Blow to blow. No sooner had we finished reviewing the third generation Lenovo Tab M8 when Lenovo had already launched its 4th gen device....
Blow to blow. No sooner had we finished reviewing the third generation Lenovo Tab M8 when Lenovo had already launched its 4th gen device. A few things have changed, both design-wise and internally. Our Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4 review reveals that changes are not necessarily always improvements.
Florian Schmitt, 👁 Florian Schmitt (translated by Andrew Dickson), Published 🇩🇪
The 8-inch form factor is very handy as tablets this size can be stored away in a small bag. With mobile phone support and telephone functionality, this device can, if necessary, replace a smartphone, making this form factor offer an interesting compromise.
The Tab M8 2023 is already the fourth generation of Lenovo’s affordable 8-inch tablet family and, at the time of reviewing, costs under $100 (non-LTE model) and is listed by various retailers with the device numbers TB300FU (WiFi version) and TB300XU (LTE version). We reviewed the LTE variant and wanted to know what has changed in the latest generation.
Display
8.00 inch 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixel 189 PPI, IPS, glossy: yes, 60 Hz
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB
, 20 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5mm port, Card Reader: microSD up to 128 GB, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: proximity sensor, acceleration sensor
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0, 2G (B2/B3/B5/B8), 3G (B1/B2/B5/B6/B8/B19), 4G (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B19/B20/B26/B28/B38/B40/B41), LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9 x 198 x 120 ( = 0.35 x 7.8 x 4.72 in)
Battery
5100 mAh Lithium-Polymer, 10 Watt charging
Operating System
Android 12
Camera
Primary Camera: 5 MPix
Secondary Camera: 2 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: stereo speakers, bumper, charger, USB cable, 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
320 g ( = 11.29 oz / 0.71 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.
Just like its predecessor, the Tab M8 4th Gen is a very light tablet: Weighing 320 grams, it is considerably lighter than, for example, the Nokia T10 or the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite.
This fourth-generation tab is instantly recognisable on the outside: On the one hand, the Tab M8’s rear side has a completely new design that is a nod to the Tab M9. Two-thirds of this area is covered in a triangular pattern while the top third is completely smooth and home to the Lenovo logo. Overall, the chassis is slightly textured and is made of metal which helps give the Tab M8 2023 a premium look.
The predecessor, the Tab M8 Gen 3, was actually a little slimmer. However, this time Lenovo has managed to shrink the display’s frame. Overall, this has helped the chassis enjoy a more compact form. Nevertheless, we’re talking millimetres when it comes to the differences between the two devices.
The tablet’s stability is quite impressive and although slight twisting is possible, the search for creaking noises ended in vain.
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Generally, you shouldn’t expect much in the way of RAM or mass storage for under $150. Nevertheless, Lenovo has various options on offer for its Tab M8 4th Gen (RRP):
- Lenovo Tab M8 4th Gen WiFi – 32 GB storage, 3 GB of RAM: $108
- Lenovo Tab M8 4th Gen WiFi – 64 GB storage, 4 GB of RAM: $149
- Lenovo Tab M8 4th Gen LTE – 32 GB storage, 3 GB of RAM: $161
Currently, a variant with LTE and 64 GB of storage is not available in central Europe. Therefore, the ex-factory prices are very similar and sometimes even lower than the predecessor.
Likewise, the tablet has a USB-C port and also a 3.5mm audio jack. For such a nifty tablet, an NFC chip might have been worthwhile but Lenovo has decided against this.
