Skip to main content

Hands On: Lenovo bends over backward to improve its Yoga Tablet with new HD version

Lenovo is bending over backward to fix its Yoga, and it may have done it. The first Yoga Tablet (read our review) had some great qualities, but suffered from a dated, buggy interface and weak specs. We haven’t seen any shots of the interface yet (stay tuned this week), but the Chinese manufacturer just announced that it has refreshed the specs of the 10-inch version.

Called the Yoga Tablet 10 HD+, the new 10.1-inch version will have a Full HD 1920 x 1200 pixel screen, a 1.6GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.3, 8-megapixel rear camera, and a new line of home-grown apps. This means it finally has a decent screen, won’t slow down as much, and will hopefully take slightly better pictures.

Updated by Jeff on 2-26-2014 from Mobile World Congress: I’ve added in my hands-on impressions of the Yoga 10 HD+, which has a few more enhancements than we thought.

The design hasn’t changed at all, which is a good thing. The Yoga still looks different than any other tablet because of the hot dog-sized cylinder on the bottom of it. This houses the audio jack and power button on either side, but it also gives the Yoga all its power thanks to its built-in stand and because Lenovo put the whole battery inside it, giving the Yoga 14-18 hours of battery life, or almost twice as much as tablets like the iPad.

We played around with a champagne-colored version of the tablet here at the show, and found it better put together than the first Yoga. Most notably, it no longer falls over with a stiff breeze. Lenovo has lengthened the kickstand inside the cylinder so it holds the tablet up properly. It still rotates out very nicely.

Because all the weight is inside the cylinder, and that’s naturally where you hold it when reading it vertically, the Yoga Tablet 10 feels unnaturally light and comfortable to hold when reading.

P2240284
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lenovo’s interface could still use a little work, but the high-resolution screen really helps smooth over some of its uglier aspects. We may still install a Launcher when we get our Yoga, though. Everything runs a little speedier as well, though this is no workhorse like the Xperia Z2 Tablet. For this new version, Lenovo has also fixed up its Mode selector. Now, when you put the tablet into a standing or reading position, it will bring up a menu to auto suggest apps and actions. You can turn this feature off if you’d like.

This was our first time trying out Lenovo’s slide-on keyboard attachment as well. It slips on the front of the Yoga, protecting the screen. Set it on a table and the keyboard will slide off and help you type. It has a Micro USB port to charge, and can be juiced up by the Yoga, which is capable of reverse charging.

Lenovo will ship the tablet with its new “DOit series of apps.” These are pretty standard.

  • ShareIt: Shares information between devices without using data.
  • SecureIt: Speeds your Yoga up and protects it from viruses.
  • SyncIt: Backs up your contacts, texts, and call logs to a Lenovo account.
  • SnapIt Camera: This is a new camera app that replaces the default Google Android camera.
  • SeeIt Gallery: This is a photo editor and manager.

ShareIt was our favorite app of the bunch. It lets you use Wi-Fi Direct to send images and content to other devices, and they don’t have to be Lenovos – not that your entire family isn’t using Lenovo phones, right? Several devices can create an impromptu chatroom and send files to one another.

We’ll learn more about the Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ later this week when we see it on the show floor of Mobile World Congress here in Barcelona. Lenovo is aiming for an April release for $350.

News post originally published 2-24-2014.

Editors' Recommendations

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
The Fitbit app just got its biggest update in years
Fitbit app explore workouts in the Coach tab.

If you’re still a loyal Fitbit user, big changes are starting to roll out to users today. The app has gone through a major redesign that is aimed at making things simpler than ever before. The new design also focuses on three tabs -- Today, Coach, and You  -- to bring the health and wellness data that you actually care about front and center.

With the new Fitbit app, you can track your physical activity with or without a device. This means that you don’t even need a Fitbit device or Google Pixel Watch to count all the steps you take. Thanks to improved communication with your smartphone’s sensors, your phone will do the step counting instead, and the counts are going to be more accurate. You can even track a walk, run, or hike with just the app.

Read more
The best iPhone 15 Pro screen protectors in 2023: our 8 favorites
Color options for the iPhone 15 Pro pair.

You, like many others, just ordered the new iPhone 15 Pro and you’re eagerly awaiting its arrival. Congrats! There’s a lot to love about the iPhone 15 Pro, from the sleek and lightweight titanium material to the Action button, as well as USB-C charging so you can finally ditch that Lightning cable. And it’s all powered with the blazingly fast A17 Pro chip and 8GB RAM.

Though the titanium material means it’s lighter and more durable, the front is still made of glass, though Apple has its Ceramic Shield coating. But sometimes that isn’t enough, and you want to go the extra mile and protect the screen even further.

Read more
Buy a Kindle today and get three free months of Kindle Unlimited
Amazon Kindle (2022) Dark Mode

One of the better Kindle deals at the moment doesn't actually discount the Amazon Kindle, but it does give you three months of Kindle Unlimited entirely for free. Head to the Amazon site now and you can buy the Amazon Kindle for $100 and you'll also get three months of Kindle Unlimited entirely for free. Just remember to cancel the subscription before the three months are up to avoid paying fees. If you're still a little uncertain about buying a Kindle, keep reading while we explain why they're so worthwhile. Avid readers are sure to be impressed.

Why you should buy the Amazon Kindle
One of the best Kindles for anyone seeking the budget option, the Amazon Kindle provides a simple yet delightful reading experience. It's the lightest and most compact Kindle yet while offering a 300 psi high-resolution display so you get sharp text and images as you read. The display is glare-free and paper-like so there's no added strain for your eyes. There's an adjustable front light along with a dark mode to help make reading effortless, regardless of the lighting around you.

Read more