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Huawei MatePad SE 11 review - Pen support makes this tablet unique within its price class
Marcus Herbrich, 👁 Florian Schmitt (translated by Daisy Dickson) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
If you like to take notes on your tablet, then you'll usually have to reach for mid-range Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE or the Xiaomi Pad 6. Huawei's MatePad SE 11 offers an interesting entry-level alternative with its current price of around US$280. The new SE model is an 11-inch tablet with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels. It also advertises DC dimming and an eye-friendly display mode.
In Germany, where this test was carried out, the manufacturer's own Kirin 710A is installed, which is by no means a performance miracle—however, in combination with a 7,700 mAh battery, it should ensure decent runtimes. In other markets, the Huawei tablet comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685. In this review, we'll be taking a closer look at whether the MatePad SE 11 is the perfect tablet for school and college students thanks to its stylus support.
Possible competitors compared
Rating | Version | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76.2 % | v8 | 09 / 2024 | Huawei MatePad SE 11 Kirin 710A, Mali-G51 MP4 | 475 g | 6 mm | 11.00" | 1900x1200 | |
| 73.8 % | v8 | 06 / 2024 | Teclast P50 T606, Mali-G57 MP1 | 545 g | 8.6 mm | 10.95" | 1280x800 | |
| 84.2 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 02 / 2024 | Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 480 g | 6.9 mm | 11.00" | 1920x1200 | |
| 83.4 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 05 / 2024 | Lenovo Tab M11 Helio G88, Mali-G52 MP2 | 465 g | 7.2 mm | 11.00" | 1920x1200 | |
| 81.2 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 01 / 2023 | Huawei MatePad SE SD 680, Adreno 610 | 440 g | 7.9 mm | 10.40" | 2000x1200 |
Please note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here.
Case - The MatePad SE 11 is made from aluminum
For a tablet below US$300, the bezels surrounding the MatePad SE 11's display are super slim, giving the Huawei tablet a screen-to-body ratio of almost 85 per cent. This means the front of the device has been kept very efficient. To compare, a much more expensive Apple iPad 10 only manages 80.5 per cent in this aspect.
At 475 grams and 11 inches in size, the MatePad SE 11 has gotten a little larger and heavier compared to its predecessor. However, the metal unibody design of this aluminum case is impressive with a thickness of less than 7 millimeters, and it feels relatively high-quality. The matte finish on the back conceals grease marks well.
The tablet is missing an IP certification to protect it against dust and water, but you can live with this considering its price. The entry-level tablet boasts great stability: Even when applying lots of pressure, the case can barely be twisted.
Connectivity - The Huawei tablet only has USB 2.0
The amount of RAM is dependent on which model you go for, and in Germany (where this test was carried out), you can choose between 4 and 6 GB. Its internal UFS storage consisting of either 64 or 128 GB is a little on the low side seeing as how you can't expand the tablet's storage through an SD card.
With the operating system deducted, our test device only has around 106 GB free to use. If you occasionally need more space for videos or photos, you can use external peripherals such as a USB stick via USB OTG. However, transferring data to storage media is very slow according to the USB 2.0 standard. Wired image output is also not possible.
Apart from this, the MatePad SE 11's features include four speakers and Bluetooth 5.1. It additionally has a DRM certification, meaning you can watch videos from streaming platforms in HD.
Huawei also offers a dedicated space for children via its KidsSpace application, which parents can configure extensively to protect their kids from harmful content. If you own a smartphone or PC from the manufacturer, you can also use the MadPad SE 11 as a second screen using the multi-screen collaboration function.
Software - The MatePad SE 11 has to make do without Google
The entry-level tablet from Huawei comes with HarmonyOS version 2.0, which is based on the outdated Android 10. However, only the open source part of the operating system is used, which means that most Android apps can be installed on the MatePad SE 11—but no Google Mobile Services (GMS) are available due to commercial restrictions. This also implies access to the PlayStore; installing it is not possible without further ado.
With the App Gallery and the cross-system search "Petal Search", which uses applications from third-party sources such as apkpure or aurora store, users can still enjoy a variety of apps on the entry-level tablet. Still, applications from alternative stores do not always have to contain the latest version and security concerns (malware) are also an issue that needs to be considered.
