Huawei MatePad SE tablet review - Small price, small battery
Huawei still does not have an easy time in Europe, because the lack of Google services means that you have to be creative if you really want to get all the important apps to work, and sometimes it does not work at all. Nevertheless, the devices remain popular because they often offer a lot for their price.
The MatePad SE is a 10.4-inch tablet that is available for just under 200 Euros. The tablet resembles the MatePad T10S but comes with a Qualcomm processor. Let's see how the MatePad SE performs in our tests.
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Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
81.2 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2023 | Huawei MatePad SE SD 680, Adreno 610 | 440 g | 7.9 mm | 10.40" | 2000x1200 | |
82.5 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2022 | Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2 | 465 g | 7.45 mm | 10.61" | 2000x1200 | |
80.9 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2022 | Huawei MatePad T10S Kirin 710A, Mali-G51 MP4 | 450 g | 7.85 mm | 10.10" | 1920x1200 | |
82.9 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2021 | Realme Pad Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2 | 440 g | 6.9 mm | 10.40" | 2000x1200 | |
81 % v7 (old) | 02 / 2022 | Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 T618, Mali-G52 MP2 | 508 g | 6.9 mm | 10.50" | 1920x1200 |
Case - Lightweight metal chassis on the MatePad
For its size, the MatePad SE is a relatively light tablet at 440 grams. The design is similar to the MatePad T10S but the distribution of the ports is different and the color is only dark gray. In addition, the tablet is a bit shorter but wider. The edges around the screen are well-sized so that you can hold the tablet in your hand without unintentionally triggering touchscreen commands and the appearance looks modern at the same time.
In terms of stability, the MatePad SE is on a medium level: the back and screen can be pressed in relatively easily, which is also partly visible in the screen's liquid crystals. Basically, the tablet appears robust, though. The back and the edges are made of one piece of metal, and a plastic strip is inserted at the upper edge for better handling.
Features - Not a storage giant, but with microSD
With its 64 GB of mass storage and 4 GB of RAM, the Huawei tablet is equipped normally for the price range. A larger storage variant is currently not offered in Europe.
As is usually the case with large tablets, NFC is not available and the USB port is only connected internally according to the USB 2.0 standard, so data transfers take longer.
microSD card reader
The microSD reader works well with our reference card Angelbird V60 and offers solid write rates in the CPDT benchmark. However, the read rates are characterized by partly big drops. The device is on a class level in the copy test.
SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
Huawei MatePad SE (Angelbird V60) | |
Huawei MatePad T10S (Angelbird V60) | |
Realme Pad (Angelbird V60) | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 (Angelbird AV Pro V60) |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software - Significant limitations
The Huawei tablet comes with the in-house operating system HarmonyOS 3, which is based on the open-source part of Android and therefore also supports most Android apps, but it has to do without Google services due to trade restrictions. Thus, it is somewhat cumbersome and not entirely safe to get Google software to work due to third-party software.
Nevertheless, the manufacturer manages to use most apps on the tablet with the App Gallery and a comprehensive search. The assortment is good, but not perfect. For example, it is difficult to find an app that tracks routes and exports them as .gpx files. In addition, you have to use third-party providers like Apkpure for many apps, which on the one hand do not always contain the latest version of an app, and on the other hand also already been noticed containing malicious code.
DRM certification is available, so you can watch videos from the major streaming platforms in HD.
Huawei offers a dedicated environment for children with Kids Space, which parents can configure extensively to protect the offspring from harmful content.
The operating system's security patches are from December 2022 and are thus quite up-to-date at the time of testing.
Communication and GNSS - With a locating bug
Internationally, there is also a model with a cellular module. In Europe, only the AGS5-W09 variant is currently available, which only communicates via Wi-Fi. WiFi 5 is the fastest standard. In our test with the reference router Asus ROG Rapture AXE11000, the tablet shows typical speeds for the price range and very stable data rates.
The reception is good close to the router as well as at a distance of 10 meters and through 3 walls. The WLAN model does not have a positioning module, so it cannot be used for navigation. The positioning service, which would at least allow an approximate location via the Wi-Fi network, cannot be started on our device due to a strange bug.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Realme Pad | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Realme Pad | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
Cameras - Very simple sensors
As already with the MatePad T10S, the MatePad SE only has very basic camera equipment: a 5-megapixel lens on the back and a 2-megapixel selfie camera on the front.
