Lenovo Idea Tab 12.7" Pro Review

The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a large Android tablet that includes a pen and case, offering great value at its lower price point. It has a best-in-class screen and good speakers, but its processor is average and software support is limited. It's a good pick for students and media lovers on a budget, but power users should look elsewhere.

If you're hunting for a big-screen Android tablet that comes with a pen and a case right out of the box, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a solid contender. It's a 12.7-inch slate running Android 14, powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chip with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The price is a bit of a wild card, ranging from a reasonable $261 to a frankly absurd $64,479 depending on where you look, but at the lower end, it's a pretty good deal for a bundle. It's clearly marketed as a student tablet, with features like Google Gemini AI and Circle to Search baked in, and it includes the Tab Pen Plus and a folio case, which is a nice touch.

The MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chipset is a middle-of-the-pack performer. In our database, its CPU and GPU scores land around the 44th and 46th percentile, respectively. That means it's not going to blow you away with raw power, but it's perfectly capable for the tablet's intended use. You can stream videos, browse the web, and handle light multitasking without much fuss. The 8GB of RAM is a strong point, sitting in the 75th percentile, which helps keep things smooth when you're switching between apps. The real star here is the screen. Its 91st percentile ranking means it's one of the best on the market for tablets. The 12.7-inch 3K display with a 144Hz refresh rate is crisp, colorful, and super smooth for scrolling and watching content.

The value proposition hinges entirely on the price you find. At around $261, this tablet with its pen and case is a compelling package, especially compared to buying a base iPad and accessories separately. At any price near the insane high end, it's a complete joke. Always check multiple retailers. For the budget-conscious student or casual user who wants a big screen and a pen included, the lower price makes it a good buy. If you're paying more than $400 for it, you should probably look at other options.

The most direct competitors are the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra and the Apple iPad Pro. The Samsung tablet likely has a better processor and more premium build, but it's much more expensive and you'd have to buy the pen separately. The iPad Pro is a whole different beast with its M-series chip, but you're entering the Apple ecosystem and paying a premium. The Lenovo sits in a interesting middle ground: it offers a larger screen than the base iPad, includes the pen, and runs Android, all at a potentially lower entry cost. However, it falls short of both in raw performance and long-term software support. For a more budget-focused Android alternative, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro offers stronger performance, but you'd miss out on the included accessories.

Skip this tablet if you're a power user who needs top-tier performance for video editing, 3D modeling, or heavy gaming. The MediaTek chip isn't cut out for that. Also, if you're deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem or need guaranteed software updates for many years, the iPad is a safer bet. For artists seeking the absolute best pen experience, a Samsung Galaxy Tab with its superior S Pen might be a better fit despite the higher cost.

Should you buy this? If you can snag it for around $260 and your main needs are a big, beautiful screen for media, a decent pen for notes, and a case to carry it all in, then yes, it's a good deal. It's perfect for students who want a one-stop shop for reading, annotating, and watching lectures. But if your budget stretches further, or if you need more power for gaming or serious multitasking, the performance limitations and short update promise make it a harder sell. Look at the Samsung or iPad options, or even the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro, if performance is your priority.