This year, Android tablets are experiencing something of a comeback. After about five years of stagnation, some competition has arrived. From Xiaomi to Samsung and Nokia to Realme, every manufacturer seems to be trying to build the perfect slate. Lenovo has quietly stepped up to the plate and experimented more than most other manufacturers to find not only the best combination of specs, but also style and scope.
The Yoga Tab 11 has a design like no other on the market, aside from other “Yoga” branded tablets. It has a bulge on the back that houses the speakers and battery, and a sturdy kickstand that can be rotated 180 degrees. The Yoga Tab 11 has a profile of 10.1 x 6.7 x 0.31-0.33 inches and a weight of 1.44 pounds. It’s both small and lightweight, so you can easily carry it around your home.
The tablet works best when placed on flat surfaces like desks or kitchen counters. The top half of the back of the tablet is covered in a soft, storm gray fabric. Not only is the fabric soft to the touch, it is also heat and sweat resistant. The top half and the rest of the tablet are wrapped in a sturdy polycarbonate frame. The stylish Yoga logo is etched onto the fabric.
The most distinctive feature of the Yoga Tab 11 is the cylindrical battery. Like the Yoga Tab 13, the bulging battery looks odd, but it serves as an excellent grip, making it very practical. Its light weight also makes the device comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Like its 13-inch counterpart, the Yoga Tab 11 also has a built-in stand that allows you to stand the device up. The stand also allows you to hang the tablet on a wall or doorknob, which is very convenient.
Although the cylindrical battery is unique and serves as an effective grip, the unusual design makes it difficult to find a protective case for the tablet. Lenovo offers a protective case, but the smallest size is 14 inches. The sleeve is nice, but it does not protect against accidental drops. Considering that the Yoga Tab 11 is supposedly intended for family use, not using a protective case can be a dangerous undertaking.
The Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 has two 8-megapixel cameras, one on the front and one on the back. The sensors are nothing special, but they are good for occasional video calls. Speaking of video calls: The tablet also has two microphones that can suppress background noise and work so well that I didn’t have to reach for my headphones for most calls.
The biggest shortcoming of the Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 for me is the lack of a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint sensor. Face unlock is available, it’s fast, and it can’t be fooled with a photo, but unfortunately it relies on software rather than dedicated hardware, so it’s not secure enough for everyday use for many people.
