Lenovo Tab M9 9" Tab M9-2023, MediaTek Helio G80, 3GB, 32GB, Gray

The Lenovo Tab M9 is a light, cheap Android tablet with a weak screen and limited storage. It scores 39.6 out of 100 overall, with portability as its only standout feature. Buy it only if you find it near the low end of the price range and only need it for casual reading or streaming.

The Helio G80 is a mid-range chip from a few years back, and it lands in the 70th percentile for CPU performance. Fine for scrolling and streaming, but don't expect snappy multitasking with only 3GB of RAM, which ranks in the 11th percentile. The 32GB eMMC storage is a real weak spot, sitting in the 9th percentile, and Android 12 plus a handful of apps will eat that fast. The 5100mAh battery is solid, around the 60th percentile, so you'll get through a day of light use. The 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera are there if you need them, but nobody's buying this for photos.

Against the Apple iPad 8th Generation, this thing gets smoked on screen quality, performance, and app ecosystem. The iPad costs more but you're getting a dramatically better display and years of software support. The Antemper D126B-DP and Raemond M70 K70 are closer in spirit, budget Android tablets with similar compromises. The SKYEGG K15 and MENTUME K80 K70 are also in the mix, but none of them stand out as clearly better in our data. If you want Android and cheap, the Tab M9 is fine. If you want a tablet that feels good to use, save up for the iPad.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US, you'll see it listed anywhere from USD 74 to USD 249 across two listings. That's a massive spread for the same tablet. If you can grab it near the low end, it's a reasonable deal for a couch tablet. At the high end, you're getting fleeced. The EUR range is even wilder, from EUR 342 to EUR 421 in Germany and Spain. That's absurd for this hardware. Shop around and don't pay anywhere near the top of those ranges.

The Lenovo Tab M9 is a budget Android tablet that knows exactly what it is: a cheap screen for casual stuff. It's light at 344g, has a 9-inch 1340x800 LCD, and ships with Android 12. The Helio G80 chip and 3GB of RAM won't impress anyone, but for reading, light browsing, and video it gets the job done. Barely.

Our database puts this thing at 39.6 out of 100 overall. That's not a typo. It ranks in the 90th percentile for portability, which is nice, but the screen sits in the 6th percentile and storage is in the 9th. So you're getting a very portable tablet with a very mediocre display and almost no room for apps.

Skip this if you need a tablet for work, school projects, or anything involving multitasking. The 3GB of RAM and weak productivity score will frustrate you. Also skip it if you care about screen quality, the display is one of the worst in our database. And if you're in Europe, the EUR 342 to EUR 421 asking price is a joke for this hardware.

The Lenovo Tab M9 is for people who want a cheap, light tablet for reading, casual browsing, and maybe some YouTube. Students might find it okay for light note-taking, but the productivity score of 23.4 out of 100 tells you this isn't a work machine. If you need a tablet for serious multitasking, photo editing, or anything demanding, this isn't it. But if you just want something to hold in one hand while you read in bed, it's passable.