Sustainability
Huawei hasn't officially communicated how long it intends to provide its inexpensive tablet with software updates. At the time of testing, the MatePad SE 11's latest security patches were from July 2024 despite it running Android 10.
Sustainability is not the focus of the MatePad SE 11. The manufacturer hasn't provided any information on material extraction or recyclability. However, the tablet's packaging appears to be plastic-free. The device itself is wrapped in a film, while the rest of the packaging is made of cardboard.
Communication and GNSS - The MatePad SE 11 comes without GPS
The MatePad SE 11's integrated Wi-Fi module supports the IEEE 802.11 standard according to a/b/g/n/ac and therefore only operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency range.
Within this price range, outdated WiFi 5 is still the standard, which guarantees slow transfer rates of around 300 MBit/s using a home network and with our reference router, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000. Its transfer speeds are anything but high, even for this price range. Its data rates in the receiving direction could also be more consistent.
The Huawei tablet lacks a cellular modem as well as a GNSS module. Our test sample is therefore unable to access the mobile internet and it is also not possible to locate the device when you are not connected to WLAN.
| Networking | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Teclast P50 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
Cameras - The Huawei tablet only features a single-cam
A low-resolution 5-MP lens with a fixed focus is installed into the front of the entry-level tablet. Aside from making video calls, you shouldn't set your expectations too high when it comes to the lens on the front. Selfies are softened quite a bit and the lighting doesn't work all too reliably either.
The 8-MP camera on the back gets to make use of an autofocus, which isn't always a given in this price range. However, it works super slowly. During everyday use, the camera's picture sharpness is only really good enough for photographing documents for later annotation—but nothing more. The photos lack a lot of dynamism and their sharpness level is very low.
Videos can be recorded using the rear lens of the MatePad SE 11 at a maximum of 1,080p and 30 fps. The selfie cam only supports an HD option.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain cameraLow light
We analyzed the 8-MPix main camera's color depiction under controlled lighting conditions. We used the actual reference colors for comparison. Apart from some visible brightening, the rear lens didn't reveal any serious deviations in the ColorChecker passport for an entry-level tablet. Nevertheless, the Huawei tablet had some outliers in color fidelity (>10).
Accessories and warranty - Only the manufacturer includes a stylus
The tablet's scope of delivery includes a USB cable (USB-A to USB-C), a short instruction manual and a modular 22.5-watt power supply.
If you purchase the 128-GB model directly from Huawei (which we also recommend because of the 6 GB RAM), then you'll get a silver M-Pen Lite for free. If you don't, the stylus retails for around US$30 separately.
In the United States, the Huawei tablet is covered by a standard 12-month warranty.
Input devices & operation - The afforsable tablet with pen support
The MatePad SE 11's stylus support is not a common feature in this price range. The M-Pen Lite allows users to make handwritten notes on the entry-level tablet.
Huawei specifies a pressure sensitivity of 4,096 levels and a low delay for its stylus. The exact latency is not known. Unfortunately, we couldn't test the stylus as it wasn't included with our test sample. The M-Pen Lite can be charged wirelessly via the magnetic holder on the tablet's case.
Finger inputs are implemented precisely on the 11-inch LCD panel. However, due to its low refresh rate of just 60 Hz, animations don't appear the smoothest. In addition, the Kirin SoC often seems overwhelmed by the installed panel's comparatively high 1,200p resolution, resulting in drops in performance and delays.
The MatePad SE 11 doesn't have a fingerprint scanner, which is an inconvenience. You can only unlock the tablet biometrically via 2D facial recognition which uses the front-facing camera.
Display - The MatePad SE 11 with an LCD
The screen has a size of 11 inches and a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, giving it a pixel density of around 200 PPI. This means that the IPS display doesn't display content terribly sharply and its brightness could also be better. Depending on the environment, the Huawei tablet can adjust its brightness to the ambient lighting conditions. According to the manufacturer, the panel is certified by TÜV Rheinland as low blue light and flicker-free.
