One of the MWC announcements that most captured my attention was for the new Lenovo Tab V7. An affordable 7” tablet, the Tab V7 is ideal for someone who doesn’t want the expense, or the juggling act, of carrying a phone and a tablet. It blurs the line between the two categories.
This device will have people wondering if it is a phone or a tablet. The truth is, it is both. It can be viewed as a huge 7” phone, or it can be seen as a small, 7” tablet. It won’t be for everyone but, for someone who wants to carry one device, it just might be ideal.
The Tab V7 will be affordable at 249 Euro when it is available this April, but it is no slouch. It has a 6.9″ IPS FHD display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, it will come with up to 4GB of RAM and up to 64GB of internal storage. 64GB may not sound like much; after all, it is 2019, but it also has an expansion slot that can handle up to a 128GB microSD card.
A quick look at a picture of the Tab V7 reveals that it breaks with 2019 convention and has fairly substantial bezels. Despite that, it has an 81% screen-to-body-ratio. Moreover, bezels aren’t always a bad thing and, in the case of this device, I suspect they will make it easier to hold and use as a dual-purpose device.
Inside, the Tab V7 is a 5,180mAh battery. We will have to wait until the device is released to know how good the battery life is, but it will likely last a full day if not more.
No slouch in the audio department, the Tab V7 has Dolby Audio with dual front-facing speakers.
At the back, there is a 13MP sensor with auto-focus. The front-facing camera is a fixed focus 5MP sensor. There are even a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and facial recognition packed into the phablet. And while a 7” device moves into tablet territory, the V7 has dual SIM slots that make it every bit a phone.
Here are Lenovo’s top 7 reasons someone might want to own this device:
- A 6.9-inch Full HD display for better viewing: With the Lenovo Tab V7, you get ample screen real estate to browse social media, play light games or watch videos on and sharp images with an IPS Full HD 1080 x 2160 display. The 18:9 display ratio also makes the screen taller with slimmer bezels for a generous 81 percent screen-to-body ratio. It’s got a screen that’s big enough to comfortably binge a movie on the bus or laying down in bed, yet compact enough to slide into your back pocket.
- Rich, clear, powerful sound at home and on the go: With Dolby Audio™, the dual built-in front-facing speakers stream crystal-clear dialog, render detail across a wide range of sounds, and enhance overall loudness without distortion for a powerful entertainment experience wherever you go.
- You get the advantages of a smartphone too, for the price of a tablet: The Lenovo Tab V7 is a tablet with the DNA of a smartphone. You can comfortably consume multimedia on its large screen with great audio, as well as make voice calls with its dual SIM card slots. The Lenovo Tab V7’s portable design is made for pockets and mini-bags, accented by a top-of-the-line build sporting a premium metallic rim and thin-and-light profile at 7.89 mm thin and 195 grams (0.43 lbs). And best of all, your pocketbook won’t take a hit with its accessible price point.3
- All-day battery life for road trips: One of the advantages of having a tablet with you is that it’s engineered to stay charged for an entire day, especially handy in the event your phone’s battery runs out. The long-lasting 5180 mAh battery lets the Lenovo Tab V7 stay in the game for much longer, with up to 10 hours of local video playback and browsing time, and up to 30 hours of talk time.1 The adaptive battery setting on Android™ Pie OS also makes power consumption on the Lenovo Tab V7 more efficient.
- A kid’s tablet for entertainment, a phone for emergencies: The Lenovo Tab V7’s great for kids too as an entertainment device on-the-go. Kids can watch edutainment videos on its large screen and clear, loud speakers without straining their eyes on a smaller screen. In case of emergencies, they can also call and send text messages to parents on the Lenovo Tab V7.
- Front and back cameras for selfies and group pictures: The Lenovo Tab V7 has two high dynamic range cameras with enhanced megapixels — 5MP in front for selfies and 13MP in back for group pictures. Snap HDR images with its optimized night shot or panorama camera modes to capture friends, family or scenery. Its front camera also supports bokeh effects for that perfectly focused selfie.
- Always bring backup: It makes sense to carry a spare device, especially one with two security-enhanced log-in options. Touch to unlock the Lenovo Tab V7 with its rear fingerprint scanner, or unlock right away with its front-facial recognition feature. With dual SIM card slots, the Lenovo Tab V7 is a flexible 4G device that lets you talk, text and get connected anywhere, even when you’re traveling.
Specifications Include:
- Display: 6.95”, 1080 x 2160, 18:9 display ratio
- Dimensions: 177.9 x 86.5 x 7.89 mm
- Weight: 195 g (0.43 lbs)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon Octa-Core 450
- Storage: 32GB or 64GB
- RAM: 3GB or 4GB
- Speakers: Dual front-facing with Dolby Audio
- Cameras: Up to 5MP Front, 13MP rear
- Operating System: Android 9.0
- Battery: 5,180 mAh
I mentioned in the introduction that the V7 is the new Lenovo device that caught my eye, and there is a good reason for that. For the past few years, I have used an iPad when on the pulpit leading services. I have always wanted to be able to use a tablet when officiating weddings, funerals and baby namings but those life cycle events are far more intimate, and a large tablet would just get in the way. I tried the small Amazon Fire tablet, but it is too thick and screams “I’m a tablet! I’m a tablet!” — at a time when I want whichever device I am using to fade into the background. The Lenovo V7 is exactly the kind of device that I’ve been looking for, for this exact purpose. Sadly, it won’t be coming to the US! That’s right, this accessible device will be available in April for prices starting at 249, but availability won’t include the US. It seems I’ll just have to hope that something similar is available here soon.
