Have a pencil, scissors, fork or even moist carrot handy? That's how we were able to control the new Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 with AnyPen at CES 2015.
Sure, I've always found Lenovo's Yoga tablets extremely versatile given the fact that they can strike a number of poses. But this stylus-free slate takes adaptability to a new level.
The AnyPen technology means that it works with objects with a metal or graphite point. Basically, anything that can conduct a small electric charge from your hand will work.
It's ideal if you're constantly losing your stylus, as long as you're looking for a Windows tablet and one that's 8 inches.
Display
At first, I was afraid to take the four pointy prongs of a fork and graze the 8-inch display of the Yoga Tablet 2 with AnyPen. Thankfully it didn't leave a mark.
Lenovo says its tempered glass rivals Gorilla Glass and as long as you're not aggressively digging into the protective layer, it won't leave a mark.
As a result, the metal object of your choice doesn't need to have a soft tip in order to be effective. Controlling the screen with a number of metal tools was extremely smooth.
Behind the tempered glass is a display panel that's 1920 x 1200 IPS. It's roughly the same size as the iPad mini 3, but a fraction of the price.
It doesn't have as many pixels per inch as Apple's mini tablet, it's still considered Full HD and both graphics and, importantly, text show up well on this scribble-friendly slate.
Design
The rest of this specialized Yoga Tablet 2's design is fairly unsurprising if you've ever tried a Lenovo Windows or Android-based tablet before.
It's functionality over form when it comes to the the thinness of the design. This is especially true of the bulky battery cylinder at the base of the device.
The upside is that battery cylinder also acts as a kickstand and can be tucked away into the back of the Yoga Tablet 2. It's the smooth that contrasts with the otherwise textured back.
Lenovo touts "extreme battery life" as part of the specs for Yoga Tablet 2 with Any Pen, and at CES 2015, there's no real way to verify that statement.
However, while we have yet to do a battery drain test in a full review, TechRadar has found that to be true of its similar tablets like the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+. http://bit.ly/1tJKDbi
Specs
The internal specs of the Yoga Tab 3 with its AnyPen twist are also consistent with the vanilla version of the tablet.
Intel is at the heart of the slate with an Atom Z3745 1.86 quadcore processor and there's 2GB of RAM backing up that energy efficient chip.
It has 32GB of internal storage, but supplements that with up to 64GB of expandable storage. There's a micro SD card slot tucked behind the kickstand.
Embedded around the front are speakers on the bottom right and left of the tablet. These two front-facing speakers employ Dolby Audio and Wolfson Master Hi-Fi.
Missing from this smaller 8-inch tablet vs the 10-inch variant that lacks AnyPen technology is the JBL subwoofer that rests against the kickstand.
There's an 8-megapixel f/2.2 AF camera adjacent to the kickstand in the back and a 1.6-megapixel video conference-friendly snapper in front.
Lenovo makes Yoga tablets in both Windows and Android flavors, and AnyPen is premiering with the Windows 8.1 operating system onboard.
It also welcomes you into Microsoft's cloud-based ecosystem with a one-year subscription to Office 365. That should factor into your pricing decision next to other tablets for work.
Release date and price
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 with AnyPen is being penciled in for a late January 2015 release date, so it's just weeks away.
It'll cost $299 (about £198, AU$371), which means that the AnyPen technology is only adding an additional $20 (about £13, AU$25) to the bottom line.
With that one-year subscription to Office 365, there's some nice incentives for businesses to choose this upgraded version of the tablet that let's you choose your stylus.
Early verdict
Already a likeable tablet, Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 now with AnyPen technology sweetens the deal for anyone who want a small Windows tablet.
So far, this all-encompassing display technology is limited to an 8-inch form factor and it runs Windows 8.1. There's no Android option just yet.
That's the right size and right operating system for professionals and businesses who want to straddle the line between a Windows-based workplace and home with something compact.
from www.techradar.com
