Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro (2023 Version) Review: A High-Performance Tablet with Impressive Features

Whether it’s for productivity or watching TV shows, tablets have become an indispensable part of many people’s lives. More and more manufacturers are releasing large-size tablets. The 12-inch or even 14-inch large screens can display more images and stronger image quality, providing users with better visual effects and higher work efficiency. These tablets with larger screen sizes and a more comfortable operating experience are also favored by users. Lenovo, a leading technology company, has recently released its latest offering, the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro, and we’re here to find out if it lives up to its predecessor’s reputation.

With a price tag of around $240, this tablet boasts a larger 12.7-inch display, powerful performance, and an innovative stylus, the Xiaoxin Pad Pro aims to deliver an exceptional tablet experience. For such an excellent tablet, many people must be planning to buy it. Today, I will delve into the tablet’s design, hardware, software, features, display, entertainment capabilities, performance, and camera, to see if it is as good as netizens praise it. So, let’s get started!

Unboxing the Xiaoxin Pad Pro

Let’s kick things off with the unboxing experience of the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro. The quality of the product can be seen through the packaging and product details and workmanship, so we first open a box to see what accessories the Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 model comes with, and what the product quality and workmanship are like. As shown, with pink and blue gradients and white cartoon prints. The overall tone is fresh and beautiful, which is a flavor that young people like.

The back uses a disposable sealing sticker, which is firmly adhered to and can effectively avoid the risk of getting the touch machine. The upper left corner is an introduction to the core selling points of the product, and the upper right corner is the product code and production information. The 12.7-inch large tablet has first-class energy efficiency. The large screen is hard on the eyes, so you need to protect your eyes. The German TUV Rheinland eye protection certification is pasted on the lower right corner, which reflects what users want.

Opening the box, we discover the tablet snugly nestled inside, along with the warranty manuals, a tool to remove the drawer, an AC charger, and a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable. However, it’s important to note that the power output of the included wall adapter is limited to 20W. The accessories are neatly arranged in separate compartments, ensuring everything is easily accessible.

Design And Build Quality

Being the first tablet I reviewed from Lenovo, I was quite eager to explore the large 12.7 display. Its size and form factor felt perfect in my hands, and I could sense the build quality as I held it with metal unibody construction that exudes durability and elegance. The large 12.7-inch screen dominates the front, offering an immersive viewing experience. The bezels are relatively slim, enhancing the tablet’s modern aesthetic.

Turning the tablet over, you’ll notice a stylish two-tone metal back with the Lenovo brand logo, JBL, and Dolby Sound logos. And houses a 13MP sensor and a flash, although it’s worth noting that the primary focus of a tablet isn’t photography. The plastic finishes on the back are well-executed, displaying Lenovo’s attention to detail and clean assembly. However, the back does tend to attract fingerprints, so it is advisable to use a cover or a pouch to prevent smudges.

The back also features an oval magnet for attaching the stylus, which securely holds the accessory in place when not in use. The Tab Pin Plus stylus attaches magnetically to the back of the tablet and offers various functionalities, such as converting handwriting to text and controlling the tablet for music, videos, and taking photos. It also supports wireless charging of the magnetic pen, which needs to be purchased separately.

The tablet feels solid and comfortable to hold, with a weight distribution that allows for prolonged use without strain. The tablet is impressively slim, measuring just 6.9mm in thickness, which is much thinner than ordinary mobile phones. And lightweight, weighing 615g, considering its size. The slim profile and lightweight construction make it comfortable to hold and carry around.

The physical buttons are well placed, with the volume rocker located on the right side for easy access. The bottom of the tablet houses the Pogo pin connectors designed for the keyboard, and a USB Type-C charging port supports the USB 3.2 Gen1 protocol, the maximum transmission speed reaches 5Gbps, and supports 4K60Hz when connected to a monitor, there a two speakers grills. On the left side, you’ll find a power button that doubles as a fingerprint reader, providing convenient and secure unlocking of the device.

However, it’s worth noting that the tablet lacks a headphone jack, which may inconvenience users who rely on wired headphones. On the positive side, it includes a microSD card slot, allowing for storage expansion.

