Legion Y700?

[gnoted]

Hi everyone. I'm quite new to ROMs, etc.

I love the small form factor tablet - I have a Galaxy Tab S2 that is unfortunately getting a bit slow for my liking.

I'm thinking of getting a Y700 for Chrome/Firefox/Tor Browser, Gmail, Relay (Reddit app), and keepass2android/Syncthing. I'm not a gamer.

So, fairly basic usage but I would like notifications/120Hz/landscape mode to work properly.

I'm not really a fan of a Chinese ROM, I'd rather run an open ROM if that's possible, I can follow tech instructions, but I'd be really unhappy if I managed to brick it.

I was going to order from Aliexpress, I need it to be in English and I need Google Play Store - is "Global ROM" what I want? Any other gotchas?

 

[xnappo]

I love the small form factor tablet - I have a Galaxy Tab S2 that is unfortunately getting a bit slow for my liking.

I'm thinking of getting a Y700 for Chrome/Firefox/Tor Browser, Gmail, Relay (Reddit app), and keepass2android/Syncthing. I'm not a gamer.

So, fairly basic usage but I would like notifications/120Hz/landscape mode to work properly.

I'm not really a fan of a Chinese ROM, I'd rather run an open ROM if that's possible, I can follow tech instructions, but I'd be really unhappy if I managed to brick it.

I was going to order from Aliexpress, I need it to be in English and I need Google Play Store - is "Global ROM" what I want? Any other gotchas?

So I came from a Tab S2 too, with a year of Tab A 8.4 in between (that thing had WAY too little internal storage). It is super annoying that the trend is away from flagship 8-9" models, to me they are a perfect size.

The Y700 is *really* nice. Honestly I didn't have any trouble making it act just like my Samsung devices:

• Global ROM just means the Chinese ROM with English - it isn't that bad though, you can launch the Lenovo store thing immediately and install Google Play.
• It is useful to have another phone with photo translate on for the 1st 1/2 hour for a few things.
• I always install Nova Launcher - so did that and removed all the Chinese stuff from the launch menus
• Turn off notifications for the Chinese play store and other apps, or use adb commands to totally disable (I did a bit of both)
• In the security app, turn on things you want notifications for in the 'Autostart manager' - I turned on Google Play too

So far, it seems to me like notifications are working fine. But I don't use it like a phone, so not completely sure.

At any rate, after reading this whole thread and playing with it for a couple of days - my summary is I think you will be happy with it even without flashing a different ROM.

 

[solsearch]

Hi everyone. I'm quite new to ROMs, etc.

I love the small form factor tablet - I have a Galaxy Tab S2 that is unfortunately getting a bit slow for my liking.

I'm thinking of getting a Y700 for Chrome/Firefox/Tor Browser, Gmail, Relay (Reddit app), and keepass2android/Syncthing. I'm not a gamer.

So, fairly basic usage but I would like notifications/120Hz/landscape mode to work properly.

I'm not really a fan of a Chinese ROM, I'd rather run an open ROM if that's possible, I can follow tech instructions, but I'd be really unhappy if I managed to brick it.

I was going to order from Aliexpress, I need it to be in English and I need Google Play Store - is "Global ROM" what I want? Any other gotchas?

Personally I would avoid the global ROMs, some have mentioned problems updating when using them (though some as xnappo mentioned are just the original one set to English).

If you get one with stock ROM and unopened/unconfigured, when you turn it on and get the configuration screen on the top corner (can't remember if left or right but I think it was left) it says "English." Hit that and the rest is easy peasy (other than the built-in app store which is all in Chinese but you can type google play in English and it will find it). Do that and you might not even need a phone handy to photo translate.

 

[solsearch]

So I updated my review to reflect the changes I´ve seen on ZUI14 but for those that don't want to check out that thread, here's the updated bit:

****ZUI14 UPDATE****

It works fine for the most part.

There are some changes:



STYLUS SUPPORT

the tablet now supports a stylus which explains why the underlying software supported external solutions like the Lenovo M14t portable monitor. Still, it begs the question "If the hardware supports a stylus, why didn't the earlier firmware support it out of the box?" Also important, AES (1.0 AND 2.0) only pens DON'T work, MPP only pens don't work either, which makes me think it requires strong WGP. I recommend only using a Lenovo pen which has been verified to work. The one I have personally tried is the Lenovo Precision Pen 2. I read elsewhere the Lenovo Active Pen 3 works but I can't personally attest to that.


DESKTOP MODE/MULTI-WINDOW

There have been some complains on forums of ZUI14 removing desktop mode. This isn't exactly true. If you connect to an external monitor with the tablet's USB-C port (using a USB-C capable monitor OR an HDMI adapter you can use desktop mode on an external monitor. However, you can no longer use desktop mode on the tablet itself. This was done on purpose and Lenovo, in exchange for this modification, added the ability to use multiple floating windows in the normal tablet mode. These windows are reziable but the default aspect ratio cannot be changed. Also having multiple windows open only works using the floating window swipe gesture (swipe up, hold and then swipe to the top of the screen). If you try to use the task switcher to make a window a floating window all other floating windows will disapper/be minimized). I personally think this is acceptable on the smaller Y700 but can understand how it could frustrate those using the larger P11 or P12.


