Last month, Huawei Philippines launched an LTE version of its budget-friendly MatePad tablet the Huawei MatePad T10 LTE.
Tablets have seen a resurgence because of the pandemic as Gen Zs and Millennials adapt to the new normal of remote and online learning and hybrid work setups.
The MatePad T10 LTE has been developed following the well-loved DNA of the MatePad line-up: powerful performance, immersive viewing and audio experience, and smart interactions. It has the same large HD+ display, stereo loudspeakers, and capable chipset but complemented by 4G LTE mobile data connectivity in addition to Wi-Fi.
It also presents a more affordable option to the MatePad T10s, but is it enough to satisfy your inner Technivore?
DEVOUR:
Large display
Stereo Speakers
Kids Corner is entertaining
LTE connectivity
DISLIKE:
Only 2GB RAM
Not for heavy users
UNBOXING
The MatePad T10 LTE comes in the standard white box with a photo of the tablet on the front along with the App Gallery on the right bottom corner. On the side you’ll find the IMEI/Serial number as well as the Model color and configuration.
Slide it off and you’ll find the MatePad T10 LTE unit wrapped in plastic and underneath is the wall charger and type C cable. Also included in the box is an eject pin, quick start guide and warranty card.
The one we have is still a review unit that’s why the packaging hasn’t been updated to the retail version which shows the new LTE label.
DESIGN AND BUILD
The MatePad T10 LTE and MatePad T 10s share a similar design, with the latter having a slightly larger display. It only comes in one color, Deepsea Blue, which I think is better option than black or the usual gray tablets.
The rear cover is made of 93% aluminum alloy with a Sand blasted finish a matte metal cover and the ergonomic design providing a smooth grip. However, it can still be quite a smudge magnet, that’s why it’s best to use the free cover it comes with.
With a thickness of 7.85mm and weighing only 450g the MatePad T 10S is slim lightweight and very easy to carry should you need to use it outside your house—even if its just the nearest Starbucks.
On the back you’ll find the 5MP camera and Huawei branding.
Located on the right are its power and volume buttons, as well as two microphones. The left side is clean and on top, you’ll find a loudspeaker.
Checking out the bottom you’ll find another loudspeaker, a USB Type-C port, a headphone port, and a dual SIM tray for one nano-SIM card and a microSD card that’s expandable up to 512GB.
This tablet is best used in landscape mode so you’ll notice some sensors along the longer side and a 2MP front camera on front.
Display and Sound
The MatePad T10 LTE comes with a 9.7-inch IPS display with a 1280 x 800px resolution and a pixel density of 224 PPI.
The 16:10 HD Display is understandable for its price range, and the quality is good enough for browsing the web, checking your social media feeds and watching YouTube videos on the Huawei browser. There are options to change the screen’s color temperature to further suit your preference and it comes with the Eye Comfort feature to filter out blue light to reduce eye fatigue for those who are going to use it as an ebook reader.
I on the other hand used it mostly for reading comics and graphic novels and the display size perfect for reading all those dialogues without having to zoom in.
The display can get pretty bright indoors but struggles under bright sunlight. As for the viewing angles, its best to view the display directly from the front. The display supports up 10-points of simultaneous touches and I’ve had no problems with taps and gestures as it registers accurately.
One of the best features I liked about the MatePad T10s was its Harman Kardon loudspeakers. The MatePad T10 may not have the same speakers, but you still get stereo speakers that are still quite loud with good sound quality. It has two large 1620 largesound cavity speakers on either side of the tablet near the base that delivers stereo sound that can easily fill up a small room. If you want an even more immersive experience you might want to use a pair of headphones and plug it in the 3.5mm jack.
The sound from the speakers, however, are easily blocked by just accidentally placing the fingers on them.
Using earphones will activate Huawei Histen 6.0 which allows 9.1 surround sound speaker setup and 3D sound effects for an immersive audio experience. This 3D sound is great for watching movies and those ASMR vlogs.
If you are calling another Huawei device, be sure to try out MeeTime for HD video calls. The built-in microphone recording is decent as well but again a headset with mic is better.
CAMERAS
You never buy a tablet for its cameras, and know that its only there for functional purposes like if you suddenly need to take a photo. Don’t expect too much from the 5MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. The images produced are okay, but if you are taking photos of text, you have get close enough to make them readable. Also make sure you have ample lighting so you could get more details in your shot.
The front camera allows you to shoot videos at 720p and 1080 from the rear cam. But again, this is just best used for Zoom and those video calls.
PERFORMANCE AND UI
The MatePad T10 LTE comes with on Android 10 with EMUI 10.1. If you haven’t used any Huawei phone or tablets in the last two years, know that it doesn’t come with Google Mobile Services. This means you don’t have the Play Store, but you can source the apps you need from the AppGallery or other Android APP markets.
The lack of Google apps isn’t as jarring of a difference compared to a smartphone and the Huawei App Gallery continues to add more of the most essential and popular apps in its catalog. Plus the addition of PETAL SEARCH widget makes finding apps way easier now.
