Huawei MediaPad M3 review – an excellent music tablet. Huawei MediaPad M3 - Technical specifications Huawei m3

As part of the completed 56th IFA consumer electronics exhibition, Huawei presented its new elegant tablet MediaPad M3. In addition to the 8-inch IPS display, the new product has 2 cameras of 8 megapixels, 4 gigabytes. random access memory, as well as 32 or 64 gigabytes of flash, not including support MicroSD cards. We will get acquainted with the features of the new product as we review.

Tablet review Huawei MediaPad M3

The tablet segment is still perceived as an intermediate link between a smartphone and a laptop/PC: a limited number of specialists can fully work on such a device, and this is due to the specifics of interaction. That is why in the solution from Huawei the emphasis is shifted towards multimedia and entertainment functions; Harman Kardon acoustics and AKG headphones are further confirmation of this. At the same time, the tablet should cope well and even perfectly with this usage scenario.

First, let's look at other players in this segment:


Huawei MedaiPad M3

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4

ASUS ZenPad S 8.0

operating system Android 6 + EMUI 4.1 Android 4.4 Android 5.0
Display

2560 x 1600 pixels

Super AMOLED Plus 8.4",

2560 x 1600 pixels

2048 x 1536 pixels,

CPU

HiSilicon Kirin 8 cores:

4 x A72, 2.3 GHz + 4 x A53, 1.8 GHz

Samsung Exynos 5420

8 cores 1.9 GHz

Intel® Atom™ Z3580

4 cores 1.8 GHz

RAM 4 GB 3 GB 2 GB
Flash

32/64 GB

MicroSD up to 128 GB

MicroSD up to 128 GB

MicroSD up to 128 GB

Camera

Rear: 8 MP, autofocus;

Front: 8 MP, constant focus

Rear: 8 MP, autofocus, flash;

Front: 2.1 MP

Front: 5 MP

Communications

GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz;

UMTS: 1/2/5/6/8/19;

LTE IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 Hz and 5 Hz),

IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac,

IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac,

Peculiarities

Fingerprint scanner,

acoustics Harman Kardon

Micro-SIM Stylus
Battery 5100 mAh 4900 mAh 4000 mAh
Dimensions

215.5 x 124.2 x 7.3 mm,

212.6 x 125.5 x 6.6 mm,

203.2 x 134.5 x 6.6 mm,

Price i 29,000/35,000 i 26,000 i 19,000

Source: ZOOM.CNews

The package included with the new tablet is impressive.

In addition to the device itself, in a presentable box you will find protective film and a cloth for smoothing it out (when gluing), a box with instructions and a paper clip for removing the SIM tray and memory card, a network charger and USB cable on micro-USB, as well as AKG H300 headphones with three pairs of ear pads.

Appearance

If I can say so about the appearance of the tablet, then the MediaPad M3 is extraordinary. Despite the fact that the body has a familiar structure, a metal body-forming bath with antenna veins and a glass front panel inscribed in it, the shape of the bath itself is very elegant. The upper and lower ends are slightly curved towards the edges, but the side edges are noticeably narrowed, which visually reduces the dimensions of the device.

The dimensions of the MediaPad M3 are actually moderate, the tablet is comfortable to hold in your hands and does not slip. The weight is small for an 8.4-inch gadget.

There are no complaints about the assembly of the new product, as well as about other representatives of the manufacturer’s product lines: all elements are tightly assembled, there are no backlashes or creaks recorded. Our editorial office has seen a model in gold color, and a silver variation will also be on sale.

The layout of the elements is as expected. In addition to the display, about which a little later, there are: front-camera and a work indicator on the top, as well as a function key with a fingerprint sensor on the bottom. The last element is not new and we have noticed and studied it on other products from the vendor, and its advantage over competitors is that it not only unlocks the device, but also allows you to control some functions.

If the left side of the tablet is devoid of elements, then the right side has two elongated keys: a combined volume rocker and a power/lock key with a small but smooth stroke.

At the top end there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, as well as perforation for one of the speakers. The bottom one is used for a microphone, a micro-USB connector, a second speaker perforation, and a SIM and memory card tray.

On back panel in addition to the manufacturer's logo and audio technology, a lens is placed rear camera, which is made almost identical to the surface of the case, plus is located on a corrugated insert whose purpose could not be determined - probably a design move.

Screen

The device has a high-quality IPS matrix, 8.4” diagonal with high resolution. The picture quality is as expected: it is sharp, rich, with good viewing angles and a good amount of brightness, and for fans fine tuning There is also a choice of color temperature.

The sensor is capacitive and supports up to 10 simultaneous touches. It copes well with entering commands and text; erroneous keystrokes are extremely rare.

