If you frequently play games on your phone, you've probably felt that smartphone screens are sometimes too narrow for comfortable controls. But on the other hand, switching to a 10- or 11-inch tablet can make it feel too bulky, causing your hands to tire easily after holding it for hours. Well, Lenovo fully understands this dilemma. They introduce the Lenovo Legion Y700, a compact gaming tablet specifically designed to meet the needs of mobile gamers.
With an 8.8-inch screen size, this tablet successfully strikes the sweet spot between portability and visual comfort. Not only does it offer the right size, but Lenovo also injects top-tier performance typical of the Legion lineup into this tiny device. Let's dissect more deeply what makes this tablet capture the attention of gaming enthusiasts!
Compact Design and Comfortable Grip
One of the main selling points of the Lenovo Legion Y700 is its physical form. Featuring an aluminum body with a matte finish, the tablet feels very solid and premium when held. The body corners are designed with a slight curve so they don't dig into your palms when playing games in landscape mode.
With a weight of around 375 grams and a relatively thin profile, you can hold this tablet stably with both hands just like a handheld console. This size also makes it very easy to slip into your daily bag without taking up much space.
Compact Display with a High Refresh Rate
Moving on to the visual department, the Lenovo Legion Y700's screen is truly a treat for the eyes. This 8.8-inch IPS LCD panel features a sharp 2.5K resolution (2560 x 1600 pixels). High resolution on a relatively small screen size results in very high pixel density, making game graphics look smooth and detailed.
In terms of responsiveness, the screen supports up to a 144Hz refresh rate and a very high touch sampling rate. The effect is felt immediately when playing competitive games that require quick reflexes like Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, or Genshin Impact. Character movements feel very smooth, and every touch on the screen is responded to without annoying lag.
This screen also supports 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and HDR10, so besides being great for gaming, this tablet is also fantastic for streaming movies or simply browsing.
Uncompromising Fast Performance
True to the "Legion" name it carries, the tablet's engine is no joke. Lenovo equips the Legion Y700 with a flagship-tier Qualcomm chipset combined with LPDDR5x RAM and fast UFS internal storage.
This hardware configuration is capable of devouring various heavy Android games at maxed-out graphic settings without issues. To keep performance stable during marathon gaming sessions, Lenovo embeds an extra-large Vapor Chamber (VC) cooling system inside its body. As a result, heat is distributed well, and the tablet rarely experiences excessive performance drops (thermal throttling).
The operating system is also equipped with Lenovo's built-in gaming-specific feature, Legion Zone. Through this feature, you can adjust performance modes (Quiet, Balance, Beast), monitor temperatures, and manage power usage according to your needs.
Unique Gaming Feature: Dual USB Type-C Ports
There is one physical feature that is quite unique and very useful on the Lenovo Legion Y700, namely the presence of two USB Type-C ports. One port is located on the bottom side, and another port is on the side edge.
The presence of these two ports provides extraordinary flexibility. When the battery starts running low in the middle of a game, you can plug the charging cable into the side port. That way, the cable position won't interfere with your hand grip when playing in landscape mode. Additionally, these USB ports support Bypass Charging, where power from the charger is fed directly to the components without passing through the battery. This feature is very effective in keeping the tablet's temperature cool and extending battery life.
Battery and Other Supporting Features
For power management, this tablet is equipped with a 6,550 mAh battery. This size is quite appropriate for an 8-inch tablet, capable of lasting all day for normal usage or several hours of non-stop gaming marathons. Charging also supports Super Flash Charge technology up to 45W, so you don't have to wait too long for the battery to be fully charged again.
In the sound sector, Lenovo collaborated with JBL to deliver dual stereo speakers powered by Dolby Atmos technology. The sound produced is quite loud, clear, and has a spatial effect that helps detect the direction of enemy footsteps in war games.