The pictures of the main camera look quite blurry in parts even without magnification and do not show much detail. They could also be brightened better. The surrounding image also lacks dynamics and looks washed out. The small camera also struggles in low light and high contrasts: the light source is outshined and the picture looks grainy.
Videos can be recorded with a maximum of 1080p. The slow autofocus is noticed negatively here.
Selfies taken with the front-facing camera also look somewhat lacking in detail but can be used in good light and not too high magnification.
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 LightThe main camera also has to prove itself in the lab. Even in very good studio light, however, sharpness problems and too little contrast are evident. Hardly anything is recognizable in the pictures at 1 lux illuminance.
The MatePad SE is clearly not intended for taking pictures. The cameras are usable, but overall more of a stopgap.
Accessories and warranty - Charger included with the MatePad SE
Huawei ships a 10-watt charger, a USB cable, and a SIM tool with the tablet.
The manufacturer offers a matching folio cover for a fair 20 Euros on its website. Otherwise, the range of accessories looks rather meager.
The manufacturer offers a 24-month Warranty for its tablets.
Input devices & operation - No fingerprint sensor
As usual in this price range, the tablet only has a 60 Hz screen, so inputs feel a bit slower. However, the touchscreen proves to be precise and easy to use.
There is no fingerprint sensor, and the MatePad SE can only be secured biometrically via face recognition. The learning process is quick and the recognition is fast and reliable in good lighting conditions.
However, this method is not supported by additional hardware and is thus not quite as secure since it could be fooled by pictures, masks, or similar-looking people.
Display - True colors, but also low contrast
The IPS screen with a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels and a size of 10.4 inches offers enough space to run 2 apps side by side and also has a high enough resolution that individual pixels are hardly visible to the naked eye.
The screen brightness is sufficient with an average of 368 cd/m², but the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus, for example, offers much more here. The black value is on a medium level, and together with the likewise only average brightness, this results in a moderate contrast ratio, so colors look a bit pale on the IPS display.
|
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 398 cd/m²
Contrast: 865:1 (Black: 0.46 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.17 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 3.1 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
97.4% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.214
Huawei MatePad SE IPS, 2000x1200, 10.4" | Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 IPS LCD, 2000x1200, 10.6" | Huawei MatePad T10S LCD IPS, 1920x1200, 10.1" | Realme Pad IPS, 2000x1200, 10.4" | Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 TFT-LCD, 1920x1200, 10.5" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen | 16% | -25% | -60% | -75% | |
Brightness middle | 398 | 510 28% | 285 -28% | 426 7% | 368 -8% |
Brightness | 368 | 480 30% | 282 -23% | 429 17% | 346 -6% |
Brightness Distribution | 87 | 85 -2% | 91 5% | 93 7% | 91 5% |
Black Level * | 0.46 | 0.49 -7% | 0.3 35% | 0.47 -2% | 0.61 -33% |
Contrast | 865 | 1041 20% | 950 10% | 906 5% | 603 -30% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.17 | 1.8 17% | 3.53 -63% | 6.29 -190% | 6.9 -218% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4.32 | 3.7 14% | 5.84 -35% | 10.97 -154% | 11.4 -164% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3.1 | 2.2 29% | 6.2 -100% | 8.3 -168% | 7.7 -148% |
Gamma | 2.214 99% | 2.17 101% | 2.044 108% | 2.03 108% | 2.16 102% |
CCT | 7245 90% | 6907 94% | 8130 80% | 9057 72% | 8547 76% |
* ... 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 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
We measure the image representation in detail with the spectrophotometer and the CalMAN software. In fact, it proves to be relatively true to the original; a color cast is hardly visible to the naked eye. The sRGB color space coverage is also almost complete, so the tablet can display almost all color tones from this color space faithfully.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
28.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 14.4 ms rise | |
↘ 14.2 ms fall | ||
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 73 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
44.5 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 23.4 ms rise | |
↘ 21.1 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. » 74 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). |
Outdoors, the tablet shows strong reflections even on winter days, so it is better to retreat into the shade.
The viewing angles are good. There is a slight brightness drop on the sides, but the subject always remains recognizable.
Performance - Slow memory
With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 the Chinese manufacturer has chosen a suitable SoC for the price range. The processor is just under 2 years old and is manufactured in the 6 nm process.