Software and interface

The MediaPad M3 software is based on Android 6.0 and the proprietary EMUI 4.1 shell. The add-on involves abandoning the shortcut menu in favor of placing them on desktops, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The lock screen is very modest: in addition to the status bar and digital clock with date, event notifications appear here. Swiping up from the bottom will open a panel of shortcuts, including player control and launching several standard applications, such as a camera and a calculator, for example.

Desktops are selected and filled by the user at his discretion, with wallpaper, widgets, folders and shortcuts. Their settings are quite extensive: selecting a scale, disabling labels on icons, circular scrolling, and others. Wherein top line customizable, and the bottom one is the main functions dock, which can be customized down to placing folders there.

Double swipe from above. Light, as in iOS, will show recently used applications and the search bar, and wide will show notifications about incoming events and the second tab will show a matrix of module launcher icons.

The settings menu is unchanged: a long vertical sheet of options, lined and grouped according to the “colored icon + text” format type.

In addition to branded applications from Google, in the basic package of MediaPad M3 you will find: Opera browser, Yandex tools, mail and news from Mail.ru, Sberbank client, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Odnoklassniki, Shazam services, office suite WPS Office and Microsoft products, weather informer, backups, tablet manager, file manager and a tablet cleaning tool. For the first time, this is a very good set, which can always be expanded through Google Play.

Hardware and Performance

The heart of the tablet is a proprietary development, the HiSilicon Kirin processor with eight cores. In addition, there are 4 gigabytes of RAM on board and a choice of 32 or 64 flash memory, not counting support for microSD up to 128 gigabytes.

It’s quite interesting and in practice this combination justifies itself: the device is fast and does not give up on complex tasks such as heavy video or games, not to mention standard applications and the interface.

Geekbench 3 (Single core/Multi core) 1712/5032
AnTuTu Benchmark v6.1.4 94622
3D Mark (Ice Strom Unlimited) 19928
Epic Citadel (Ultra High Quality) 34.3 FPS
Epic Citadel (High Quality) 57.6 FPS

Source: ZOOM.CNews

For those who doubt it, we have traditionally run the benchmarks and published them in the table.

Camera and sound

Let us remind you that the tablet has two 8 megapixel cameras: a front one with constant focus and a rear one with automatic focus.

The application in this case is standard, nothing extraordinary: the screen acts as a viewfinder on which control icons are located. Swiping left and right will open various settings: on the left - modes, on the right - personalization. It’s curious, but there are quite a few parameters that you can choose from, although the cameras do not have a flash.

At first glance, it may seem that this option on the tablet is of secondary importance, but test frames indicate the opposite: the pictures turn out to be very “tasty”. Despite the fact that a person taking pictures with a tablet is still perceived as strange, Huawei did not relegate this function to the background.




Clicking on a thumbnail will open a full-size image.

The pictures are sharp, the colors are natural, focusing is fast and error-free, and the geometry, if not perfect, is quite acceptable.

The Harman Kardon acoustics installed in the tablet cannot be ignored. Confirmation of the significant emphasis that Huawei places on this option is the headphone headset from AKG H300 with three pairs of ear pads for different ears. The sound quality of the new product is excellent both through external speakers and through headphones - supplied or third-party: listening to music is a pleasure.

Battery

The tablet has a non-removable lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 5100 mAh. This volume at fully charged enough for about two days of casual work, which include periodically checking social networks, email and surfing the Internet, reading news and literature, listening to music and occasionally taking photos/videos.

The self-discharge mode in inactivity, at night, is not high: in 6-7 hours, only a couple of percent.

Bottom line

Summarizing all of the above, we can say that Huawei has created a device that is pleasant in all respects and competitive. An elegant case made of modern materials is not only not a shame to show off, but on the contrary - it can become an indicator of status.

The set of functions is both entertaining and practical in nature: issues related to the network, online CRM, for example, or interaction by mail - will allow you to solve simple work problems, and there are even more entertainment functions, just like the music component from Harman Kardon.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find any obvious downsides to the new product, well, maybe the price, although given current exchange rates and the economic situation it’s a little strange to mention this.

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At the beginning of September, a tablet called Huawei MediaPad M3 was announced. This event took place as part of the IFA 2016 exhibition. The device belongs to the premium class, as is hinted at by literally all the parameters of the gadget.

Appearance and ergonomics

The metal body of the Huawei MediaPad M3 has a matte surface on the back. Back cover closer to the edges it begins to gradually narrow. At the same time, the milled chamfers shine effectively along the entire perimeter. The upper insert on the back is silver and made of plastic. The same applies to the lower insert. The front panel is decorated with glass. Particular attention should be paid to the side frames on both sides of the screen, which are reduced to 3 mm in size. Moreover, there are no more screen borders that annoyed many users. Everything is clear and beautiful. Below the display there is a fingerprint scanner built into an oblong key. The device looks really expensive, fully confirming its premium class. It's incredibly pleasant to hold it in your hands. The highest quality materials, as well as the convenient location of all buttons and elements, are evident. Dimensions of MediaPad M3: height - 215.5 mm, thickness - 7.3 mm, width - 124.2 mm, weight - 310 g. Body color - silver, gold.

