Huawei MatePad T 10s review: Your reliable everyday tablet

This year, Huawei’s MatePad series saw a number of new additions across different price points, but it seems the company isn’t done yet. The MatePad T 10s is the company’s budget offering that fills the gap between the MatePad T 10 and the MatePad. The T 10s offers improved features over its even more affordable T 10 sibling and also has a SIM card slot for those looking for data connection on-the-go.

With connectivity being more important now than ever, the MatePad T 10s is an appealing choice for a pretty powerful device offered at a modest price point. But how exactly did it fare as a work companion in our daily routine? Read on to find out.

Design

The Huawei Matepad T 10s blends seamlessly into the company’s family of tablets. It comes in a single color, Deep Sea Blue, which we’ve seen on other models in the series. There’s no doubt that the design was created to look and feel professional – a goal that was definitely accomplished.

And while it is elegant and beautiful, I do wish Huawei offered more fun color choices like the colors of the Huawei Watch Fit.

The tablet does come in a matte finish but it still does catch fingerprints quite easily so you’ll have to give it a wipe down every so often to keep it looking neat.

It’s relatively thin at just 7.5mm and weighs just 450g. Bringing the tablet around when we had to work or shoot on location wasn’t at all a problem and it fits comfortably into most of the bags we used. It was even pretty easy to use with just one hand because it wasn’t that heavy and the rounded edges provided a more natural grip.

Holding the tablet upright, we can find the two microphones, the volume rocker, and the power button on the right while the charging port, 3.5mm audio jack, dual SIM card, and microSD card tray can be found on the bottom. Around the back is a single rear camera while the front camera is hidden in the right bezel. When flipped to landscape mode, the front camera’s position is perfect for video calls.

One thing we found when using the tablet was that we often ended up turning it off when we were reaching for the volume buttons. It seems the placement is just a tad bit high and while this doesn’t affect performance in any way at all, it can be a little bit frustrating. Especially if you’re in the middle of watching a good show.

But overall, the device carries just enough heft to make it feel premium but still remain light enough to be portable. The design is simple and colors are subtle, definitely something that can please most.

Display and multimedia

Housing a 10.1-inch Full HD IPS screen, the device provides a good amount of screen real estate. There’s nothing truly exceptional about the display but it’s good enough for day-to-day activities and watching all kinds of content. In fact, its IPS display produces rich colors, dark blacks, and sharp images and text. There’s no indication if the device is Widevine L1 certified, though, so this means you have won’t have access to HD content on Netflix.

Bezels aren’t the thinnest on the MatePad T 10s which is pretty standard on Huawei tablets. We actually found that having a bit of bezel allowed us to get a better grip on the tablet without accidentally activating anything on the screen.

There are two speakers on the device that are found on the left and right when holding it in landscape orientation. The speakers have been tuned by audio specialists Harman Kardon which means it should produce better-than-average audio.

True enough, the device does produce rich, high-quality audio that can make watching or listening really enjoyable. In addition to that, the speakers are loud. We rarely maxed out the volume since setting it at just 50% was suitable enough for most situations.

What we found to be our favorite use for the device was for reading or for working. Because of its portability and screen size, it was convenient to use when we needed to check on documents or presentations on the fly. Whether we were working at home or out and about, we would default to using the tablet to check on our tasks, emails, or to write articles. We even used it as a second monitor when shooting our videos.

We didn’t have to fear damaging our eyes either since the MatePad T 10s is equipped with special features for eye health. Being TÜV Rheinland certified, the device reduces blue light emitted from the screen that may be harmful for the eyes. It also offers an eye comfort mode and eBook mode to lessen the strain on your eyes when using the device for an extended period of time.

Camera

For its rear camera, the MatePad T 10s carries a single 5-megapixel shooter. It’s able to produce decent photos with enough detail and good color. There’s a lack of sharpness in the overall image and photos sometimes look a bit muddy especially when zoomed in or when taken in low light. The 2-megapixel front camera also produces average-looking photos but is clear and good enough for video calls or meetings.

The cameras are basically there just in case you need them and won’t really be your go-to shooter. We were able to use the front camera more often than the rear since we used the device more for video calls. Cameras on tablets aren’t known to be the best anyway so it’s most likely you won’t be buying this device just for its cameras.

Performance

The MatePad T 10s is powered by the Huawei Kirin 710A octa-core chipset matched with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, expandable up to 512GB via a microSD card.

Despite having just 3GB of RAM, running daily tasks on the device was a breeze. We hardly experienced any noticeable lags or hiccups. Apps were also quick to open and taps were consistently responsive. The device runs on Huawei’s EMUI 10.1 which is something we’re familiar with having also reviewed the Huawei MatePad. But whether or not you’re familiar with this OS, it’s relatively easy to get used to.

In using the device, we found the split-screen feature to be especially useful for productivity. We could, for example, continue typing up a document while browsing the web at the same time. Huawei also has an App Multiplier feature that allows the same app to be used twice when in landscape mode. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find supported apps apart from Petal Search but should Huawei expand this to more apps like Facebook, we can see it being very useful.