The microSD reader can handle cards up to 128 GB. Our tests with the microSD Angelbird V60 reference card showed its data transfer speeds to be on par with similar devices in this category. However, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite proves that it’s possible to squeeze much more out of the card.
| SD Card Reader – average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) |
|
| Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash (Angelbird V60) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash (Angelbird V60) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash (Angelbird V60) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash (Angelbird V60) |
|
Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB; Angelbird V60: Ø33.7 (16.9-41.5)
Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB: Ø23.8 (12.8-39.1)
Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB; Angelbird V60: Ø29.4 (20.1-35.9)
Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB: Ø37.8 (25.8-45.2)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB; Toshiba Exceria Pro M501: Ø34.8 (22.7-43.5)
Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB; Angelbird V60: Ø68.1 (13.8-75.1)
Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB: Ø75.8 (13.3-83.9)
Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB; Angelbird V60: Ø72.9 (34.2-84.6)
Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB: Ø71.2 (36.7-79.1)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB; Toshiba Exceria Pro M501: Ø76.1 (48.6-80.9)
Android 12 is preinstalled on the tablet and has one advantage over its predecessor: The 4th gen kicks off with a more modern Android version and, according to the manufacturer, the device will receive an update to Android 13 in the third quarter of 2023.
In addition, security patches are planned until 2026 although these happen quite infrequently. At the time of reviewing, our 4th gen Tab M8 had to make do with security updates from January 2023.
What is pleasing is that Lenovo has installed pure Android on the tablet and that the device is mostly devoid of third-party apps.
The Tab M8 2023 comes in a Wi-Fi and an LTE variant with our review device able to connect to the cellular network and can even be used to make calls via the speakers or a headset. However, only one SIM slot is present.
Network reception is decent but in our tests, it didn’t quite manage the level achieved by high-end smartphones. The range of LTE frequencies is sufficient for operation in Europe but for trips further afield, we would recommend checking the frequencies necessary for mobile internet in the target destination.
Every variant of the Tab M8 comes with Wi-Fi 5, and, in doing so, the tablet manages Wi-Fi speeds typical for this category of device. Data transfer speeds are also very stable. Nearby the router, the reception is very good and at a distance of 10 meters, half the signal strength is available with pages then loading somewhat slower.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
Both the Wi-Fi and the LTE versions of the Tab M8 2023 have a satellite tracking module that supports GPS, Glonass, Galileo and Beidou as well as SBAS for even greater accuracy. Stepping outdoors, numerous satellites were detected quickly and we were located to within one meter of our exact location – a very good value indeed.
It goes without saying, we also wanted to put the device to the test in a practical test environment so we set off on a bike trip. Our comparison device: The Garmin Venu 2. The Tab M8 2023 also didn’t disappoint in this area with exact positioning which only suffered slightly in narrow lanes. This means this handy little tablet can also be used as a navigation device.
Tablets, and especially those in a low price bracket, are not well known for the quality of their camera photos. At first glance, it is clear this is also not likely to be any different with the Tab M8 4th gen: The same camera features are at work here as its predecessor such as a spartan 5-megapixel camera on the back and a 2-megapixel sensor on the front.
The rear-facing main camera has problems handling difficult situations such as backlight and often seems to be out of its depth. In low light, images are out of focus and dark areas are only marginally brightened.
1080p, 30 fps videos are possible but the quality here leaves a lot to be desired.
The front-facing camera also takes blurry selfies with dark areas such as hair refusing to reveal details of any kind.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Hauptkamera BlumeHauptkamera UmgebungHauptkamera LowLight
click to load images
At full studio lighting, the main camera is similarly short on competence as blurry areas are visible and details get lost. At a luminosity of 1 lux, the image is completely black.
