PERFORMANCE. We evaluate how fast a tablet can perform calculations and see how long it takes to complete different tasks. The Lenovo Tab 3 7 (16GB) is slower than most other tested tablets and has fair speeds when running everyday tasks, such as web browsing or email. The time to turn on and load the OS was faster than most, although this will be affected by what apps are installed on your tablet. Copying a set of files was very fast.
DISPLAY. We also score the attributes of a tablet's display. This device has a display resolution of 1024 x 600, and produces very coarse detail at 171 pixels per inch. The very bright screen and its reduced glare will be easy to view when used outdoors or in bright rooms. Testers found the display quality is rich with saturated colors, although text lacks some contrast. Viewing angles are middling, so you may need to adjust the screen to get an optimal display for a single viewer, but moreso for multiple viewers.
CONVENIENCE. To gauge a tablet's ease of use, we look at the intuitiveness of its controls, as well as how quickly it takes to perform common tasks, such as connecting to a wifi router or transferring files. The on-screen keyboard had a less comfortable size than on other tablets, and buttons were intuitively placed or easy to use. The touchscreen accurately interpreted touch gestures and it had some lag in response. This tablet's initial setup process was quick and simple to personalize. It was fast in connecting to a wireless network. There were few, if any, issues when transferring files to and from different computers or storage solutions. You can only display one app at a time on this tablet, so multi-tasking will be more difficult with less information on the screen.
SPECIFIC TASKS. Looking at how easy it is to perform a set of everyday tasks can show how functional a tablet will be. This tablet scored very good, with some tasks easy to perform. Most common file types are not supported by default; you may need additional apps to view certain files. Some unsupported formats include: rtf, MSOffice files. The tablet includes a video conference app by default for making video calls. The camera video records in SD, suitable for small social media clips. The webcam video records in SD, suitable for small social media clips. Video playback was smooth and had little lag, and sound quality from the built-in speakers is thin but acceptable. Photos produced from the camera had unnatural colors, and videos lacked detail and had inaccurate colors. Text was somewhat clear and was OK to read under various lighting conditions. There was some sluggishness when using the web browser.
VERSATILITY. The features that are available on a tablet and other physical characteristics can affect its usability. It has no USB port. It has no HDMI port. Without a keyboard, it weighs 0.5 lbs and is more lightweight than most tested tablets. The tablet has a solid feel, with little to no flex in its contruction.
BATTERY LIFE. A longer battery life is important for mobility, whether using it while outside traveling, or even just at home as you carry the tablet between rooms. While browsing the web, the tablet can last 8.2 hours, and while playing back movies, it can last 6.9 hours, shorter than most other tested tablets. After partially charging a drained battery for 30 minutes, the tablet can last 1.1 hours, which was shorter than most other tested tablets. The tablet has a battery-saving mode, but it took testers some time to find and activate it.
