The Pros & Cons of Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3

Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is one of Motorola’s flagship tablets for 2025. Lenovo positions this tablet for users who want strong performance and reliable productivity. It supports a stylus and keyboard, although both are sold separately.

So, how good is this tablet at a starting price of US$350? To help you decide, here is a clear look at its pros and cons.

Pros of Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3

So, here are the key points of the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 that may attract potential buyers.

1. Fast performance from Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

The main appeal of the Legion Tab Gen 3 is its raw power. It uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is a high-end chip widely used in flagship Android devices from late 2023 to 2024.

Performance is backed by 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This combination delivers speed and strong responsiveness for daily tasks as well as heavy workloads.

Based on PCMag’s test, demanding games such as Genshin Impact can run at the highest settings with a stable 60 fps. This level of stability is hard to achieve on many tablets.

Benchmarks also show strong results. In Geekbench 6, the Legion Tab Gen 3 scores 2,266 for single-core and 7,126 for multi-core. These numbers outperform the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, which scores 1,358 for single-core and 3,886 for multi-core.

A chipset this powerful produces high heat. Without proper cooling, performance can drop due to thermal throttling. Lenovo addresses this with the Legion ColdFront cooling system, which uses a vapor chamber that is 14 percent larger than the previous generation. The system pushes heat away more efficiently.

This design keeps the device cool even after an hour of intense gaming. More importantly, performance stays stable with no frame drops.

2. Thin full-metal body

Another highlight of the Legion Tab Gen 3 is its refined design. Lenovo uses a full-metal build that feels premium, sturdy, and durable. The tablet weighs 350 grams and has a thickness of 7.79 mm. It feels light and slim, so the tablet is comfortable for long use.

The 8.8-inch display hits a balanced size. It is large enough for an immersive visual experience yet compact enough to slip easily into a bag.

Despite the “Legion” branding that oftentimes leans toward a gaming look, this model has a minimalist and elegant design. It comes in matte black with a subtle engraved Legion logo. The overall appearance looks more like a productivity tablet instead of a gaming device with bold accents.

3. 165Hz display with 2.5K resolution

The display is one of the strongest points of the Legion Tab Gen 3. Lenovo equips it with an 8.8-inch LTPS LCD panel and a sharp 2.5K resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. At this size, the resolution produces a pixel density of 343 PPI, so text, images, and UI elements look very clear.

The highlight of the screen is its 165 Hz refresh rate and 165 Hz touch sampling rate. This specification is far above most tablets in its class, which usually stop at 120 Hz.

Gamers who play fast-paced games like FPS or MOBA will feel a big difference. Motion looks smooth and touch response feels instant. These benefits also help daily tasks. Scrolling through websites or social media feeds feels smoother and more pleasant.

The display supports 98 percent DCI-P3 color coverage and HDR10. These two features help the screen produce rich and accurate colors, so the tablet works very well for watching movies.

4. Good Battery Life

Even with its slim body, the Legion Tab Gen 3 carries a 6550 mAh battery that delivers solid results. In PCMag’s test, which involves streaming 1080p video over Wi-Fi at full brightness, the tablet lasted 9 hours and 45 minutes.

This result is far better than several competitors. The iPad mini 2024 lasted 7 hours 23 minutes, while the Galaxy Tab S10 FE lasted 7 hours 45 minutes in similar conditions.

Standby efficiency is also impressive. According to 9to5Google, the tablet manages power very well when unused. After being left untouched for days or even a week, the battery still had a generous amount left.

Charging speed is another strong point. Using the included 65W charger, PCMag recorded 0 to 36 percent in 15 minutes, 65 percent in 30 minutes, and a full charge in about 60 minutes.

Gamers will also love the Bypass Charging feature. Once activated while the tablet is plugged in, power flows directly to the components without passing through the battery. This approach can reduce heat during gaming sessions and helps maintain long-term battery health.

5. Two functional USB-C ports

The Legion Tab Gen 3 comes with two USB Type-C ports. One sits on the short side in a typical position. The other sits on the long horizontal side. The USB-C port on the long side helps gamers play in landscape mode while the device charges. The cable stays out of the way, so the grip remains comfortable.

Both ports support 68W charging. One of them has faster data transfer than USB 3.2 Gen 2 and also supports DisplayPort-out. This feature makes it easy to connect the tablet to an external monitor for a desktop-style experience.

