In 2022, a ton of new tablets were released, and I’ve grown to appreciate most of them. Nonetheless, the tablet market has historically been somewhat quiet, largely due to low demand and outdated specifications for each new tablet release. With the latter, I do see issues. Budget tablets are underperforming, while powerful ones are too expensive. Indeed, there’s a huge gap in the tablet market that offers both affordability and power.
Huawei seems to have noticed an opportunity, hence the release of the MatePad SE 10.4. This tablet comes with compelling technology that works well with the software options. I must say, this one has potential. The HUAWEI MatePad SE 10.4 stands out in the market thanks to its stunning 2K display, which is ideal for multimedia consumption, and a powerful chipset. If you enjoy Huawei’s ecosystem, such as HarmonyOS, In addition to sounding excellent on paper, it works well as a daily tablet.
HUAWEI MatePad SE 10.4 Specs
- Display: 10.4-inch LCD (IPS) screen w/ 2K 2000 x 1200 resolution at 224 ppi
- CPU: 2.4GHz 6nm Snapdragon 680 octa-core processor
- GPU: Adreno 610
- RAM: 3GB/4GB
- ROM: 32GB/64GB/128GB expandable via microSD card slot up to 512GB
- Back Camera: 5MP f/2.2 w/ AF
- Selfie Camera: 2MP f/2.2
- Battery: 5,100mAh w/ 10W fast charging
- OS: HarmonyOS 3.0
- Connectivity: WiFi (2.4GHz/5GHz), 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE, SBC, AAC, OTG GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo
- Sensors: Light, gravity
- Others: Stereo speakers, 1xmicrophones, Colors: Graphite Black
- Dimensions: 246.94 x 156.7 x 7.85 mm
- Weight: 440 g
Premium looking design
The Huawei Matepad SE has a lovely 10.4-inch IPS display up front. Above it is the front-facing camera, and to the right is a notification LED that flashes to indicate notifications and battery life. The volume rocker, power button, and microphone for calls over wifi or calls via a carrier if you choose a SIM setup are all located on the top side of the device.
The dual speakers and the 3.5mm audio port are located on the left side of the device. The right side of the dual speakers, the USB Type-C charging connector, and the Dual-SIM card tray are all present in this arrangement. One of the SIM card slots also serves as expandable storage.
Finally, the primary camera sensor is located in the back. A polycarbonate surface is placed above the metal back panel for improved signal connectivity, along with little Huawei branding.
If you love to watch movies, shop online, browse social media, and more, the HUAWEI MatePad SE 10.4-inch offers the most immersive experience thanks to features like a large HUAWEI FullView display, dual speakers, and High-Performance Antenna.
2K Eye Comfort HUAWEI FullView Display
The 10.4-inch FHD+ IPS panel on the Huawei Matepad SE has a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels at 225 pixels per inch. For an LCD screen, its 2K display gets quite bright, making it ideal for watching videos on your preferred streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube.
There is no contest when comparing this display to an OLED or AMOLED one when it comes to the richest blacks and brightest colors. Yet it’s also true to say that it can be difficult to locate a tablet with a 10.4-inch, 2K IPS panel at this price point.
The screen has been granted TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and TÜV Rheinland Flicker-Free certification. Under Settings, the Eye Comfort mode helps cut down on eye-damaging blue light and flickering when used for a long time.
Moreover, Huawei offers Histen 8.0, a surround sound technology. To help you get the best sound effects from its two speakers, it fine-tunes sound by frequency and volume.
Harmony OS with GBox pre-installed
You’ll need to become acclimated to the Harmony OS for software. It can undoubtedly be used and never really causes problems. In actuality, the OS appears to be tailored even for a low-cost tablet. Don’t worry about Google apps; Huawei was able to pre-install GBox with built-in GMS so you may utilize your preferred Google services and apps. Hence, you benefit from the best of both worlds.
An overall multitasker
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 CPU (6nm) and an Adreno 610 GPU are included in the Huawei Matepad SE.
The Matepad SE can do most of your daily online consumption without any lags like using social media, streaming music and video, and casual gaming, the two-year-old chipset is just adequate.
The device that we’ve tested has 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal storage, and LTE capability. Also, two additional variants with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage with LTE and 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage are readily available locally (wifi only).
The new Multi-Window feature allows for one-tap interaction when multitasking. Users can swipe to the upper left corner to divide the screen when an app fills up the entire screen or swipe to the upper right corner to open a floating window. When you need to complete numerous jobs at once, this is helpful. ideal for working from home or taking classes online.
Kids Companion
There is also a Kids Corner feature, which is intended for use by children at home and provides time control, multiple eye protection, and a mix of teaching and entertainment. In order to convince parents that their children would be secure and enjoy using the tablet, numerous Kids Corner theme interfaces were built, working with numerous eye protection and time control interfaces. It’s a very useful function.
Initial Impression
We are quite impressed with the Huawei MatePad SE. Its ridiculously low price checks all the boxes for what a midrange tablet should be. Its stunning 2K display, Snapdragon 680 chipset, and dedicated Kids Care are more than enough to justify its PHP 9,999 price tag.
Price and Availability
The price of the MatePad SE ranges from PHP 9,999 for the 3GB/32GB WiFi+LTE model to PHP 13,999 for the 4GB/128GB WiFi+LTE model. The 3GB/32GB WiFi+LTE and 4GB/128GB WiFi+LTE models will be available starting on February 17, while the 4GB/64GB WiFi variant will be available starting on February 15.
Until February 28th, customers who purchase the MatePad SE will also receive a gift package of entertainment, a 64GB MicroSD card, Huawei Video vouchers, and three months of Viu Premium. Customers who buy the WiFi+LTE versions will also get a Folio Cover.