While the MatePad T 10s did do a great job in handling tasks like checking emails or browsing social media, it does fall just a bit short when it comes to gaming. This is quite understandable since this device isn’t really designed for high-performance gaming. We were still able to play a couple of games, though, including Asphalt 9: Legends and Genshin Impact.

These, in particular, were able to run even on the highest game setting but you do get noticeable lag and frame drops. Downgrading the settings to medium or low showed significant improvement to gameplay.

Huawei also built extra features for younger users in case you would want to let your child use your tablet. Pre-installed on the tablet is Huawei’s Kids Corner. This app provides a colorful and fun kid-friendly UI where parents are given options to help monitor their kids’ screen time. Parental controls include eye protection settings, time management, app management, and more.

Battery

Powering the MatePad T 10s is a 5,100 mAh battery. Testing this out in the real world, we were able to get about two to three days before we had to charge. This included using the device for browsing, video calls, a bit of Netflix, very light gaming, and a lot of typing. In a more controlled environment, we let the device stream videos over WiFi at 50% brightness and volume. We also turned off all power-saving features. The device was able to last a total of 9 hours and 30 minutes before it shut itself down.

As for charging, using the included Huawei Quick Charge charger, we were able to get to 20% in just 30 minutes and up to 40% in one hour. The device was able to fully charge from zero in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Creature Comfort

In our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find special features in a device that make it worth having. Something that gives the product a slight edge from its peers. For the Huawei MatePad T 10s, it would have to be its features for maintaining eye health.

In this day and age, being on a device is something that can hardly be avoided. If not for work, maybe for school. If not for school, maybe it’s just to catch up with friends and family you haven’t seen in a long time. Or maybe it’s just so you can relax and binge-watching a couple of shows.

Whatever the situation may be, our eyes are working really hard and we might not realize that we’re tiring them out. So being TÜV Rheinland certified as well as offering other features for eye health is a great thing to have on a device that will most likely be used for long periods of time.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a tablet that provides solid, reliable performance and straight-to-the-point features, then the Huawei MatePad T 10s should be on your list. It’s a great tablet that provides a good amount of features to provide a comfortable space for working or studying at home. With its child-friendly features, it’s also a good choice if you’re looking to find a suitable tablet for your kid.

The Huawei MatePad T 10s may not have a lot of bells and whistles but priced at PhP 12,999, you get a device that’s pretty fast, responsive, and performs more than average across the board. There’s even a SIM card slot so you can be connected any time without the need for WiFi or a mobile hotspot. It’s definitely a tablet worth considering if you’re looking for one that’s suited for everyone in the family.

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realme Pad 2: An affordable ‘entertainment-first’ tablet

11/06/2023

Tablets offer many advantages. Apart from the obvious size advantage over your regular smartphone, these larger devices are often equipped with other features and specs that could make them a valuable addition to your daily workflow.

More affordable but still capable tablets aren’t plenty but they do exist; the recently released realme Pad 2 is such an example. The newest addition to the company’s Pad series offers a refreshing new look, a slightly bigger size, and more powerful internals.

Familiar design, fresher feel

Unlike today’s smartphones, the tablet scene is a tad less diverse when talking about design. Only a handful offer more ‘fun’ or interesting colors which is a shame because it’s something I personally look for.

But realme has always put a certain value on looks. Sometimes its designs can be a bit out there but I’ve always appreciated the company’s efforts in trying different looks for its devices. Even partnering with brands like Coca-Cola to offer limited-edition, collector-level pieces. With its tablet line, it’s no different.

Case in point is its first tablet, the realme Pad, which came out of the gate in a nice gold colorway instead of the usual matte black or blue. This year, for its follow-up, the realme Pad 2 is offered in two colors: Imagination Grey and Inspiration Green.

realme sent us the latter which is my pick between the two. I absolutely love how the color is cast on this tablet; not too loud but not too subtle either.

Its overall design is quite similar to its predecessor in some ways. The realme Pad 2 retains a flat metal frame with a slightly curved back. Now an 11-inch tablet, it’s slightly heavier but still lightweight enough to bring around. Its slim frame also makes one-handed operation easier.

The back’s design is obviously based on the original realme Pad but this time, the realme Pad 2 combines two finishes: metallic and matte. About a fifth of the device, the part where the big round camera module is, offers a metal-like texture while the rest lends a shimmery, matte-like finish.

Buttons and ports are where you’d usually find them: power button on top, volume rocker on the upper right side, and a SIM card tray on the left edge. The realme Pad 2 also comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera hidden in the display’s bezels. Made with a mix of metal and plastic materials, it seems durable enough to withstand the daily grind as well.

I honestly love how this tablet looks on my person. It acts almost like an accessory giving my outfit (which is usually black, white, or black and white) a pop of color and personality. It may sound silly to some but it’s a plus when my device can match my look, too.

A visual and aural delight

I’ve been a tablet user for a while now and I’ve found a couple of advantages that’s made me love this form factor.

