Lenovo launches a new tablet similar to the Yoga Book, ditches Windows 10 for Android

Last year, Lenovo introduced a very interesting new device: the Yoga Book. On paper, Lenovo’s Yoga Book looked like a run-of-the-mill device with the latest and greatest specs. But it actually wasn’t a run-of-the-mill device thanks to its Halo keyboard — a full touch-screen keyboard that can also be used as a drawing board. The keyboard vibrates on touch, and it also adapts to your typing habits the more you type on it — which, in turn, makes typing on the device more accurate. With the Yoga Book, Lenovo allowed users to either choose Windows 10 or Android for the operating system and the device’s prices started at $549.

Lenovo is now back with another similar device: the Yoga A12. As the name of the device implies, the Yoga A12 is an Android tablet — and there isn’t any Windows 10 variant available of the device, unlike the original Yoga Book.

[shunno-quote align=”left”]Lenovo’s Yoga A12 is an affordable Yoga Book[/shunno-quote]

So what’s different about the Yoga A12? It’s price. Lenovo’s Yoga A12 is an affordable Android tablet that comes with some pretty low-end specs but its prices start at only $299 — that’s $250 less than the original Yoga Book. For $299, you get a 12.2-inch HD screen, the Intel Atom x5 processor, only 2GB of RAM and only two Dolby Atmos speakers. The device also comes with 32GB of internal storage and promises to offer up to 13 hours of battery life on one charge.

For comparison, the original Yoga Book came with Intel’s Atom x5 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a smaller 10.1-inch Full HD display, and offered up to 15 hours of battery life.

[shunno-quote align=”right”]Yoga A12 is “made for productivity”[/shunno-quote]

Lenovo opting for Android instead of Windows 10 on the Yoga A12 is actually quite interesting to see, as the company touts the Yoga A12 as an Android tablet “made for productivity.” While Android includes the Microsoft Office suite, it still lacks some of the productivity features that you’ll find on Windows 10. Plus, 2GB RAM on an Android tablet likely won’t offer the ideal experience for productivity — but, to be honest, you probably won’t get a much better experience on Windows 10.

More importantly, Android also doesn’t have Windows 10’s inking features which Microsoft integrates nicely across the operating system. Unlike Android, inking features in Windows 10 are almost everywhere — it’s in the default browser, there’s a dedicated drawing feature (“Windows Ink”), it’s integrated into Sticky Notes, and it’s even in the Maps app. (Yes, Microsoft really loves inking features on its products.)

Lenovo doesn’t seem to be working on a Windows 10 version of its Yoga A12, but don’t be too surprised if the company comes up with a similar device running Windows 10 in the near-future. After all, Lenovo is one of the biggest Windows 10 OEMs and a close partner to Microsoft.

The Lenovo Yoga A12 will be available in Gunmetal Grey and Rose Gold from February 8 on Lenovo.com, prices start at $299.