Lenovo Unveils Updated Tab P11, P11 Pro Tablets to Compete With iPad

Lenovo on Thursday introduced a pair of midrange Android tablets that it hopes will steal market share from Apple’s popular iPad. The second-generation Tab P11 and Tab P11 Pro closely resemble last year’s models, but include several updates that should appeal to anyone looking to upgrade from an Amazon Fire or any other cheap tablet.

The new Tab P11 and P11 Pro share only the most basic design elements and specs. They’re both standard slates with 11-inch screens that include new blue light filters to help reduce eye strain. Cameras adorn the front and rear of the tablets, though Lenovo hasn’t spelled out their resolutions or features. Perhaps most significantly, both models run the Lenovo Freestyle software; this allows you to link the devices with Windows-based Lenovo PCs to create a portable second-screen experience.

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro
(Credit: Lenovo)

The heartier P11 Pro tablet features an 11.2-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,536 pixels. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. You also get four JBL-tuned Dolby Atmos speakers, which should make this tablet excellent for entertainment. With up to a 120Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch response rate, the P11 Pro should provide a smooth visual experience that’s ideal for mobile gaming, too. Brightness reaches a peak of 600 nits.

A MediaTek Kompanio 1300T processor powers the device. You choose between 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. There’s no microSD card slot, however, unlike last year’s model. Lenovo says the 8,000mAh battery should provide up to 14 hours of battery life. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6 are included for wireless connectivity, while the USB-C 3.0 port supports an alternate DisplayPort output mode.

The Tab P11 Pro weighs 1.05 pounds and comes in Oat or Storm Grey colors. Accessories include a full-sized keyboard with a built-in trackpad, a folio case, and Lenovo’s Precision Pen 3 stylus. The tablet runs Android 12, and Lenovo promises updates through Android 14. It will go on sale in September for $399, which undercuts the $599 Apple iPad Air pretty significantly.

Lenovo Tab P11
(Credit: Lenovo)

The Tab P11 dials things down a notch. The screen is larger at 11.5 inches, but it uses a lower-resolution (2,000 by 1,200 pixels) LCD. That said, it maintains the maximum 120Hz refresh rate and covers the same DCI-P3 color gamut, but peak brightness drops to 400 nits and neither Dolby Vision nor HDR10 make the cut. The quad speakers are Dolby Atmos-certified, while dual microphones should help with video calls.

Lenovo opted for a Mediatek Helio G99 processor for this slate; it limits the RAM and storage combos to 4GB/64GB, 4GB/128GB, and 6GB/128GB, but you do get a microSD card slot on this model. Lenovo doesn’t say how much battery life to expect from the 7,700mAh cell. The Wi-Fi-only model boasts support for the future-proof Wi-Fi 6E, but the LTE model sticks with Wi-Fi 5. Either packs a USB-C 2.0 port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Lenovo Tab P11
(Credit: Lenovo)

The Lenovo Tab P11 weighs 1.15 pounds and comes in Sage or Storm Grey. The company offers optional accessories including a keyboard pack, a folio case, and the Lenovo Precision Pen 2 (2023). This slate ships with Android 12L, the tablet-specific version of Android 12, and should eventually get an upgrade to Android 14. The P11 goes on sale in January 2023 for $249, which makes it a direct competitor to the $329 Apple iPad.

Android tablets have made steady gains against Apple’s iPad in North America over the last few years, according to StatCounter(Opens in a new window). In November 2021, the iPad held about 59% of the market to Android’s 41%. The numbers are much closer now at 54% and 46%, respectively. In other words, Lenovo has plenty of opportunity with these affordable tablets, though Google may be a stiff competitor if it releases the Pixel Tablet later this year as rumored.

Until these go on sale, you can peruse our roundup of the best Android tablets we’ve tested.