For one, it’s an undeniably better way to consume all kinds of content – whether watching, reading, or playing the larger display makes the whole experience more comfortable. And despite being used to a 12-inch tablet, I find the 11-inch display on the realme Pad 2 still spacious to accommodate multi-tasking and other tasks.

Let me quickly lay down the specs for this device first.

The realme Pad 2 offers an 11.5-inch 2K display (1200×2000) partnered with a 120Hz refresh rate. We do only have an IPS LCD panel here but colors are still punchy and vibrant with a good amount of contrast. Brightness is a little on the short side for me but is enough for indoor use.

realme also made sure that the Pad 2 is Widevine L1-certified which unlocks up to FHD resolution for streaming apps like Netflix. For audio, we have a set of four Dolby Atmos speakers, two on each side.

One of our favorite features of the original realme Pad was its detailed and loud speakers. This year, we may be saying the same thing. The realme Pad 2 and its quad-speaker setup are impressive. Sound is balanced and well distributed though I wouldn’t be surprised if some would find it a little thin on bass.

One quiet night in, I ended up watching Dear Evan Hansen on the realme Pad 2. Being an adaptation of a musical, the speakers were tested against a range of songs and I found little to complain about. Vocals can get tinny during loud ensemble numbers but the overall experience was still pleasing.

At max volume, however, sound distortion is more prominent but shouldn’t be a problem for most. I would suggest going about 4 or 5 clicks down for a more balanced sound.

Apart from watching, I’ve found the realme Pad 2 is the perfect little size for reading. Going through PDFs for work was a breeze and I could even annotate and edit comfortably along the way. I’ve also been using it to reread a couple of comics and graphic novels like Scott Pilgrim (the new animated series premieres November 17 on Netflix, by the way).

Rounding out the whole content consumption experience is a large 8630 mAh battery which is more than enough for a few hours of binge-watching. For daily use, the realme Pad 2 was able to last more than two days until it needed to charge.

Topping up is a speedy too having support for 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging.  We were able to fully recharge the device in about an hour and a half.

With all that we’ve said, declaring that the realme Pad 2 is an ‘entertainment-first’ tablet wasn’t hard to do. With the first iteration having quality speakers as its best feature, the realme Pad 2 follows in its footsteps by offering not just really good quality audio but also a pristine picture to match it.

All while keeping that price tag ever so friendly.

The in-between device for productivity

While my constant is still my desktop for major workloads, I find having a tablet to do more menial things like checking emails, updating our socials, and writing articles is very convenient, too.

Equipped with a MediaTek Helio G99 processor and running on 8GB of RAM, you’ve got a good amount of power with this tablet. It isn’t the most capable or most recent chip around but has proven to be the pick for more affordable tablets.

With this configuration, you’re set up to do the dailies with ease. In my time with it, I was able to do all I just mentioned plus some light photo editing on Snapseed, quick video edits on CapCut, and even layouts in Canva. I know these are tasks that are doable on a smartphone but the ease of a big screen and more navigation room makes these tasks much easier and thus faster to accomplish.

The realme Pad 2 also offers virtual RAM expansion for when loads get heavy but I’ve found the improvement to be subtle, often unnoticeable. It also comes with a SIM card slot and support for LTE so you can stay connected even without Wi-Fi around.

 

A productive day means you’re able to knock off things on your to-do list efficiently. With realme Android 13 skin, you’ll be able to enjoy multi-tasking features that are unique to the tablet form factor. The Pad 2 is powerful enough to accommodate split screens, floating windows, dual windows, and multiple tabs but it does start to lag when there’s too much going on in the background.

Whether at home or not, it was also to take video calls. The front-facing camera is enough for the most part unless you’re a stickler for image quality. This may be a personal opinion, but I believe expectations shouldn’t be high when it comes to camera quality on tablets because even more expensive ones barely match today’s smartphone cameras.

Now what could make the Pad 2 much better for productivity, in my opinion, are accessories. Most tablets these days are partnered with a keyboard, pen, or even just a simple case or folio but it seems realme is sticking to the basics. Of course, these can be remedied by third-party products but it would’ve been nice to have a bundle with accessories of some sort.

Now while I don’t know many who game on a tablet, I’m aware that there are a few who do. But after what we’ve just talked about, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the gaming powers of the realme Pad 2 aren’t that extensive.

Simpler games like Pokemon Go are no big deal but expect to run on the lowest settings for more demanding games like Honkai Star Rail. I was able to play Star Rail rather smoothly as long as I kept graphics on low and closed all other power or resource-hungry apps.

Final thoughts

More often than not, tablets are propositioned as productivity partners but, again, the realme Pad 2 is showing itself as a better pick for entertainment. It’s equipped with the essentials for a cozy night of binge-watching including a high-resolution display, a quality set of quad speakers, and long battery life.

It’s great for multi-tasking and productivity too but to get the best performance, you will have to keep your background apps to a minimum and may have to forgo more resource-heavy tasks. But all in all and considering its asking price, it’s a solid day-to-day tablet.

The realme Pad 2 is now available in the Philippines and priced at PhP 13,999 and PhP 17,999 for the 6GB+128GB variant and 8GB+256GB variant respectively.

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