Display

The 8.4-inch screen has an aspect ratio of 16 to 10. There is no air gap, so the picture is surprising in its naturalness. There is an increased resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels. This IPS matrix stands out for its wide viewing angles and excellent contrast. Incredible detail is complemented by a remarkable oleophobic coating. Color temperature can be configured independently factory setting no complaints. This is one of best displays installed in tablets.

Hardware and performance

The MediaPad M3 operates under Android control 6.0, and this operating system is decorated with the progressive shell EMUI 4.1. Almost the main advantage of the gadget is the eight-core Kirin 950 chip, capable of operating at a frequency of 2300 MHz. This processor is complemented by a Mali-T880 MP4 graphics accelerator, as well as 4 GB of RAM. The standard version received 32 GB of free storage, and the more advanced model - 64 GB. Even this substantial volume is expandable with microSDXC cards up to 128 GB.

Huawei Mediapad M3 shows excellent results in all tests. AnTuTu (version 6.0) reaches 94,000 points. There are also no problems observed in the actual operation of the device. Not the most pleasant impressions can occur only in demanding games where the graphics level is set to maximum. All because of the graphics accelerator, which does not always cope with effects and the highest resolution. And yet this Tablet PC is one of the three most powerful and fastest models.

Communication and sound

It is worth noting that the device can also perform a certain role as a smartphone, as it has a slot for two nano-SIM cards. But there are versions of the Wi-Fi tablet that do not have a speaker and the ability to mobile communications. The sound of two multimedia speakers in the Huawei MediaPad M3 can be called gorgeous. The power of each of them is 1 W, and they were tuned thanks to the efforts of the famous company Harman/Kardon. Therefore, you can count on very loud and spacious sound, and quite clear. Traditionally, things are even better with headphones, and it’s unlikely that you can find fault with anything in terms of sound. In the best modification, the set also includes high-quality AKG headphones.

Camera

The main 8-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture makes the MediaPad M3 tablet a solid mid-level smartphone or even an inexpensive digital camera. You can change focus, enable HDR mode, take panoramic shots, take night shots, use decorations, and much more. There is even a professional mode where the user can adjust all the most important parameters. During the day, the camera shoots extremely well, but at night you should experiment with modes to achieve an acceptable result. It's sad that the manufacturer didn't install a flash, which obviously wouldn't have been a problem. As for the 8-megapixel front camera, it is the best that the tablet market has to offer today.

conclusions

In absolutely all respects, the MediaPad M3 turned out to be a flagship tablet that costs about 30,000 rubles. The device allows you to use telephone functions, and also offers powerful hardware and an improved design. In the box with the device you can find network adapter, instructions, micro-USB cable and protective film (in the top version and headphones).

Pros:

  • Perfect screen.
  • High quality and beautiful case.
  • Amazing sound.
  • Wonderful cameras.
  • Excellent performance.

Minuses:

  • Not all games run at maximum settings.

Technical specifications of Huawei MediaPad M3

General characteristics
ModelHuawei MediaPad M3, BTV-DL09, BTV-W09
Date of announcement/start of salesSeptember 2016 / October 2016
Dimensions215.5 x 124.2 x 7.3 mm.
Weight310 g.
Case color rangeGrey, Gold
operating systemAndroid OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow) + EMUI 4.1
Connection
Number and type of SIM cardsNano-SIM
Communication standard in 2G networksGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Communication standard in 3G networksHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
Communication standard in 4G networksLTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 19(800), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 39(1900 ), 40(2300), 41(2500)
Display
Screen typeIPS LCD capacitive touch, 16 million colors
Screen size8.4 inches
Screen resolution1600 x 2560, 359 ppi
MultitouchThere is
Screen protectionProtective glass
Sound
3.5mm jackThere is
FM radioThere is
AdditionallyHarman Kardon
Data transfer
USBMicroUSB v2.0
Satellite navigationA-GPS, GLONASS/BDS
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, hotspot
Bluetoothv4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE
Internet connectionLTE Cat4, HSPA+, EDGE, GPRS
NFCNo
Hardware
CPUHisilicon Kirin 950
Octa-core (4×2.3 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex A53)
GPUMali-T880 MP4
RAM4GB RAM
Inner memory32 GB / 64 GB
Supported memory cardsMicroSD up to 256GB
Camera
Camera8 MP, autofocus
Camera functionsGeo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama, HDR
Video recording1080p@30fps
Front-camera8MP
Battery
Battery type and capacityLi-Po 5100 mAh
Additionally
SensorsLight, proximity, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, fingerprint scanner
BrowserHTML, HTML5, CSS 3
EmailIMAP, POP3, SMTP
Other-MP3/WAV/FLAC player
-MP4/H.264 player
-Organizer
-Document viewer
-Photo/video editor
Equipment
Standard equipmentMediaPad M3: 1
USB cable: 1
User manual: 1
Warranty card: 1
Charger 5V/2A: 1

