We liked the design of HP's Envy X2 tablet, which comes with
full-size, detachable keyboard so you can use it as a proper laptop when you
need to. But, at around $1,050, the X2 costs as much as a good mid-range laptop
while only offering basic, entry-level tablet performance. Lenovo's Miix has a
lot in common with the X2 but costs only $599, which seems a more realistic
price for a tablet with this specification.
The Miix is a 10in tablet - or 10.1, to be precise - and
runs the 32-bit version of Windows 8. It has an attractive IPS display that
looks bright and colorful, and works well for watching video or browsing the
web. The resolution is only 1366x768, but that's fine for a screen of this size
and the brightness of the IPS panel ensured that the image remained clearly
visible even when we held the Miix up at all sorts of odd angles. The speakers
sound thin and tinny, but they're adequate for listening to streaming video,
and a headphone socket is available if you need it.
Lenovo Miix
Tucked away behind that screen is a dual-core Atom Z2760
running at 1.8GHz, along with a modest 2GB of (non-upgradeable) memory and 64GB
solid-state storage. Unfortunately, only 31GB of that storage is available for
your own files, but there's a microSD slot available for additional storage.
That's a modest specification for a device running Windows 8 (32-bit), and it
produces an equally modest score of 1477 when running the PCMark7 bench test.
Even so, it's still more than adequate for web browsing, running Microsoft
Office or watching streaming video. The touchscreen controls of the Miix also
feel smooth and responsive, and it wakes from sleep virtually instantaneously,
while the Windows 8 'fast start' allows it to boot into the Start screen in
just five seconds.
Gaming is definitely not a strength, though. The integrated
graphics of the Atom processor couldn't even run our normal Stalker benchmark
for 3D graphics, so your gaming action will probably be limited to Angry Birds
and other 2D fare. Mind you, the Miix has the same processor, memory and
storage as the Envy X2, so it's better value than its HP rival.
The Windows 8
'fast start' allows it to boot into the Start screen in just five seconds
However, the Miix doesn't have the impressive build quality
of the X2. Its plastic casing is pleasantly thin and light - just 10.1mm thick
and 580g in weight - but certainly doesn't feel as sturdy as the metallic case
of the X2. There are also small details, such as the flimsy plastic flap that
covers the microSD slot, that make a poor impression.
The Miix also lacks the solidly-built keyboard panel of the
X2, opting instead for a wraparound keyboard cover. This isn't as flimsy as
some similar keyboard covers that we've seen, and it includes a couple of
sturdy clips and a strong magnetic strip that hold the tablet firmly in place
for added protection. But the compact keyboard feels a little cramped, and the
keys themselves don't travel very well. It's fine for tapping out a quick email
every now and then, but it did slow us down when we tried to type at full
speed. And, annoyingly, the single Micro-USB 2.0 port built into the Miix is
blocked by the keyboard cover, which meant we had to remove it from the cover
when we wanted to copy my notes on to a memory stick.
Battery life is
respectable, but not outstanding
Battery life is respectable, but not outstanding. We got
just over 6.5 hours (400mins) of streaming video out of the Miix, and you could
probably stretch that closer to eight hours for lighter work, but that's not
particularly impressive when larger Haswell laptops can now offer 10 or more
hours between charges.
Verdict
Its modest specification means that the Lenovo Miix 10 isn't
as powerful as rival tablets such as the Microsoft Surface. However, it's
reasonably priced and its attractive IPS screen ensures that it works well as
an entertainment tablet, while still having enough power to handle basic email
and Microsoft Office documents.
It works well as
an entertainment tablet
|
Specs and
price
·
Price: $599
·
Type: Tablet
·
1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760
·
Windows 8 (32-bit)
·
2GB DDR2 RAM
·
64GB SSD (31GB available)
·
10.1in touch-sensitive (1366x768) IPS display
·
802.11b/g/n
·
Bluetooth 4.0
·
1x Micro-USB
·
1x Micro HDMI
·
1x microSD
·
stereo speakers
·
headphone/ microphone socket
·
1Mp webcam with built-in mic
·
lithium-polymer battery
·
265x173x10.1mm
·
580g
Rating
·
Build: 3.5/5
·
Features: 4/5
·
Performance: 2/5
·
Value: 3.5/5
·
Overall: 3.5/5
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