Before we dive into the review, we have to ask ourselves this - have tablets finally managed to kill PCs off? Have they become so versatile and powerful that the need for a laptop is completely eliminated?

If you’re wondering why we are ranting about this, its because a device like the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 stands out from the rest of the crop thanks to one trait – flexibility. To achieve a PC-like level of comfort with a tablet, you need a kick-stand or some kind of flip-cover that can offer a lot of positions in which the tablet can be propped up. But the Yoga Tablet range does that on its own, thanks to the unique design.

So, if the Yoga Tablet 2 is so flexible that it offers PC-like comfort (sans the keyboard), and adds the benefits of a tablet, is it the best thing to put your money on?

Design and build

We’re familiar with the Yoga Tablet design, as the predecessor made somewhat of an impact on us. But for those who don’t know, the Yoga Tablets are just like any other tablets, except for a tubular bulge on one of the sides, which incorporates the in-built kickstand.

The kickstand can be utilised for using the tablet in two different landscape modes, and the tubular bulge comes very handy while reading in portrait mode. It gives the additional grip that one needs while carrying the tablet around. Because of this construction, the speakers are front-facing, which is a delight for heavy multimedia consumers. The camera too, is positioned on this thick spine, and that adds to the ergonomics.

You get some premium quality aluminium construction on the Yoga Tablet 2, giving it a very sturdy build, and yet staying very light. Moreover, all that metal and a very clean and practical design make it look quite sexy.

Specs and performance

The Yoga Tablet 2 packs a quad-core Intel Atom chip that’s clocked at 1.86 GHz, complemented by a 2GB DDR3 RAM. That’s pretty good for running the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system. Lenovo, however, has added a thick UI over the Android OS, and it bears a suspicious resemblance to the iOS interface. The large icons with curved edges laid out over a permanent icon array at the bottom remind you of the iPad. Even the multitasking menu looks and works like iOS. But the utility pane (that can be opened by swiping from the bottom) is a nice idea.

The performance is decent – we found that the tablet can be good at multitasking, and everyday applications. It slows down a bit with heavy games such as Brothers in Arms 3 or Dead Trigger 2. We had a few problems with the display as well. Although the panel is Full HD, the colour reproduction is a bit shoddy and the text comes across as blurred at times. If you scroll down a massive chunk of text, say, in an e-book, the transition isn’t smooth. The speakers sound great though.

The best thing about the device is its battery backup. The massive, 6,400mAh battery can easily give up to 15-16 hours of continuous usage, depending on how much media you’re consuming, and your mode of connectivity. Don’t expect great shots from the camera though – the 8-megapixel unit is a bit of a disappointment in terms of image quality.

Verdict

If a long-lasting, sturdy, and flexible tablet is what you need, the Yoga Tablet 2 is meant for you. However, at its sticker price, the shoddy display is a huge turn-off. As for our original question, about the Yoga Tablet being good enough to make a laptop feel useless, we’d like to say that it’s not quite there yet. It’s got the performance and the practicality, but in the end, the display quality matters a lot.

₹28,990

Love – Design; Practicality; Battery life

Hate – Screen quality; Camera

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