Finding the right tablet should be no chore. Cheap tablets are plentiful, although we certainly do not recommend them. Furthermore, it can be difficult to find a tablet that works well for children. Enter the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD, a 10-inch Android tablet with a dedicated kids mode and a Google Assistant screen to get started. Find out if this is the right cheap tablet for you in this Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD review.
See also: The best cheap Android tablets
What you need to know about the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD
Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Government
- Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD (2 GB, 32 GB): $ 129.99 / £ 149
- Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD (4 GB, 64 GB): $ 169.99 / £ 199
This tablet is available in different SKUs and the SKUs are available in different locations and with different specifications / prices. In the US, the model we reviewed is specifically only available at Walmart.com and your local Walmart store. Walmart charges a low $ 129.99 for this tablet, which is a great price.
The Walmart variant of the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD has a 10.1-inch screen, a MediaTek processor with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, a 5,100 mAh battery and an 8MP main camera and a 5MP user-directed camera. Iron gray is the only color available, but it has an aluminum chassis. It is also shipped with a loading dock.
A variant sold by Lenovo directly has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, with a higher price of $ 169.99. In some regions, there is also a version of the tablet that supports Amazon Alexa home browsing features instead of Google Assistant. Our version has the latter, which is activated via the dock.
For those who want a slightly sharper display, Lenovo also offers a Tab M10 FHD Plus with a 1080p resolution screen that raises the price standard to $ 149. This model was released in early 2020 and is offered with Android 9 Pie, but is otherwise fundamentally the same as the standard Smart Tab M10 HD.
What is good?
Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Government
Lenovo designed and built a solid piece of hardware with the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD. The 10-inch screen is a substantial device. The aluminum chassis is strong and feels good. You also have many amenities. Lenovo has provided the Smart Tab M10 HD with a USB-C port for charging and a tray for microSD memory cards to allow for extended storage (up to 256 GB). The tablet contains stereo speakers, a headphone jack, good buttons and pogo pens on one side for the accompanying charging bench. The dock is sturdy and holds the tablet at a decent angle to watch content while charging, although it is not adjustable.
The screen technically has a high definition resolution at 1,280 x 800 pixels. The pixels are large and the screen is good for everyday use. It looks much better than the 8-inch version of the Amazon Fire 8 HD Plus tablet. It is very bright and not too reflective. I found that I could use it in bright spaces without any visibility issues.
Lenovo designed and built a solid piece of hardware. You have many amenities.
Lenovo has done a commendable job with the child software. Whether you prefer to activate the child software at launch or with the dedicated app, the Google Kids Space software has child-oriented content preloaded. It also allows children to customize their experience while keeping parents in control of screen time, daily limits and more. The one time is that your child needs to have a Google Account under supervision, which not every parent will want to create.
The Google Assistant display feature is great. Just like a Nest Hub, the Smart Tab M10 HD gets its tricks from Google Assistant. Once docked, it works just like a Google Nest Hub smart screen, which allows you to communicate with the tablet via ‘Hey Google’ requests. It worked well.
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What is not so good?
Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Government
Some people find the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD a little uncomfortable to use. First, the screen uses a 16: 9 aspect ratio, so the tablet has an elongated shape compared to the shape of tablets with 4: 3 or 3: 2 screens. Furthermore, it is a bit top-heavy if you use it in portrait orientation, which makes the hand tired. This will definitely affect children more than adults.
It also feels subdued. The octa-core MediaTek P22T sometimes does not have enough oomph. This may be the limited amount of RAM the tablet is holding back. The Smart Tab M10 HD definitely got stuck when multitasking or multiple applications were running in the background. I tested Asphalt 9 and found the game to be awkward at best, but everyday tasks like browsing the internet or checking email are smooth enough.
Sound can be better and the battery life is just like that for a tablet.
Sound can be better. The tablet supports Dolby Atmos, but the stereo speakers are limited in what they can reproduce. It’s not bad, but I prefer a little more bass when watching movies. I appreciate that an FM radio is on board, but you will need some wired headphones to utilize it.
The battery life is just like that for a tablet. It can handle 10 hours of regular browsing and up to 8 hours of video. I only watched 7.5 hours of video when I tested it. Amazon’s competing tablets (and many others we’ve tested) tend to hit ten hours of video.
The tablet comes with Android 10, and there’s no word from Lenovo on how long the tablet will be supported from a software standpoint. Finally, the vibration motor is really awful. I suggest you turn off all haptics.
Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD Review: Should I Buy It?
Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Government
If you are looking for a basic tablet to enjoy Netflix or to browse the internet, the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD will do just fine. It covers the simple things easily and has almost all the features you want. If you are looking for something specifically for kids, the Smart Tab is also a great choice. As long as you do not mind creating a complete Google Account for the child to manage it, it handles the tasks of easily controlling the use of children. I would not recommend the M10 HD for games or other hardcore uses.
With the tablet and smart hub functionality, the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD feels like a steal.
With Google Assistant on board, a boot and the Nest Hub-like experience as a bonus, the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD feels like a steal at $ 129.99.
Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD
The Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD is an affordable 10-inch Android tablet with dedicated child mode and Google Assistant screen support via an accompanying dock.