Lenovo Tab M9 review: Intermediate-sized tablet with GPS tracking – NotebookCheck.net Reviews

53.2 MB/s ∼100% +169%

29.6 MB/s ∼56% +49%

20.6 MB/s ∼39% +4%

19.8 MB/s ∼37%

17.5 MB/s ∼33% -12%

293 (287^min – 299^max) MBit/s ∼100%

342 (312^min – 367^max) MBit/s ∼100%

349 (337^min – 355^max) MBit/s ∼100% +7%

326 (271^min – 340^max) MBit/s ∼93%

315 (289^min – 337^max) MBit/s ∼90% -3%

304 (279^min – 315^max) MBit/s ∼87% -7%

374 (360^min – 392^max) MBit/s ∼100% +1%

369 (346^min – 374^max) MBit/s ∼99%

366 (351^min – 381^max) MBit/s ∼98% -1%

357 (333^min – 367^max) MBit/s ∼95% -3%

756 Points ∼33% +124%

358 Points ∼15% +6%

338 Points ∼15%

310 Points ∼13% -8%

172 Points ∼7% -49%

160 Points ∼7% -53%

Points ∼0% -100%

2699 Points ∼9% +117%

1270 Points ∼4% +2%

1256 Points ∼4% +1%

1241 Points ∼4%

952 Points ∼3% -23%

920 Points ∼3% -26%

517513 Points ∼37% +149%

212027 Points ∼15% +2%

207904 Points ∼15%

135453 Points ∼10% -35%

117837 Points ∼8% -43%

8317 Points ∼43% +24%

6916 Points ∼36% +3%

6709 Points ∼35%

6424 Points ∼33% -4%

5221 Points ∼27% -22%

5120 Points ∼27% -24%

5028 Points ∼26% -25%

3502 Points ∼37% +69%

2245 Points ∼23% +8%

2072 Points ∼22%

1310 Points ∼14% -37%

444 Points ∼5% -79%

6505 Points ∼33% +61%

4817 Points ∼25% +19%

4045 Points ∼21%

3082 Points ∼16% -24%

2793 Points ∼14% -31%

3983 Points ∼34% +70%

2642 Points ∼23% +13%

2343 Points ∼20%

1270 Points ∼11% -46%

1236 Points ∼11% -47%

6352 Points ∼22% +249%

1818 Points ∼6%

1787 Points ∼6% -2%

1182 Points ∼4% -35%

928 Points ∼3% -49%

1189 Points ∼50% +11%

1139 Points ∼48% +7%

1069 Points ∼45%

811 Points ∼34% -24%

10 Points ∼0% -99%

9627 Points ∼11% +141%

3992 Points ∼5%

3696 Points ∼4% -7%

3028 Points ∼4% -24%

2431 Points ∼3% -39%

1327 Points ∼100%

1219 Points ∼92% -8%

972 Points ∼73% -27%

908 Points ∼68% -32%

660 Points ∼50% -50%

1195 Points ∼100%

832 Points ∼70% -30%

778 Points ∼65% -35%

638 Points ∼53% -47%

552 Points ∼46% -54%

2356 Points ∼100% +9%

2169 Points ∼92%

2126 Points ∼90% -2%

2103 Points ∼89% -3%

533 Points ∼23% -75%

1204 Points ∼100%

812 Points ∼67% -33%

754 Points ∼63% -37%

435 Points ∼36% -64%

393 Points ∼33% -67%

2560 Points ∼100% +6%

2416 Points ∼94%

1732 Points ∼68% -28%

1289 Points ∼50% -47%

369 Points ∼14% -85%

8.1 fps ∼100%

7.1 fps ∼88% -12%

6.6 fps ∼81% -19%

5.2 fps ∼64% -36%

5 fps ∼62% -38%

4.1 fps ∼100% +32%

3.1 fps ∼76%

2 fps ∼49% -35%

1.5 fps ∼37% -52%

1.5 fps ∼37% -52%

12 fps ∼100% 0%

12 fps ∼100%

11 fps ∼92% -8%

8.1 fps ∼68% -32%

7.9 fps ∼66% -34%

8.2 fps ∼100%

7.7 fps ∼94% -6%

5.5 fps ∼67% -33%

4.2 fps ∼51% -49%

4 fps ∼49% -51%

82 Points ∼100% +112%

38.697 Points ∼47%

33.1 Points ∼40% -14%

23.534 Points ∼29% -39%

18.53 Points ∼23% -52%

91.2 runs/min ∼100% +204%

30 runs/min ∼33%

27.7 runs/min ∼30% -8%

15.76 runs/min ∼17% -47%

13.9 runs/min ∼15% -54%

27068 Points ∼100% +123%

12163 Points ∼45%

11548 Points ∼43% -5%

9871 Points ∼36% -19%

5843 Points ∼22% -52%

5156 Points ∼19% -58%

5004 Points ∼18% -59%

12972 ms * ∼100% -274%

9435.4 ms * ∼73% -172%

3537 ms * ∼27% -2%

3467.2 ms * ∼27%

2819 ms * ∼22% +19%

262.1

-4%

273.5

0%

271.1

-1%

270.37

-1%

242

Gaming above 30 fps is difficult on the Lenovo Tab M9, at least according to our benchmarks, which we carried out via GameBench. Neither PUBG Mobile nor Diablo: Immortal managed more than 30 fps, regardless of the settings. In Diablo, we were beset by severe graphic errors that made playing impossible. Even restarting the game and tablet did not eliminate these errors.