Lenovo complements this hardware with software support. You get Legion Space as a gaming hub and performance overlays for quick access to settings such as performance mode or screen recording. These details show that the Legion Tab Gen 3 was built with mobile gamers in mind.

6. Immersive audio and precision haptics

Great gaming and multimedia experiences rely on more than visuals. Audio and haptic feedback also play a major role. The Legion Tab Gen 3 performs very well in both areas.

The tablet features two super-linear stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Several reviewers describe the audio as powerful and clear, with strong stereo separation. The volume is loud enough to follow enemy movement in games even without headphones.

Lenovo also equips the tablet with a refined haptic system. It uses two X-axis vibration motors that deliver crisp, precise, and rich tactile feedback. This haptic response feels great in games, such as when shooting or taking hits. It also enhances the general interface, so typing and navigating feels more satisfying.

The combination of strong audio and precise haptics creates a deeper sense of immersion. Every interaction feels more vivid and engaging.

Cons of Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3

The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 offers many strong points. Even so, this tablet still has several drawbacks that potential buyers should consider.

1. Absence of fingerprint sensor and unreliable face unlock

The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 does not include a fingerprint sensor. This is a significant drawback for a tablet in its price. A fingerprint sensor should be part of the package in this class, so its absence feels unusual.

Lenovo only provides a 2D camera-based face unlock feature. Sadly, the quality of this feature is far from ideal. According to 9to5Google, the face unlock system is unreliable and often fails, especially in low-light environments.

Regarding the camera setup, the tablet uses an 8 MP front camera and a 13 MP main camera on the back with an additional macro lens. The performance is standard, so it does not need further discussion.

Back to the security issue, the lack of a fingerprint sensor forces users to rely on PINs or patterns every time they unlock the device. This makes it inconvenient to set up banking apps, digital wallets, or password managers that depend on biometric authentication.

The only practical solution is to avoid using this tablet for tasks that need higher security.

2. No microSD, no 5G, and no audio jack

The Legion Tab Gen 3 doesn't include a microSD slot. Users are limited to the 256 GB internal storage option, which can fill up quickly with today’s large game files.

The tablet also does not offer a 5G or cellular variant. This limitation means the device relies entirely on Wi-Fi and becomes less practical for online gaming outside the house.

The lack of a 3.5 mm audio jack is another drawback. Competitive gamers who need zero-latency audio must depend on wireless adapters or wireless headphones. This setup is less straightforward compared to using wired audio.

3. The display panel is still LCD and the brightness is not ideal

The tablet screen does support a high refresh rate. The problem is the panel type. The Legion Tab Gen 3 still uses an LCD panel instead of AMOLED.

The LCD quality is decent, but the absence of AMOLED makes the visual experience feel slightly limited, especially for users who loves watching films. Several tablets in the same price range already use AMOLED, so this can feel like a step behind.

Brightness is another drawback. The maximum level reaches only 500 nits. This brightness is fine for indoor use, but visibility drops outdoors under direct sunlight. The screen also lacks an anti-glare layer, so reflections appear easily.

4. Less optimized software

Software is another area that brings disappointment. The Legion Tab Gen 3 launched with Android 14. Lenovo does offer a clear update plan, which includes three major OS upgrades and four years of security patches. This means the tablet can reach Android 17.

Even so, the software experience still has issues. The presence of bloatware and adverts reduces the premium feel. Most bloatware can be uninstalled, but devices in this price class should come with very little pre-installed content.

Lenovo also needs to improve system optimization. According to 9to5Google, the interface sometimes shows lag during scrolling even though the hardware performance is strong.

Conclusion

The Legion Tab Gen 3 delivers fast performance for both gaming and productivity. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the smooth 165 Hz display, the effective cooling system, two USB-C ports, Bypass Charging, and 65W fast charging all contribute to its strong performance.

Daily tasks, multitasking, and office apps feel responsive. The tablet also supports a stylus and keyboard although both accessories are sold separately.

The drawbacks are clear. There is no fingerprint sensor, the face unlock feature lacks reliability, the screen still uses IPS, there is no microSD slot, no audio jack, and no 5G option. These limitations may concern many people. Even so, the Legion Tab Gen 3 remains an interesting option for users who prioritizes raw speed.