Lenovo ZAC30020AU Tab M9 9" 4GB 64GB Tablet

Lenovo.com currently (May 2023) selling at $119.99Many reviewers are making a big deal about the screen resolution. I'm writing this from a Samsung Tab S7. Honestly I can't see the difference in resolution on the M9 (270 ppi vs 170 ppi.) How much screen resolution do you really need on a small tablet. Both the Samsung and the Lenovo M9 are by definition "High Definition". But the bang for the buck is much different.I needed a second tablet. I had an older Lenovo M8 that I liked. But it dated and a bit slow. I saw this (M9) tablet and though it was a pretty good value $134.99. So when the price got to nearly $100 it made the value just that much better.I have not noticed an appreciable difference between the two tablets while browsing (news, text, email) other ... MoreLenovo.com currently (May 2023) selling at $119.99Many reviewers are making a big deal about the screen resolution. I'm writing this from a Samsung Tab S7. Honestly I can't see the difference in resolution on the M9 (270 ppi vs 170 ppi.) How much screen resolution do you really need on a small tablet. Both the Samsung and the Lenovo M9 are by definition "High Definition". But the bang for the buck is much different.I needed a second tablet. I had an older Lenovo M8 that I liked. But it dated and a bit slow. I saw this (M9) tablet and though it was a pretty good value $134.99. So when the price got to nearly $100 it made the value just that much better.I have not noticed an appreciable difference between the two tablets while browsing (news, text, email) other than the obvious screen size differences (48.6 sqin vs 31 sqin.) The two are functionally equivalent browsing - just as snappy and clear.Tab S7 Amazon new $499, Newegg refurbished $385, eBay used $349 while Lenovo.com M9 $120So far if there is one thing I'd change it is the launcher - there doesn't seem to be any way to change the Home Screen resolution.The Samsung Tab S series is considered by many the Android Tablet "Gold Standard" - best of the best. If I'm finding the two tablets about the same to use for internet content news and communications and you're interested in a bigger screen than your phone YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD CONSIDER THIS LITTLE GEM.

A nice and inexpensive device

I generally like the M9. After getting a solid case to protect it against falls, I ran the setup program to per-load apps that I have installed on an older Android. As soon as the install process was done, I installed an sd card to help with potential storage concerns. It wasn’t until the as was in place that I realized I couldn’t move apps over to the sd card.Bummer!The 32 gb main storage now sits at 28gb giving me less than 4gb of work space. That, even though I have an empty 32gb expansion card sitting idle. Ouch!Other than storage constraints, I like the M9. The clarity of the screen is more pretty good, and it is responsive to touch. It readily connects to my network, as well as connects to my phone’s hot spot when no network is available.For such an ... MoreI generally like the M9. After getting a solid case to protect it against falls, I ran the setup program to per-load apps that I have installed on an older Android. As soon as the install process was done, I installed an sd card to help with potential storage concerns. It wasn’t until the as was in place that I realized I couldn’t move apps over to the sd card.Bummer!The 32 gb main storage now sits at 28gb giving me less than 4gb of work space. That, even though I have an empty 32gb expansion card sitting idle. Ouch!Other than storage constraints, I like the M9. The clarity of the screen is more pretty good, and it is responsive to touch. It readily connects to my network, as well as connects to my phone’s hot spot when no network is available.For such an inexpensive device, this is a great bang for my buck.

Best compromise between 8" and 10" screen tablet.