With it, the MatePad SE can keep up well with other devices. The pure processor performance even surpasses that of other tablets in the price range. However, the slow memory slows down the MatePad when you look at the entire system.
You have to live with stutters from time to time in everyday use, and navigating the system is not always completely smooth.
CrossMark - Overall | |
Average of class Tablet (172 - 1944, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (325 - 413, n=8) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
AImark - Score v2.x | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (4320 - 4995, n=5) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
Average of class Tablet (1662 - 74821, n=57, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (4150 - 4853, n=6) | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
Also the Adreno 610 also provides suitable graphics power for the price range. However, it cannot quite keep up with the comparison devices, especially older benchmarks cause problems.
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
3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
Realme Pad | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Realme Pad | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
3DMark / Wild Life Score | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Graphics | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Physics | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Realme Pad | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Realme Pad | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 |
GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S | |
Huawei MatePad SE |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | |
Huawei MatePad SE | |
Realme Pad | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | |
Huawei MatePad T10S |
When browsing the web, you have to wait for images again and again, and it also takes time for large websites to load parts that you just scrolled to. You can use the MatePad SE for surfing without problems, but should not expect top speeds.
Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
Average of class Tablet (19.9 - 334, n=70, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (35.7 - 63.1, n=8) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 (Chrome 102) | |
Huawei MatePad T10S (Huawei V12) |
WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
Average of class Tablet (21 - 315, n=69, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (41 - 66, n=5) | |
Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) |
WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
Average of class Tablet (34 - 435, n=45, last 2 years) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (58 - 94, n=7) | |
Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
Huawei MatePad T10S (Huawei V12) | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 (Chrome 102) |
Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
Average of class Tablet (2.59 - 572, n=64, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (32.7 - 65.3, n=8) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
Huawei MatePad T10S (Huawei V12) | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 (Chrome 102) |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
Average of class Tablet (763 - 105178, n=87, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 (Chrome 102) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6358 - 15553, n=12) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
Huawei MatePad T10S (Huawei V12) |
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
Huawei MatePad T10S (Huawei V12) | |
Average of class Tablet (319 - 34733, n=75, last 2 years) | |
Huawei MatePad SE (Huawei Browser 12) | |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 (Chrome 102) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 (Chrome 94.0.4606.85) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (2461 - 3461, n=7) |
* ... smaller is better
Unfortunately, Huawei only uses very slow eMMC flash for mass storage. This is common in this price range, but it would have been a nice option to make the tablet faster during loading and data transfers with relatively little effort and thus also increase the perceived system speed. Unfortunately, you often have to wait quite a long time and the MatePad SE often feels a bit sluggish.
Huawei MatePad SE | Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 | Huawei MatePad T10S | Realme Pad | Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 | Average 64 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Tablet | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AndroBench 3-5 | 34% | -2% | 94% | 2% | 7% | 326% | |
Sequential Read 256KB | 293.6 | 393.23 34% | 302.9 3% | 309 5% | 255.1 -13% | 274 ? -7% | 1045 ? 256% |
Sequential Write 256KB | 99.5 | 234.88 136% | 99 -1% | 211.4 112% | 101.1 2% | 176.6 ? 77% | 686 ? 589% |
Random Read 4KB | 61.8 | 75.12 22% | 51.1 -17% | 111.6 81% | 68.3 11% | 59.4 ? -4% | 189.4 ? 206% |
Random Write 4KB | 54 | 23.97 -56% | 57.8 7% | 150.2 178% | 57.5 6% | 32.2 ? -40% | 189.9 ? 252% |
Games - Not the prime discipline
The MatePad SE is certainly not a classic gamer device, which is already indicated by the 60 Hz screen. It can at least be used in simpler action games like Armajet with an average of 58.3 fps.
In modern games, such as Diablo: Immortal, the restriction to 30 fps and the clear, recurring frame rate drops are more of a hindrance, at least in very high settings. We measure the fps with the software from GameBench.
The controls basically work well, the touchscreen and the position sensor respond fast enough.
Emissions - Hardly any heating, no throttling
Temperature
The maximum warming is hardly noticeable on the casing even after a long high load of the SoC: we measured 30.2 °C at maximum. At the same time, the tablet does not show any signs of performance drop after prolonged load in the 3DMark stress tests.