Despite the decline in tablet sales and the departure of some manufacturers from this segment, Huawei is in no hurry to narrow its product line and is releasing a rather interesting mini-tablet. The model was called Mediapad M3, thereby continuing the series of the same name. The first thing you pay attention to when familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of the device is the powerful content of the tablet. A special feature of the device is also its attractive appearance. But the positive aspects of the model are not limited to these aspects. Let's take a closer look at what else it can boast of Huawei tablet Mediapad M3.

Ergonomics and design

Begin Huawei review The Mediapad M3 has the best tactile feel of the device. Taking the tablet in your hands, you immediately feel its solidity. The device is quite weighty (310 g), the case is thin (7.3 mm) and is mostly metal, with a polished end part - all this adds a certain charm to the design, despite the fact that both the front and back sides of the model are original they do not differ. The tablet is made in the same style of the Huawei brand. But at the same time, one cannot help but pay attention to the thin side frames of the front panel.

The back is made of aluminum with a pleasant rough surface. The upper part around the camera, where the radio unit is located, has a plastic insert.

On the front part, everything is minimal - the front camera is at the top and the fingerprint scanner is under the screen. Moreover, the scanner replaces three standard keys, quickly responding to various finger manipulations:

  1. A short press on the sensor allows you to go back.
  2. A longer press will take you to the home screen.
  3. Sliding your finger left/right allows you to select a recently used application.

At the ends – top and bottom – there are stereo speakers. At the top there is a standard headphone jack. In the lower part, in addition to the holes for the speaker, there are:

  • micro-USB port, to which you can connect a flash drive via an OTG adapter;
  • microphone for hands-free communication;
  • a slot for a Nano SIM card, which also has space for microSD.

On the right are the volume and power keys.

The main disadvantage of the device is the lack of a telephone speaker, so you can talk either through the speakerphone or using a headset.

Despite the fact that the device has an 8.4-inch screen, it can be held with one hand for a long time (for example, when reading books).

The build quality is not satisfactory.

There are only two color options for the model – “gold” and “silver”.

Screen

The screen, which has a resolution of 2560 by 1600 ppi, is another huge plus of the model, as it has excellent contrast and anti-glare properties (due to the fact that between protective glass and the matrix eliminates the airspace). The maximum contrast value, according to the manufacturer, is 1500:1, but tests show that the actual value is about 20% lower.

The display brightness is adjusted automatically by sensors - this mode cannot be turned off. But, I must say, there is no need for this, since the system responds adequately to changes in lighting.

The IPS screen of the model has good viewing angles. The color balance is generally uniform, but there is a slight shift towards bluish tints, which, in principle, can be easily eliminated - you just need to change the color option to “normal”. As a disadvantage, one can also note a change in the stable display of black color at a viewing angle other than perpendicular.

Multimedia

Sound is the main advantage of this device. Thanks to stereo speakers and professional setup from Harman/Kardon it is powerful and rich. When the device is positioned horizontally (landscape), both speakers (with a power of 1 W each) operate the same way - in stereo mode covering all frequencies. In portrait orientation, the top speaker focuses on high frequencies, and the bottom speaker, respectively, on low frequencies. The volume headroom is more than sufficient.

The system provides a surround sound mode – SWS, which stands for “super wide range of sound”. When enabled, the sound capabilities really expand when listening to music through a standard audio player, but in other offers they are noticeably reduced low frequencies and the maximum volume level is limited when the slider approaches the limit values.

The top-end package also includes headphones, the sound quality of which is also excellent - the depth of sound and power reserve will satisfy the needs of almost any music lover.

Filling

The hardware of the Mediapad M3 is an 8-core Kirin 950 processor with a frequency reaching 2.3 GHz. Before the release of Snapdragon 820, this chip was the most powerful in the smartphone and tablet segment. But even now its capabilities are more than enough for the most demanding applications. And the 4-core Mali-T880 video accelerator is still enough for stable operation (but, to be honest, just short of it - no reserve for the future). However, on this moment Among Android tablets, the Mediapad M3 has no equal in terms of power.

The amount of RAM also shows a good indicator - 4 GB. The built-in memory has two modifications - 32 GB and 64 GB (model Huawei Mediapad M3 8.4 64GB LTE). Data storage memory can be increased by installing microSD up to 128 GB.

An important fact is that with such filling the device practically does not heat up under load - in tests the maximum heating did not exceed 38 degrees.

