Johannesburg - Chinese PC maker Lenovo has launched its next generation Yoga tablets in South Africa as the company seeks securing its dominance over the local computer market.
At an event in Johannesburg on Tuesday night, Lenovo unveiled three Yoga Tablet 2 categories ranging from a ‘Pro’ version to two other device types equipped with Google Android and Microsoft Windows.
The company also launched its Yoga 3 Pro tablet.
Lenovo said all the Yoga Tablet 2 Android and Windows devices are expected to hit the retail market in March this year. Meanwhile, the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro and Yoga 3 Pro devices are available in retail stores already from January.
The launch of the devices comes as Lenovo has come to top SA’s computer landscape.
"We've come from 12% of market share nine quarters ago to over 26% share, according to the analysts as of last quarter,” Graham Braum, Lenovo Africa GM, told Fin24.
"It basically means that one in every four devices in the PC market in South Africa being bought is a Lenovo, and that's the easiest way to sum it up.
"Today, we're number one in notebooks in South Africa as well as number one in desktops,” Braum said.
Worldwide, Lenovo is also the top PC maker. According to research firm Gartner, Lenovo shipped 15.7 million units worldwide in the third quarter of 2015 followed by HP at 14.2 million and Dell at 10.18 million units.
Yoga Tablet 2 features
Features of the Android equipped Yoga Tablet 2 include full HD resolution, 16GB in-built storage, large-chamber speakers, an 8 megapixel rear camera and 1.6 megapixel front camera, and 18 hour battery life.
Recommended retail prices for the Android Yoga Tablet 2 are R3 499 for the 8 inch device and R4 499 for the 10 inch size.
The Windows Yoga Tablet 2, meanwhile, has similar features to the Android version but comes ready with version 8.1 of the Microsoft operating system and 32GB built-in storage.
Prices for the Windows Yoga Tablet 2 are also R3 499 for the 8 inch device and R4 499 for the 10 inch size.
The Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is a more expensive device that has a recommended retail price of R8 999.
Pictured above: The Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. (Lenovo)
This gadget comes with additional specifications such as an integrated projector to create a 50-inch home theater experience on any wall, a bass subwoofer and a 13.3 inch high definition screen.
The Tablet 2 Pro is also equipped with an Android operating system, Intel Atom processor and 32GB in-built storage.
Lenovo has added a projector screen to the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. (Lenovo)
Yoga 3
Lenovo’s Yoga 3 Pro tablet, meanwhile, is its most expensive device at a hefty retail price of R24 999.
Features of the Yoga 3 Pro include that it is 17% thinner than its predecessor, has Lenovo’s Harmony software which intuitively optimises settings and makes app recommendations through user patterns, an Intel Core M-70 processor, Windows 8.1 software and a 13.3 inch high definition touch screen.
Listen to Fin24 technology editor Gareth van Zyl interview Lenovo's GM for Africa Graham Braum, the President of Lenovo EMEA Aymar de Lencquesaing, and Lenovo MEA Vice President Oliver Ebel.