8.6 ∆E
9.8 ∆E
11.9 ∆E
8.5 ∆E
10.4 ∆E
7.1 ∆E
14.7 ∆E
11.1 ∆E
7.4 ∆E
4.1 ∆E
8 ∆E
6.3 ∆E
6.4 ∆E
9.1 ∆E
3.1 ∆E
5 ∆E
4.9 ∆E
5.9 ∆E
4.6 ∆E
5.4 ∆E
7.8 ∆E
4.3 ∆E
3.6 ∆E
11 ∆E
29.1 ∆E
54.8 ∆E
39.9 ∆E
35.9 ∆E
45.4 ∆E
63.3 ∆E
54.2 ∆E
36 ∆E
43.7 ∆E
28.3 ∆E
65.7 ∆E
64.3 ∆E
31.1 ∆E
48.8 ∆E
37.3 ∆E
77.6 ∆E
44 ∆E
44.1 ∆E
94.3 ∆E
71.4 ∆E
52.5 ∆E
37 ∆E
23.9 ∆E
13.5 ∆E
The tablet comes with a charger, a USB-C cable and a SIM tool. Fortunately, Lenovo has also included a protective case which has a fold-out stand.
The manufacturer’s tablets come with a 24-month guarantee provided they are purchased in the EU.
Basically, the tablet’s 60 Hz screen is easy to use but is not very responsive at the edges. This means the user sometimes has to repeat certain gestures, for example, when trying to open the notification panel.
In this price range, it is not unusual to find that the tablet lacks a fingerprint sensor. However, we were even more surprised when we accessed the security menu: Face unlocking is also not possible meaning there is no biometric method of unlocking the device.
Lenovo has continued to opt for an IPS display with 1280 x 800 pixels that is now a little brighter than the previous gen model, the Tab M8. With an average brightness of 380 cd/m², the tablet fares well when compared to its similarly priced peers. The low black levels also manage to impress and allow the screen to display saturated colors.
It is, however, annoying that the tablet only uses Widevine L3 making it impossible to stream content from major providers in HD quality.
We were unable to detect any PWM flickering even at low brightness.
| 378 cd/m² |
392 cd/m² |
361 cd/m² |
||
| 389 cd/m² |
410 cd/m² |
367 cd/m² |
||
| 393 cd/m² |
376 cd/m² |
354 cd/m² |
||
Distribution of brightness
X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 410 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 380 cd/m² Minimum: 2.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 410 cd/m²
Contrast: 2563:1 (Black: 0.16 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.6 | 0.55-29.43 Ø5.2
ΔE Greyscale 6.3 | 0.57-98 Ø5.4
85.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.519
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) IPS, 1280×800, 8.00 |
Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) IPS, 1280×800, 8.00 |
Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 LCD, 1280×800, 8.00 |
Nokia T10 IPS, 1280×800, 8.00 |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite TFT, 1340×800, 8.70 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen |
-62% |
-18% |
-44% |
-28% |
|
| Brightness middle |
410 |
353 -14% |
388 -5% |
446 9% |
360 -12% |
| Brightness |
380 |
330 -13% |
364 -4% |
429 13% |
332 -13% |
| Brightness Distribution |
86 |
81 -6% |
90 5% |
94 9% |
85 -1% |
| Black Level * |
0.16 |
0.64 -300% |
0.36 -125% |
0.65 -306% |
0.24 -50% |
| Contrast |
2563 |
552 -78% |
1078 -58% |
686 -73% |
1500 -41% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * |
4.6 |
6.5 -41% |
4.38 5% |
4.87 -6% |
6.7 -46% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * |
9.03 |
11.36 -26% |
10.7 -18% |
9.85 -9% |
12.4 -37% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * |
6.3 |
7.3 -16% |
2.9 54% |
5.7 10% |
7.6 -21% |
| Gamma |
2.519 87% |
2.118 104% |
2.232 99% |
2.189 101% |
2.33 94% |
| CCT |
7707 84% |
8264 79% |
6221 104% |
7781 84% |
8744 74% |
* … smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
ℹ
To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession – a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |
 |
||
|
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18911 (minimum: 5 – maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. |
|||
Apart from colors being a little too dark in our tests with the CalMAN software as well as the presence of a slight blue hue, the tablet scores quite well in the area of color reproduction.
Response times for gamers are clearly too slow.
