Huawei MediaPad M3 tested with Wolverine
1.1.2017
Translation: machine translated
The new Huawei MediaPad 3 is at the cutting edge of technology. We've put it to the test for you, and now we can tell you whether this tablet with real Harman/Kardon speakers is really worthy of replacing your old model.
The last wave of tablets to really impress us was some time ago. True, some good devices have been released in the meantime: they were chic, they worked well, but there was nothing exceptional about them. Chinese manufacturer Huawei is now launching the MediaPad M3 on the market. Apparently, it has a lot to offer. A high pixel density and a Harman/Kardon audio system. Is this the tablet we've been waiting for?
Our customers agree: this tablet is the bomb. The first delivery we received didn't stay in our warehouse for very long. And more are already on the way.
It all sounds very promising, and we haven't even started testing yet.
An ultranet screen with EMUI
Before the MediaPad M3 has had time to make a single sound, we're captivated by its screen. It's beautiful. Very beautiful, in fact. On the locked screen, photos published on the Internet by Huawei scroll by - they serve to show the screen in its best light. And it works.
My test always starts by reading a comic strip. As a die-hard fan, there's no way I'm waiting six weeks - the time it takes to import comics from the States - to read new issues, I read their digital versions. A tablet seems perfect for that, doesn't it? So far I've been reading my comics on my super old 10-inch Nexus 10 (a 10-inch tablet is about the same size as an American comic). Also: where are the colours more intense and varied than in a comic book, whether on paper or on the tablet screen?
As the MediaPad M3 is a little smaller, I was a little worried. Will I be able to read my heroes' dialogue properly? Or will they be too small? The test brought its share of answers.
No worries. On the contrary. Old Man Logan - the X-Men story with Wolverine, who returns from the future as an old man - looks even sharper on the MediaPad and the writing is very easy to read - without having to zoom in. We had the same experience with many of the M3's applications. No matter what is displayed on the screen, from HD YouTube videos to the normal EMUI user interface, the image quality is perfect.
When you look at the device, you notice something: Huawei stays true to itself and doesn't try to be Apple. Both the design of the MediaPad M3 and the manufacturer's EMUI user interface are strongly reminiscent of the Cupertino-based company's design. That can't be to everyone's liking and, at worst, it can be remedied on the software side.
Although the MediaPad M3 is a little smaller, Wolverine is still very sharp and sinks his claws into intense colours and clear lines. Test passed.
Harman/Kardon for powerful sound
One of Huawei's selling points is the speakers. They are signed Harman/Kardon. The company founded in 1953, which has made a global name for itself as a manufacturer of high-end audio systems for flats and cars over the past few decades, has raised some expectations. Tablets are often used as streaming devices, as the internal memory capacity is not very large and data transfer is not always straightforward: you'd have to connect the tablet by cable to the PC or laptop, and that's rather annoying when you're comfortably ensconced on the sofa. So: long live YouTube!
The test video is the trailer for the new Wolverine film with the title Logan. [[video:39124]]
Johnny Cash - the trailer's background music - has never sounded better than on this tablet. Unique Selling Point? Clearly. If Harman/Kardon can establish itself as number 1 for tablet and mobile phone audio systems, then hanging out on the sofa with Youtube and better sound is only going to get more enjoyable. Because, even though the sound level on my Nexus 10 is higher, the sound is clearly of lower quality.
On the MediaPad M3, the sound is warm, intense and the bass is not just a rumble, but a clear, deep sound. It's a shame that the stereo speakers on the left and right of the tablet are so quickly covered by our fingers. But thankfully, the tablet is light enough to be held in other ways.
Battery savings
On the other hand, the Huawei MediaPad M3 is not energy efficient. If you use the tablet a lot, the battery drains in just a few hours. On the other hand, I'm used to the Nexus 10's 9000mAh battery, which lasts up to 500 hours on standby and around ½ day when used non-stop. The Huawei tablet doesn't really play in the same league.
This problem can be solved very easily. If you're staying on the sofa with the tablet, there are other solutions. Thanks to the AC adapter included in the delivery, you can recharge the tablet very quickly. The included cable is a little short, and has only been designed to charge the tablet. But if you want to spend hours on your tablet, say on a Sunday when it's raining outside, these accessories should be able to help.
For those who found this too long
The Huawei MediaPad M3 is a very good tablet. Its benefits are easy to define, as colours shine and the pixel density of 359dpi ensures razor-sharp images. The sound from Harman/Kardon is remarkable. On such compact dimensions, Huawei and the American firm have managed to create a minor miracle.
The only downside to this 340-gram tablet is its battery, which doesn't last very long. But with a little extra investment, the Huawei MediaPad M3 offers great performance at a good price. The perfect Christmas gift.
Header image: The Huawei MediaPad M3 is small, light, beautiful and convincing
Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.
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