Lenovo Tablets (Android): Difference between revisions
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== | {{ProductLineCargo | ||
|ArticleType=Product | |||
| | |Category=Android, Hardware | ||
| | |Company=Lenovo | ||
| | |Description= | ||
| | |InProduction=Yes | ||
| | |Logo=Lenovo.png | ||
|ReleaseYear=2024 | |||
}}'''Lenovo | |Website=https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/tablets/android-tablets/lenovo-tab-series/lenovo-tab-plus/len103l0024 | ||
}} | |||
'''Lenovo Tablets''' are [[Android]] tablets made by [[Lenovo]] (who acquired [[Motorola]] in 2014). Some can be a device tailored towards multimedia consumption and stands out from other tablets by featuring an integrated kick-stand, powerful and high-quality built-in audio and the ability to itself act as a Bluetooth speaker. | |||
The | The devices offer an attractive feature set, however the company's anti-consumer practices such as [[EULA roofie]], preinstalled and partially non-removable [[bloatware]] and "software recommendations" (including recommendations of malware) make this otherwise great device significantly harder to recommend, especially if it is intended to be used by less tech-savvy users. | ||
==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
[[File:LenovoTabTplus-OOTB.jpg|thumb|A photo of a freshly out-of-the-box Lenovo | [[File:LenovoTabTplus-OOTB.jpg|thumb|A photo of a freshly out-of-the-box Lenovo Tablet displaying a "EULA rooftile". Note that the "Next" button is inactive (greyed-out) unless the user ticks the box to accept a User Agreement and Privacy Statement.]] | ||
===Schrödinger's EULA | ===Schrödinger's EULA Roofie=== | ||
Upon first use, the | Upon first use, the devices force the user to read and agree to a [[EULA roofie]] including a [https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/tablets/m-series-tablets/lenovo-tab-plus-tb351fu/solutions/HT514029 Lenovo User Agreement] which itself claims to be non-mandatory for the use of hardware without vendor software:<blockquote>Lenovo will license the Software Product to You only if You accept this Agreement. You agree to the terms of this Agreement by clicking to accept it or by installing, downloading, or using the Software Product. If You do not agree to these terms, do not install, download, or use the Software Product(s).[[File:LenovoTabPlus-UserAgreement.jpg|thumb|Lenovo Tablet User Agreement as it's provided on the device itself (as of 2025.07.07).]](...) | ||
• If You acquired the Software Product(s) preinstalled on or provided with a Lenovo hardware product, '''You may continue to use the hardware product, but not the Software Product(s) covered under this Agreement.''' | • If You acquired the Software Product(s) preinstalled on or provided with a Lenovo hardware product, '''You may continue to use the hardware product, but not the Software Product(s) covered under this Agreement.''' | ||
“Software Product” includes Lenovo computer software programs (whether preinstalled or provided separately) and related licensed materials such as documentation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Jan 2016 |title=Lenovo License Agreement (L505-0009-06) |url=https://download.lenovo.com/lenovo/lla/l505-0009-06-r-en.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Lenovo License Agreement (L505-0009-06)}}</ref></blockquote>In spite of the above statement, the option to proceed ("Next") is greyed-out unless the user fully agrees to the | “Software Product” includes Lenovo computer software programs (whether preinstalled or provided separately) and related licensed materials such as documentation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Jan 2016 |title=Lenovo License Agreement (L505-0009-06) |url=https://download.lenovo.com/lenovo/lla/l505-0009-06-r-en.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Lenovo License Agreement (L505-0009-06) |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260106045203/https://download.lenovo.com/lenovo/lla/l505-0009-06-r-en.pdf |archive-date=6 Jan 2026}}</ref></blockquote>In spite of the above statement, the option to proceed ("Next") is greyed-out unless the user fully agrees to the EULA roofie. There is also an explicit statement:<blockquote>"'''You must agree to the terms above to continue using the device'''. We will strictly comply with relevant laws and regulations and privacy policies to protect your personal privacy."</blockquote>Curiously, the version of the Lenovo User agreement bundled on the device appears to be an older version [https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/HT514029 (L505-0009-06)], said to apply for Lenovo products and software sold on, or after January 15th, 2016. At the time of release of the device (June 2024) there has already existed a newer version [https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht100141 (COE-30002-01)], which is said to apply for Lenovo products and software sold on or after July 22nd, 2022. | ||
[[File:Lenovotabplus-support.jpg|alt=English translation: User: I can't just click on "next" :( Support: I think this is only for PCs and laptops, because there you can change the operating system. On Android it's unfortunately not possible. User: I'm reading this agreement on my new tablet.|thumb|A German-language Lenovo Support chat screenshot asking for support with using the hardware without accepting the software user agreement, as described in the agreement bundled with the device itself. (Thank you for politeness and still trying to be as helpful as possible).English translation: | [[File:Lenovotabplus-support.jpg|alt=English translation: User: I can't just click on "next" :( Support: I think this is only for PCs and laptops, because there you can change the operating system. On Android it's unfortunately not possible. User: I'm reading this agreement on my new tablet.|thumb|A German-language Lenovo Support chat screenshot asking for support with using the hardware without accepting the software user agreement, as described in the agreement bundled with the device itself. (Thank you for politeness and still trying to be as helpful as possible).English translation: | ||
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===Locked bootloader=== | ===Locked bootloader=== | ||
Some devices do not feature an unlocked bootloader, which would enable using the device without Lenovo software. | |||
The normal procedure to unlock the bootloader of [https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Unlocking_Bootloaders/Lenovo_ZUI ZUI] devices [https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Lenovo_Tab_Plus_(lenovo-tb351fu)#Unlocking_the_bootloader does not work] on this device. | The normal procedure to [[Bootloader_unlocking|unlock the bootloader]] of [https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Unlocking_Bootloaders/Lenovo_ZUI ZUI] devices [https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Lenovo_Tab_Plus_(lenovo-tb351fu)#Unlocking_the_bootloader does not work] on this device. | ||
===Bloatware, bloat tax and possibly tricking users into installing malware=== | ===Bloatware, bloat tax and possibly tricking users into installing malware=== | ||