Lenovo Tab M9 9" 2023, MediaTek Helio G80, 3GB, 32GB, Arctic Grey

The Lenovo Tab M9 scores 34.4 out of 100 overall, dragged down by 3GB of RAM at the 11th percentile and 32GB of storage at the 9th. The MediaTek G80 CPU is surprisingly strong at the 83rd percentile, but it's wasted on a tablet that can't multitask. At $223, the specs don't justify the price.

The MediaTek G80 octa-core chip is genuinely the star here. At the 83rd percentile for CPU performance, it punches well above what you'd expect from a tablet in this price range. The GPU isn't far behind at the 79th percentile, so light gaming and video playback should feel smooth enough. But here's the catch: 3GB of RAM. That's 11th percentile territory, and it means Android 12 will be fighting for memory constantly. Expect apps to reload when you switch between them, and don't even think about keeping a browser tab open alongside a video call.

Storage is the other bottleneck. 32GB is 9th percentile, which is one of the worst we've seen. Android 12 itself will eat a chunk of that, leaving you with maybe 20GB of usable space. The expandable storage slot helps, but microSD cards are slower than internal storage and not every app can move to them. The 5100mAh battery is solidly average at the 54th percentile, so you'll get through a day of light use, but nothing impressive.

Stacked against the Apple iPad Air M4, Samsung Galaxy Tab S11, and Xiaomi Pad 7, the Tab M9 isn't even playing the same game. Those tablets have processors that would run circles around the G80, and they come with 8GB to 16GB of RAM versus the M9's 3GB. The Xiaomi Pad 7 in particular offers a much sharper display and faster storage for not dramatically more money. Even against budget-focused competitors like the UMIDIGI Active T1, the M9's 9th percentile storage and 11th percentile RAM are hard to defend. The one area where the M9 holds its own is CPU performance, where the G80 actually outranks some pricier options in our database. But a good CPU paired with 3GB of RAM is like putting a decent engine in a car with a 2-gallon fuel tank.

At $223 USD, the Tab M9 is competing against some serious budget contenders. The problem is that the RAM and storage specs feel like they belong on a $100 tablet, not a $223 one. You're essentially paying for the surprisingly capable G80 processor and a decent screen, while accepting bottom-tier memory and storage. If you can find this on sale for under $180, the math starts to make more sense. But at full price, you're getting a mixed bag where the good parts don't fully offset the bad ones.

The Lenovo Tab M9 scores 34.4 out of 100 overall in our database. That's not a typo. For entertainment it lands at 34.1, reading at 33.1, and productivity bottoms out at 22.4. This is a budget tablet that knows it's a budget tablet, and honestly, the numbers don't hide it. The MediaTek G80 chip actually ranks in the 83rd percentile for CPU, which is the one bright spot in an otherwise dim spec sheet. But 3GB of RAM sits at the 11th percentile and 32GB of storage is down at the 9th. That's a rough combo in 2024.

The 9-inch IPS display with 1340 x 800 resolution and 400 nits brightness lands right around average for screens. The 5100mAh battery is also middle of the pack. So you get a tablet that's fine for casual scrolling and video, but the moment you try to multitask or install more than a handful of apps, those RAM and storage limits will bite hard.

If you plan to use a tablet for anything beyond single-app tasks like watching Netflix or reading ebooks, skip this. The productivity score of 22.4 out of 100 tells the story. Anyone who wants to run multiple apps, edit documents, or install more than a handful of games will hit the RAM and storage walls almost immediately. And if you care about having a device with a proven track record, the social proof ranking at the 26th percentile means there's very little real-world feedback to reassure you.

The Lenovo Tab M9 is a frustrating product. The G80 processor at the 83rd percentile proves Lenovo could have built a genuinely good budget tablet here. But then they paired it with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, both near the bottom of our rankings. The result is a tablet that feels fast when you're doing one thing at a time, but falls apart the moment you try to use it like an actual computer. For $223, you can do better. If you absolutely need a cheap Lenovo tablet and find this on a deep discount, it'll handle basic video and reading. Otherwise, save up a bit more or look at the competition.