Display Experience & Sound Quality

Compared with ordinary tablets, large tablets have a larger screen size, allowing users to watch videos, browse the web, and read e-books more clearly. Whether for work or entertainment, a larger screen can provide a better visual experience. So, I found another reason why Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 is so popular. The screen is the most important part of a tablet, so let’s first talk about my overall experience using this screen. First, the screen parameters: 12.7-inch 2944×1840 for 2K resolution, which may be a step up from the FHD or FHD+ resolution common to many mid-range tablets, but is in line with the best tablets in the ~$400 price range. It has with 144Hz refresh rate, LCD technology, a DPI of 273, and a maximum brightness of 400nit.

In terms of screen refresh rate, it provides four modes: smart, 144Hz, 120Hz, and 60Hz. The default is smart mode. If you don’t care about battery life, it is recommended that you turn on 144Hz. After all, the visual enjoyment brought by a high refresh rate is super comfortable.

In addition, the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 screen can adjust the screen color temperature according to the ambient color temperature, making it more comfortable for the eyes to view the screen. It has Rheinland eye protection certification, DC dimming, eye protection mode, reading mode, etc. to better protect your eyes.

The screen of Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 supports saturation and color temperature adjustment, that is, it can switch between vivid (DCI-P3 wide color gamut) and standard (sRGB color gamut), and it can also switch between standard color gamut and cool and warm color temperature.

In vivid mode, this screen was tested and the typical brightness value was 400 nits. But as an LCD screen, this brightness is enough. The screen color gamut was also tested. This is a “double 100” screen, which exceeds double 100. The color gamut volume is 100% PCI-P3 color gamut and 98% AdobeRGB color gamut and even reaches 141% sRGB color gamut. The color gamut coverage also reaches 100% sRGB. In standard mode, the color gamut volume is 69% PCI-P3 color gamut, 67% AdobeRGB color gamut, and 97% sRGB color gamut. The color gamut is also quite good.

Audio-visual experience

Thanks to its excellent screen quality, Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 supports Dolby Vision and Dolby HDR viewing experience. In addition, its four built-in JBL speakers can also achieve Dolby Atmos sound effects. I tested it here using high-definition Blu-ray resources I downloaded. The actual look and feel is indeed good. The texture is great and the colors are excellent. It is very suitable for watching alone on the sofa or in bed late at night. The 12.7-inch ultra-high screen-to-body ratio Paired with 4 speakers, the immersion is also very good. The only drawback is that the brightness of 400nit is not very good.

One notable feature of the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro is its ability to play YouTube videos at upscaled 4K resolution. This means that you can enjoy your favorite YouTube content in stunning detail, taking advantage of the tablet’s high-resolution display. Whether you’re watching vlogs, movie trailers, or music videos, the Xiaoxin Pad Pro ensures a captivating visual experience.

Compared to me who likes to browse beep websites and watch variety shows, in this regard, the advantages of a large tablet are also fully experienced. In addition to the large screen, it can also provide us with fun functions such as watching dramas and reading comments at the same time.

In terms of sound quality performance, thanks to the blessing of 4 JBL speakers, it is not only very suitable for watching movies and following music and variety shows but also has much better sound quality than ordinary tablets when it comes to listening to music. I listened to a variety of styles of music. The mid-and high-pitched performance was excellent, the treble was clear and translucent, the mid-range was soft, and the colors were rich. Due to the size factor, the bass was very poor. Although multiple sound units make up for it, the depth and strength of the dive are still quite different.

Performance and gaming experience

In terms of configuration, although the Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 model is still equipped with the same old formula. It has a Snapdragon 870 which is built on a 7nm architecture for maximum efficiency and also has 8G memory + 128G storage, but it can still play games now. AnTuTu’s latest V10 version has a comprehensive running score of 816,344 points, making it one of the more powerful mid-range tablets available. Although there is a slight gap compared to the latest 8+ Gen1 and 8Gen2 running scores that exceed one million points. However, compared with products in the same price range, many use mid-range SOCs such as 7Gen1, which still have certain advantages in performance.

Tablets also have stronger heat dissipation capabilities than small devices such as mobile phones. After a complete AnTuTu test, the body temperature barely changed, and the built-in sensor only detected a temperature rise of about 2.5 degrees.

The memory storage type is LPDDR5+UFS3.1, and the AnTuTu memory score is 52749. Except for the sequential writing speed, which is a bit slow, the reading speed and random reading and writing perform well. The AnTuTu stress test lasted 45 minutes, and the Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 model performed stably. With the 870 processor, I believe it is not necessary to test it, and the certainty is not bad.

