s time to delve into the details and see if it lives up to the hype. From unboxing the sleek device to exploring its feature set and putting its performance to the test, let’s discover what this new contender brings to the gaming tablet arena.

Unboxing: First Impressions

Right out of the box, you’ll notice that the Legion Tab screams premium. Lenovo has clearly taken inspiration from its Legion laptops, known for their robust build quality and gaming prowess, and brought that philosophy into this tablet. From the packaging to the actual device, everything feels top-tier. Opening the box, you’re greeted with the tablet itself, which is surprisingly compact with an 8.8-inch display. The slightly smaller screen size makes it highly portable, perfect for those who are always on the go.

Included in the box are the essentials: a 45W USB Type-C charger, a USB Type-C to Type-C cable, and a SIM ejector tool. There’s also the usual paperwork, which most of us tend to ignore. Right away, you can tell that Lenovo is going for a no-nonsense approach, focusing on the essentials while delivering a premium experience.

The device itself has a dual-camera setup, something rarely seen in tablets, especially in this price range. The sleek design and Legion branding give the tablet a gaming-centric look, which is further emphasized by the attention to detail in its build.

Display: Compact Yet Powerful

The 8.8-inch 2.5K display is undoubtedly one of the standout features of this tablet. While it may seem small compared to other gaming tablets on the market, the high pixel density of 2560 x 1600 makes for a crisp and immersive visual experience. Whether you’re gaming, streaming your favorite shows, or editing documents, the display quality does not disappoint.

One of the highlights of the display is the 144Hz refresh rate. Gamers will appreciate how smooth and fluid the screen feels, especially during fast-paced action sequences in games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile. The higher refresh rate ensures that there’s no noticeable lag or screen tearing, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

For those who are into watching movies or videos, the display also supports HDR, which brings out vibrant colors and deeper contrasts. This, combined with the Dolby Atmos-supported speakers, ensures a cinematic viewing experience. Audio quality is crystal clear, with the tablet offering stereo sound for immersive gameplay and media consumption.

Performance: Built for Gaming

The Lenovo Legion Tab packs some serious horsepower under the hood. Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, the tablet is built to handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. Whether you’re running multiple apps simultaneously or playing graphics-intensive games, this device is up for the challenge.

We ran several benchmark tests, including Geekbench 6, and the results were impressive. The tablet achieved a single-core score of 1834 and a multi-core score of 4647, placing it among the highest in its category. The Snapdragon GPU delivered exceptional results in the OpenCL test, showcasing its capability in handling high-end graphics. The device remained cool throughout, even during extended gaming sessions, thanks to its efficient thermal management system.

Gaming Experience: Next-Level Performance

This tablet is undoubtedly designed with gamers in mind. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.0 storage, ensures that you have enough power and storage to handle even the most demanding games. We tested games like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, and Call of Duty: Mobile, and the performance was nothing short of spectacular.

In PUBG Mobile, the tablet effortlessly handled Smooth Extreme Plus settings, delivering fluid gameplay with no frame drops. The HDR support adds a layer of visual depth that makes in-game environments come to life, and the 144Hz refresh rate ensures that every movement is captured without delay.

What really sets this tablet apart from others is its dual charging ports. With two Type-C ports, you can charge the device from either side, which is especially convenient when gaming with the device propped up or connected to accessories like external displays or game controllers.

Gaming Benchmarks: The Numbers Speak

We performed extensive benchmark tests to gauge the tablet’s performance. On Geekbench 6, the CPU and GPU scores were impressive, placing the Legion Tab among the top performers in its category. The 3D Mark benchmarks further validated the tablet’s gaming capabilities, with scores that rival some of the best gaming smartphones on the market.

In terms of CPU throttling, the tablet performed admirably, maintaining stable performance during extended sessions without significant drops in clock speeds. This is crucial for gamers who often engage in marathon gaming sessions.

Camera: Surprisingly Good

Tablets aren’t typically known for their camera capabilities, but Lenovo has surprised us with the 13MP main camera and 2MP macro camera on the back. While you won’t be using this tablet for professional photography, the cameras are more than capable for casual shots and video calls.