It is the search bar that appears on your main screen. Just tap on it and enter the name of the app you need or whatever it is you are looking for. This widget allows you to install apps from the Huawei AppGallery and official and third-party websites. It also provides suggestions and trending apps information.
Should you need to use Google’s proprietary apps, you can use the browser to access YouTube, Maps, Gmail etc.
I do suggest you get a microSD card as the 32GB storage only leaves you around 15GB for your files. The MatePat T10 supports up to 512GB microSD.
The MatePad T10 is powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 710A chip along with a Mali G51 GPU and 2GB RAM. The 2GB RAM makes it to the minimum standard set by the DEPEd for learning devices. But due to its measly RAM, running multiple apps in the background might cause some problems so its better to keep it to a minimum. Close the apps you are not using to improve the performance and avoid slowdowns. Basic tasks and light gaming work smoothly but don’t expect it to play those graphic heavy games.
For connectivity, the MatePad T10 is packed with WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, OTG, LTE and even an FM Radio.
The 5,100mAh battery of the MatePad T 10 can last you an entire day of moderate use, but if you’re heavy on video streaming with the screen turned on most of the time, you might have to keep the charger close by. The 10w charger takes around two hours to fully charge the tablet.
KIDS COMPANION
Like I said, the MatePad T10 is a device you could use for work and online learning, but its actually an even better learning companion for toddlers and young kids because of the built in KIDS CORNER.
It is not just an app or game but a dedicated area for your kids. It contains four preinstalled Apps–a Recorder, Camera, Multimedia and Kids Painting. It also features Parental control that lets allows app management, content management and even time management.
Once you open Kids Corner, it is the only area they can play around with and they can’t access any external apps.
Gone are the days when you need to worry that your kids eyesight may be harmed when using the tablet as the MatePad T10 features four layers of eye protection:
Filter Blue Light— filters harmful blue light which can be bad for their eyesight.
Posture alerts, lying down while using the tablet can cause severe harm to eyesight so the tablet alerts your child when it detects issues with their posture reminding them to adopt a better position.
When the tablet detects that is moving around while riding a bus or walking Bumpy Road Alerts warn them as this could lead to dizziness, eye fatigue and ultimately nearsightedness
Ebook mode the color of the screen can be removed creating an experience that ressemles reading paper books.
There are a couple of other portals installed one is Azoomi and if you create or log into your Huawei Account, you get 1 year free, by using your Huawei ID.
From there you get game links, educational videos or you can let them create their own OOMEE.
The other portal that I enjoyed is Baby Panda World/ BabyBus. It also offers a lot of games and activities. I actually found myself lost in one of the “adventure” type games, the MatePad T10 actually forced me to take a break!
Besides adventure game, there are lots of mini games you can download like a grocery shopping game, dress up, learning habits, playing musical instruments and even some “career” games. Photographer Kiki for example is more than just taking photos, but putting together a camera, setting the right lighting and even choosing the backdrop and stickers for an album. So your toddler will never tire of all the choices.
FINAL WORD:
At 7,999 the Huawei MatePad T10 is one of those affordable and reliable tablets you can get to complement your work from home or learn from home setup. Just as long as you don’t need something with high-end specs.
It is something that the entire family can use for watching movies or reading books and despite the lack of Google Apps, you can find a lot of alternatives by simply using the Petal Search widget.
But for me one of best reasons to get it is Kids Corner which creates a totally separate space for your toddlers that will keep them entertained so you could can finish your tasks without interruption.
Huawei MatePad T10 specs:
Display Size: 9.7-inch 1280×800 IPS Display, 156PPI
RAM: 2GB
ROM: 32GB
Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 710A (4x Cortex A73 2.0 GHz + 4 x Cortex A53 1.7 GHz)
GPU: Mali G51
Operating System: EMUI 10.1 (Based on Android 10)
Rear Camera: 5 MP f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera: 2 MP f/2.4 aperture
Display Type: IPS Touchscreen
Display Resolution: 1280 x 800, 156 PPI
Battery: 5100 mAh (typ.)
Network: WiFi / LTE
Other Highlights: Kids Corner, APP Multiplier，MeeTime
Audio: One mic, dual speakers+ PA，Histen6.1
Sensors: Gravity sensor
Other features: APP Multiplier displays two windows on one screen
E-Book Mode and Dark mode makes reading more comfortable.
The new generation of Huawei MatePads is now available in all Huawei Concept Stores, official online store, and flagship stores on Shopee and Lazada. For more information on the New Huawei MatePad and Huawei MatePad T10 LTE, customers may visit the links below:
MatePad T10 LTE on Shopee
MatePad T10 LTE on Lazada
1 Comment
This is a really great news that Huawei Philippines launched an LTE version of its budget- friendly MatePad tablet the Huawei Matepad T10 LTE. This is a really good opportunity for people who can’t afford the other one because this one is much more affordable. This will only limit them at some point but its still offers some of its best features. This is a really great help especially during online class.