I bought the Tab M9 a few weeks ago and I am quite pleased with my purchase so far.The positives for me are:I like the stock Android operating system with very little bloatware or interference, it's fast enough for normal browsing and watching YouTube etc, I like the protective case and screen protector being supplied as standard, the 4/64 Ram memory is good (system and basic apps use up 28GB of internal memory so I wouldn't recommend the 3/32 version) and the face unlock works well and will probably be less prone to failure than the finger print recognition that I had on my old Lenovo Tab4.The negatives for me are:The screen is at best average and not very inspiring (the screen on my 5 year old Tab4 was better), the speakers are good for their size, the battery ... MoreI bought the Tab M9 a few weeks ago and I am quite pleased with my purchase so far.The positives for me are:I like the stock Android operating system with very little bloatware or interference, it's fast enough for normal browsing and watching YouTube etc, I like the protective case and screen protector being supplied as standard, the 4/64 Ram memory is good (system and basic apps use up 28GB of internal memory so I wouldn't recommend the 3/32 version) and the face unlock works well and will probably be less prone to failure than the finger print recognition that I had on my old Lenovo Tab4.The negatives for me are:The screen is at best average and not very inspiring (the screen on my 5 year old Tab4 was better), the speakers are good for their size, the battery life is okay and lasts all day but I wonder what it will be like when the battery gets older, the charge time is slow and the tablet is on the heavy side compared to my old 8" tablet.I haven't watched any streaming services so can't comment on that experience and I don't use a SIM card or memory card.I spent a long time trying to find an equivalent or better replacement for my Lenovo Tab4 Plus 8 that I bought back in 2018. That was running quite happily on Android Nougat but the battery was giving up the ghost and I didn't want to use a 3rd party replacement, unfortunately there didn't seem to be anything on the market that matched the screen quality, processor speed, internal memory size, stock Android or price. This Tab M9 is the closest I could find which makes me wonder about the state of the small tablet market sector. The only aspect that has significantly improved is the price, I paid £225 back in 2018 for my Tab4, I paid £119 for the M9 (I was lucky and found a good deal). I hope this information helps anyone who is looking for a small Android tablet.

For basic use cases, it works fine.

My overall impression is that the M9 meets the bare minimum for today's tech standards and power, which is to say I'd wait for the price to go down significantly before purchasing it.The good: it's lightweight and is an ideal size (not too small that it may as well be a cell phone, not so big it's hard to hold). It does basic things like web browsing just fine. The battery is good, the sound is good, it feels like strong, metal hardware, and I'm glad it uses a USB C for charging.The bad: the graphics are noticeably bad, and one of my lighter games downgrades it's own graphics level because it says the tablet won't support it's higher level (Sorcerer's Arena). Widgets don't live update well and operate on a lag, and everything feels a bit choppy. The upgradable ... MoreMy overall impression is that the M9 meets the bare minimum for today's tech standards and power, which is to say I'd wait for the price to go down significantly before purchasing it.The good: it's lightweight and is an ideal size (not too small that it may as well be a cell phone, not so big it's hard to hold). It does basic things like web browsing just fine. The battery is good, the sound is good, it feels like strong, metal hardware, and I'm glad it uses a USB C for charging.The bad: the graphics are noticeably bad, and one of my lighter games downgrades it's own graphics level because it says the tablet won't support it's higher level (Sorcerer's Arena). Widgets don't live update well and operate on a lag, and everything feels a bit choppy. The upgradable OS isn't ready yet, and I'm seeing a lot of limitations on the current one (many tweaks and options I see online for the current android OS simply aren't available on this tablet). The camera feels like the one I had years ago on an old cell phone, but I didn't buy the tab for the camera.Overall, if you just need a perfect sized tablet for web surfing and watching videos, I'd say go for it when Lenovo releases their seasonal price drops on their products. Otherwise, for the price and for today's tech minimums, I'd say there's a mismatch there. Lenovo has some AMAZING products that I swear by, so I'm disappointed that I must rate this product this way.

Manage your expectations and you'll be happy

It's great for the price!It's no flagship device but it works great for what it's for, consuming content. Games play as you'd expect, with very little hiccups. Media loads quickly and the screen is good enough for all tasks except outdoor viewing in direct sunlight (which for most devices, including flagships is a challenging ask). Do I wish it had a top of the line SoC, OLED panel, more RAM, active stylus support, productivity mode (or whatever Lenovo calls it on their high-end devices)? Sure, but it wouldn't be $160 -ish out the door. Yes, I want android OS iPad Pro squished down to a 8.5-9 inch form factor. But those don't exist and this accomplishments 90% of what I want to do for a fraction of the price. So I'm happy.

So far, so good!

