As today’s smartphones are getting bigger and notebooks are increasingly slimmer and lighter, tablets are perhaps not as high on the to-buy list as in the past. But it can still one-up its competitors thanks to tablets' advantages in portability and entertainment. Case in point, the latest from Huawei - its new budget friendly HUAWEI MatePad T 8. Coming in Deepsea Blue colour, it features a portable, compact design with high performance packed inside.

Octa-core processor delivering high performance

The HUAWEI MatePad T 8 might be less premium than its big brother, the MatePad Pro, but it still offers admirable performance. For one, it offers an octa-core processor, which works well whether you are using it for learning, reading or watching movies. Composed of four high performance cores running at 2.0 GHz and four efficiency cores at 1.5 GHz, the MatePad T’s configuration translates to a good balance of performance and power efficiency.

Users do not need to stress about usage – whether it’s reading an e-book, catching up with your favourite TV shows or even multitasking with a few apps – the HUAWEI MatePad T 8 stays smooth and fast.

Long battery, storage and connectivity

While performance matters, it does not mean anything if your battery life isn’t up to par. In the HUAWEI MatePad T 8’s case, it is powered by a large 5100 mAh (typical value) battery that can browse webpage for up to 12 hours on a single charge.

Meanwhile, the unit is available in LTE and Wi-Fi variants – both feature standard connectivity configurations including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The device is also equipped with a 5 MP rear camera and a 2 MP front-facing camera for users to capture photos and have video calls.

As far as the display is concerned, the HUAWEI MatePad T 8’s 8” LCD screen offers a resolution of 1280 x 800, and an 80% screen-to-body ration. 

Intuitive experience by EMU10

The HUAWEI MatePad T runs on the latest version of EMUI - EMUI10, which brings with it some interesting features. First off, EMUI10 has a refreshing UI design that uses the Morandi colours and magazine-like layout for a better reading experience. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it features improved system response speeds so users can launch or switch apps smoothly and seamlessly.

The HUAWEI MatePad T 8 comes pre-installed with an AppGallery from where users can download a wide range of apps and Huawei’s self-developed apps such as HUAWEI Video to offer a rich content experience for everyone.

 Whether watching TV shows, listening to music while browsing news, or playing causal games, HUAWEI MatePad T 8 makes it a good companion at work and for play. It’s also worth mentioning that the tablet includes a Dark Mode which offers additional care for the users’ eyes during those late night browsing sessions.

Usually, only high-end tablets provide facial recognition for unlocking, so users will be thrilled to know that the HUAWEI MatePad T 8 supports Facial Unlock, with a recognition sensor embedded in the front camera. Every time the user holds the tablet to eye level, the sensor instantly reads the face and unlocks the system. This is especially handy when relaxing on a sofa with one hand holding a cup of coffee and the other holding the tablet. Face Unlock makes it possible to quickly access the system without having to type a password.

A safe and secure space for children

With many parents handing their device for their kids to use, the HUAWEI MatePad T 8 offers a dedicated area just for them  - the Kids Corner. Here parents can set a password for children to access educational content only. Plus, to help promote healthy device use, the Kids Corner includes four eye protection modes, including blue light filter, posture alerts, bumpy road alerts, and eBook mode to provide a more comfortable experience.

The one to get

Thanks to the octa-core processor, large battery capacity, EMUI10 and Huawei’s advanced technology, the HUAWEI MatePad T 8 offers higher performance not found in other tablets in the same price range. If you are looking for a solid Android tablet but budget is a concern, the HUAWEI MatePad T 8 is a great choice.

The HUAWEI MatePad T 8 is priced at R2 999 and is available on Huawei’s online commerce store at https://huaweistore.co.za/huawei-matepad-t8-wifi-blue.html. From 1 July it will be available at the following stores: Vodacom, MTN, Cellucity, Telkom, Incredible Connection, Makro and Game.