Lenovo's Tab P11 series offers compelling Android tablet options in a competitive market. The Tab P11 Plus and the standard P11 share a similar aesthetic and price point, but diverge significantly under the hood. This comparison dissects the key differences – specifically the chipset – to determine which tablet best suits your needs, from casual media consumption to more demanding tasks.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus emerges as the better choice. Its Mediatek Helio G90T chipset, built on a smaller 12nm process, provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Snapdragon 662 in the P11, making it more capable for gaming and multitasking. Both charge at the same speed, mitigating the battery impact of the more powerful processor.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 28 | 2021, January 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 29 | Available. Released 2021, February 10 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 258.4 x 163 x 7.5 mm (10.17 x 6.42 x 0.30 in) | 258.4 x 163 x 7.5 mm (10.17 x 6.42 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 490 g (1.08 lb) | 490 g (1.08 lb) |
| | Stylus support | Stylus support |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~212 ppi density) | 1200 x 2000 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~212 ppi density) |
| Size | 11.0 inches, 344.4 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 11.0 inches, 344.4 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6785 Helio G90T (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP, (wide), AF | 13 MP, (wide), AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 8 MP, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS, BDS - cellular model only |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 20W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 7700 mAh | Li-Po 7700 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Slate Grey, Platinum Grey, Modernist teal | Slate Grey, Platinum Grey |
| Models | ZA940124SE | TB-J606F |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 200 EUR |
Lenovo Tab P11 Plus
- Superior CPU performance with Cortex-A76 cores
- More powerful GPU for gaming
- Better multitasking capabilities
- Potentially slightly lower battery life during heavy use
- May run slightly warmer under sustained load
Lenovo Tab P11
- Slightly better power efficiency during light use
- Potentially cooler operation during basic tasks
- Competitive price point
- Noticeably slower CPU and GPU performance
- Less capable for gaming and demanding apps
- Limited multitasking ability
Display Comparison
Both tablets share a 2K (2000 x 1200) IPS LCD display, but detailed specifications regarding peak brightness, color gamut coverage, and PWM dimming frequency are absent. Given the similar target market, we can assume comparable visual quality. However, the absence of LTPO technology in either model means refresh rates are likely fixed, impacting smoothness during scrolling and gaming compared to higher-end tablets.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are not a primary differentiator between these models, and detailed information is lacking. Both tablets likely feature similar camera setups geared towards basic photography. Without sensor size or aperture data, it's difficult to assess image quality differences. Focusing on the chipsets, the image signal processor (ISP) within the Helio G90T may offer slightly better image processing capabilities, but this advantage is likely minimal in real-world scenarios.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Tab P11 Plus boasts the Mediatek Helio G90T (12nm), featuring an octa-core configuration with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.05 GHz and six efficiency-focused Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. This contrasts with the Tab P11’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm) which utilizes four Kryo 260 Gold cores at 2.0 GHz and four Kryo 260 Silver cores at 1.8 GHz. While the Snapdragon 662 benefits from a slightly smaller manufacturing process (11nm vs 12nm), the architectural advantage of the Cortex-A76 cores in the G90T translates to superior single-core and multi-core performance, particularly in CPU-intensive tasks. The G90T also features a more capable Mali-G76 MC4 GPU, offering a significant boost in graphics performance over the Adreno 610 in the Snapdragon 662, making the P11 Plus the clear winner for gaming.
Battery Life
Both tablets support 20W wired charging, suggesting similar charging speeds from 0-100%. While the Tab P11 Plus’s more powerful chipset will consume more power, the difference is unlikely to be drastic. Real-world battery life will depend heavily on usage patterns. The Snapdragon 662 in the P11 is generally more power-efficient at idle, potentially offering slightly longer battery life during light use, but the P11 Plus’s performance advantage will be more noticeable during demanding tasks.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus if you prioritize performance for gaming, streaming, or running multiple apps simultaneously. Its Helio G90T chipset offers a tangible advantage for power users. Buy the Lenovo Tab P11 if your primary use case is light web browsing, video playback, and basic productivity tasks, and you're seeking a slightly more efficient processor for extended battery life during these less demanding activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Helio G90T in the Tab P11 Plus experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Helio G90T is a capable chipset, it's known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 662. However, Lenovo's thermal design in the Tab P11 Plus should mitigate throttling to a reasonable extent. Expect some performance reduction after prolonged gaming, but it shouldn't render the device unusable.
❓ Is the performance difference between the Tab P11 Plus and P11 noticeable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming?
For basic tasks like web browsing, email, and video streaming, the performance difference will be minimal. Both tablets will handle these tasks smoothly. However, if you frequently switch between apps or engage in more demanding activities, the Tab P11 Plus will offer a noticeably more responsive experience.
❓ Does the Tab P11 Plus support faster RAM speeds (e.g., LPDDR4X vs LPDDR3) compared to the Tab P11?
Specific RAM specifications are not provided. However, given the more powerful chipset in the Tab P11 Plus, it's likely to utilize faster RAM (potentially LPDDR4X) to complement the processor's capabilities and improve overall system performance. The Tab P11 likely uses LPDDR3.
