Hybrid Notebook/Tablet, Android-Style From Lenovo
Category: Tablets, Photography, Notebooks
Move over, Samsung. Although Samsung's thin and light Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets have dominated the 10-inch Android tablet market for the past 18 months, there's a new kid on the block: Lenovo's IdeaTab S2110. How does it stack up? Is it good enough for work?
The IdeaTab S2110 optionally morphs into a laptop-like device.
(Click images to enlarge.)
The S2110 runs Android 4.0 on a Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8060A, which integrates dual 1.5-GHz ARM Krait cores, backed by 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB or 32 GB of flash memory. Other key features include a bright 10.1-inch 1280-by-800-pixel IPS (in-plane switching) screen, dual cameras, stereo speakers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 6320 mAh battery.
Physically, the IdeaTab S2110 is one of the thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablets available today. It's also one of the most pleasant to hold, thanks to its textured non-slippery back. Also welcome are the use of industry-standard micro-USB and micro-HDMI connectors for its USB/power and video interfaces.
The IdeaTab S2110 is one of the thinnest 10-inch tablets.
(Click image to enlarge.)
The company plans to offer 3G versions of the S2110, but is not ready to announce which wireless carriers will offer it. The higher-priced 3G models will also add AGPS to the tablet's feature set.
IdeaTab S2110 specs vs. competition
To find out how the IdeaTab S2110 stacks up against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and Galaxy Note 10.1 tablets, and Google's upcoming Nexus 10 device, we tabulated all the key specs.
| Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 | Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 | Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 | Google Nexus 10 | |
| Processor | 1.5-GHz dual core | 1.0-GHz dual core | 1.4-GHz quad core | 1.7-GHz dual core |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Internal flash | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16/32/64 GB | 16 GB |
| MicroSD expansion | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| OS | Android 4.0 | Android 4.0 | Android 4.0 | Android 4.2 |
| Apps market | ||||
| Screen (pixels) | 1280 x 800 | 1280 x 800 | 1280 x 800 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Front camera | 1.3 MP | 0.3 MP | 1.9 MP | 1.9 MP |
| Rear camera | 5 MP | 3 MP | 5 MP | 5 MP |
| Video output | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 6320 mAh | 7000 mAh | 7000 mAh | 9000 mAh |
| Size (inches) | 10.2 x 7.0 x 0.34 | 10.1 x 6.9 x 0.4 | 10.3 x 7.1 x 0.4 | 10.4 x 7.0 x 0.4 |
| Weight (ounces) | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 |
| Price* | $340 (16 GB) $419 (32 GB) | $350 (16 GB) | $500 (16 GB) $550 (32 GB) | $400 (16 GB) $500 (32 GB) |
| *Lenovo and Samsung prices from Amazon.com, Nov. 2, 2012 | ||||
The IdeaTab S2110 and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 run neck and neck in features. Here's a quick assessment of their relative strengths.
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IdeaTab S2110 advantages:
- 50% faster processor.
- Higher-resolution front and rear cameras.
- Industry-standard USB/power and video connections.
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Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 advantages:
- Hardware GPS.
- MicroSD flash expansion slot.
- 10% beefier battery.
Clearly, both of these modestly priced 10-inch tablets have a lot to offer. Let's take a deeper look at what the S2110 can do.