Cameras

Both tablet cameras are 8-megapixel. Despite the fact that the front camera is not equipped with autofocus, it takes good pictures for the selfie level. The main camera, having autofocus, is deprived of a stabilization function and a flash, which also does not have the best effect on the quality of images. At the same time, the advanced settings inherited from the most advanced models do not even save Huawei smartphones– including the “Pro” mode, which allows you to manually configure the following parameters:

  • focus type;
  • photosensitivity;
  • exposure compensation;
  • shutter time;
  • white balance.

But if you don’t be too picky about the shooting quality of the rear camera (after all, this is not a smartphone) and compare the resulting images with pictures of other tablets, then everything turns out to be not so bad - the Mediapad M3 produces a satisfactory range of drawing photos and acceptable clarity of details in focus areas.

With video shooting at the stated maximum resolution The camera copes worse with 1920 at 1080 ppi and 30 frames per second - the detail is low, the picture turns out loose.

Autonomy

The 5100 mAh battery is not sufficient for a device with an 8.4-inch display. For such a screen and such a powerful filling you need at least 6-7 thousand mAh. In reading mode, the tablet works on average 12-14 hours, when watching videos - 11 hours, in games - no more than 6 hours. Compared to other tablets, the MediaPad M3 demonstrates average battery life.

Unfortunately, the phone does not support fast charging, so the standard time to fully charge the battery via an adapter is 3-4 hours.

Connection

In terms of communication capabilities, the tablet is not inferior to smartphones, supporting all frequency ranges LTE networks 4th generation. The call quality is very good even in areas with limited signal reception. There are no problems with Wi-Fi either - in addition to b/g/n standards, the device supports 802.11ac mode. And thanks Wi-Fi functions+ The tablet switches from mobile connection to Wi-Fi and back automatically.

The device also has a navigation module that allows you to work with GPS and Glonass. There were no problems with the operation of the navigation systems - the device connects to satellites within a few seconds and determines the location with virtually no error.

Software shell

The tablet goes on sale with a 64-bit Android versions 6.0. At the same time, the EMUI 4.1 system shell is no different from the interface of Huawei smartphones.

Conclusion

Concluding the description of the model, it is worth noting that, despite a few shortcomings, the manufacturer’s product turned out to be quite tempting. After all, the device has many more positive aspects.

To summarize the review of the Huawei Mediapad M3 tablet and see the overall picture, we will once again list all the pros and cons of the device.

pros

  • stylish aluminum body;
  • excellent display;
  • amazing stereo sound;
  • high-quality headphones;
  • high technical characteristics;
  • good camera for a tablet;
  • good autonomy;
  • support for all communication functions;
  • fast fingerprint scanner.

Minuses

  • lack of speaker;
  • no fast charging.

Video review of the tablet

  • Class: tablet
  • Case materials: plastic and metal
  • Operating system: Google Android 6.0 + EMUI 4.1
  • Processor: 8 cores, Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 950
  • RAM: 3/4 GB
  • Storage memory: 32/64 GB
  • Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.1, 3.5 mm headset jack, microUSB
  • Screen: capacitive, IPS-LCD 8.4" with a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels
  • Camera: 8 MP / 8 MP
  • Additionally: 3G/4G (CAT 4), microSD, accelerometer, light sensor, GPS/GLONASS
  • Battery: non-removable, lithium polymer (Li-Pol) with a capacity of 5100 mAh
  • Dimensions: 215.5 x 124.2 x 7.3 (mm)
  • Weight: 310 grams

Contents of delivery

  • Tablet
  • Headphones AKG H300
  • USB cable
  • Network adapter


Introduction

Not long ago we already got acquainted with the Huawei tablet – MediaPad M3. The test was so detailed that in this case it is worth making some adjustments and including experience of use. Let me remind you that the key features of this device are slim body 7.3 mm, light weight - 310 grams, metal body, high screen resolution and productive hardware. In addition, the M3 has a music processor and an amplifier to drive two stereo speakers.

The premium version of the device arrived for review. It differs from the regular version not only in its maximum parameters (4/64 GB), but also in the inclusion of AKG H300 headphones. “Ears” are created specifically for Huawei. Also included in the package you will find a 2 A network adapter ( fast charging not supported), SIM extractor, USB cable and “waste paper” in the form of various instructions.

Unfortunately, at the moment there is no information about the price and release date. I assume the end of October, the cost is around 30,000 - 35,000 rubles.

Design, dimensions, control elements

The device has a rectangular shape, slightly sloping corners, the back panel smoothly transitions to the sides. In general, the M3 resembles the company's smartphones. The frame of the device is made of metal and processed on a special five-axis machine (5-axis CNC Machine) with program controlled, ground chamfers. On the reverse side there is a plastic strip for antennas and a plastic insert on top for signal transmission. Dimensions – 215.5 x 124.2 x 7.3 mm, the tablet weighs only 310 grams. The total thickness of the gadget is 7.3 mm, and the minimum narrowing is about 5 mm. That is, in the hand it feels very thin.



