This tablet 10 inches Android 7 does not offer the benefits of an iPad, it is true largely twice as expensive. But we appreciate its good value for money, embellished with a rather elegant design.
Known especially for its smartphones, the Chinese manufacturer Huawei launches a new 10-inch Android tablet, the MediaPad M3 Lite 10, which replaces the M2 model of last year. The good news is that the price has been revised downward: 299 euros for the Wi-Fi version and 349 euros for the Wi-Fi / 4G version, 50 euros less than the previous model. But it is a model "Lite", which means that the features are also revised downward including here a less powerful processor. Let's see if this tablet remains attractive.
We liked the design and design of the MediaPad M2, the M3 Lite has the same advantages as its metal back and soft lines. Under the screen, a sensitive button acts as a fingerprint reader, with an unlock (fast) possible, even when the tablet is idle. By going into the settings of the tablet, it is possible to configure it as a home button (long press). A short press returns to the previous screen while a swipe shows the application manager.
Another common point between the M2 and the M3 Lite, the four speakers (Harman-Kardon technology) deliver a sound of good quality, despite a slight lack of bass. We found that the rendering is better when the tablet is in portrait mode because the sound is sent to the left and right, instead of the top and bottom.
A Bright And Contrasted Screen
For the 10.1-inch 16: 9 screen, Huawei uses IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology that offers comfortable viewing angles. The definition of 1920 x 1200 pixels (Full HD) is not exceptional compared to high-end iPad type tablets but is sufficient. We appreciated the good results in brightness (430 cd / m² maximum) and in contrast (1132: 1), which allow using the device without much problem outdoors.
At the heart of the tablet, the processor octocoeur house Kirin 950 (2.3 GHz) M2 gives way to a Snapdragon 435, also octoceur but less powerful (limited to 1.4 GHz). However, the tablet still has 3 GB of RAM. Storage space is 32 GB of internal memory, of which about 24 GB is available to the user and expandable by adding a microSD card.
We did not notice a problem of fluidity in terms of navigation in applications, including 3D games such as Asphalt Xtreme.
Fluency is also needed to navigate the interface of Android 7.0, with the recent EMUI 5.1 overlay that does not weigh down the system. Endurance, the M3 Lite does not bring much compared to the M2, always delivering good results with about 11 hours of autonomy for our test of video playback, but also for the test of versatile use (web surfing, video playback, and photo display). The ideal not to fear the battery failure during a prolonged displacement.
Average in photo and video
The MediaPad M3 Lite features 8-megapixel photosensors on the back and front. The rear sensor delivers pictures of good quality, but they are noisy as soon as the sun disappears. We also noticed a lack of precision, especially visible when we look at the image in detail or zoom in. The videos are certainly in 1080p, but lack sharpness and, for lack of stabilization, suffer slight tremors. In short, we will not buy this model for his photography skills!