LEGION APP


The original Legion app has been removed but all of its functionality has been added to the settings (there is now a "Legion assistant" section in the settings). Now rather than swiping down you swipe in from the left. The graphics are different but functionality is the same. Adding apps to the games list is easier since you get an app list and a switch on the side (similar to how you enable individual permissions in different settings). I read a comment elsewhere that the new software made the fps graphic stick on the screen. This isn't true. When you swipe the assistant off screen the fps can stick around but just for a bit and then they disappear.

Personally I think it is an upgrade worth downloading.

And for the record, none of this should be a surprise since Lenovo actually included it all in the release notes. (with less detail obviously).

 

[gnoted]

Personally I would avoid the global ROMs, some have mentioned problems updating when using them (though some as xnappo mentioned are just the original one set to English).

If you get one with stock ROM and unopened/unconfigured, when you turn it on and get the configuration screen on the top corner (can't remember if left or right but I think it was left) it says "English." Hit that and the rest is easy peasy (other than the built-in app store which is all in Chinese but you can type google play in English and it will find it). Do that and you might not even need a phone handy to photo translate.

Thanks for the replies. I see on the ad for one I want to order from Aliexpress (the cheapest ), it says: "If you need the original sealed Tablet, which only support English and Chinese, NO GOOGLE PLAY, Please note on the order when placing the order!"

Is that true that Google Play won't work on the stock ROM?

 

[gnoted]

Well, I've just caved and ordered the "original sealed tablet", so I guess I'll find out...

 

[EugenStanis]

Thanks for the replies. I see on the ad for one I want to order from Aliexpress (the cheapest ), it says: "If you need the original sealed Tablet, which only support English and Chinese, NO GOOGLE PLAY, Please note on the order when placing the order!"

Is that true that Google Play won't work on the stock ROM?

It works. You just need to download it from ZUI store

 

[xnappo]

Thanks for the replies. I see on the ad for one I want to order from Aliexpress (the cheapest ), it says: "If you need the original sealed Tablet, which only support English and Chinese, NO GOOGLE PLAY, Please note on the order when placing the order!"

Is that true that Google Play won't work on the stock ROM?

Yeah, basically if you don't ask for it sealed, they will boot it and install Google Play from the ZUI store for you. It is not hard to do though - like I said just have another phone out with camera translate on and you will be fine.

 

[elm0nch]

Hi folks
Do you think we will be able to install Windows 10 in the Y700 in the future?
I've seen other devices with the same processor that already run Windows 10 so that's why I'm asking
I'm pretty happy with the device but for productivity sometimes I find myself trying to do some things that Android just can't handle.

 

[Kajman]

manually update it via ota
you have to have version 13.1.578 installed on your device
https://mobile-ota-cdn.lenovo.com/firmware/2022101219855345-2631.zip

Wll, it went good, but now google play services don't work/connect, any idea how to fix it?

 

[josue77]

Bueno, salió bien, pero ahora los servicios de Google Play no funcionan/no se conectan, ¿alguna idea de cómo solucionarlo?

tienes que actualizar los servicios de google desde google play

 

[Kajman]

Doesn't help, no connection. I installed other from apkcure, not compatibile, cleared cache, reinstaled google services, deleted google account. Nothing helps, they don't want to work. Any idea? Maybe some other apk version, now it states that wrong version.

 

[Kajman]

OK, solved. I found oldest possible version on apkcure and it works. ufff.....

 

[gnoted]

It works. You just need to download it from ZUI store

Yeah, basically if you don't ask for it sealed, they will boot it and install Google Play from the ZUI store for you. It is not hard to do though - like I said just have another phone out with camera translate on and you will be fine.

Thanks again to both of you.

They did have a little blurb saying that you would get a warning about bootloader unlocked every time you boot if they do it though, so I think they unlock the bootloader as well. The ad is here if you're interested.

I did see someone comment here - "Install google play from somewhere like apkmirror and not lenovo app store as previous purchases will not work on the lenovo installed version". So I think I'll do that instead.

Good idea?

 

[xnappo]

Sounds like they would have done something more extreme than just installing Google Play for you, best off having them not touch it.

I installed Google Play from ZUI store and all my previous purchases worked, but there was a weird delay on some of them. Some showed up right away and others took a couple of hours to show up purchased.

 

[solsearch]

Thanks again to both of you.

They did have a little blurb saying that you would get a warning about bootloader unlocked every time you boot if they do it though, so I think they unlock the bootloader as well. The ad is here if you're interested.

I did see someone comment here - "Install google play from somewhere like apkmirror and not lenovo app store as previous purchases will not work on the lenovo installed version". So I think I'll do that instead.

Good idea?

I've made purchases on the tablet no problem using the google play from the lenovo app store on the original other Zui13 firmware.

If you upgrade to ZUI14 you will need to uninstall updates from google services and then install the android 12 version of google services (and the play store) from apkmirror

 

[Kajman]

But latest version didn't work anyway in my case. WHat is ZUI/Lenovo store? I don't have that app.

 

[PeterDragon50]

Anyone having issues with creating bookmark shortcut in homescreen?
I'm unable to do it from chrome or chrome beta

Ever figure this out?

 

[Nit3H8wk]

I know zui 14.0.222 is the latest but where would I check when something new pops up?. I know there is a zui14 website but it's all in chinese and even with browser translation its difficult to find anything on there.

 

[xnappo]

But latest version didn't work anyway in my case. WHat is ZUI/Lenovo store? I don't have that app.

It is called 'App Center'.

Personally not messing with updating the software. Nothing I really care about in Android 12.