14 DAY TRIAL // ASUS and Lenovo might be best known for their laptop business, but the product manufacturers also makes tablets and they are a pretty worthy bunch.
If you’re looking for a compact 8-inch table, today you have a wide range of models to choose from, coming from companies like Apple, HP or Dell.
ASUS and Lenovo also offer 8-inchers which are quite similar if you take a look at them at a glance. In what follows, we’re going to outline the differences between the two tabs, so you can get a better idea of what to buy, in the eventuality you’re faced with a choice.
Design and Display
The two models are pretty similar in terms of design and dimensions too. The Lenovo one is 8.83 x 5.20 x 0.35 inches (224.3 x 132 x 8.8 mm), while the ASUS one is 8.7 x 5.27 x 0.43 inches (220.9 x 133.8 x 10.95 mm).
The ASUS one is a little lighter, weighing just 13.4 oz / 380 g compared to the 15.49 oz / 439 g of the ThinkPad, so kudos to ASUS in the portability department.
Both tablets come with 8-inch displays, but the Lenovo takes advantage of full HD resolution (1920 x 1200) with 273 ppi, while the ASUS one offers the standard 1280 x 800 pixels with 189ppi.
Both models take advantage of an IPS LCD and have a light sensor.
Hardware
An Intel Atom Z3770 quad-core processor (Bay Trail) clocked at 2.4GHz pumps life into the Lenovo tablet, while the ASUS VivoTab enjoys the services of an Intel Atom Z3740 quad-core chip (Silvermont) clocked at 1.86GHz.
Both models are fitted with 2GB of RAM, but the Lenovo comes with 32GB of internal storage out of the box (for the base mode), while the ASUS one offers the same, but you can expand in both cases.
The ThinkPad is compatible with microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC, while the ASUS plays nice with microSD and microSDHC.
Both tablets take advantage of Windows 8.1 out of the box.
Cameras
In the photography department, the Lenovo tab is the most capable, taking advantage of an 8MP shooter in front (1080p HD video shooting capabilities) and 2.2MP in front, while the ASUS has a 5MP snapper on the back and only a 1.2MP one up in front.
Accessories
The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 comes equipped with a Wacom stylus, something that might be considered a big bonus, but users have been reporting having issues with the pen, that apparently inexplicably stopped working.
As for the Lenovo ThinkPad 8, it is offered with an optional QuickShot photo-friendly cover, which helps you capture the right moment when you see it, not moments later.
Pricing
Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkPad 8 went out of stock in the US and it’s unlikely the company will re-stock it. However, customers can still get it via Amazon for $481 / €380 (only the 64GB model remains available). As for the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 the same retailers has it up on sale for $249 / €197.