As a performance killer on the mobile phone, I have tested the game “Genshin Impact”. In the medium image quality mode, the smoothness of the game is not bad, and the frame rate exceeds 55 frames. It will only decrease slightly when paragliding or releasing skills, but the minimum is basically maintained at more than 45 frames, and the smoothness of the picture is still very good. However, it is limited by the size of the tablet and it isn’t easy to control. Should play with a Bluetooth controller.

Learning and office experience

I believe that for all those who have bought a tablet, their primary purpose of purchasing a tablet is definitely for working or studying. It can be seen that everyone has high expectations for tablet productivity. So how does the Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 perform in terms of study and work? Here we briefly talk about the actual use experience through several software.

First, it is perfectly compatible with office software such as WPS. With a keyboard and mouse, the 12.7-inch large screen is very suitable for temporary office efficiency. Second, if you think 12.7 inches is not big enough, we can also connect an external monitor through the USB-A port to achieve a larger screen for office work. Connecting the screen through the A port, Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 also provides two modes: mirroring and expansion. Who can resist this?

The built-in “NotePad” is the most useful handwriting note-taking software I have ever seen. When paired with Lenovo’s Xiaoxin stylus, you can quickly create notes and record various important contents. In addition, for friends who like electronic painting, it also has a built-in Paint World PRO application, which can open up a new world of painting when paired with the officially sold Xiaoxin pressure-sensitive pen.

More spacious keyboard

The keyboard of the large tablet is correspondingly larger, making it easier and more accurate for users to input text. For users who need to frequently edit documents or write for long periods, the large tablet keyboard will provide a better input experience. The wireless magnetic keyboard equipped with Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7-inch has a 79-key key layout. There is a row of shortcut function keys added to the keyboard, with a total of 16. The split screen and floating window functions mentioned above can be used directly. , and you can also customize the quick-launch app.

The keys also feel good, with a key travel of 1.5mm and crisp rebound feedback, allowing for more efficient text input and editing, further improving the efficiency of learning and office work. After using it, the typing experience is similar to that of the ThinkPad I have used for many years, and I can quickly become proficient.

Camera:

The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro features an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens on the back and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens on the front. The camera app offers various modes, including AI scan, camera video, and central portrait, and supports video recording at up to 1080p resolution. While the camera performance is decent for basic photography needs, it may not meet the expectations of users seeking high-quality shots. The images captured by the tablet’s cameras display accurate colors and sufficient detail in well-lit conditions. However, in low-light situations, image quality tends to suffer, with increased noise and reduced sharpness. If photography is a priority for you, you may want to consider other tablets or dedicated cameras.

The front camera is suitable for video calls and capturing selfies. It produces satisfactory image quality with good color reproduction and detail, allowing for clear and sharp video conferencing experiences. The front camera also supports features such as portrait mode, which adds a pleasing background blur effect to your selfies.

System experience & UI design

The ZUI 15 installed on the Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 model is based on Android 13. I think the overall system style is quite good. The UI design is simple and the system fluency is good. After opening too many programs, although there are lags, there is no lag. Not obvious. In addition, after receiving the goods, I found that there are not many pre-installed software and they are all software that users use very frequently. It is good that it does not cost a lot of money.

The user interface bears a resemblance to that of an iPad or Xiaomi tablet, with notifications displayed on one side and volume and brightness sliders on the other side.

Generally, manufacturers will insert a lot of hidden advertising spaces into the built-in system applications of mobile phones and tablets, especially mobile phone manufacturers. In this regard, ZUI 15 performs quite well. Commonly used software such as Weather, file management, security center, and browsers do not. Except for the app store, there are no ads in the built-in APP, which must be fully supported!

Large tablets have more screen space, allowing users to open multiple applications at the same time for multitasking. For example, while checking emails, you can also make video calls or edit documents, which improves work efficiency. In addition, this screen also supports two fun modes: a floating window and a split screen. Only by playing Floating Window on a 12.7-inch screen can you truly achieve dual tasks. it is really easy to watch TV shows and do other things at the same time. No delay.

Of course, a large screen requires “split-screen technology”. Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 supports application split screen and floating windows. It supports up to 4 application split screens and 5 software floating windows. Open the application you want to use in split screen and click the top menu to split screen or float the window. Combined with the 12.7-inch large screen, you can still have a larger display interface even in split screen or floating window display.

