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Is the Huawei MediaPad 10.1 FHD the real contender?

After owning 2 units of transformer infinity myself and still keeping my eyes on the infinity forum and seeing so many people having issue with QC, I am start feeling that ASUS vs. (relatively poor reputation) Huawei may not be so different. In fact, Huawei may even be better as their specification seem to demonstrate they are trying to work hard getting their foot into the tablet market.
So for those of you who are still debating infinity vs. galaxy note 10.1, I say hold the thought and perhaps wait couple more weeks to see how Huawei's Mediapad 10.1 FHD plays.
Here is the specification:
Type
Type
Tablet
Platform
Operating System
Android 4.0
Transfer Rate
LTE Cat4 (DL 150Mbps / UL 50Mbps), DC-HSPA+ (DL 84Mbps / UL 42Mbps)
CPU
Cortex-A9 Quad 1.2GHz
Appearance
Dimension (H X W X D)
257.4 × 175.9 × 8.8mm
Weight
~580g
Display
Size
10.1-inch
Resolution
1920*1200 IPS
Camera
Camera resolution
Front: 1.3Mp (720p Video Calling); Rear: 8Mp AF (1080p Camcording), Dual LED Flash
Capacity
Memory
8 / 16 / 32 / 64GB options
RAM
1GB
Connectivity
Wi-Fi
802.11b / 802.11g / 802.11n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 3.0
Entertainment
Video player
[email protected](MPEG-4 / H.264 / VC-1 / WMV-9), with formats of MP4 / 3GP / 3G2 / RM / RMVB / ASF / FLAC / APE / MOV etc.
Music player
MP3 / WMA / FLAC / APE / WAV / RA / Ogg / MIDI / 3GP etc.
Headphone
3.5mm stereo audio jack, 2*Stereo speaker, Build-in MIC
Location
Location
GPS/A-GPS
Sensors
Accelerometer sensor
Supported
Ambient light sensor
Supported
e-Compass
Supported
Vibrator
Supported
Battery*
Type
Li-Poly
Capacity
6600mAh
Pros:
+ Full HD screen (like infinity)
+ Quad Core CPU with 16 core GPU (like Note)
+ Optional dock (like infinity)
Cons:
- 8 GB storage (but official site says 16,32,64 will be available)
- Huawei (does not have good reputation, but ASUS in my opinion should lose its reputation soon)
- No S-pen
Question:
- Some sites says this got 2GB RAM, which would be awesome, but official site says 1GB RAM

Well, I don't see how a Cortex-A9 Quad 1.2GHz can drive that display and not experience performance issues. That is the problem with the true HD displays. The current mobile CPU's/GPU's simply are not powerful enough to drive them without problems.
Also, you lost me at "no s-pen".
Until the W8 Samsung devices with s-pen begin to appear, there will simply be no competition for the SGN10.1. And once they do begin to appear, they will likely be hundreds more.

I mean it looks like just another plain old 10" tablet . Not even running jb out of box. Not a contender if you ask me. Nothing is unique?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

mitchellvii said:
Well, I don't see how a Cortex-A9 Quad 1.2GHz can drive that display and not experience performance issues. That is the problem with the true HD displays. The current mobile CPU's/GPU's simply are not powerful enough to drive them without problems.
Also, you lost me at "no s-pen".
Until the W8 Samsung devices with s-pen begin to appear, there will simply be no competition for the SGN10.1. And once they do begin to appear, they will likely be hundreds more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your primarily reason for getting Note was indeed S-pen, I totally agree. There is no competition. As far as W8 pen support, my understanding is they are only supported for Windows 8 Pro version NOT RT version. So all devices are just as you said in the price range of ultrabook, which are like $700-$1100. Then battery life on the upper end pro version is horrible (like Samsung Ativ Smart Pro), and heavy.
So Galaxy Note will remain of its kind for a while.
I personally love Note not because of S-pen but rest of its power. Stability and speed mainly.
As for Cortex 9 Quad Core, I don't think CPU is the issue. Remember new Ipad driving even higher resolution has only dual core with 1GHz. The difference is GPU. If you look at Infinity's benchmark, it is essentially superior in many tests over the new Ipad for CPU itself but GPU is far inferior. Galaxy' Note's Exynos is currently the closest to the A5X, but even then still far behind (but with current resolution, I don't think Galaxy Note need any higher GPU). So my hope on MediaPad is GPU, which uses 16 cores rather than 12 cores on Tegra 3.
But who knows. I had a hope on Transformer Infinity before its released... I had a hope on IFA for big announcement that could be my ideal machine (essentially what's galaxy note 10.1 is + FHD). But nothing came true so far... and now I am giving hope to reputation lacking company.

DJsCrIBbLe said:
I mean it looks like just another plain old 10" tablet . Not even running jb out of box. Not a contender if you ask me. Nothing is unique?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally, I don't think uniqueness is a key at this point. My dream machine as I stated above is the android tablet that has Galaxy Note's 10.1's stability, speed, and FHD.

No Digitized pen = No contest
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app

Yeah, not really seeing how this is a competitor to the Note with no digitizer. Its a shot across ASUS' bow. On paper its a good one but how often are these Chinese "off brands" real competitors to name brand hardware in the long run.

