Lenovo Tab M8 4th Gen review best family tablet with Google Kids Space

Description

Sleek Design and Portable Build

The Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4 immediately caught my eye with its sleek and minimalist design. The Arctic Grey finish gives it a premium look, making it feel more expensive than it actually is. At just 1.57 pounds and dimensions of 4.72 x 7.79 x 0.35 inches, this tablet is incredibly lightweight and compact. Carrying it around was effortless, whether I slipped it into my bag or held it for extended periods. The 8-inch HD display is not just aesthetically pleasing but also practical for various uses, from streaming shows to reading eBooks. I appreciated how the slim folio case with a built-in stand made it easy to prop up for hands-free use—ideal for video calls or binge-watching sessions.

User-Friendly Performance

When I started testing, the MediaTek Helio A22 processor paired with 2 GB of RAM performed decently for light tasks. It handled browsing, streaming, and casual games without significant lag. However, the performance does start to feel a bit limited when you push the tablet with heavier apps or multitasking. Running Android 12 Go, the operating system felt streamlined and worked well with the device’s hardware. I noticed that apps opened quickly, and switching between them was relatively smooth, given the 32 GB of storage, which can thankfully be expanded using an SD card.

Perfect for Families and Kids

One of the major highlights is its family-friendly features. Google Kids Space offers a treasure trove of teacher-approved content that kept my niece entertained for hours while also learning new things. Setting up parental controls through the Family Link app was a breeze. I felt reassured knowing I could monitor screen time and content, ensuring a safe digital experience for the little ones. The TÜV Eye Care-certified display, which reduces blue light, was another thoughtful addition. It gave me peace of mind when my nephew used the tablet for reading and games.

Battery Life That Lasts All Day

Battery life is a critical feature for me, and this tablet did not disappoint. With up to 16 hours of video playback, the battery easily lasted through a day of streaming, gaming, and browsing. I even tested it with back-to-back episodes of a Netflix series, and it still had juice left. This makes it an excellent companion for long trips or days when charging isn’t convenient. The dual stereo speakers added another layer of enjoyment, delivering surprisingly clear and loud audio for such a compact device.

Key Benefits

• Compact and lightweight design makes it perfect for travel or daily use.
• Offers Google Kids Space for kid-friendly, educational content.
• Parental controls are intuitive and easy to manage.
• TÜV Eye Care-certified display protects against blue light exposure.
• Impressive 16-hour battery life supports extended use without frequent charging.

Downsides to Consider

As much as I enjoyed using this tablet, there are a few areas for improvement:

• The 2 GB RAM can feel limiting when multitasking or running demanding apps.
• Camera quality is adequate but underwhelming, especially the 5 MP rear camera.
• Speaker placement could be better, as it occasionally gets muffled when holding the tablet.

Competing Products

Comparing the Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4 to its competitors, it holds its own in several aspects. For instance, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is similarly priced and offers a more tailored experience for Amazon services, but it lacks the Google Kids Space integration that makes this device such a standout for families. On the other hand, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A7 Lite has a more powerful processor and slightly better build quality, but it doesn’t come with a folio case or integrated stand like this tablet. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly experience with robust parental controls, the Lenovo Tab M8 Gen 4 is a better choice.

Price Performance

From a cost-efficiency perspective, this tablet offers great value for families on a budget. While it isn’t a powerhouse device, the thoughtful features like blue light reduction, Google Kids Space, and the included folio case with stand make it a smart purchase for casual users and parents. Even with its limitations, it feels like you’re getting a lot for your money, especially with the added security updates for three years and accidental damage coverage.

Additional information