The Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 has been unveiled via the company's YouTube page, SlashGear reports. And the good news for Android lovers everywhere? It'll come running Ice Cream Sandwich from the get-go.
The screen on the IdeaTab is just like the iPad 2's, measuring 9.7-inches across and with a 1,024x768-pixel resolution. That doesn't come close to the retina display found on the new iPad, but it's still pretty decent. It also features in-plane switching, giving you a wider viewing angle.
Above the screen sits a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for self-portraits and video conferencing calls, but there's no rear-mounted snapper. That's ok by my reckoning -- who uses their tablet as a camera anyway?
Fours speakers -- count 'em -- sit on the back, and should provide more sonic oomph than most tablets
The battery should be good for 10 hours, and the device has a microSD slot, as well as micro-USB and micro-HDMI sockets. There's no word on how much on-board storage it'll come with, but at least that microSD slot will make the memory expandable. Design-wise it features a unibody shell with gunmetal finish, and measures just 8.9mm thin, which is slimmer than the third-gen iPad.
There's no word on a price or release date, or what kind of processing grunt we can expect, but the IdeaTab S2 features a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 and a higher resolution screen, and goes for $349 (£220), so the S2109 shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Check out the video below.
Google is preparing its own tablet with Asus, though it's not expected to launch until July. It'll pack a 7-inch screen, Ice Cream Sandwich, a Wi-Fi-only connection, and cost close to £125, if the rumours are to be believed.
Would you buy the IdeaTab S2109? Or are you waiting for the Google/Asus effort? Let me know in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 7
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anonymous 9 April, 2012 18:57
How is 1,024x768 decent!? The new range of smartphones are all 720p, so why can't something with over twice the screen size manage it?
Loadit 9 April, 2012 21:08
@anonymous
What is this about screen resolution? It is the same as the Ipad 2 which is the best tablet going.
My Motorola smart phone does 720p but does not have any where near that resolution. But the pictures can't be faulted extremely bright and clear. Screen resolution is the only thing that counts.
Loadit 9 April, 2012 21:11
wish there was an edit function on this site (not first time or only person to ask for this)
meant to type Screen resolution is not the only thing that counts.
iam a wp7 10 April, 2012 01:23
Oh give up on Android tablets! Nobody in the right mind would buy one (or any other none apple tablet) over the iPad. They know exactly what a tablet is for! Need Windows 8 tablets to be released ASAP I think they might offer a bit more competition.
anonymous 10 April, 2012 09:41
@Loadit well... the iPad 3 did come out a while a go. And on the iPad 2 the text looks jagged and unappealing, pictures don't look as good and icons look bad. I'm not saying that android tablets necessarily need the retina display on the iPad.
As for the screen, it's my favourite part of the tablet. Of course it has to run smoothly but the screen is why tablets are so good for watching videos, reading magazines, playing games etc.
I just think come on aim for 1080p, but not managing to put a 720p screen on it is pretty pathetic. If my phone can do it then so can a 10 inch tablet
tuxtester 10 April, 2012 09:53
I have an Android tablet: ARM CortexTM-A8 MID, £130 from Amazon, that included delivery.
It's an 8 inch screen, 1.2 mhz processor, wifi and Gingerbread 2.3.1.
Beautiful device. It's particularly good for OpenGL gaming.
I use it with eclipse to write Android apps.
Setting up USB connectivity (for development use) on xubuntu was simple.
I will definitely be buying the Google tablet.
anonymous 10 April, 2012 21:43
This product will definitely be in my budget range.I must have to check out the product.Thanks for posting.