Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-18
Summary
The Tab Plus Gen 2 is an entertainment tablet whose main ownership costs are the accessories that are not in the box — the 45W charger and the Tab Pen Plus are sold separately at $29.99 and $49.99 from Lenovo. There are no consumables or replaceable parts; running cost is just charging. It is a good buy at the $289.99 Lenovo US street price (September 2026), weaker at the $399.99 MSRP.
Common problems and fixes
- No fingerprint sensor — the Wi-Fi model has no fingerprint reader, so face unlock is the only biometric option. No fix; use the PIN or accept face unlock. [2][3]
- USB 2.0 port — the USB-C port is USB 2.0: slow data transfer and no video output. No fix; do not buy it for wired displays or fast file transfers. [2][3]
- Performance limits — the Dimensity 7400 with 8GB of RAM handles streaming and casual use but Tom’s Guide says it is not suitable for heavy workloads. No fix; keep expectations at entertainment. [5]
- Average cameras — the 13MP rear and 8MP front cameras are acceptable, not good. No fix for this model. [2][5]
Parts and consumables
- 45W USB-C charger — not in the box; $29.99 at Lenovo, bought once if you do not already own a suitable USB-C charger. [1][8]
- Lenovo Tab Pen Plus — compatible pen, 4096 pressure levels, sold separately at $49.99. [1][2]
- microSD card — storage is expandable to 2TB; owners add a card if 128GB is not enough. [1][2]
Yearly running cost
There are no consumables or replaceable parts on this tablet. The only running cost is electricity for charging the 10,200 mAh battery, and no per-kWh figure is published in the inputs. A one-time cost of $29.99 for the 45W charger applies if you do not already own one. [1][6]
When it is a good buy
- Lenovo US: $289.99 (September 2026) and $269.99 (Tom’s Guide deal listing, Lenovo, September 2026) — at this level it is a strong buy if audio matters. [5][8]
- $300–370 — reasonable only for audio-first buyers; compare alternatives with better performance, longer software support or lighter designs. [8]
- $399.99 MSRP (announced June 2026) — the value weakens: the Dimensity 7400, 2 OS upgrades and USB 2.0 port are harder to justify at full price. [1]
Alternatives: none of the inputs name a competing tablet, so no direct substitute can be recommended from the research. The inputs only point to looking elsewhere if you need a light reading tablet or GPS, because the Wi-Fi model has no GPS and no 5G version exists. [2][5]