In terms of brightness, the MatePad SE 11 cuts a good figure, even though our brightness measurement when depicting a fully white display only reached a maximum of 481 cd/m². Still, this is completely satisfactory for this price range. At 497 cd/m², the APL18 measurement (which is more representative during everyday use), didn't result in a significant increase in brightness, which is normal for a tablet using LCD technology.
We didn't measure any screen flickering (PWM) using an oscilloscope, but the typical LCD weaknesses (shadows, uneven lighting at the edges) were present—albeit at a low level.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 461 cd/m²
Contrast: 1537:1 (Black: 0.3 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.48 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.93
ΔE Greyscale 3.5 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
98% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.183
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 LCD, 1900x1200, 11" | Teclast P50 IPS, 1280x800, 11" | Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ TFT-LCD, 1920x1200, 11" | Lenovo Tab M11 IPS, 1920x1200, 11" | Huawei MatePad SE IPS, 2000x1200, 10.4" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -39% | -54% | -64% | -12% | |
| Brightness middle | 461 | 441 -4% | 493 7% | 431 -7% | 398 -14% |
| Brightness | 451 | 416 -8% | 460 2% | 405 -10% | 368 -18% |
| Brightness Distribution | 87 | 90 3% | 90 3% | 88 1% | 87 0% |
| Black Level * | 0.3 | 0.4 -33% | 0.35 -17% | 0.4 -33% | 0.46 -53% |
| Contrast | 1537 | 1103 -28% | 1409 -8% | 1078 -30% | 865 -44% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.48 | 5.01 -102% | 6 -142% | 9.72 -292% | 2.17 12% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4.9 | 8.57 -75% | 11.7 -139% | 11.59 -137% | 4.32 12% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3.5 | 5.8 -66% | 8.2 -134% | 3.6 -3% | 3.1 11% |
| Gamma | 2.183 101% | 2.3 96% | 2.21 100% | 2.194 100% | 2.214 99% |
| CCT | 7471 87% | 8477 77% | 9131 71% | 7348 88% | 7245 90% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8799 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings
The IPS display's contrast is very good at over 1:1,500 thanks to its low black value of 0.3 cd/m².
We analyzed the panel in detail using a spectrophotometer and the CalMAN software. The DeltaE deviations we measured were close to the target range (<3) for both colors and grayscale. We managed to achieve the best color accuracy using the "warm" white balance.
Unfortunately, HarmonyOS doesn't offer any different color profiles on the MatePad SE 11.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 21.1 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 10.5 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 10.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 43 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 31.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 16.9 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 14.7 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 38 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33 ms). | ||
The MatePad SE 11 didn't leave a great impression outdoors, as reflections on the glass surface already led to a visible reduction in readability on an overcast day, but the Huawei tablet without an LTE module is intended for indoor use anyway. Then, there are no problems with its display brightness—even in the summer.
The IPS panel's viewing angles are impressive and the typical drop in brightness when viewed flat is only moderate.
Performance - The MatePad SE 11 with a Kirin SoC
The HiSilicon Kirin 710A, which the MatePad SE 11 is equipped with, is a chipset manufactured using the 14nm FinFET process. We previously already encountered it during our review of the MatePad T10s. It is hardly surprising that this model's system performance is also at a manageable level due to the SoC's low performance.
During the CPU benchmarks, the Kirin SoC ranked at the bottom of our comparison test. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 in the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ performed significantly better than the Huawei tablet. Even the Snapdragon 680 in its predecessor delivered better CPU performance during the Geekbench benchmark.
