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Last Updated on March 29, 2020
A 2 in 1 boom is happening at this very moment and a lot of these devices have come out the past year. It is safe to assume that this will continue to be the case, as most of us need a good, portable secondary device. Smartphones don’t do the trick and laptops are too heavy and robust to carry around – this is where 2 in 1 machines come in.
Lenovo’s IdeaPad Miix 310 is one of the most affordable 2 in 1s on the market, but its low price is not an indication of low end specs, which means if you decide to purchase this device you will definitely get your money’s worth.
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Build and Design
For a start, let’s take a closer look at the aesthetic aspect of this stylish product. Cleverly designed keyboard, with a bevelled edge is what makes this tablet stand out visually. The magnetic keyboard is stable and works fine, but a bit more force than you’d expect is needed to de-attach it from the display.
However, this is an indication of stability and solid design. The keyboard itself is somewhat unfriendly to touch and requires some getting used to, which is not something everyone will notice or mind, but it’s still worthy of a mention.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Mix is a bit lighter than most of its competitors, as it weighs just about 2.5 pounds, with the keyboard attached and around 1.3 pounds without it. In hand, it feels light and “breezy”, yet stable and solid.
Perhaps perfect for travellers and businessmen who move a lot from place to place and spend time in crowded areas (e.g. public transport), this tablet seems to be perfect for those who like to work on the move and need to stay connected constantly.
What’s important to mention is that this tablet, unlike most similar devices today, has a fairly large number of ports, including a Micro HDMI output, a DC-in for charging, a Micro SD card port and a Micro USB 2.0 port. Additionally, the keyboard has two USB 2.0 ports also.
Obviously a USB 3.0 port is what’s missing in this model, but to be fair most tablets in this price range lack the very same port.
Technical Specifications
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- Release Date: June 2016.
- Screen Size: 10.1 inches
- Screen Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
- Processor model: Intel Atom X5 Z8350 quad-core processor (2M Cache, up to 1.92 GHz)
- RAM: 2 GB
- Disk Space: 64 GB
- Cam Front: 2 Mp
- Cam Back: 5 Mp
- Battery Life: 12 hours
- Weight in lbs: 1.28
- Weight in kg: 0.58
- Weight in lbs (with keyboard): 2.43
- Weight in kg (with keyboard): 1.10
Display
There is not much to say about the display as it is not spectacular, by any means. The colours are sharp and vibrant, which makes the Windows 10 operating system look quite good on this device. Other than that, the display itself is not particularly bright and definitely not up to today’s standards.
If, for example, you need to use this tablet outside, try not to expose the display to sunlight – reflection and “smudginess”, for want of a better word, would be the result. We will get into technical details a bit later.
Speakers and Camera
The IdeaPad Miix 310 has a front and a rear camera both, while perfect for video chatting, they’re not useful for much else. If you’re a photography enthusiast or if you have the habit of taking photos throughout the day, this is certainly not the tablet you should consider buying.
Speakers are the IdeaPad’s weakest point, as they are low quality to the point of making simple YouTube videos painful to watch, or listen to, to be precise. However, this is not something that cannot be bypassed, as the audio is more than decent over headphones.
Battery Life
By far the most impressive feature of this tablet is its battery. The device is mobile and practical in true sense of these words as, unlike with most similar tablets, you don’t need to drag the power cord around with you. Whether you’re travelling to a distant place or trying to endure a coast-to-coast flight, this Lenovo tablet will most definitely not let you down in terms of power.
The IdeaPad’s battery can last up to 12 hours, which is exceptional for the price, since most tablets in this price range can work up to 5-6 hours max.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Good value for the money
- Decent screen
- Small and practical
- Light
Cons:
- Reflective display
- Poor sound
- Below average cameras
The Bottom Line
Definitely worth the money, albeit not high end specification-wise.
If you’re looking for an affordable tablet that gets the job done and does quite a bit more than that – you don’t need to look further than Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 310. This tablet has about everything a casual tablet user could ask for: long battery life, decent performance, plus its practical, light and easy to carry around, which is, in essence, the purpose of 2 in 1 tablets.
If, however, you consider yourself a tech-enthusiast, looking for a high-performance top-notch tablet that you’ll use to satisfy your inner techie, this might not be the best choice.
Overall, this is definitely a step forward for Lenovo and certainly a tablet that will be remembered as one of the best within its price range in 2016.
Buying Options
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