Lenovo has a slew of product announcements today, all around its bendable Yoga line. Two (or three, depending on how you count it) of these, happily, are powered by our favorite omnipresent and multi-functional Android OS. But the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 line isn't simply just an upgrade from last year's keyboardless hinged tablet. This second iteration ventures out into new options for users, from the way they handle the tablet, to the size of the tablet itself, and even, if they want, the operating system.
The Yoga Tablet, which Lenovo unveiled almost exactly a year ago, is a bit of an oddity compared to the rest of the company's Yoga line. While almost all are laptop/tablet hybrids with keyboards that can flip into different angles, the Yoga Tablet only has a kickstand instead. That and that the hinge that keeps that tablet and kickstand together is noticeably bulkier than the rest of the otherwise thin body. The reason for this design is for an easier and firmer one-handed hold on the device. That hinge provided three advertised positions for the Yoga Tablet: hold, tilt, and stand. The Yoga Tablet 2 now adds a fourth: hang. Now users will also be able to hold or, as the mode's name says, hang the tablet, positioning the hinge at a straight 180-degree angle, without fearing the effects of gravity.
In addition to angles, the Yoga Tablet 2 also gives users choices when it comes to display sizes. Same as the previous generation, both 8-inch and 10-inch models are available. There's is, however, a new third option, in the form of a 13.3-inch Yoga Tablet 2 Pro, a distinctive new member of the family that deserves its own exposition. Both sizes have the same resolution, but that shouldn't be much of a concern now that Lenovo has boosted that to 1920x1200 pixels. And that's not only thing that Lenovo boosted. Both tablets are now powered by an Intel processor, a 1.86 GHz quad-core Atom Z3745 to be exact, instead of a MediaTek. RAM has also been doubled to 2 GB. Storage, sadly, starts at 16 GB only, though it is expandable with a microSD card up to 64 GB. Beyond the raw specs, the Yoga Tablet 2 now boasts of dual front-facing Dolby Audio Wolfson Master Hi-Fi speakers. The rear camera is now an 8 megapixel shooter with an f/2.2 aperture.
And to emphasize that expansion of choice, Lenovo is making available Windows versions of the same 8 and 10-inch Yoga Tablet 2. The Android-toting Yoga Tablet 2 in Platinum Silver will be available starting October 9 from Lenovo's website, priced at $249.99 for the 8-inch tablet and $299.99 for the 10-inch variant. Those interested in the Windows models, which will have an Ebony hue, will have to wait a bit longer, with the 10-inch tablet coming to Best Buy in late October at $399.99 and the smaller 8-inch one won't be arriving on Lenovo's website until around November with a $299.99 price tag.
• Display: 8-inch, 10.1-inch Full HD 1920x1200
• CPU: Intel Atom Z3745, quad-core up to 1.86 GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Storage: 32 GB, up to 64 GB with microSD card
• Audio: 2x front-facing speakers, Dolby Audio, Wolfson Master Hi-Fi
• Camera: 8 MP/1.6 MP
• Battery: 18 hours