Lenovo IdeaTab Miix 2 (8-inch) Pro Reviews

A competent Windows tablet let down by a disappointing screen, the lack of a video output and mediocre build quality

Lenovo’s Miix 2 8 delivers great performance and battery life, but these upsides are tempered by a dearth of extra features.

The Miix 2 8 is a tablet that I simply cannot recommend. Touchscreen issues, most prevalent when using the keyboard, make this device incredibly frustrating to use (see our video review in the first page, around the 6:10 mark). The performance from Intel’s Atom Z3740 SoC is generally quite decent, but having to purposefully type slowly, or wait extended periods of time just to have the touchscreen respond, is simply unacceptable on any device at any price point. Yes, there is a chance that a software update could address the touchscreen issues, and I will update this review accordingly if and when any issues are fixed. I would have easily scored Lenovo's Windows tablet an 80, but the fact that there are significant issues to deal with, combined with the display’s relatively low resolution, makes the Miix 2 8 a low-cost 8-inch tablet that you should avoid.

With its attractive, compact design and sub-£300 price tag the Miix 2 8 is one of the new Windows tablets that provides a more affordable alternative to the Apple-Google duopoly. It can't go head-to-head with the iPad and Android tablets in terms of apps, but the Miix 2 8 may well appeal to Windows users who want a pocket-size tablet that will also allow them to view their Office documents when they're out and about.

The Lenovo Miix 2 8 is an affordable Windows 8 tablet with good battery life and features. Just make sure you always have access to the Internet, as local storage is a little light on this tablet.

Yes, the Lenovo Miix 2 8 really is a small, 8-inch tablet complete with Windows 8.1, a solid IPS panel and a full version of Microsoft Office 2013 Home & Students. The overall concept is well executed, yielding a device that is appealing in many respects. It is small, it feels good in your hands, it has a long-lasting battery, and it reacts fluidly to input. Then of course there is the fact that it is fully compatible with the rest of the Windows world. In terms of concept, there are several downsides to the Lenovo Miix 2 8, and it would be a good idea to consider them carefully before purchasing one of these devices. The only Micro USB port serves as the connection for both data transfer and charging. The card reader's transfer rates are no more than middle-of-the-road, and at just 9.65 GB, the internal memory is fairly scarce. In addition, the device has no connection for monitor output, and the two webcams are just barely good enough for use in well-lit environments. If you can live with these limitations, you are looking at one of the cheapest Windows 8 tablets on the market -- and that with a good display, very good battery life, and to top it off, a full Microsoft Office suite.