Tablet computers still exist. No really they do. We know it seems like so 1950s to talk about them – remember when they were so HOT you would scald yourself picking one off the shelf – but they still have a useful purpose in the right hands. In fact Lenovo believes that their major use is as an entertainment device, which demonstrates a lot about how the market has shifted over the past year or so.

We got our hands on the latest in the line of Yoga Tab tablets from the company, and found that they have wisely kept the best of the features and improved the specifications of things like the projector. Result – a cracking good product again from this model line. See our video below for our overview of this fun product.

First impressions
The Yoga Tab 3 Pro comes in a typically professional Lenovo package, along with a user guide, power block and cable. the whole thing is very slick, which is the hallmark of the top brands of course. The user guide is sufficient to give you enough info on how to get set up, and the functionality of things like the projector.

In use
For those who are familiar with the original Yoga Tab, this is more of the same. The same bulbous battery block shape at one end, and layout of speakers and buttons. The specifications are tweaked though. The product features an Intel Atom x5 processor running at up to 2.24GHz, Android 5.1, a 10.1 QHD screen (2560×1600), 2 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of internal storage. You get WiFi abgn, Bluetooth 4 and two cameras included too. The rear camera is 13 megapixels and the front is 5 mp. Nice.

There’s also a microSD slot under a flap on the rear which will take up to 128 GB which means you can fit a lot of data on the thing if you want. There’s also GPS on-board, and if you opt for the LTE version, a SIM card slot next to the memory card location. It’s all very neat and tidy. We also like the nice padded rear ‘faux leather’ feel.

The whole effect is very nice, it feels robust, and also operates extremely competently.We got an Antutu benchmark of over 77,000 on the unit, which is pretty solid. Everything runs snappily, games are great, the screen is silky smooth responsive and beautifully clear and bright. Are you getting the idea we like this product yet?

The two standout features are the battery life and the projector though. The new Tab 3 Pro has uprated the project lumens by 25% to 50 lumens, which means a very bright image displayed, and while it will definitely start to fade over 30 inches, it’s still very impressive even up to the stated max of 60 inches.

To operate the projector, just swing out the hinge on the battery block, press the projector button for a couple of seconds and you’re good to go. Quick and easy. There’s even a super simple software focus ring to sharpen the image on the go. We didn’t test out the max time of the 10200 mAh battery, but from our initial tests, we’re confident that it should match its predecessors in terms of longevity.

Conclusion
It’s rare to find companies taking risks nowadays, as we’ve said before. With huge amounts of money at stake, it’s easy for them to take the safe route, so it’s great to see Lenovo continuing to stretch out with this product line. The really great thing is they’ve improved the product without breaking what made it great the first time around. Evolution not revolution sometimes is a great tactic. The result is a tablet computer which delivers great performance, and additional cool with the projector, wrapped up in a superb battery life. Lovely.

Price: $499 / £360

Specifications:
Processor
Intel Atom x5-Z8500 Processor( 1.44Ghz ~ Up to 2.24GHz TurboGHz 1440MHz 2MB)
Operating system
ANDROID 5.1
Display type
10.1″ IPS Multi-touch 2560×1600
Total memory
2.0GB LPDDR3-1600 LPDDR3 1600 MHz
Hard drive device
32GB
Network card
802.11abgn WLAN
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version 4.0
Warranty
One year
Battery
2 CELL Li-ion+1 CELL Li-Polymer