Complete Lenovo Legion Y700 Specification Table
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 8.8-inch IPS LCD, 2.5K (2560 x 1600 pixels), 144Hz, DCI-P3 100%, HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Internal Memory | 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1 (expandable via MicroSD) |
| Operating System | ZUI 15 based on Android |
| Rear Camera | 13 MP (Wide) + 2 MP (Macro), LED Flash |
| Front Camera | 8 MP |
| Battery | 6,550 mAh, Fast Charging 45W |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, 2x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 2 (supports DisplayPort out) |
| Audio | Dual JBL Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos |
| Cooling System | Vapor Chamber Cooling (37300mmยฒ total dissipation area) |
| Dimensions | 208.6 x 129.1 x 7.6 mm |
| Weight | ~375 grams |
Comparison with Similar Gadgets
To see the position of the Lenovo Legion Y700 in the market, let's compare it with its two main rivals in the compact tablet and gaming tablet segments: iPad Mini (Gen 6) and Xiaomi Pad 6.
1. Main Specification Comparison
| Feature | Lenovo Legion Y700 | iPad Mini (Gen 6) | Xiaomi Pad 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 8.8-inch IPS (144Hz) | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina (60Hz) | 11.0-inch IPS (144Hz) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Apple A15 Bionic | Snapdragon 870 |
| Operating System | Android (ZUI) | iPadOS | Android (MIUI for Pad) |
| USB Port | Dual USB Type-C | Single USB Type-C | Single USB Type-C |
| Bypass Charging | Yes | No | No |
| Weight | ~375 g | ~293 g | ~490 g |
2. Usage Experience Comparison
- Vs. iPad Mini (Gen 6): The iPad Mini excels with a lighter weight and an iPadOS ecosystem that is highly optimized for productivity and professional apps. However, for pure gaming needs, the Legion Y700 vastly outperforms the iPad Mini thanks to its 144Hz screen (the iPad Mini is still 60Hz), Vapor Chamber cooling system, dual USB ports, and bypass charging feature.
- Vs. Xiaomi Pad 6: The Xiaomi Pad 6 offers a wider screen (11 inches) which is more suitable for work multitasking and typing. But in terms of gaming portability and hand-grip comfort without using an extra controller, the Legion Y700's 8.8-inch size feels much more fitting and doesn't cause hand fatigue quickly. The performance of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 on the Legion Y700 is also higher compared to the Snapdragon 870 on the Xiaomi Pad 6.
Pros and Cons of Lenovo Legion Y700
Before deciding to buy, it's important to weigh the advantages and limitations of this tablet.
Pros
- Ideal Screen Size: The 8.8-inch size provides a perfect balance between a wide viewing distance and a comfortable two-handed grip.
- Sharp 144Hz Display: 2.5K resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate delivers exceptionally smooth and detailed visual motion.
- Dual USB-C & Bypass Charging Features: A very practical solution so that the charging cable doesn't interfere with hand positioning when gaming while charging.
- Effective Cooling System: The large VC cooling garden (chamber) keeps temperatures stable even when playing heavy games for long periods.
- MicroSD Slot Support: Facilitates media and game storage expansion without having to rely solely on internal memory.
Cons
- Wi-Fi Only (No SIM Slot): You must always be connected to a Wi-Fi network or use phone tethering when wanting to play outside the home.
- Standard Camera: Front and rear camera qualities are fairly mediocre, just sufficient for video call needs or document scanning.
- No 3.5mm Audio Jack Port: Requires a Type-C adapter or Bluetooth/Type-C earphones for private audio listening.
- Unit Availability: Due to its initial status as a region-specific release version, official warranty version availability in some countries may vary.
Conclusion
The Lenovo Legion Y700 is the right answer for those looking for a compact Android tablet with a primary focus on gaming performance. Its screen size fits well in the hand, its visual quality is stunning, and its fast chipset is balanced with a top-notch cooling system and bypass charging features.
Although this tablet does not come with cellular network connectivity (Wi-Fi only), the overall performance and comfort of use it offers still make it one of the best compact gaming tablets available on the market today.
Via : GSMArena
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Written by
Wilan
A regular contributor to Bali Island Tekno who actively shares knowledge about technology, programming, and the world of software engineering.