The front-facing 8MP camera is great for video conferencing and selfies, offering decent image quality and clarity even in low light. For a tablet, the camera setup is more than sufficient, and the addition of a macro lens is a nice touch for those who enjoy capturing close-up shots.

Software and UI: Smooth and Intuitive

The Legion Tab runs on Android 14, with Lenovo’s custom skin on top. The user interface is smooth and highly customizable, with features like PC Mode, which allows you to use the tablet as a portable workstation. This mode is perfect for multitasking, offering a desktop-like experience that’s enhanced by the ability to connect a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Lenovo’s Legion Gaming UI is also a standout feature, offering a clean and intuitive layout that’s designed to enhance your gaming experience. The floating windows feature lets you overlay apps for quick access, and the game mode automatically optimizes performance when you launch a game.

Battery Life: Built to Last

Lenovo has equipped the Legion Tab with a massive 6550mAh battery, ensuring you can game for hours without needing to recharge. In our tests, the tablet easily lasted an entire day with moderate usage, including browsing, streaming, and gaming. Even with continuous gaming, the battery held up remarkably well, giving you the freedom to game on the go without worrying about running out of power.

The 45W fast charging ensures that when you do need to plug in, you won’t be tethered to the wall for long. The tablet charged from 0% to 100% in under 1.5 hours, which is impressive for a device with such a large battery.

Competitive Edge: Dual Charging and High Refresh Rate

The Legion Tab dual Type-C ports and 144Hz display set it apart from the competition. Gamers who need to charge their device while playing will appreciate the flexibility that the dual charging ports offer. Additionally, the 144Hz refresh rate makes a noticeable difference in fast-paced games, offering smoother animations and more responsive gameplay.

Compared to other tablets in this price range, such as the iPad Air or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, the Legion Tab offers more gaming-centric features at a lower price point. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, combined with 12GB of RAM and the high refresh rate display, makes it an ideal choice for serious gamers.

Conclusion: A Gaming Tablet That Delivers

In conclusion, the Legion Tab  is a powerful gaming device that offers premium features at an affordable price. Priced around ₹40,000, it competes with some of the best gaming tablets and smartphones on the market. With its 8.8-inch 2.5K display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 12GB RAM, and 6550mAh battery, it’s designed to meet the needs of gamers and power users alike.

Whether you’re a hardcore gamer looking for a portable device to play your favorite games on the go or someone who needs a versatile tablet for work and entertainment, the Legion Tab is more than capable of handling it all. With its dual charging ports, high refresh rate, and impressive battery life, it’s a gaming powerhouse that doesn’t break the bank.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! If gaming is your top priority, this tablet should be at the top of your list. It offers incredible value for money, and with Lenovo’s reputation for build quality, you can rest assured that this device will serve you well for years to come.

Lenovo Legion Tab FAQ:

Q: What is the screen size and resolution of the Lenovo Legion Tab?

A: The Legion Tab features an 8.8-inch 2.5K display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.

Q: What processor powers the Legion Tab?

A: The tablet is equipped with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor for high performance.

Q: How much RAM and storage does the Legion Tab have?

A: It comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage.

Q: Does the Legion Tab support fast charging?

A: Yes, it supports 45W fast charging.

Q: What is unique about the charging ports on the Legion Tab?

A: The Legion Tab has dual Type-C ports, allowing you to charge from either side.

Q: How does the Legion Tab perform in gaming?

A: The tablet delivers exceptional gaming performance, handling demanding games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile with ease, thanks to its powerful processor, ample RAM, and high refresh rate display.

Q: What is the battery life like on the Legion Tab?

A: The tablet has a 6550mAh battery that easily lasts a full day with moderate usage and provides several hours of continuous gaming.

Q: Does the Legion Tab have good cameras?

A: While not a primary focus, the tablet has a decent camera setup with a 13MP main camera, a 2MP macro camera, and an 8MP front-facing camera.

Q: What operating system does the Legion Tab run on?

A: It runs on Android 14 with Lenovo’s custom skin on top.