The problem with these off brands is that while their top line hardware may be name brand they use cheap components. This just sounds like a "me too" product.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

Vostok 7 said:
Its a shot across ASUS' bow. On paper its a good one but how often are these Chinese "off brands" real competitors to name brand hardware in the long run.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mitchellvii said:
The problem with these off brands is that while their top line hardware may be name brand they use cheap components. This just sounds like a "me too" product.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. Read the below link which provides Anand's comments on some of the components Asus uses. If this is what the number four tablet maker is doing can you imagine what type of components Huawei being based in China will use? If Coby decided to move upscale and introduce a FHD quad-core tablet would anyone be excited? I wouldn't. Pretty on the outside doesn't mean pretty on the inside.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6073/the-google-nexus-7-review/6
Also, service and support have to be considered. Samsung pays roundtrip two-day shipping if a product needs warranty work with a door-to-door turnaround time of seven days. If parts aren't available they'll replace the device, usually with a brand new one. Read some of the stories on the Asus boards about their outsourced repair facility in TX. Who's going to service and support a Huawei device? Personally, I’ll stick with Samsung, HTC, Sony, and Motorola. I’ll skip LG, Acer, and Asus based on my experiences and observing the experiences of others. As for Huawei, you guys can be the beta-tester’s. If they end up rising like Hyundai has I'll check their products out in about five years.

The other thing with off-brands is when they put an OS on their devices, they do very little if any optimization for the hardware. So even if the hardware specs are good, they don't run as good as even a lower spec comparable name brand device.

Vostok 7 said:
The other thing with off-brands is when they put an OS on their devices, they do very little if any optimization for the hardware. So even if the hardware specs are good, they don't run as good as even a lower spec comparable name brand device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or worse, they create something like this. This is their new Emotion UI where they've ditched Google's app drawer and replaced it with their own.
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http://thedroidguy.com/2012/09/huaweis-new-emotion-ui/

BarryH_GEG said:
Or worse, they create something like this. This is their new Emotion UI where they've ditched Google's app drawer and replaced it with their own.
http://thedroidguy.com/2012/09/huaweis-new-emotion-ui/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is actually very interesting. Whether good or bad aside, it proves huawei is doing something serious based in their belief. Just like touchwiz. I was actually more worried that they dont have capability of software tuning so release as non touched version of ics. Though small i am still hoping this would be the one until p10 releases in next year.

The number one reason this tablet will fail is that you'll never pick up chicks telling them you drive a Huawei.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

mitchellvii said:
Well, I don't see how a Cortex-A9 Quad 1.2GHz can drive that display and not experience performance issues. That is the problem with the true HD displays. The current mobile CPU's/GPU's simply are not powerful enough to drive them without problems.
Also, you lost me at "no s-pen".
Until the W8 Samsung devices with s-pen begin to appear, there will simply be no competition for the SGN10.1. And once they do begin to appear, they will likely be hundreds more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a contender:
1) Any FHD tablet is fundamentally a non-contender until the next generation of mobile GPUs. Quad 1.2 looks like they picked an el-cheapo CPU (maybe a lowend tegra3) and we know for a fact that can't drive FHD properly.
2) It's Huawei. Their hardware is decent, but their software quality is even more atrocious than Samsung and their support is HORRIFIC. Their response to USA customers who wanted Froyo on the Huawei S7 was "buy the S7 Slim". Mind you, the S7 Slim had half the bugs the S7 did (like orientation sensor having X and Y swapped which broke many apps). Also, it took forever to get them to comply with the GPL with the kernel. Seriously, even if you practically GIVE the Chinese something (Linux kernel), they'll still find a way to manage to steal it (Fail to release the source for their modified version).

Here is an Interview Video about the CPU and GPU:
http://armdevices.net/2012/02/27/hisilicon-k3v2-quad-core-40nm-arm-cortex-a9/