Display Response Times
ℹ
Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 39 ms … rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 22 ms rise |
 |
| ↘ 17 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.4 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 96 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (22.4 ms). |
||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 29.2 ms … rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 11.9 ms rise |
 |
| ↘ 17.3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 29 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (35.3 ms). |
||
Outdoors and on overcast days, the display’s brightness is not sufficient to be able to outshine the intense reflections found on the display.
Apart from a little drop in brightness, viewing angles are impressive.
The SoC has suffered a noticeable backwards step compared to its predecessor: Back then, the manufacturer opted for a MediaTek Helio P22 with 8 cores and a maximum of 2.3 GHz and now the Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4 uses the Helio A22 with cores 4 and maximum of 2 GHz. It’s already possible to guess what that means in terms of performance.
The Lenovo Tab M8 2023 is fighting a losing battle, especially when it comes to multi-core applications: Almost all comparison devices are at least twice as fast in benchmark tests. Only the Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 is as slow as our review device.
In everyday use and even when opening menus, the tablet doesn’t enjoy completely stutter-free navigation. More complex apps turn into a slideshow of images that are almost impossible to use.
| Geekbench 5.4 | |
| Single-Core | |
| Average of class Tablet (140 – 1892, n=52, last 2 years) |
|
| Nokia T10 |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (134 – 166, n=3) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 |
|
| Multi-Core | |
| Average of class Tablet (488 – 8524, n=52, last 2 years) |
|
| Nokia T10 |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (439 – 541, n=3) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| Antutu v9 – Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (92766 – 1416727, n=42, last 2 years) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 |
|
| PCMark for Android – Work 3.0 | |
| Average of class Tablet (4564 – 15951, n=43, last 2 years) |
|
| Nokia T10 |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (4766 – 4888, n=2) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| BaseMark OS II | |
| Overall | |
| Average of class Tablet (444 – 7453, n=36, last 2 years) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (744 – 986, n=7) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 |
|
| System | |
| Average of class Tablet (1641 – 10926, n=36, last 2 years) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (1419 – 1798, n=7) |
|
| Memory | |
| Average of class Tablet (970 – 8167, n=36, last 2 years) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (531 – 1458, n=7) |
|
| Graphics | |
| Average of class Tablet (580 – 22308, n=36, last 2 years) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (470 – 580, n=7) |
|
| Web | |
| Average of class Tablet (10 – 1906, n=36, last 2 years) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (715 – 1037, n=7) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 |
|
Legend
Nokia T10 UNISOC T606, ARM Mali-G57 MP1, 32 GB eMMC Flash
The Tab M8 is also anything but convincing in the area of graphics performance. Many modern apps didn’t even boot but the SoC is, after all, 5 years old. Also, in almost every possible test, the Tab M8 Gen 4 found itself at the bottom of the pack, and by some margin.
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 Mali-G52 MP2, MT8169A, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Nokia T10 Mali-G57 MP1, T606, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| 3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| 3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics | |
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22T MT8768T, 32 GB eMMC Flash |
|
Browser benchmarks offered the Tab M8 2023 ray of hope with the device even managing to secure first place, ahead of its peers.
However, in practice, our observations quickly dampened this positivity: Pages took an eternity to load. However, even with a 1,000 MBit connection, you can expect to wait a long time, especially for images.
