Are you in search for an affordable tablet? Maybe a good one for streaming content or for personal, educational, or entertainment purposes for your grandparents, parents, or kids? Look no further as on our review of the Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 2023, we will explore if this tablet is the perfect fit for your needs.
Table of Contents
Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 Specifications
| OS: | HarmonyOS 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 |
| Display: | 10.4-inch IPS LCD 2K Resolution |
| Wireless Connections: | Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi, GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Memory: | 3GB + 32GB 4GB + 64GB 4GB + 128GB |
| Connectors: | USB Type-C, OTG |
| Cameras: | Rear Camera 5MP, f/2.2 Front Camera 2MP, f/2.2 |
| SIM Card Slots: | Dual SIM (Nano-Sim), Shared MicroSD card – LTE Version MicroSD Card – WiFi Only |
| Battery: | 5,100 mAh, 10W Wired |
| SRP: | 3GB + 32GB LTE – Php 9,999 4GB + 64GB WiFi Only – Php 9,999 4GB + 128GB LTE – Php 13,999 |
The Unboxing
The Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 arrives in two separate boxes: one for the device and another for the folio cover. Inside the device box, you’ll find the tablet itself, a 10W charger, a USB-to-Type-C cable, a SIM ejector pin, and some accompanying documents. The folio cover box contains only the cover itself, with no additional items.
The Design
The Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 features a sleek matte aluminum back panel, which is minimalistic in design, and unfortunately does tend to attract fingerprints. Thankfully, the device comes with a folio cover that helps to prevent direct contact with the panel. The back panel also houses a single extruded camera.
In front of the device, the camera is centered when used in landscape mode. Moving to the top of the device, you’ll find the volume rocker, power button, and microphone hole. The left side features a 3.5mm audio jack and its speakers, while the right side offers a SIM card tray that can hold two nano SIM cards, a single MicroSD card for expandable storage, speakers and a USB Type-C charging port.
The Display and Sounds
The Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 boasts a 10.4-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2000 x 1200, giving it a pixel density of 225 pixels per inch. Its 2k display makes it a great option for watching content, despite not having the same level of vibrant colors as an OLED display. Overall, it has a great display size and resolution that is wonderful to view.
As an entertainment tablet, great speakers are essential. In this regard, the MatePad SE 10.4 does not disappoint us in this aspect. It has a stereo speaker setup that delivers loud sound, although there may be some distortion when the volume is at its maximum. Nonetheless, it is still a good option for average users who will be watching shows or consuming content.
The Performance
The Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 is powered by a two-year-old Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset with an Adreno 610 GPU. While it may not be the latest and the greatest, it still offers decent performance for everyday tasks like streaming content, browsing the internet, and using social media apps. However, we did notice some lag issues when switching between apps.
The tablet comes in three different configurations. We already reviewed the LTE version with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Other options include a 3GB RAM + 32GB storage model with LTE and a 4GB RAM + 64GB storage model with WiFi only. It’s nice to have different options to choose from based on your needs, and all models offer expandable storage via microSD card.
Here are the benchmark scores of the Huawei MatePad SE 10.4:
The Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 runs on HarmonyOS 3.0. Some may wonder about the availability of the Google Play Store, but don’t worry as you can still download apps from it through the GBox app found on the Huawei AppGallery.
For those in need of a productivity tablet, it’s worth noting that the MatePad SE 10.4 doesn’t have a folio cover with a keyboard that is available in the market. However, you can easily connect a keyboard via Bluetooth if you prefer a physical keyboard.
In terms of security, the tablet does not have a fingerprint sensor, but it does offer facial recognition in addition to traditional PIN or pattern locks.
The Camera
Don’t expect too much from its camera as it only has a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. It’s usable for video calls but not for your next photography project, as the picture quality is pale and grainy.
Here are some sample pictures:
The video capabilities of the Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 are similar to the sample pictures. The video quality is pale and grainy, but it can record up to 1080p videos from its rear camera and only 720p from its front camera.
The Battery
The Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 is equipped with a 5100mAh battery that we find to be small for a tablet. It can only last up to 6 hours of watching content. It also has a mediocre 10W charging speed which is super slow for the battery capacity it is using. When charging the tablet from 0% to 100%, it takes almost 3 hours, which is way too long for this generation.
Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 Verdict
The Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 2023 offers an excellent value for its price point. With its 2k display and good speakers, it’s a decent entertainment tablet that comes in various storage and RAM configurations, including an LTE version with microSD storage expandability.
However, the two-year-old chipset may not satisfy heavy multitasking users, and the small battery capacity with slow charging speed could be a turn-off. Nonetheless, it’s still a budget-friendly option for basic entertainment purposes or as a basic work tablet.
If you’re looking for a tablet for your grandparents, parents, or kids, the Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 is worth considering, even without having the Google Play Store. The Gbox method is easy to understand and doesn’t impact the tablet’s performance.
The Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 2023 retails for Php 13,999 for LTE 4GB+128GB, Php 9,999 for LTE 3GB+32GB, and Php 9,999 for WiFi-only 4GB+64GB. You can find it on Lazada and Shopee.
