The technology sector is currently facing a crisis related to artificial intelligence (AI) data centers that require large amounts of RAM. Because buildings are equipped with hundreds of powerful computers powering popular AI tools like Claude, Copilot, and Gemini, each needs very powerful RAM to process data. The demand for additional RAM means other companies, such as tablet makers, have to spend more to purchase RAM for their devices. However, one tablet maker seems to be weathering the storm: Lenovo.
Globally, the tablet market saw declining sales throughout 2026. The real strain occurred in the second quarter, when shipments fell 10% year-over-year to 36 million units, according to Omdia. The only company that managed to ship tablets and see year-over-year growth was Lenovo – even Apple or Samsung didn’t see an increase. With a 27% year-over-year increase, Lenovo’s sales are driven by user demand as well as a planned marketing strategy by the company to ship tablets ahead of planned price increases. Lenovo also saw an opportunity to take advantage of deep retail discounts and shipped its products on time. Lenovo also seems to be at the forefront of understanding the market. The company also showed off some exciting new Lenovo technology concepts that consumers might be interested in using at home to help them work, play, or study.
Where Lenovo stands out
One factor in Lenovo’s success is where the company manufactures its tablets and other devices. With increasing U.S. tariffs in place in countries like China, Lenovo has used production plants outside of China. This may be what helps the company ship more tablets than its competitors. There are other reasons, however, including the fact that Lenovo’s tablets are cheaper.
Considering one of the most well-known tablet manufacturers, Apple, each of its tablets is priced much higher than Lenovo. The iPad Pro starts at $1,199, while the smallest and least powerful model, the iPad Air, starts at $599. Samsung’s most expensive is around $1,200, with the lower range being closer to $299.99. Acer’s most expensive tablet is $599.99 and the lowest is $119.99. Lenovo’s most expensive tablet costs $999.99, with the lowest costing just $99.99. All prices are subject to change, but this initially low price makes it difficult to compete with Lenovo.
Lenovo also generally tends to offer a wider selection of tablets than Samsung, Apple, and other brands. Apple’s tablet lineup includes the iPad Air, iPad Mini, iPad Pro, and iPad. Even against Samsung, Lenovo’s website says it has 15 tablets, while Samsung says it only sells 11. Acer, on the other hand, offers 20 tablets on its site – among the most of any brand – but not all of them are as powerful, nor as affordable as Lenovo.
What Lenovo tablets offer
Lenovo tablets tend to be priced lower than competitors like Acer, Samsung, and Apple. All three companies offer various tablet series with high-end, mid-range, and low-power options. The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 is a mid-priced tablet at $289.99 with a 12.1-inch screen, 2560 x 1600 resolution, and a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor, all running Android 16. A comparable tablet from Acer is the Iconia Duo D12 at $349.99. It has a larger 12.2-inch screen, but a lower resolution of 1600 x 2400 and a less powerful MediaTek Helio G99 processor.
Samsung makes the Galaxy Tab A11+, which is a comparable tablet to the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2. It has a smaller 11-inch screen, a lower 1920×1200 resolution, and a less powerful MediaTek MT8775 processor, all for $299.99. It’s also a bit more expensive than the Lenovo, but for a few dollars more you get a bigger screen and more processing power.
It seems that even though the tablet market is having difficulty selling and shipping devices, Lenovo has managed to find a way to make a profit. If you want to buy a Lenovo tablet while still being more affordable than other brands, start looking at these specific models. You might even be able to find a compact tablet that’s perfect for entertainment.