| Jetstream 2 – Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (17 – 236, n=47, last 2 years) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 (Silk Browser 106) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) (Chrome 112) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (Chrome 92.0.4515.115) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (13.4 – 20.3, n=6) |
|
| WebXPRT 3 – — | |
| Average of class Tablet (33 – 342, n=44, last 2 years) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) (Chrome 112) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (Chrome 92.0.4515.115) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 (Silk Browser 106) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (30 – 39, n=6) |
|
| Speedometer 2.0 – Result | |
| Average of class Tablet (13.9 – 376, n=44, last 2 years) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 (Silk Browser 106) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) (Chome 112) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (12.5 – 15.7, n=5) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (Chrome 92.0.4515.115) |
|
| Octane V2 – Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (5004 – 74614, n=51, last 2 years) |
|
| Nokia T10 (Chrome 109) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 (Silk Browser 106) |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (Chrome 92.0.4515.115) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) (Chrome 112) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) (Chrome 109) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (3920 – 5041, n=8) |
|
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 – Total Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (Chrome 92.0.4515.115) |
|
| Average Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761 (9310 – 12215, n=6) |
|
| Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 (Silk Browser 106) |
|
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) (Chrome 112) |
|
| Average of class Tablet (451 – 12972, n=48, last 2 years) |
|
* … smaller is better
With its eMMC flash, the Tab M8 2023 is also unable to pull away from its affordable competitors but still manages to remain at its class level. You shouldn’t expect either quick loading times or speedy data transfer.
| Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4) | Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen) | Amazon Fire HD 8 2022 | Nokia T10 | Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite | Average 32 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Tablet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 |
-38% |
-25% |
52% |
1% |
-26% |
225% |
|
| Sequential Read 256KB |
269.6 |
262.1 -3% |
270.37 0% |
273.5 1% |
271.1 1% |
242 {el.classList.toggle(‘hideEl’);});return false;”>?(25.8 – 452, n=244) -10% |
761 {el.classList.toggle(‘hideEl’);});return false;”>?(151.1 – 2031, n=47, last 2 years) 182% |
| Sequential Write 256KB |
190.5 |
66.7 -65% |
113.44 -40% |
191.5 1% |
87.2 -54% |
100 {el.classList.toggle(‘hideEl’);});return false;”>?(14.8 – 191.5, n=244) -48% |
452 {el.classList.toggle(‘hideEl’);});return false;”>?(66.7 – 1617, n=47, last 2 years) 137% |
| Random Read 4KB |
67 |
50.8 -24% |
39.46 -41% |
71.4 7% |
60.8 -9% |
42.9 {el.classList.toggle(‘hideEl’);});return false;”>?(3.59 – 117.2, n=244) -36% |
140.3 {el.classList.toggle(‘hideEl’);});return false;”>?(10.1 – 341, n=47, last 2 years) 109% |
| Random Write 4KB |
23.9 |
9.9 -59% |
19.81 -17% |
71.5 199% |
39.51 65% |
21.8 {el.classList.toggle(‘hideEl’);});return false;”>?(0.75 – 91, n=244) -9% |
136.2 {el.classList.toggle(‘hideEl’);});return false;”>?(5.3 – 421, n=47, last 2 years) 470% |
Due to its low-level performance, gaming tests were also difficult: Many games refused to boot with only the 10-year-old Asphalt 8 willing to cooperate. This game was playable in low detail settings at around 29fps. Higher settings lead to significant drops in frame rates and are problematic when it comes to fast racing games.
PUBG Mobile is also playable thanks to its various settings options. However, this is not fun when the game struggles to run at 20fps, even at the lowest settings. We used the Gamebench software to measure the frame rates.
Even after periods of extensive load, the tablet didn’t really heat up, reaching a maximum of 30.1 °C.
Unfortunately, the SoC struggled with the 3DMark stress test which meant we had to turn to GFXBench. Here we witnessed consistent levels of performance even under continuous load.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum: 28.6 °C = 83 F Average: 25.6 °C = 78 F |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum: 30.1 °C = 86 F Average: 26.2 °C = 79 F |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Supply (max.) 42.3 °C = 108 F | Room Temperature 19.8 °C = 68 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-260
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 25.6 °C / 78 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 28.6 °C / 83 F, compared to the average of 34.1 °C / 93 F, ranging from 21.2 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 30.1 °C / 86 F, compared to the average of 33.5 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.8 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
At least the Lenovo Tab M8 has two real stereo speakers at its disposal but the effect thereof is rather modest due to their close proximity to one another. However, if desired, the speakers can get relatively loud and although they sound somewhat hollow, they are still good considering the price category.