| Antutu v10 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (164396 - 2716980, n=33, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A () | |
| CrossMark - Overall | |
| Average of class Tablet (172 - 1944, n=63, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A () | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| AImark - Score v3.x | |
| Average of class Tablet (84 - 156427, n=48, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A () | |
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Average of class Tablet (1662 - 44323, n=54, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A () | |
| Teclast P50 | |
The MatePad SE 11's integrated graphics card is a low-performance Mali-G51 MP4. During the GFXBench graphics tests, the performance differences between the Adreno 619 inside the Galaxy Tab and the Huawei tablet were again significant. However, the GPU unit performed slightly better here than the Adreno 610 in the 2022 model.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
In the browser benchmarks, the Huawei tablet again came in at the bottom of the comparison field. Its surfing speed is solid, but some system lags creep in again and again during everyday use. Furthermore, it sometimes takes quite a while for complex page content to be loaded.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (19.9 - 334, n=69, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (Chrome 121.0.6167.143) | |
| Teclast P50 (Chrome 125.0.6422.113) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A (30.1 - 35.8, n=3) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (Chrome 121.0.6167.143) | |
| Average of class Tablet (21 - 315, n=68, last 2 years) | |
| Teclast P50 (Chrome 125.0.6422.113) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 (Hauwei Browser V14) | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A () | |
| Speedometer 3.0 - Score | |
| Average of class Tablet (1.25 - 33.7, n=20, last 2 years) | |
| Teclast P50 (Chrome 125.0.6422.113) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 (Hauwei Browser V14) | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A () | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (Chrome 121.0.6167.143) | |
| Average of class Tablet (763 - 105178, n=86, last 2 years) | |
| Teclast P50 (Chrome 125.0.6422.113) | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 (Chrome 124) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 (Hauwei Browser V14) | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A (8911 - 10018, n=3) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 710A (3675 - 4411, n=3) | |
| Average of class Tablet (319 - 34733, n=74, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 (Hauwei Browser V14) | |
| Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
| Teclast P50 (Chrome 125.0.6422.113) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (Chrome 121.0.6167.143) | |
* ... smaller is better
For the price range in which the MatePad SE 11 operates, its internal storage with its read rates of over 500 MBit/s can almost be described as fast. Huawei hasn't provided the exact specification, but based on the values in the AndroBench benchmark, it is likely to be the UFS 2.0 standard.
On the other hand, its data throughput when writing is very slow for UFS storage and is more on par with tablets such as the Lenovo Tab M11 with eMMC flash.
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | Teclast P50 | Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | Lenovo Tab M11 | Huawei MatePad SE | Average 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | Average of class Tablet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 39% | 92% | 12% | -42% | 17% | 162% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 528.79 | 879.52 66% | 485.96 -8% | 294.5 -44% | 293.6 -44% | 530 ? 0% | 943 ? 78% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 103.41 | 191.5 85% | 476.37 361% | 256.9 148% | 99.5 -4% | 212 ? 105% | 632 ? 511% |
| Random Read 4KB | 166.24 | 122.95 -26% | 130.67 -21% | 95.6 -42% | 61.8 -63% | 130.6 ? -21% | 183.2 ? 10% |
| Random Write 4KB | 119.02 | 153.65 29% | 162.9 37% | 101.2 -15% | 54 -55% | 101.2 ? -15% | 176.2 ? 48% |
Games - The Huawei tablet can't manage 60 fps
Before buying the MatePad SE 11, gaming enthusiasts should bear in mind that its lack of Google mobile services means that games may not run on the Huawei tablet—Dead Trigger 2 or Asphalt 8, among others, didn't work during our test. Nevertheless, we took a closer look at two Android games using the GameBench app.
When running the graphically demanding open-world game Genshin Impact, the Mali-G51 MP4 didn't manage smooth playback with the high detail level selected. But even using the minimum graphics settings, the Matepad SE 11 was far from achieving the 60-Hz panel's native refresh rate on average.
The Kirin 710A doesn't make gaming a fun experience. Less demanding games, such as PUBG Mobile, can only be played at around 30 fps (HD setting), albeit constantly. We didn't manage to use the current best display quality of the shooter (UltraHD).
Emissions - The MatePad SE 11 stays cool
Temperature
The MatePad SE 11's case hardly heats up during everyday use and even in our load scenario, the temperature increase wasn't that large. We used the 3DMark benchmark to check the internal heat dissipation behavior for possible throttling.
The Wild Life stress tests completed their work on the Huawei tablet with a high consistency of over 98 %. A reduction in performance is therefore pretty unlikely during everyday use.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.6 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.7 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 37.2 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 33.2 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.1 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Huawei MatePad SE | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 | |
| Lenovo Tab M11 | |
| Teclast P50 | |
Speakers
The MatePad SE 11 comes with a quad speaker system that has been optimized with Histen 9.0 technology. However, this audio system is not a highlight, as the sound is rather weak for a tablet, especially when it comes to low frequencies. Even so, our measurement showed a fairly linear frequency curve for the mids and highs, with super tweeters suffering a slight dip.
