A few days back, the country's top mobile player realme revealed that the Pad Mini will debut in the Philippines first before the rest of the world soon.
|
Meet realme Pad Mini |
As the name suggests, this device is the "mini" version of the realme Pad announced late last year.
realme is claiming that despite its "mini" moniker, the device will come with good things even in its small package.
This is the tablet that realme designed for those who are looking handier tablet yet with bigger screens than smartphones for entertainment, gaming, and school or work.
In particular, it uses a metal-clad body, 8.7-inch LCD screen with WXGA+ resolution, a new 12nm 2.0GHz UNISOC T616 octa-core processor with Mali-G57 GPU, up to 4GB RAM, up to 64GB expandable storage, and a 6,400mAh battery capacity with USB-C 18W fast charging and reverse charging support.
The device also features an 8MP AI main camera and 5MP selfie shooter, stereo speakers, and the optimized version of realme UI for tablets.
By the way, PH models of the realme Pad Mini are also 4G LTE capable.
We have the device right now and here's what we initially think about it.
Unboxing/Accessories
|
Everything in the box |
The device arrived in a white realme box showing the rendered image of the tablet in front and other key details a the back.
Inside, the first thing that will greet you is the tablet itself followed by a carton container with the power brick and USB-A to USB-C cable.
Next is the SIM ejector tool.
The other container is for the paper documentation.
It has no case, screen protector, and earphones with a mic included in the package.
Build Quality/Design
|
Solid materials! |
realme continued what they did with their first tablet with the realme Pad Mini.
The device is still boasting sturdy materials like the metal casing and frame with well machined chamfered edges.
At the back, there is also a glasstic island containing the camera of the device. It also has visible antenna lines. The front panel is rigid glass.
Made with strong materials!
The SIM tray has a red rubber gasket that should make it a little resistant to accidental water splashes. But since there is no IP rating, just avoid it from getting wet.
For me, this build will likely last for quite a while. But, it will be better if you have a case to avoid getting unwanted damages like dents and scratches.
|
Premium build! |
In terms of design, the device screams premium with an iPhone-like boxy design.
The unit we got is the Blue version and it has a shiny yet not fingerprint magnet matte-like finish. I'm impressed.
|
Big yet not a too big display |
In front, it features an 8.7-inch large LCD display with WXGA+ resolution, 360 nits brightness, and Sunlight Mode.
realme listed that it has an 84.59 percent screen-to-body ratio making it pretty immersive for a small tablet.
The device has fairly slim bezels on the sides and thicker chin and top bezels.
The thicker bottom and top bezels are designed that way to prevent their users from accidentally touching the screen in landscape mode.
In portrait mode, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack slot and the first speaker on top.
Below, you will see the mic, USB-C reversible port, and the second speaker.
On the left side, you will see the power key and the volume up and down keys.
What we like here is that even in landscape mode, all of the buttons are fairly easy to reach.
If you are holding the tablet with two hands, it won't block the speakers as well. Clever.
|
Single back camera |
On the back, it uses an 8MP main camera with an f/2.0 aperture size. In front, you will see a 5MP f/2.2 snapper. Both have auto HDR and Beauty mode.
First Camera Samples
|
Indoor main cam samples |
|
Indoor selfie cam sample |
Most of the time, tablet cameras are bad. But, the realme Pad Mini is decent in our books so far. They are a bit grainy, but the colors and exposure are alright. They are usable.
But of course, they won't be comparable to smartphone cameras.
realme Pad Mini Specs
Display: 8.7-inch LCD screen w/ WXGA+ 1340 x 720 resolution at 175 ppi
CPU: 12nm 2.0GHz UNISOC T616 octa-core processor
GPU: Mali-G57
RAM: 3GB/4GB
ROM: 32GB/64GB via microSD card slot up to 1TB
Back Camera: 8MP f/2.0
Selfie Camera: 5MP f/2.2
Battery: 6,400mAh w/ 18W fast charging
OS: Android 11 w/ realme UI for Pad
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDouSIM
Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic
Others: Stereo speakers, Dirac certification, USB-C, Colors: Grey, Blue
Dimensions: 211.84 x 124.48 x 7.59 mm
Weight: 372 g
Price: PHP 9,990 (3GB/32GB), PHP 11,990 (4GB/64GB)
As of the moment
|
A new contender? |
Starting at just PHP 9,990, the realme Pad Mini is shaping up to be one of the better compact Android tablets we have seen in the entry-level category.
The build is strong, the design is neat, ergonomics are well thought off, and surprisingly it is very snappy despite not having top-end specs. As mentioned earlier, the cameras are not bad either.
This could be the one for those who are looking for an affordable tablet with a legit premium build and design, a big display in a reasonably compact form factor for reading and watching, and unexpected snappy performance.
The experience so far is quite good.
Stay tuned for our full review!
Post a Comment