I was looking for a replacement for my aging Samsung Tab A7 lite, because I hated the updated version, which shrank the screen size and seemed to have fuzzier resolution that made it impossible for me view. So, I was in the market for a tablet of around the same specs that I could use to play mobile games and read ebooks. I bought the Lenovo M9 sight unseen and can say that I'm happy with it. I've been using it every day for the past month, and I haven't run into any issues I can think of other than there isn't a native jukebox app.Battery life is good and the resolution bright, crisp and readable. Sound is okay, but for me it's a non-issue because I use bluetooth speakers, anyway.The form factor is excellent and feels luxurious compared to the Samsung Tab A ... MoreI was looking for a replacement for my aging Samsung Tab A7 lite, because I hated the updated version, which shrank the screen size and seemed to have fuzzier resolution that made it impossible for me view. So, I was in the market for a tablet of around the same specs that I could use to play mobile games and read ebooks. I bought the Lenovo M9 sight unseen and can say that I'm happy with it. I've been using it every day for the past month, and I haven't run into any issues I can think of other than there isn't a native jukebox app.Battery life is good and the resolution bright, crisp and readable. Sound is okay, but for me it's a non-issue because I use bluetooth speakers, anyway.The form factor is excellent and feels luxurious compared to the Samsung Tab A Lite, which was made of plastic. An added bonus is that it comes with a clear case and screen protector.I've read complaints about camera quality, but no one should be using the camera on a tablet for podcasting, professional shoots or capturing important events, anyway. The camera is good for what it is, meant for cheap documentation and visual memos, not high quality prints or videomaking.All in all, this is a great budget tablet--key words, budget. If you want a little buddy for boring doctor's appointments, bus rides, etc., you can't go wrong with this.

Stop thinking and just buy one, or a couple.

Perhaps the best small (non-Apple) tablet. I have a few types of tablets and laptops, including Apple products. This has been the best-value electronic device I have ever purchased. I bought an anti-glare screen protector on A***** and a non-folding clear cover that covers only the sides and the back to keep it more compact. What an upgrade from the Samsung A7. I would gladly pay double for a high-quality Android tablet. I also have PRO/largest/most expensive versions of large tablets that I use ... when I need that type of product. More often than not, this is close to me. Lightweight, I can check various apps and social media updates, watch streaming videos, and keep up to date with all of my remote cameras and smart devices, or a device larger than "a large ... MorePerhaps the best small (non-Apple) tablet. I have a few types of tablets and laptops, including Apple products. This has been the best-value electronic device I have ever purchased. I bought an anti-glare screen protector on A***** and a non-folding clear cover that covers only the sides and the back to keep it more compact. What an upgrade from the Samsung A7. I would gladly pay double for a high-quality Android tablet. I also have PRO/largest/most expensive versions of large tablets that I use ... when I need that type of product. More often than not, this is close to me. Lightweight, I can check various apps and social media updates, watch streaming videos, and keep up to date with all of my remote cameras and smart devices, or a device larger than "a large phone". Truly the perfect size! Waiting for Android 13, but otherwise pretty darn perfect, for under $200. Can't complain much!

The PERFECT size for a tablet

This is in many ways the perfect Tablet.This is not the most powerful tablet, and it doesnt need to be. The Mediatek G80 is MORE than enough to keep the system very very snappy.The screen is quite literally, the perfect size. Ive had 8" tabs, ive had 10 and 11 inch. They are always too big or too small. The 9" screen is absolutely perfect for media consumption and tasks like taking notes.Ive tested it in gaming, it plays most android games quite well, heck it can even handle genshin impact.The sceen isnt ultra sharp, but at 9", 800p is only a tiny bit less sharp than the steam deck. AKA the pixel density is good. The colours are exceptionally vivid and accurate. I was surprised how bright and vivid the screen is. It makes the 8" samsung screens look like ... MoreThis is in many ways the perfect Tablet.This is not the most powerful tablet, and it doesnt need to be. The Mediatek G80 is MORE than enough to keep the system very very snappy.The screen is quite literally, the perfect size. Ive had 8" tabs, ive had 10 and 11 inch. They are always too big or too small. The 9" screen is absolutely perfect for media consumption and tasks like taking notes.Ive tested it in gaming, it plays most android games quite well, heck it can even handle genshin impact.The sceen isnt ultra sharp, but at 9", 800p is only a tiny bit less sharp than the steam deck. AKA the pixel density is good. The colours are exceptionally vivid and accurate. I was surprised how bright and vivid the screen is. It makes the 8" samsung screens look like muddy dark swamp water.Audio is also shockingly good. For a dual set up its killer.So my takeaway: this is NOT the most powerful gaming tablet. Its not supposed to be. It is the perfect size, with a killer screen, great audio, and all the features you need. And its snappy enough to never feel cheap.and man... the price is a no brainer.