You can connect wired headphones via the USB-C port, while only Bluetooth version 5.1 is supported wirelessly. The MatePad SE 11 is also very limited when it comes to its selection of codecs. In addition to the obligatory SBC and AAC, not even HWA—a high-resolution Huawei audio codec with low latency—is on board.
Huawei MatePad SE 11 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.2% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 48% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 44% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 44% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 48% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.7% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 29% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 69% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 20% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Power management - The Huawei tablet charges slowly
Power consumption
The 11-inch tablet's power consumption is inconspicuously good both when idle and under load. However, with a maximum of 22.5 watts, the 7,700 mAh battery cannot be charged very quickly. In our test, it took just under 2 hours for the battery to recharge after a full discharge.
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  1.7 / 1.9 / 2.2 Watt |
| Load |
5.9 / 9.7 Watt |
    
| |
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 7700 mAh | Teclast P50 8000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 7040 mAh | Huawei MatePad SE 5100 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 5% | -58% | -11% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1.7 | 1.5 12% | 1 41% | 1.5 12% |
| Idle Average * | 1.9 | 1.8 5% | 4.76 -151% | 2.3 -21% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.2 | 2.8 -27% | 4.79 -118% | 2.8 -27% |
| Load Average * | 5.9 | 4.3 27% | 9.52 -61% | 6.5 -10% |
| Load Maximum * | 9.7 | 9 7% | 9.92 -2% | 10.7 -10% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Runtimes
In our realistic battery tests, which offer very good comparability due to the standardized display brightness of 150 cd/m², the Huawei tablet showed good endurance.
During the WiFi web surfing test, the MatePad SE 11 only quit after 15.5 hours of continuous use. When playing videos in a continuous loop without Wi-Fi, only an additional half-hour was possible, which speaks for an efficiently working Wi-Fi module.
| Huawei MatePad SE 11 7700 mAh | Teclast P50 8000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 7040 mAh | Lenovo Tab M11 7040 mAh | Huawei MatePad SE 5100 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 6% | -2% | -4% | -8% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1992 | 2745 38% | 2275 14% | 2009 1% | |
| H.264 | 953 | 810 -15% | 800 -16% | 958 1% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 931 | 728 -22% | 920 -1% | 896 -4% | 638 -31% |
| Load | 254 | 310 22% | 243 -4% | 249 -2% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict on the Huawei MatePad SE 11
The MatePad SE 11 delivers a successful mix of a modern-looking design without wide bezels and a nice feel, good runtimes, and a PWM-free display.
Its digitizer in particular, which supports an active stylus, is a rarity for a tablet under US$300. However, if you consider the MatePad SE 11's 60-Hz refresh rate to be a dealbreaker and don't want to do without a stylus, the Lenovo Tab M11 is also a suitable 90-Hz alternative.
For this price class, slow SoCs are still the standard when it comes to tablets. The Huawei tablet we tested unfortunately wasn't an exception to this with its Kirin 710A. This makes itself known during everyday use in the shape of frequent lags. In addition, its lack of a fingerprint sensor makes the MatePad SE 11 less convenient during everyday use, too.
Thanks to its M-Pen Lite, the MatePad SE 11 is an interesting tablet for students without high expectations, costing under US$300.
As a result of it using HarmonyOS, the MatePad SE 11 can't access Google services or the number of apps that are usually available via the PlayStore. However, this is less of an issue for a tablet than for a smartphone—unless Android games or security concerns with app sideloads are the user's focus.
Unfortunately, the manufacturer has not made any statements about how long it intends to provide the entry-level tablet with updates when it comes to the SE model. Samsung's Galaxy Tab A9+ shows that its update policy is more transparent and, at four years, also more sustainable—even in this price range.
Price and availability
At the time of writing, the Huawei MatePad SE 11 can be purchased via online retailers such as AliExpress, where it currently costs US$281.71.
Please note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here.
Huawei MatePad SE 11
-
09/07/2024 v8
Marcus Herbrich
Total Sustainability Score: Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
This is how Notebookcheck is testing
Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.
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