The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 is an Android tablet with premium specs including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, quad speakers, 8GB of RAM, and at least 128GB of storage. But this 13.3 inch Android tablet is also a multi-function device that you can use as a portable monitor thanks to an HDMI input.
You can connect it to a laptop when you want a second screen on the go, or hook it up to a smartphone, Nintendo Switch, or other gadgets when you want a bigger display.
First announced in China earlier this year where the tablet is sold as the Lenovo Yoga Pad Pro, the new Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 is coming to the United States this summer for $680 and up.
8/30/2021 Update: It’s now available in the US.
That’s on the expensive side for an Android tablet, but the price is in the same ballpark as Samsung’s Galaxy S7 series tablets. Like Samsung’s tablets, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 can be used with a pressure-sensitive pen (Lenovo’s Precision Pen 2), and features the kind of hardware you’d expect from a decent smartphone.
But there are a few key differences. In addition to supporting audio and video input via HDMI, Lenovo’s tablet has a built-in kickstand and a “barrel” style hinge with the battery packed into the thick end to help balance the tablet when it’s propped up on the table or give you a thicker side to grip when holding the tablet in one hand.
Lenovo’s tablet has a “shadow black” exterior with Alcantara fabric covering the back. And you can also flip the kickstand out 180 degrees and use it to hang the tablet from a wall or door hook.
Here are some key specs for the Yoga Tab 13:
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 | |
| Display | 13″ 2160 x 1350 LTPS 100% sRGB 400 nits 60 Hz Dolby Vision support |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB |
| Camera | 8MP RGB + ToF (front-facing only) |
| Battery | 10,000 mAh Up to 12 hours video playback |
| Charging | 30W |
| Wireless | WiFi 6 WiFi Direct (Google Miracast) Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | USB 3.1 Type-C (power, data, video-out) micro HDMI input (w/HDCP 1.4 support) |
| Speakers | 2 x 1.5W top 2 x 2W bottom |
| Microphones | 3 mics |
| Security | Face unlock |
| Accessories in the box | 10V/3A charging adapter 1.5m USB-C to USB-C charging gable USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter 1m micro HDMI to HDMI cable |
| Dimensions | 293.35 x 203.98 x 6.2-24.9mm 11.56″ x 8.03″ x 0.24-0.98″ |
| Weight | 830 grams 1.83 pounds |
| Starting price | $680 |
WiFi Direct (Google Miracast)?
First, Miracast doesn’t belong to Google (Chromecast doest).
Second, if it does support Miracast I wonder if it does transmitting or receiving or both?
For the record, Miracast would be more useful as a portable device as it can use an ad hoc connection (ergo the WiFi direct) whilst Chromecast normally requires connection to a network from what I’ve seen.
That’s a really odd 16:10 resolution.
I wonder how it will scale 16:9 resolutions. There’s probably lots of people out there that would use something like this connected to a Nintendo Switch, but not if it stretches the video.
I read some more about this device, and unfortunately it just doesn’t seem like what I hoped it would be.
I’d buy something like this if it was designed as a portable monitor first, and a tablet second. Essentially if a portable monitor had a simple mid-range Android device built-in. This is just too “tablet-heavy” in features for my needs.
For this price range, I would want USB-C for the video input, with power delivery to charge the connected device. I’d also expect better than 60hz for the screen and input. I’m also on the lookout for one with a built-in USB 3.0+ hub. It would be nice to handle video input, and USB accessories through the same USB-C cable.
This will end up being a good road warrior (does that still exist?) device. Lugging a 17″ laptop is a pain, not to mention battery life issues, and for sales / executive roles is a non-starter. But a sleek functional tablet I can use as a second monitor, plus point in any direction? Hell yes.
If the touch part works when it’s in monitor mode it would be fantastic for contract signing. Not clear if it does though.
Yeah, I’m curious about that too, whether the pen works in monitor mode (touch is a lot easier to integrate). I am hoping it does since their m14t portable monitor which is not a tablet also supports pen input.
still 60Hz… omg