The case is quite dirty, fingerprints remain, but the prints are erased quickly. The glass is slightly curved and creates a 2.5D effect. The oleophobic coating is of high quality, the finger glides easily. The tablet will be available in two colors: gold and silver. Both colors look good. Most of the front panel (about 82%) is occupied by the screen.



There is a fingerprint scanner on the front panel. He is also touch button“Back”/“Home” (long hold). At the top is the camera, next to it is an indicator of missed events.



At the bottom end there are: a speaker, micro-USB (strange that it is not Type-C, since all top Huawei models have this connector), a microphone and metal slides for installing two nano-SIM or nano-SIM+microSD. On the top there is 3.5 mm and another speaker.






On the right is the power button and volume rocker key.

On the back surface there is a camera lens peephole, the Huawei and Harman/Kardon inscription.




Display

This tablet uses a screen with a diagonal of 8.4 inches. The frames on top are 16 mm, on the bottom – 18 mm, on the right and left – 6 mm each. IPS matrix without an air gap, capacitive sensor supports up to 10 simultaneous touches. High resolution - 2560x1600 pixels, density - 359 PPI.

White brightness is 335 cd/m2, maximum black brightness is 0.36 cd/m2. Contrast – 930:1 (not 1500:1, as the manufacturer claims).






The screen is bright, colorful, somewhat reminiscent of AMOLED matrices. Viewing angles are maximum without purple and yellow tints.

The tablet has a ClariVu chip, which is responsible for image transmission. There is also “Eye care mode” technology, when the screen turns into warm colors to reduce eye strain.




Viewing Angles

Light exposure


Battery

The MediaPad M3 has a non-removable battery with a capacity of 5100 mAh. It seems to me that for an 8-inch diagonal the battery should be at least 7000 mAh. After all, the M3 has LTE, calls and SMS functions, so the gadget can be used as large smartphone. And for such purposes a larger battery is needed.

In my mode, the tablet worked for 9 – 12 hours. With a more intense load - about 7 hours, in tablet mode (networking via Wi-Fi, no conversations, practically no LTE) - 27 hours. Watching movies - up to 9 hours at medium brightness, toys - up to 5 hours.

The manufacturer promises the device will work for up to two days. And if you turn on " Smart Power Save”, then plus another 30% energy savings.

Communication capabilities

The device works in 2G/3G networks, as well as LTE. You can make calls using your tablet. To do this, there is the “Phone” application with the usual dialing.

  • GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
  • UMTS: Band1/2/5/6/8/19
  • TD-SCDMA: Band 34/39
  • LTE-TDD: Band 38/39/40/41(100 MHz)
  • LTE-FDD: Band 1/3/5/7/8/19/20/28
  • LTE frequencies FDD: Band 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28; TDD: Band 38, 40, 41

There are Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), Bluetooth version 4.1 with BLE, GPS (AGPS, GLONASS, BDS). The sensitivity is excellent, the speed of satellite detection even with a cold start is about 10-20 seconds.

Memory and memory card

This model has 4 GB of RAM. The internal memory is 64 GB (there is a 32 GB version), and about 54 GB is available. There is a slot for installing a card microSD memory, maximum volume – 128 GB.

Cameras

The main module is 8 MP with autofocus (aperture f=2.0), additional for selfies – 8 MP without autofocus (aperture f=2.0), no flash, one microphone.

The camera quality is a little worse than the camera quality more affordable tablet MediaPad T2 7 Pro. Mainly complaints about detail. There’s nothing special to comment on – he usually shoots. Although it’s strange, because the device is not cheap.

The video is mediocre (the front camera only writes HD). Huawei generally has problems with video, even on flagship devices like P9 or P9 Plus.

Sample photos

Performance

The Huawei MediaPad M3 tablet is equipped with a time-tested chipset of its own production – HiSilicon Kirin 950 (8 cores). It was introduced exactly a year ago. Not top-end performance, but for similar device there is enough speed. The graphics are handled by the Mali-T880 MP4.

In Antutu, the tablet scores almost 90,000 points. It is necessary to take into account that the screen resolution is 2560x1600 pixels; if it were FullHD, the device would score more than 120k. In any case, this result is enough for everything: working with applications, toys and video editing.

Screenshots from the game Implosion




The device runs Google Android OS version 6.0. Shell – EMUI 4.1.

Multimedia

When it comes to sound, the M3 uses two stereo speakers. Specialists from Harman/Kardon worked on the sound. In addition, there is an audio processor (manufactured by Asahi Kasei Microdevises, AK4396 chip): dynamic range is 125 dB, distortion is 106 dB.