The Tab M9 is a very cost-effective tech buy

My bias leans in favor of Lenovo. I have had four generations of Lenovo/IBM laptops, but this is my first Lenovo tablet. The Tab M9 came along with very strong specs at a really good introductory price just when I was looking for a replacement for my 5-year old Ipad mini 4. The Mini has been a great workhorse, and the display is hard to beat. But the battery is going, and a new Apple battery would probably cost me nearly as much as the brand new Lenovo Tab M9.The Lenovo's 4 gb of RAM is twice that of the Mini, and the 64 gigs of memory is more than adequate for me. A 64 gb micro SD chip gives me 128 gigs on board. The setup was very smooth as my phones are android 13 and synced very easily with the Lenovo. The sync with my laptops (Word, Excel, etc.) has also gone ... MoreMy bias leans in favor of Lenovo. I have had four generations of Lenovo/IBM laptops, but this is my first Lenovo tablet. The Tab M9 came along with very strong specs at a really good introductory price just when I was looking for a replacement for my 5-year old Ipad mini 4. The Mini has been a great workhorse, and the display is hard to beat. But the battery is going, and a new Apple battery would probably cost me nearly as much as the brand new Lenovo Tab M9.The Lenovo's 4 gb of RAM is twice that of the Mini, and the 64 gigs of memory is more than adequate for me. A 64 gb micro SD chip gives me 128 gigs on board. The setup was very smooth as my phones are android 13 and synced very easily with the Lenovo. The sync with my laptops (Word, Excel, etc.) has also gone very well.The Mini's display resolution of 2048x1536 is easily better than the Lenovo's 1340x800, but remember that I had paid nearly $400 for the Apple five years ago, and the intro price that I paid for the M9this year was about one-third of that. And the M9 is faster in every way that matters to me, has excellent sound, and is lightweight and strongly built.And let me conclude by praising the power management. The battery fully charged typically lasts me about 3 days, and that's probably more than 12 hours.You really can't beat the Tab M9 unless you are willing to spend a lot more.

Very Impressed. Great little Tablet.

I've used a Kindle reader since they came out, and after I retired I realized there are tons of books at the library that can be downloaded. But...not compatible with Kindle readers. My daughter had a Kindle Fire 8 she never used, and that (for reasons I don't know) is compatible with other types of e-book formats, so I'd been using it for a few months.I bought this M9 because I've also taken up the drone hobby (remember - I retired!) and using the cellphone screen to see what the drone is recording is just too difficult, and I see that lots of drone people use small tablets hooked to the remote. I bought this M9 strictly for the drone - BUT - once I opened it up and started playing around with it, I was VERY impressed with the picture quality and the ease with ... MoreI've used a Kindle reader since they came out, and after I retired I realized there are tons of books at the library that can be downloaded. But...not compatible with Kindle readers. My daughter had a Kindle Fire 8 she never used, and that (for reasons I don't know) is compatible with other types of e-book formats, so I'd been using it for a few months.I bought this M9 because I've also taken up the drone hobby (remember - I retired!) and using the cellphone screen to see what the drone is recording is just too difficult, and I see that lots of drone people use small tablets hooked to the remote. I bought this M9 strictly for the drone - BUT - once I opened it up and started playing around with it, I was VERY impressed with the picture quality and the ease with getting my favorite apps on her. She also loaded my library app with ease, and frankly loads the book I want in seconds instead of minutes like the Fire did. It's also lighter than the Fire, and navigating around it seems so much more intelligent than the Fire was.There is no comparison between this and a Fire. Is it a top notch tablet? - no, but depending on your needs, you might not need to get the fastest, sleekest one out there and be perfectly happy. I am.Also, I paid $140 for this and I saw the next day went on sale for $99 - and BB gladly refunded me the $40 difference with their price match guarantee. So the happy meter went up another notch. I've watched two movies and read my e-books about 4 hours so far, and I still have 48% battery life.And it works great on my drone. Quality of video is great, and I can see where my camera is pointing, plus easier to engage some of the screen buttons simply because they are bigger and easier to touch than on a cellphone screen.