Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 review: excellent for entertainment

Looking for an Android tablet that's designed with watching content in mind more than other slates? 

That's exactly the angle Lenovo's Yoga Tab 13 takes, delivering a 13-inch display but with a built-in kickstand so you can position it as you please to get the most from that screen. 

The obvious question: is the Yoga Tab 13 any good, especially given that its asking price makes it even pricier than an iPad Air?

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Lenovo Yoga Tab 13: price and availability

You can buy the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 right now, the recommended price starts at £649 in the UK and $599 in the USA. Make sure you check our Lenovo discount codes to help lower the price. 

That makes it a pricier slate than many others on the market, on par with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 - but not quite as expensive as the ultra-massive Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra (which is touching four figures of your hard-earned cash). 

If you're looking for a all round more versatile tablet outside of the Android stable, however, then the Apple iPad Air (2022) is the most suitable for most people - so long as you're on board with iPadOS instead of Android.

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Lenovo Yoga Tab 13: design and screen

The fundamentally different aspect of the Yoga Tab 13's design is the built-in kickstand, which sits behind an almost cylindrical-like speaker arrangement to the base of the tablet. 

That causes a protrusion from the rear, but while you might think that'd be an issue - as the tablet can't lie flat on a surface - that added bulbous section at the back makes for a rather nice subtle raise off a desk (you'll just need to flip the tablet upside down, meaning the front-facing camera will be at the bottom, which I do find peculiar).

The screen itself is a 13-inch LCD panel, so while there's no fancy OLED for the ultimate in black levels, this display still does a good job of outputting the goods. It's Dolby Vision certified, meaning it's bright enough to deliver Mobile HDR (high dynamic range) content - and I should think so too, as this is a tablet that's built for entertainment. 

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The edge bezel isn't the smallest going, but that's typical for a tablet device so that you have something to hold onto without getting your fingertips in the way of the actual display. 

Resolution-wise, the 1350 x 2160 mass of pixels here means it's greater than a Full HD panel, and while I think there's scope for a panel of this scale to squeeze in even more pixels, much content wouldn't really benefit from it hugely - and there'd probably be an adverse affect on battery life too. 

Flip the Yoga Tab 13 over and that kickstand is clear for all to see. It's a solid metal construction, which you can manoeuvre all the way through 180-degrees if you want - the idea being that at its most complete rotation the rubber-coated stand can be used as a hook to hang the tablet from. 

The kickstand is beautifully rigid in its positioning, too, so there's no wobbling about, and it's 100 per cent customisable in exactly how you wish to position it. Given this feature is Lenovo's real unique selling point, I must say it's executed superbly.

One other point of note about the tablet's design is that the upper two-thirds of the rear is coated with a soft-touch material. That might sound luxe, and I did like the principle of that at first, but actually after using this tablet for some time I just found it attracted excess dirt and debris - so it might not look great for too long.

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Lenovo Yoga Tab 13: features and performance

I've been using the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 for weeks as not only an entertainment tablet for streaming, but also a second screen - I've found it really handy for Twitter, Gmail and such like in an easy-to-glance interface that I can reposition with ease. 

It is, however, even more powerful than just succeeding in such tasks: there's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor under the hood, which is now older hardware - but, in some respects, I think this choice helps the tablet in terms of battery management and longevity (more on that in the next section). 

If you want to run games, that's no problem. We're only talking about what was a near-to-flagship processor one generation back. And with 8GB RAM on board I've had no trouble firing up more demanding 3D games, PUBG Mobile included. 

Herein another feature slaps you round the chops: the built-in speakers are pretty spectacular, delivering audio oomph that's a treat for the ears. Dolby Atmos certification gives that even more of a boost - not that you'll get an especially three-dimensional soundstage, just one that sounds wonderfully cinematic.

It's also worth pointing out the software: with Google's Android OS in charge here, the Tab 13 falls into the usual traps of larger-scale screens, i.e. it's not really optimised for multiple apps or to use in ways beyond it feeling more than a large Android phone. 

You can use Lenovo's Active Pen 2 stylus, if you buy one, which will add a layer of creativity, and as a raised-from-desk slate for sketching I could certainly see appeal in that - although, really, this is an entertainment tablet so the software is perfectly capable of delivering on that with full-screen Netflix and the like. ]

Connectivity-wise, it's all Wi-Fi based, as there's no SIM slot for 4G/LTE/5G connectivity. No biggie, really, given this tablet's design. More in tune with its focus is the micro HDMI port, adding an output option and going hand in hand with that entertainment factor.

Lenovo Yoga Tab 13: battery life

Being a tablet that's squarely focused on delivering for entertainment, you'd expect it'll deliver in terms of longevity. 

Lenovo hits the nail on the head here: the Yoga Tab 13 has a 10,200mAh battery which, when I've tested it for non-stop streaming sessions, goes all the way through 12 hours no problem.

This kind of longevity is part of the Yoga Tab 13's core appeal, aided by a sensible processor choice and a design that doesn't overheat. 

When it comes to recharging there's a USB-C socket to the side, which doesn't charge all too speedily, but is perfectly functional. 

Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 review: verdict

If you're looking for an Android tablet primarily for streaming and entertainment purposes then Lenovo's Yoga Tab 13 does a sterling job.

The screen looks great, the built-in kickstand is really robust and practical in use, the speakers are great, and the battery life long-lasting. 

However, the design is a little bulky owed to that kickstand, so those looking for a more standard tablet experience might find better 'standard' experiences elsewhere - especially at this price point.

Also consider

Thinking about getting the biggest tablet screen possible so you can stream at the largest possible scale? Then you'll want to think about paying the extra and buying the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra - with its 14.6-inch screen it's absolutely massive and looks superb.

If Android tablets aren't the be-all and end-all of your world, however, then Apple's iPad Air is a great shout too. We think it's the best tablet for most people - although there are alternatives, as found in our Best Tablets 2024 - given its middling scale, versatility with accessories and stacks of power, all less cash than this Lenovo.

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