There is a Smart Power Amplifier and SWS 2.0 surround sound function (best used without a headset).


In portrait orientation of the device, the bottom speaker acts as a subwoofer, and the top one serves to reproduce high frequencies. In landscape orientation, both speakers sound the same, but the stereo is more expanded.

The speakers in the M3 are really cool: at a distance of a meter from the tablet, you can clearly hear which side the sound is coming from. Great effect.

The AKG H300 headphones didn't make much of an impression, but they sound very good.

Conclusion

The Huawei MediaPad M3 tablet turned out to be interesting from all points of view. As they say, they pleased everyone: there is an excellent build, premium body materials, high screen resolution, a fingerprint scanner, high speed, a lot of memory, the coolest sound through the speakers, and so on. The cameras let us down a bit; they could have been of better quality.

There are practically no competitors with four gigabytes of RAM; I found only ASUS ZenPad 8.0 Z581KL, which, by the way, is also not on sale yet. With three “gigs” – Samsung and Sony. For example:

Review of the right tablet

09.01.2017

Basic Huawei specifications MediaPad M3

ScreenS-IPS, 8.4", 1600x2560, multi-touch 10 touches
Iron2.3 GHz, Hisilicon Kirin 950, 4 Cortex-A72 cores + 4 Cortex-A53 cores, Mali-T880MP4
MemoryRAM 4 GB, ROM 32/64 GB, Micro-SD up to 128 GB
Mobile InternetLTE
HSDPA, HSUPA, TD-SCDMA
EDGE
Mobile networksLTE Bands 1,3,5,7,8,19,20,28,38-41
UMTS 850, 900, 1900, 2100
GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900
TD-SCDMA
BatteryLi-Pol, 5100 mAh
Dimensions215.5 x 124.2 x 7.3 mm
Weight310 g
Camera8 MP, no flash, autofocus
front: 8 MP, screen flash
NavigationGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
OSAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow, Emotion UI 4.1
Price27,000 rub. - 32 GB
30,000 rub. - 64 GB
SIM1 x Nano-SIM

Huawei MediaPad M3 is a chic tablet with a screen diagonal of 8.4" and a body size similar to that of a budget seven-inch tablet. Powerful, with an excellent screen, a finger sensor, a good battery, and a good camera.

Did you like it? Oh yeah! Perhaps this is the first tablet that I got hooked on and actively used throughout testing. But talking about good things is boring. So let's start with, how shall I say, controversial issues. If suddenly I convince (convince) you to buy this beauty, then, of course, you need to know about them.

1. Not a bug, but a feature that I can easily forgive the tablet for. The harsh behavior of all Huawei devices in relation to programs and processes running somewhere in the background is widely known in narrow circles. A little more detail can be found in the section about software.

2. I didn’t understand the general enthusiasm for the musical qualities of external speakers. More details can be found in the corresponding section of the review.

3. The tablet is still quite slippery. Not so much that it's a problem when you're at home. But I rode on the subway a couple of times. And I felt uncomfortable. So for public transport I obviously need a case, but a grippier one.

4. At first, Asphalt 8 was seriously slowing down for me. Then the problem disappeared. Funny situation. More details, again, further in the text.

Grumbled? He grumbled. Now let's briefly talk about everything in order.

Price

The official price is 27 thousand for the version with 32 GB of memory and 30 thousand for 64 GB. But you can find it a little cheaper.

Equipment

Film on the screen. A paperclip for removing the card tray. Micro-USB cord. Charger. AKG H300 headphones (64 GB version only).

Appearance

Weight310 g
Size215.5 x 124.2 x 7.3 mm
ProtectionNo

The back and sides are metal (“aerospace aluminum”), golden or silver. The front is glossy glass without roundings or edges.

Thin bezels on the left and right of the screen. Not as thin as " frameless smartphones", but thin enough for me to comfortably hold the tablet with one hand.

Nice feature. If you don't make any special efforts, the tablet will always look fairly clean. Those. Neither the glass of the screen nor the metal of the back are in a hurry to become covered with greasy fingerprints.

There is an LED.

The body is not removable. Standard card tray (one Nano-SIM and one Micro-SD).

Magic button under the screen. Multifunctional, touch. Perhaps we should tell you more about her.

Firstly, a fingerprint sensor is built into the button. Good sensor, no problems with it. Drive your fingers in and use them to unlock your tablet for good measure. Everything is more convenient and faster than entering a PIN code.

Secondly, the magic button is all Android buttons combined. Long press - “Home”, short press - “Back”, swipe left and right - “Recent tasks”. Initially, the tablet also had on-screen buttons. But Huawei decided that such duplication was unnecessary and they were cut out during the last update.

Some boring details

Above the screen there is an LED and a front camera. On the left is the inscription Huawei. On the right is a disguised light sensor (it is not visible, but it is there, about eight millimeters from the right and from the top side).

