Chip Chick
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Since Microsoft laid the groundwork for tablet-first 2-in-1s with the Surface, just about all of the usual laptop makers have put out their takes on the idea. Lenovo had something with the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, but it was a little underpowered compared to the Surface Pro 4, in large part because of the processor used. It looks like Lenovo is now using their Miix line, once a source of budget and mid-range tablets, to take on the Surface instead. The Miix 510 is the most premium product to bear the Miix name yet.
The Miix 510 is a 12.2″ Windows 10 tablet with a detachable backlit keyboard. Lenovo has used metal in the construction to give it a sturdy, premium feel, but the most interesting design quirk is on the kickstand hinge. Lenovo has borrowed the watchband style hinge from their Yoga 2-in-1 laptops, giving the Miix 510 a hinge that can be folded out up to 150 degrees. It’s not limited to only two or three positions, which should make it a little bit better for using on your lap.
The Miix 510 has up to a 6th generation Intel Core i processor, up to 8 GB of RAM, up to a 1 TB PCIe SSD, and a 1920 x 1200 display. Lenovo says that the 39 WHr battery should last 7.5 hours.We’re also looking at a 2 MP front camera, a 5 MP rear camera, a USB 3.0 Type-C charging port, a regular USB 3.0 port, optional LTE connectivity, and stereo speakers with Dolby audio.
Pretty decent specs, and it’s coming at a pretty decent price. The Miix 510 will be available in October for $600, and will only come in silver.
On the Android side of things, Lenovo is also announcing the Yoga Tab 3 Plus. This 10.1″ Android 6.0 tablet is an improvement on the budget Yoga Tab 3 series Lenovo announced this time last year. It’s a much more capable media machine, with a 2560 x 1600 IPS display, four forward-firing JBL speakers with virtual surround sound thanks to Dolby Atmos technology, and Miracast, which lets you cast content from the tablet onto a compatible TV wirelessly. The same cylindrical hinge can be found at the edge, too, with all the usual benefits — multiple use modes (hold, stand, hang, and tilt) and a larger than usual battery at 9,300 mAh, which should last for 18 hours according to Lenovo. There’s also a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front camera, a USB 2.0 Type-C charging port, LTE connectivity with a single SIM slot, and a microSD card slot good for up to 128 GB.
The internal specs are still smartphone-grade — a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 SoC, 3 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of storage. So, while it’ll be a capable entertainment machine for music and movies, those in need of a device for productivity and gaming should probably look elsewhere. The Yoga Tab 3 Plus will be available in October for $300.
