Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5: A Powerful Gaming Tablet With a Steep Price
Lenovo has updated its popular gaming tablet series with the launch of the Legion Tab Gen 5. The device targets users seeking a compact, portable, and powerful gadget for gaming. While the hardware is undeniably robust, its $900 price tag may give many potential buyers pause.
Design and Display
The Legion Tab Gen 5 bears a visual resemblance to the iconic Nvidia Shield Tablet. Its 8.8-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio LCD screen and matte black chassis feel comfortable in the hand. However, the design is not without flaws: the protruding camera module prevents the tablet from lying flat on a surface, and the matte finish is a magnet for fingerprints.
The display quality is acceptable, though consumers generally expect more from a $900 device. While the LCD panel offers brightness between 600 and 800 nits, the contrast levels are underwhelming. Additionally, the software occasionally locks the refresh rate to 60Hz, requiring manual adjustment by the user.
Hardware and Performance
At the heart of the device lies the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which handles any modern mobile game with ease. The tablet’s standout feature is its emulation capability. Using DroidDeck, users can run Steam games, which is quite impressive. Resource-heavy titles like Persona 3 Reload are fully playable on low graphical settings.
In terms of security, the tablet has a significant drawback: the lack of a fingerprint scanner. The device can only be unlocked via facial recognition, which often struggles in low-light environments. On the positive side, Lenovo has excelled with the audio system; the stereo speakers are positioned so that they cannot be covered by the user's hands during gameplay.
Is It Worth Buying?
The Legion Tab Gen 5 features a durable battery and supports fast charging, with a 68W charger included in the box. However, the protective case bundled with the device is of poor quality and essentially useless.
Overall, if you are looking for a small, powerful gaming tablet for emulation and are prepared to pay a premium, this device is for you. However, if you are hoping for an OLED screen or a more sophisticated security system, you might want to wait for future generations.