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The Lenovo Tab M8 line of devices are inexpensive Android tablets with HD screens, entry-level processors, and the kind of specs you’d expect to find in a tablet that tends to sell for around $100. .
A few months ago we learned that Lenovo was working on a 4th Gen model, so it’s no surprise to see that the Lenovo Tab M8 (4th Gen) is now listed on Lenovo’s Japanese website and the specifications are now available for versions of the tablet that will eventually ship to the United States and other countries. What is a bit of a surprise is that the new model isn’t much of an upgrade over the third-gen model. In fact, in many ways it’s probably safe to call it a demotion.
While the 3rd generation version of the Lenovo Tab M8 had an octa-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, the 4th generation model has a processor with only four Cortex-A53 cores. Both tablets have the same 8-inch, 1280 x 800 pixel displays, 2GB of LPDDR4x memory and 32GB of eMMC storage.
The new model comes with a newer version of Android and has stereo speakers instead of mono. And some models are available with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (the old model reaches 3GB/32GB). But it also loses a few features of the 3rd-gen model, including a proximity sensor and vibration motor.
Here’s a comparison between the previous generation and current generation tablets, with better features highlighted in bold:
Lenovo Tab M8 (4th Gen) | Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) | |
Display | 8 inch 1280 x 800 pixels IPS-LCD screen 350nits 10 point multitouch |
|
CPU | MediaTek Helio A22 4x ARM Cortex-A53 at 2GHz |
MediaTek Helio P22T 4x ARM Cortex-A53 at 2.3GHz 4x ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.8GHz |
GPUs | Imagination PowerVR GE8320 | |
RAM | 2 GB / 3 GB LPDDR4x |
2 GB / 3 GB / 4 GB LPDDR4x |
Storage | 32 GB or 64 GB eMMC 5.1 microSD card reader (up to 128 GB FAT32, up to 1 TB exFAT) |
32 GB eMMC (eMCP4x) microSD card reader (up to 128 GB FAT32, up to 2 TB exFAT) |
SE | Android 12 (Go edition) or later | Android 11 (Go edition) or later |
Cameras | 5MP (rear) 2MP (front) |
|
Speakers | Stereo | Mono |
Microphones | Mono | |
Sensors | Ambient light Accelerometer |
Ambient light Accelerometer Proximity |
Vibrating motor | None | Eccentric rotating mass (ERM) |
Battery | 5100mAh | |
loading | 5V/2A (4 hours for a full charge) | |
Wireless | WiFi 5 Bluetooth 5.0 4G LTE (select models) |
|
Ports | 1x USB 2.0 Type-C 1 x 3.5mm audio 1 microSD card reader |
|
Material | Plastic | |
Dimensions | 197.97 X 119.82 x 8.95mm 7.79” X 4.72 x 0.35″ |
199.1×121.8× 8.15mm 7.84″ x 4.79″ x 0.32“ |
lester | 320 grams 0.71 pounds |
305 grams 0.67 pounds |
I guess it’s possible that the slower processor and missing features mean that Lenovo will offer the Lenovo Tab M8 (4th Gen at a lower price). But it’s also possible that Lenovo is just looking for a way to cut costs while still delivering a budget tablet… inflation being what it is these days, I’m guessing the launch of a new tablet (rather) with the same price as its predecessor is kind of like giving customers a discount. Kind of.
Or you can just get a previous generation tablet. Although it has a list price of $110, Lenovo is currently selling the Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) for $93.
via Phablet.jp