High graphics settings are often only possible with at very low frame rates or cannot be selected at all.

Input via the touchscreen works precisely, but the Tab M9 still struggles with some problems and is hardly suitable for gamers who don’t settle such as simple games like Angry Birds or Candy Crush.

Even under prolonged load, tablet temperatures remain within reasonable limits: We measured a maximum of 34.9 °C on the chassis, and only to a very limited extent in certain areas. Even in hot environmental temperatures, the device should be pleasant to use most of the time.

No drops in performance were determined during prolonged use either: The 3DMark stress tests delivered consistent results even after 20 benchmark runs.

(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 29.7 °C / 85 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.9 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 34.1 °C / 93 F, ranging from 21.2 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 33.5 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 21.1 °C / 70 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.

The Lenovo Tab M9 comes with stereo speakers that sound quite good for such a cheap tablet. You shouldn’t expect real bass, but you can expect well-balanced sound that makes individual instruments recognizable, even in classical music.

A 3.5mm audio port is installed. Otherwise you can use Bluetooth 5.1 for connecting external audio devices. Bluetooth codecs include SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX and aptX HD.

The Tab M9 is somewhat greedy in terms of energy consumption under low load. The consumption is also quite high under maximum load. In between, the tablet is more on the level of other devices.

The Tab M9 can be charged with a maximum of 10 watts, which means that with the fairly strong battery, you sometimes have to wait 3 hours until the device is 100% charged.

Due to the high consumption in idle mode, the runtimes in this usage scenario are limited despite the 5100 mAh battery. Samsung’s Tab A7 Lite, for example, clearly outperforms here.

Nevertheless, our test device achieves values suitable for everyday use in all scenarios. With 15:55 hours in the WLAN  test, you should expect two working days of normal use.

Battery Runtime

The Lenovo Tab M9 is an affordable tablet that comes in a stylish and good quality metal case. It is slightly larger than the average 8-inch tablet, but not too heavy. At first glance, this makes it a good replacement for those looking for a little more screen space.

Lenovo promises two years of security updates and another operating system version. However, since the manufacturer does not say how often patches are distributed and the last security patches were quite some time ago at the time of review, it remains to be seen just how secure the operating system will be during the update period.

The tablet has a fast SoC that theoretically allows for mobile telephony, but the LTE version is currently not widely available. For this, Lenovo has activated the tracking module, which definitely can be used for localization if precision accuracy is not so important for you.

The screen is reasonably bright, but hardly sufficient for outdoor use on sunny days. Good battery life, usable speakers and very little heating make for a positive impression overall.

The Lenovo Tab M9 offers a slightly larger screen in a compact format, a fast SoC, and even a reasonably accurate tracking module in the Wi-Fi variant.

The third-generation Lenovo Tab M8 is hardly any cheaper, but also available in an LTE version. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite also offers GPS, which can save you a few dollars.

Global availability of the Lenovo Tab M9 appears to be sporadic at present. Interested buyers are advised to check directly via Lenovo, where applicable, or via popular resellers in their region. We found, for example, that the model is available in:

• The UK at £160.00
• France at 159,00€
• Singapore at SG$229.00

This list is not exhaustive. Prices are as of 03.03.2023 and are subject to change.

Lenovo Tab M9
–
03/02/2023 v7

Florian Schmitt

Tablet – Weighted Average

Transparency

The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.

Pricecompare

Editor of the original article: Florian Schmitt – Managing Editor Mobile – 1008 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2009

I initially wrote about gaming laptops when I joined Notebookcheck in 2009. I was then involved with the setup of the comparison portal Notebookinfo and worked with social media concepts for large companies like BMW and Adidas, while also returning to work for Notebookcheck in 2012. Nowadays, I focus on smartphones, tablets, and future technologies. Since 2018 I have been Managing Editor for mobile device reviews, working alongside my colleague Daniel Schmidt.

Translator: Jacob Fisher – Translator – 165 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022

Growing up in regional Australia, I first became acquainted with computers in my early teens after a broken leg from a football (soccer) match temporarily condemned me to a predominately indoor lifestyle. Soon afterwards I was building my own systems. Now I live in Germany, having moved here in 2014, where I study philosophy and anthropology. I am particularly fascinated by how computer technology has fundamentally and dramatically reshaped human culture, and how it continues to do so.

Florian Schmitt, 2023-03- 3 (Update: 2023-03- 3)