There is a magic button under the screen.

Back view. The top strip is plastic. There are all sorts of antennas hiding there. Well, the camera without flash is there too.

Below are all sorts of letters, including the proud inscription harman/kardon (the company that helped “make the sound”).

The top edge is a 3.5 mm audio output and the first speaker.

The bottom edge is Micro-USB and a second speaker. There is also a microphone and a card tray.

On the right side there are buttons, a traditional power button and an equally traditional volume rocker.

There is nothing on the left side.

Internals (iron)

AnTuTu90158 (v6.2.7)
AnTuTu66422 (v5.7.1)
ChipsetHisilicon Kirin 950
Cores4 x Cortex-A72 2.3 GHz
4 x Cortex-A53 1.8 GHz
GPUMali-T880MP4
RAM4 GB
ROM32/64 GB
Micro-SDUp to 128 GB

Everything is magical. The processor is very powerful, there is a lot of memory, the memory is fast... That pleasant situation when you don’t have to think about the device’s performance at all, because it is more than sufficient.

There are many sensors. Illumination, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer. There is no proximity sensor.

Communication with the outside world

Everything is there, everything works. There's nothing to talk about.

Screen

Screen upper class. Super high resolution, excellent colors, oleophobic coating, high brightness, clear sensor.

Working with gloves was a bit tricky. It is there (turned on in “Settings” - “Management”). And it works like a charm. But the “magic button” under the screen does not respond to the gloves. As long as there were on-screen Android buttons, everything was fine. But in the latest update, as I already mentioned, they were cut out. So when you're wearing gloves, you're suddenly left without the ability to press Back or Home.

A fashionable feature is “eye protection” - the screen becomes slightly yellowish.

Operating system and other software

operating room Android system 6.0 Marshmallow in the 64-bit version with the proprietary Emotion UI 4.1 shell. There is no single list of applications, but there is some pre-installed foreign software...

What’s interesting is when it arrived Last update by air, there was the following line in the list of changes: “Applications have been removed Mail, News and Odnoklassniki." It’s no different that Huawei’s contract with Mail.ru has expired.

Well, everything is as always, everything is approximately the same as on Huawei smartphones.

Traditional grumbling. As is usually the case with Huawei, there are problems with notifications and, in general, with everything that tries to work “in the background.”

In particular, I was never able to get Telegram, VKontakte, etc. notifications to arrive normally. However, I am ready to forgive this behavior for the tablet. I will be sad on a smartphone without normal notifications. And the fact that the tablet doesn’t meow if you don’t pay attention to it for a long time is not a problem. That's why we have smartphones, let them meow.

From the same area - torrents die, etc. I was especially happy when I started conducting a battery test with music. A stupid simple test - I launched WinAmp, looped the music, and left the device to play quietly somewhere in a corner for a day. Yeah. An hour or two passes - smack, silence. What's the matter? WinAmp has been unloaded from memory.

Battery

Battery capacity - 5100 mAh. The battery test results are good, 134% of the standard.

When the screen resolution is reduced to FullHD, the operating time increases slightly, but not significantly. I checked it on Asphalt 8 and, by a strange coincidence, I received exactly 8% increase. When watching videos or playing light toys, the increase is even smaller.

Huawei MediaPad M3 as a phone

A tablet can be a phone. But there is no telephone speaker, so you won’t be able to show off with a bandura to your ear. If we talk, then either Speakerphone, or headphones.

Huawei MediaPad M3 as a photo and video camera

You haven't gone crazy yet and aren't going to use this tablet as a camera, right? Well, then everything is fine.

An honest camera with autofocus, but no flash, quite fast. It’s no match for the unknown cameras that people love to put in cheap tablets. And if there is an urgent need to photograph something, of course, you can. But even it is very far from normal smartphone cameras.

The front camera is of quite reasonable front quality. It is more than sufficient for transmitting a video image to your interlocutor. There is "emulation" of the flash by filling the screen with white. Laugh, laugh, but in order to illuminate your face, such a flash is more than enough.

Huawei MediaPad M3 as a GPS navigator

The tracks are not ideal, we have seen better ones. But within reason. The screen is bright, the battery is good. So the tablet can serve as a navigator. As a pedestrian navigator, it is a little big for my taste. Just like a car - that's it.

GLONASS is supported.

Huawei MediaPad M3 as a video player

Great screen. Powerful hardware that can play any video. Loud noise, allowing you to watch movies without headphones. Everything is fine.

Huawei MediaPad M3 as an audio player

Lots of big words. "SWS 3.0 technology provides high quality sound", "audio system developed jointly with Harman/Kardon", "AK4376 digital-to-analog converter from Asahi Kasei Microdevices", "incredible sound", "side-mounted stereo speakers that create the effect of being in a concert hall."