Thus, those looking for a tablet with stable performance and low temperatures will be well advised with the MatePad SE.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 29.5 °C / 85 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 30.2 °C / 86 F, compared to the average of 33.2 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 21.5 °C / 71 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.
Speaker
Although there are four speaker grilles on the MatePad SE's sides, only two of them actually have speakers underneath.
The stereo sound does not overdrive even at maximum volume, but it is not particularly full either. It is sufficient for the occasional pop song, but those who want higher sound quality will have to look elsewhere or connect external audio devices.
This works via a 3.5 mm jack or Bluetooth. Both work without problems, but you should not hope for too many Bluetooth codecs: there are no aptX and the selection is also rather limited.
Huawei MatePad SE audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.3% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 76% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 75% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 20% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 28.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 52% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 40% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 48% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 45% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Power management - Slow charging
Power consumption
Compared with other tablets in this price range, Huawei's MatePad SE is quite frugal in terms of energy consumption.
The tablet can be charged with a maximum of 10 watts, which means that it can take up to 3 hours until the battery is completely full again. Charging can take even longer when the device is used at the same time.
Off / Standby | 0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
Idle | 1.5 / 2.3 / 2.8 Watt |
Load |
6.5 / 10.7 Watt |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy |
Huawei MatePad SE 5100 mAh | Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 7500 mAh | Huawei MatePad T10S 5100 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 7040 mAh | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -16% | -17% | -29% | |
Idle Minimum * | 1.5 | 0.94 37% | 1.6 -7% | 1.19 21% |
Idle Average * | 2.3 | 4.22 -83% | 2.8 -22% | 4.63 -101% |
Idle Maximum * | 2.8 | 4.37 -56% | 3.5 -25% | 4.68 -67% |
Load Average * | 6.5 | 6.12 6% | 7.9 -22% | 7.27 -12% |
Load Maximum * | 10.7 | 9.14 15% | 11.5 -7% | 9.17 14% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
In terms of battery life, the 5,100 mAh battery, as already in the MatePad T10S, is too small. Most smartphones now offer similarly high-capacity batteries, so other tablets sometimes manage much longer runtimes.
In our Wi-Fi test, the tablet lasted just 10:38 hours, which is enough for a workday, but the reserves are tight afterward. Under load, on the other hand, the tablet runs for quite a long time over 4 hours.
Huawei MatePad SE 5100 mAh | Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Gen 3 7500 mAh | Huawei MatePad T10S 5100 mAh | Realme Pad 7100 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 2022 7040 mAh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | 19% | -28% | 33% | -5% | |
Reader / Idle | 2009 | 2373 18% | 1354 -33% | 1973 -2% | |
H.264 | 958 | 1151 20% | 625 -35% | 824 -14% | |
WiFi v1.3 | 638 | 909 42% | 557 -13% | 847 33% | 679 6% |
Load | 249 | 239 -4% | 175 -30% | 230 -8% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - More suitable for home use
If you are simply looking for a cheap tablet for home use, you cannot go wrong with the MatePad SE. However, you should not have too high expectations in terms of screen, performance, and especially camera. It is a pity that Huawei's innovative power is so severely curbed by the trade embargo because earlier models show that the Chinese always offered a good price-performance ratio. The MatePad SE on the other hand is rather inconspicuously on par with its rivals.
In addition, the somewhat small battery, which makes the tablet light, only allows relatively short runtimes. However, if you only want to use the tablet at home where there is always a power outlet nearby, this point should not be so crucial and the tablet lasts quite long under high load.
In terms of software, you have to make friends with Huawei's own ecosystem, which is closely related to Android but has some limitations. There were also some minor bugs during our test.
We liked the metal casing, the low temperature, the stable performance, and the good Wi-Fi speed.
If you are looking for a simple tablet for home with a pretty metal casing and are aware of the software peculiarities, you will get a 10.4-inch tablet that is suitable for everyday use with the MatePad SE.
The realme Pad also comes with a light metal case. A bit heavier is Samsung's Galaxy Tab A8 which can also support LTE if desired.
Price and availability
At the time of testing, the MatePad SE is available for just under 200 Euros directly from the manufacturer.
It is also available at this reduced price at our lender cyberport.de, and you pay a few Euros more each at notebooksbilliger.de and amazon.de.
Huawei MatePad SE
- 05/03/2023 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt