The Huawei MatePad SE is a budget-friendly tablet with a 10.1-inch display, Kirin 710A chipset, and 5100mAh battery. Read more in this detailed review.

Huawei MatePad SE Review: A Budget-Friendly Tablet for Everyday Use

The Huawei MatePad SE, released on May 10, 2022, is a budget-friendly tablet aimed at users who want a solid multimedia device without breaking the bank. Featuring a 10.1-inch IPS LCD display, Kirin 710A chipset, and a 5100mAh battery, the MatePad SE provides good performance for day-to-day tasks, such as browsing, streaming, and light gaming.

Running on HarmonyOS 2.0, this tablet offers a smooth user experience, and with support for microSDXC expansion, you can extend storage beyond the base 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB variants. Priced around 190 EUR, the MatePad SE is positioned as an affordable choice for students, families, and casual users looking for a reliable tablet.

With its sleek design, stereo speakers tuned by Harman Kardon, and Wi-Fi and LTE versions, the MatePad SE brings great value for its price.

Introduction

The Huawei MatePad SE is part of Huawei’s budget lineup but still offers features that make it a versatile device for entertainment, productivity, and education. The 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1200 x 1920 pixels offers clear and vibrant visuals, while the Kirin 710A processor provides enough power to handle everyday apps and tasks.

Whether you’re streaming movies, attending online classes, or working on light productivity tasks, the MatePad SE delivers a satisfactory performance at an affordable price point. Let’s explore the key features, design, and performance of the MatePad SE to help you decide if this tablet fits your needs.

Design & Build Quality: Lightweight and Durable

The Huawei MatePad SE has a clean, simple design with a plastic frame that makes it both lightweight and durable. Measuring 240.2 x 159 x 7.9 mm and weighing 450g, the tablet is easy to handle and comfortable to hold during extended use, whether you’re watching videos or reading.

The Dark Blue color option gives the device a sleek, modern look, and with its slim profile, the MatePad SE is easy to carry in a bag, making it a great option for students and professionals on the go.

The device also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a welcome feature for those who prefer wired audio connections.

Display: 10.1-inch IPS LCD for Multimedia

The 10.1-inch IPS LCD display on the Huawei MatePad SE is ideal for watching videos, browsing the web, or reading e-books. With a resolution of 1200 x 1920 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio, the screen offers clear visuals and a decent 224 ppi density, which is sufficient for most tasks. The color reproduction is accurate, and the display provides good viewing angles.

While the display is not as high-resolution as premium tablets, it’s more than enough for casual media consumption, making it a great choice for users who enjoy streaming content or browsing social media.

The stereo speakers tuned by Harman Kardon add to the multimedia experience, delivering clear and balanced sound, whether you’re watching movies or playing games.

Performance: Kirin 710A and HarmonyOS 2.0

At the core of the Huawei MatePad SE is the Kirin 710A chipset, a 14nm octa-core processor that balances power and efficiency. The CPU features four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7 GHz, making it suitable for handling basic apps, browsing, and light gaming.

The Mali-G51 MP4 GPU allows for some casual gaming, though it’s not built for heavy gaming or graphically intense tasks. The tablet is available in 3GB or 4GB RAM configurations, which provide smooth performance for multitasking, though users who frequently run many apps in the background may find the 4GB option more suitable.

Running on HarmonyOS 2.0, the tablet offers a user-friendly interface with Huawei’s AppGallery for app downloads. While it lacks Google Play Services, users can still access a wide range of apps through Huawei’s ecosystem and other third-party APKs.

Cameras: Basic but Functional

The Huawei MatePad SE comes with a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera, which are basic but functional for quick photos, video calls, and scanning documents. The 5MP rear camera supports HDR and can record 1080p video at 30fps, making it useful for casual photography or recording moments on the go.

The 2MP front camera handles video calls and selfies reasonably well, though its performance is limited in low-light conditions. Given that this is a budget tablet, the cameras are adequate for their purpose but won’t replace the capabilities of a dedicated smartphone or camera.

Battery Life: Long-Lasting 5100mAh Battery

The 5100mAh battery in the Huawei MatePad SE is one of its key strengths, offering up to 10 hours of mixed usage on a single charge. Whether you’re streaming video, attending online classes, or browsing the web, the MatePad SE can last through a full day of use without needing a recharge.

The tablet supports 10W wired charging, which is not the fastest, but considering the tablet’s price range, it provides decent charging times. Additionally, it supports 5W reverse wired charging, which can be handy for charging smaller devices like Bluetooth headphones or fitness trackers.

Connectivity & Additional Features

The Huawei MatePad SE comes with both Wi-Fi and LTE options, making it versatile for users who need internet access on the go. It supports dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, ensuring stable and fast connections for streaming and browsing.

Other connectivity features include Bluetooth 5.1, which allows for smooth connections to wireless devices like headphones and keyboards. The GPS ensures accurate location tracking, which is useful for navigation apps and location-based services.

The tablet has a microSDXC slot for storage expansion, which is essential for users who need more space beyond the internal storage options of 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB.

Conclusion: An Affordable and Capable Tablet

The Huawei MatePad SE offers great value for its price. With a 10.1-inch display, stereo speakers, and a reliable Kirin 710A chipset, it’s a solid choice for users who need a budget-friendly tablet for streaming, browsing, and light productivity tasks.

While the absence of Google Play Services might be a drawback for some users, Huawei’s HarmonyOS and AppGallery offer viable alternatives. The long-lasting 5100mAh battery and support for LTE make it a good companion for both home and travel use.

Overall, the MatePad SE is an excellent tablet for casual users, students, or families who need a reliable and affordable device.

Huawei MatePad SE Full Specifications

Feature	Specification
Launch Date	May 10, 2022
Dimensions	240.2 x 159 x 7.9 mm (9.46 x 6.26 x 0.31 in)
Weight	450g (0.99 lb)
Display	10.1 inches, IPS LCD, 1200 x 1920 pixels (~224 ppi density)
Operating System	HarmonyOS 2.0
Processor	Kirin 710A, Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
Storage Options	32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM
Camera (Rear)	5 MP, HDR, 1080p@30fps
Camera (Front)	2 MP, 720p@30fps
Battery	Li-Po 5100 mAh, 10W wired charging, 5W reverse charging
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, USB Type-C, microSDXC slot
Water Resistance	None
Price	About 190 EUR