Lenovo Tab P 11 2nd Gen 8 Core 11.5" 2K 120Hz Review

The Lenovo Tab P11 2nd Gen is a basic media tablet with one standout feature: a 120Hz screen at a budget price. Its 4GB of RAM and middling processor limit it to light tasks like streaming and web browsing. Found for around $250, it's a decent deal for a couch companion. At anything near its $580 high price, it's an easy pass for much better alternatives.

The Lenovo Tab P11 2nd Gen is a bit of a puzzle. On paper, it's got a solid list of modern features: a sharp 120Hz screen, WiFi 6E, and a price tag that starts under $300. In reality, it's a tablet that feels like it's trying to do a little bit of everything, but ends up being really good at just one thing: being a portable screen for streaming. If you're looking for a basic couch companion for Netflix and some light web browsing, this might be your ticket. But if you're hoping for a do-it-all Android powerhouse, you'll likely hit some walls.

This tablet is squarely for the casual user. Think about someone who wants a bigger screen than their phone for watching YouTube, scrolling through social media, and maybe reading an ebook. The 11.5-inch 2K display is nice for that, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling feel smooth. It's not trying to replace your laptop, and it's definitely not trying to compete with an iPad Pro for creative work. It's a simple, straightforward media viewer.

What makes it interesting is the price spread. You can find this tablet for as low as $250, or as high as $580 depending on the vendor. That's a huge swing, and it completely changes the value proposition. At the low end, it's a tempting deal for a big screen with modern wireless tech. At the high end, it's competing with much more capable devices, and that's where the cracks in its armor start to show.

Performance is where the Tab P11 Gen 2's identity becomes clear. The MediaTek chip and 4GB of RAM land it right in the middle of the pack for Android tablets. In our database, its CPU and GPU scores are in the 44th and 46th percentiles, respectively. That translates to a perfectly fine experience for launching apps and playing casual games, but you'll notice stutters if you try to do too much at once. Switching between a streaming app, a browser with a dozen tabs, and a messaging app will push this system to its limits.

The benchmarks back up the real-world feel. The 4GB of RAM is a real bottleneck, ranking in the bottom 40% of tablets we've tested. It's enough for the OS and one or two apps, but modern Android and background services can eat up that memory quickly. The storage is a bit better, sitting around average, so you won't be constantly managing space with 128GB. For the core task of streaming video, it's perfectly capable. Just don't expect buttery-smooth performance in demanding games or when multitasking.

Value is entirely dependent on which price you find. At $250, the Tab P11 Gen 2 is a compelling option. You're getting a large 120Hz screen and great WiFi 6E connectivity for a budget price. The performance trade-offs are easier to swallow when you're not spending a lot. At $580, it's a terrible deal. For that money, you're entering the territory of much faster tablets with better screens, more RAM, and premium builds.

Our advice is to treat the $250 price as the target. If you can't find it near that, the value evaporates quickly. Shop around, because that $330 spread across vendors is one of the biggest we've seen for a single SKU. The vendor with the best deal changes, but it's rarely the first listing you see.

This tablet sits in a crowded field. The Apple iPad (10th gen) is a direct competitor at a similar starting price. The iPad destroys the Lenovo in performance and app optimization, but you lose the 120Hz screen and pay more for storage. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is another Android alternative. It usually costs more, but you get a much better software update promise, a more powerful processor, and often more RAM, making it a better long-term buy.

Then there are the Windows options, like older Microsoft Surface Go models. If productivity is any concern at all, a used Surface Go with a full desktop OS will run circles around the Lenovo for work tasks, though its media consumption experience might not be as polished. The Lenovo's main advantage is that 120Hz screen at a low cost. If that's your top priority and your usage is simple, it has a niche. For anyone else, the competitors offer more complete packages.

Students or anyone who needs a tablet for productivity should steer clear. Our scoring gave it a 23.1/100 for productivity for a reason. Trying to write long documents, manage spreadsheets, or do serious research with multiple sources open will be a frustrating experience due to the limited RAM and weaker processor. You'd be much better off with a used laptop or a Windows-based tablet like a Surface Go.

Power users or gamers should also skip this. If you like to have many apps running, play the latest Android games, or plan to keep the tablet for more than two years, the 4GB of RAM and MediaTek chip will feel outdated quickly. For a similar initial investment, a refurbished previous-generation Samsung Galaxy Tab or iPad will offer significantly more power and a longer usable lifespan. This Lenovo is built for a very specific, lightweight use case.

Buy the Lenovo Tab P11 2nd Gen if your needs are simple and your budget is tight. If you want a big, smooth screen almost exclusively for watching videos, reading articles, and video calls, and you can snag it for $250, it does that job well. The WiFi 6E is a nice bonus for future-proofing your home network. Think of it as a dedicated bedside or couch tablet, not a primary computing device.

Skip it and look at the competition if you plan on doing any real multitasking, gaming beyond simple titles, or if you find it priced over $300. At that point, the 4GB of RAM and mediocre processor become too big of a compromise. For a little more money, an iPad or a Galaxy Tab S9 FE will give you a significantly better and longer-lasting experience. This tablet is a one-trick pony, and it's only worth it if you really need that one trick.