Lenovo was missing from the Android tablet scene for a while, before announcing the Ideatab S2109A back in April. Announced as a 9.7″ slate for the budget-conscious, this tablet promised to provide the perfect mix of performance and affordability. Unfortunately, the release was a little too late, with the Nexus 7 skewing the concepts of “specifications vs price” a bit, and now the $350 price tag seems a little steep.

Today, we bring to you the unboxing and a quick overview of the Lenovo Ideatab S2109A. What does $350 get you? Let's take a look!

Specifications

• 9.7″ HD IPS display
• 1024×768 resolution
• 1Ghz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage, expandable via miniSD
• 1.3 MP front camera, no rear camera
• SRS TruMedia audio enhancement
• Android 4.0 ICS

Unboxing

The tablet arrives in a simple and elegant box with a cool contour design and a burst of orange on the back. Of course, the packaging isn't as important as what's inside, but it's still nice to see manufacturers put in a little effort towards a good first impression. Another “issue” that I never really thought about before is the difficulty to open a box, as seen with the Nexus 7. Needless to say, it was easy to open the box of the Ideatab.

In the box you'll find:

• Lenovo silicone soft case with cutouts for the speakers and ports
• QuickStart guide and Instruction Manual
• USB adapter cable
• AC charger
• And of course, the Lenovo Ideatab tablet

The tablet comes with “standard” fare, apart from the silicone case, which is a nice addition. Each item is individually packaged, which gives a nice, clean appearance, but can get a little tedious.

Let's move on to the star of the show, the Lenovo Ideatab S2109A tablet!

First Impressions

The Ideatab is another well-designed tablet, with a sleek and curved unibody form factor. At only 8.9mm thick and light, the tablet, despite its large size, is very easy to hold and carry around. The back features only the Lenovo branding and the SRS speakers, as there is no rear camera available. The device also comes with multiple connectivity and memory expansion options including a microUSB, micro-HDMI port, and a mini-SD card slot.

You are greeted with the Android 4.0 lock screen when you power on the tablet. Lenovo has chosen to provide as close to a stock Android experience as possible, and while there are custom icon themes, there is no manufacturer UI overlay (such as HTC Sense and Samsung TouchWiz). Because of this, the tablet is bloatware free, with additional pre-installed apps included being AccuWeather, Zinio, Need for Speed: Shift, Sugarsync, Printershare, and the Lenovo App Shop.

The tablet, which is running Android 4.0.4, provides the basic Android experience, and looks to be running smoothly, with quick transitions and a glitch-free touch response.

Video

Check out Clayton's video of the unboxing and quick overview of the Lenovo Ideatab S2109A tablet here:

Conclusion

The Lenovo Ideatab S2109A would have been a great budget-friendly tablet only a month back. But we'll now have to wait and see how other manufacturers react to the release of the Nexus 7. Of course, for anyone looking for an affordable 9.7″ slate, the Lenovo Ideatab is still a very good choice.

Stay tuned for our full in-depth review of the Lenovo Ideatab S2109A!

What are your thoughts? Do you think the Lenovo Ideatab is a good option against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1? What are your first impressions about the Lenovo 9.7″ slate? Let us know in the comments section below.