HUAWEI Philippines sent me the HUAWEI MatePad 10.4 2021 to review. Below are my thoughts about the device after using it for over a month.
Before anything else, I would like to share that I am not really a big tablet user (but my wife is), but I am going to review this device with an open mind. With that said, let’s begin.
HUAWEI MatePad 10.4 2021 Unboxing
Included in the box is the device itself, along with the powerbrick/charger, Ejector Tool, USB to USB Type-C cable, USB Type-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter, and the paperwork. The device has HUAWEI M-Pencil support, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have an M-Pencil included out-of-the-box. However, you can purchase it separately on HUAWEI stores nationwide or online. You can also check out my unboxing, as well as my first impressions of the device on the video below.
The Obvious Downside
To be honest, I don’t really need to inform you that the MatePad doesn’t come with Google Services as it is already common knowledge at this point. But I’ll still include it to cover the bases. Not having Google on the device is somewhat of a big deal for someone like me who heavily uses its services. Facebook and Instagram are also not available in the device so do keep that in mind. But I didn’t let that got in the way, I did manage fine by just using its browser. But I did miss the seamlessness that a dedicated app provides.
Most of the apps I needed was readily available on the HUAWEI AppGallery. But some apps were not available like Netflix and Spotify. I was, however, able to sideload them just fine. It’s important to note though that Google and Facebook apps can be sideloaded also but will not run properly, so you’ll just need to use the browser.
Now that the obvious downside of the device is out of the way, let me tell what features I really like about the device.
Design and Build Quality
The device shares the same design language as previous MatePads. It has a minimalist unibody design with a decent weight. It feels pretty solid and rigid, which gives the impression that it’s very durable. Its curved corners and edges which makes it comfortable to hold. Not much more I can say about its design and build quality, so let’s move on the what I really love about the device.
Immersive Multimedia Experience
What really stood out for me was its quad-channel speaker system. It’s loud and clear, delivering not just an immersive cinematic experience, but eargasmic music listening experience as well. Normally I would use a Bluetooth speaker when listening to music, but the audio on the device was so loud and clear that I didn’t need to use one. It’s not really a surprise since the audio is tuned by Harman Kardon’s team of professional audio engineers. The HUAWEI Histen 6.1also does a good job on optimizing the audio when listening to music via earphones/headphones. Its 10.4-inch IPS display is also great for watching movies and other videos, images are super clear and colors are vivid.
Meh Cameras
Cameras? Let’s face it, you’re not really buying a tablet for its cameras. That’s probably the reason why tech companies skimp on their tablet’s cameras. But they still include it in case od situations when a user needs it. The MatePad’s rear camera are not really that great. They take decent pictures on perfect lighting situations, but suffer on low light.
In my own opinion, the front facing camera is more important, especially if you will use the device on video/conference calls. And its selfie cam is actually quite good. Setting aside its flatter color, it actually looks good when used on video calls. And the wide-angle lens is perfect for a video conference for work.
Below are some sample photos I took with its cameras.
Zoom Call Anywhere
Since we’re in the subject, I want to talk about its performance when using it on conference calls. As I mentioned above, the device has quad-channel speakers for you to hear the audio even when you’re a bit far. But the device MatePad also has a quad-microphone array. It can pick up audio from as far as five meters away. The best part is, it has noise reduction support that helps limit background noise. This helps when you take a call or have a video conference in a coffee shop or café.
Productivity On-the-Go
I’ve also tried working remotely by using the HUAWEI MatePad. I did use a Bluetooth keyboard because it’ easier than typing on the screen. I also used WPS Office since it was already pre-installed. It was fine, but I still do prefer to use Google Docs. Ignoring the lack of Google Services support though, it performs perfectly fine with other apps that are available.
Gaming
As with its performance with productivity apps, the device also performs well on games. It’s important to note that I haven’t played with it for a long period of time. But I did not notice any lags when I was testing it out on commonly used videogames nowadays.
HUAWEI MatePad 10.4 2021 Specifications
| Dimensions | 245.2 x 154.96 x 7.35 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 450 g |
| Chipset | HUAWEI Kirin 810 |
| CPU | 2 x Cortex-A76 2.27 GHz + 6 x Cortex-A55 1.88 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G52 |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB (MicroSD card up to 512GB) |
| Display | 10.4-inch IPS Touchscreen, 2000 x 1200 |
| Rear Camera | 8 MP |
| Front Camera | 8 MP, Ultra Wide |
| OS | EMUI 10.1 (Based on Android 10.0) |
| Battery | 7,250 mAh |
| Other Features | Quad-Channel Speakers Quad Microphone Array HUAWEI Histen 6.0 Sound Effect |
| Colors | Midnight Grey |
| Price | ₱16,999 |
I have mentioned earlier that I am not really a tablet user. But after using the device for quite some time now, I am finding myself using it more especially when watching videos. Its display and sound quality is just that good and immersive.