In addition to the 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth 5.0 is on board and ensures connectivity to external audio devices. When it comes to codecs, pretty much standard fare is on offer: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and LDAC.
At 15.29 hours in our Wi-Fi test, the tablet manages quite good battery life but is still somewhat worse than its predecessor as well as some other tablets in this price range. The other runtime scenarios are ok without standing out.
All in all, under medium load, it’s possible to use the Lenovo Tab M8 2023 for a number of days without seeing any noticeable difference in battery life compared to other cheap tablets.
Battery Runtime
| Idle (without WLAN, min brightness) | 37h 03min | |
| WiFi Websurfing | 15h 29min | |
| Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p | 16h 38min | |
| Load (maximum brightness) | 3h 49min |
Pros
+ decent stereo speakers
+ smart metal case
+ bright display with no PWM
+ good battery life
+ pure Android
+ low heat dissipation
+ very precise location function
+ LTE support with telephone functions
Cons
– HD streams are not possible
– very low-level performance
– sometimes imprecise touchscreen
– infrequent updates
– no biometric unlocking
– not suitable for gaming
– very poor cameras
What was Lenovo thinking? Even the Lenovo Tab M8 2023’s (Gen 4) predecessor was, for its price point, a fairly slow tablet. And now Lenovo has simply managed to equip its successor with an even slower SoC.
Otherwise, some progress has definitely been made: Decent sounding stereo speakers, a more compact case, excellent location function, more modern software and a brighter display. However, battery life is shorter despite having a more powerful battery and face unlocking is also absent.
When it comes to the fifth generation of its affordable tablet, Lenovo will have to equip its device with more powerful components as this current tablet has already been left hopelessly behind by its peers in this category of tablet.
The Lenovo Tab M8 2023 (Gen 4) LTE is a low-priced tablet with cellular functionality that has definitely skimped too much on performance.
The predecessor, the Lenovo Tab M8 2022 (Gen 3), offers a more well-rounded package but is, nevertheless, not exactly the fastest tablet. The Nokia T10 offers significantly more power.
At the time of review, the 32 GB mass storage, Wi-Fi variant of the Lenovo Tab M8 can be had on Lenovo’s online store for just under $95.
The 64 GB mass storage model currently costs significantly more and is hard to come by. Even on Lenovo’s own online store, this model of the tablet is currently unavailable.
Lenovo Tab M8 (Gen 4)
–
05/11/2023 v7
Florian Schmitt
Connectivity
41 / 70 → 58%
Games Performance
3 / 78 → 4%
Application Performance
38 / 92 → 41%
Tablet – Weighted Average
Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
Pricecompare
Editor of the original article: Florian Schmitt – Managing Editor Mobile – 1029 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2009
I initially wrote about gaming laptops when I joined Notebookcheck in 2009. I was then involved with the setup of the comparison portal Notebookinfo and worked with social media concepts for large companies like BMW and Adidas, while also returning to work for Notebookcheck in 2012. Nowadays, I focus on smartphones, tablets, and future technologies. Since 2018 I have been Managing Editor for mobile device reviews, working alongside my colleague Daniel Schmidt.
Translator: Andrew Dickson – Translator – 33 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022
My lifelong passion for tech was born in a gadget-filled household in Scotland. From games consoles to cameras to computers. Early adopters, so early the phrase might have been coined with our family in mind.
On finishing school, I trained and qualified as a golf professional before moving to Germany, where I have worked and lived for over 30 years.
In 2002, I formed a successful English language centre, providing training, translations and digital learning systems to numerous businesses in the Rhein Neckar metropole area.
Whether augmented or virtual reality, smart devices, mobile technology, sustainable environmental solutions, the tech world is as exciting now as it has ever been.
Working with Notebookcheck allows me to combine my love of both tech and language.
Florian Schmitt, 2023-05-15 (Update: 2023-05-15)
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