Although it is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 processor, which has been released for more than two years, the performance is still strong enough. Whether it is running multiple applications or performing complex multi-tasking, it is still stress-free.

Software Enhancements:

Lenovo has made several software enhancements to improve the user experience on the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro. One notable feature is the Kids Space mode, which provides a child-friendly interface with curated apps, books, and videos suitable for young users. This mode allows parents to set usage limits and restrict access to age-inappropriate content, ensuring a safe and engaging digital environment for kids.

Another useful software addition is Lenovo’s Productivity Mode. When enabled, this mode transforms the tablet’s user interface into a more desktop-like experience, with a taskbar at the bottom of the screen for quick app switching, multi-window support, and a floating toolbar for easy access to commonly used functions. This mode enhances productivity by allowing you to work on multiple apps simultaneously and streamline your workflow.

Lenovo has also partnered with Microsoft to optimize the Xiaoxin Pad Pro for productivity and collaboration. The tablet comes preloaded with Microsoft Office apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, providing a familiar and feature-rich office suite for creating and editing documents on the go.

The Tab Pin Plus stylus is a highlight of the Xiaoxin Pad Pro’s features. It requires Bluetooth pairing before it can be used and offers a range of functionalities to enhance your productivity and creativity. Lenovo has introduced new features, including popup notes, quick notes, handwriting-to-text, smart shape recognition, and the ability to switch between paint and eraser modes with a double tap of the stylus button.

In addition to the interconnection between mobile phones and tablets, you can also turn on the dual-screen collaboration mode of computers, tablets, and mobile phones anytime and anywhere to perform multiple tasks at the same time. After casting the screen, you can directly operate the tablet on the computer with the mouse, or drag and drop files to each other. What I like most is that the tablet can be used as a secondary screen for the computer. You can touch the Windows system on the tablet, which is equivalent to adding a touch screen to the computer.

Connectivity Options:

The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro supports Wi-Fi 6, ensuring fast and stable wireless connectivity. It also features Bluetooth 5.2, which allows for seamless pairing with compatible devices such as wireless headphones, keyboards, and mice. However, it’s important to note that the tablet does not support cellular connectivity. This means that users will need to rely on Wi-Fi for internet access unless they tether the tablet to a smartphone with a mobile data plan.

Battery Life and Charging:

Larger tablets typically have larger batteries, so they can provide longer battery life than regular-sized tablets. This makes it more convenient for users to go out without the need for frequent charging. Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2023 comes with a charger that supports up to 20W fast charging. Use the supplied charger to charge the 10200mAh battery. It takes about 3 hours from shutdown to full charge. In terms of user experience, this speed is indeed somewhat It’s slow. If it can achieve 65W fast charging like mobile phones, I believe its sales will reach a higher level.

In terms of battery life, thanks to the large 10200mAh battery, its performance is really good. I tried to use it frequently for a day, during which I played videos for an hour, browsed for more than an hour, and played three videos on the external speaker. After listening to music for an hour and playing four or five games, I took it out of my bag when I got home at night and found that the standby power was still more than 25%. As far as this effect is concerned, I am very satisfied with it. I use it every two days for daily use. Shouldn’t be a problem.

In addition, the Snapdragon 870 processor platform brings lower energy consumption and higher performance, allowing you to enjoy an efficient learning and office experience for a longer time. Whether in school, in the office, or on the go, we can continue to use it without worrying about low battery, which brings greater convenience and flexibility to our work and study.

Final verdict:

Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 tablet is very cost-effective and practical. Very suitable for office, study, and entertainment use. It has exquisite workmanship, a high-quality screen with excellent audio quality, and Dolby Atmos enhancement, a large-capacity battery, a ZUI15 system, Supports pressure-sensitive stylus, and an external keyboard, it competes favorably with other tablets in its price range. While it faces tough competition from established players like Samsung and Apple, the Xiaoxin Pad Pro’s combination of hardware, software, and additional features make it a compelling choice for those seeking a versatile and capable tablet.

While the camera performance is adequate for casual photography and video conferencing, it may not be a significant selling point for most users. However, considering that tablet cameras are generally not the primary focus, the Xiaoxin Pad Pro offers a satisfactory experience in this regard.

This is a true flagship tablet hardware configuration and experience. The key is that the price is cheap. The initial price is only more than $240, which is much better than the Xiaomi tablet at the same price. It is often said that you will earn money when you buy it, which refers to the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 tablet computer.