The Taste of White Cherry – Cube Dual Core Tablet “U9GT3” Review

Cube is well known in China for its cost-efficient digital products, since its entrance into the android tablet market in 2010, it has published dozens of MID products, among which there are U9GT, U9GT2, U30GT. Most of its products have done quite well in the Chinese market.
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U9GT3 is a rather wordy successor to the popular U9GT and U9GT2, it is Cube’s sixth dual core android tablet after U30GT(Pea), U20GT(Wall-nut), U30mini, U19GT(Sunflower), U23GT(Snow Pea), U9GT4, and is named “Cherry” after the explosive role in the famous PopCap Game “Plants vs Zombies”. Unlike most android tablets which use WSVGA or WXGA displays, Cherry has a very different 8 inch XGA IPS display that is very nice for web-browsing and E-book reading. I recently received the 127USD device for product review, and I am now sharing what I’ve found with you guys.
1.Design
Cherry’s front and back design is quite similar to that of iPad2, an XGA IPS display surrounded by bezel which comes in either white or black, a silver battery cover to its back, except it is much smaller in size (200mm*155mm*9.59mm).
The most noticeable difference comes from its side design, which adopts a “razor sharp” concept that allows the thinnest part of the device to be as slim as 1mm.
However, “razor” proves to be little more than just a concept, the actual body depth of this tablet is 9.59mm, which is a shade slimmer than Galaxy Tab 2 P5100 (9.7mm), but feels quite porkier than Galaxy Tab 8.9 (8.6mm) and the super slim iPad Mini (7.1mm).
2.Features
Cherry offers a feature set that is quite similar to its rivalry products. The first thing you will notice is the XGA IPS display screen, which offers great vibrant colors and desirable brightness.
Whether watching videos, surfing the web or using android applications, the screen can provide a user experience that is remarkably like using a full-sized computer.
While I expected to see notable pixilation in full screen, the reality is that the image remains sharp with great color saturation.
Although the 4:3 display isn’t recommended as a video player, one of the selling points for it is E-reading, the 8 inch screen offers as much as 35% more vision field than 7 inch screens.
Unfortunately, cherry doesn’t have a rear camera, and the 0.3 mega-pixel is okay, though far from ideal for video chatting through QQ or Skype. The device offers internet access through Wifi only, and Cube doesn’t seem interested in making a cellular version of it.
U9GT3 has 16GB internal storage, which is quite generous in comparison with lots of other Chinese tablets which only provide 8GB storage. And a TF card slot which supports cards up to 16GB could accommodate the majority of users.
Besides, Cherry also offers on its body a charging port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a reset hole, a micro USB data port, a speaker gate, a power/standby switch as well as a volume rocker. But according to my experience, the data port isn’t that scientifically designed, the wire can go off the tablet very easily. Also the speaker is quite low in volume, which is quite common in Chinese tablet products from MP4-turned-tablet-manufacturers. And unlike most dual core tablets made in China, Cherry doesn’t have an HDMI port, possibly due to its low price.
3.User Interface
Cherry ships with not the latest version, but the most mature version of Android: Ice Cream Sandwich, and adopts a WIN8-like user interface that is exquisitely designed by Cube, it offers five home screens including a Start home screen, a social networking home screen, a gaming app home screen, an office app home screen, and a home screen of other favorite applications. Even the application drawer has been designed very metro-like, and all the shortcuts and widgets will change to cubes once they are dragged onto the home screens to fit the screen interface.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll find a permanent control bar that includes virtual back and home buttons, as well as an icon that brings up a list of open apps, which can be closed with a swipe to the right.
Meanwhile, tapping the lower right part of the screen (with the clock, Wi-Fi, and battery indicators) brings up the notifications box, which includes quick controls for turning on/off Wi-Fi, quiet, and screen rotation lock, among other features, plus you can access the brightness setting on the fly and tap into the full Settings menu.
4.Hardware
As is mentioned above, Cherry has an XGA IPS display to its front which offers vibrant colors and great brightness.
At the heart of the device, Cube has provided a peppy Rockchip RK3066 Dual core 1.6G processor (GPU: [email protected]) and 1GB DDR3 RAM. Although it does not blow anybody out of the water as many tablets have already come to the era of quad-core processor and 2GB RAM, it still provides plenty of power to run the device smoothly over a wide variety of applications.
According to numerous benchmark tests, Cherry did better than most dual core android phones and tablets. What should also be noted is that in the Quadrant Benchmark test, Cherry has beaten Transformer Prime in test scores.
5.Battery Life
Cherry features a 4500mAh Li-Polymer battery that offers about 8 hours of on-Screen usage on a charge, Actual battery life will, of course, depend on how we use the tablet. and variables like high brightness and heavy downloads or streaming will zap the battery a little quicker, but we found it comparable to seven-inch competitors. According to my test, Cherry offers 6.5 hours of video playback (50% screen brightness, Wifi off, full volume), better than most of its rivalry products.
Unfortunately, Cherry doesn’t support battery charging under shutdown state, but it doesn’t necessarily result in low charging efficiency, a full charge only takes 3-3.5 hours, while the charging input is 5V-2A.
6.Internet and Connectivity
Tablets are popular choices for sofa surfers, allowing for large screen browsing without the hassle, heat or weight of a laptop. The XGA IPS Screen makes Cherry even more of a surfer favorite, 4:3 display shows much more webpage content than similar sized wide-screen devices.
But here also lies the biggest issue of Cherry: the Wifi connectivity of the device is quite poor due to its metal back cover.
According to my test, cherry’s data reception is almost as good as Galaxy Tab8.9 while it is placed closely to the signal source (within s meters) without strong signal blockers, and thanks to its better processor, it performed even better than Tab on web browsing.
Yet once it is placed 5 meters and a wall away from Wifi tethering, its data reception is much poorer than that of Samsung Galaxy Tab.
A stock Android browser and a UCWEB browser come preinstalled on Cherry, both offering up tabbed browsing, offline reading and thumb-nailed bookmarks which can be synced to your Google or Sina account.
7.Video Playback
RK3066 is arguably the best processor for video fans, it supports almost all video formats to at least 1080P. Hardware decoding of all kinds of videos is also the key strength of this China-based Chip Maker in comparison with industry leaders such as Samsung, QUALCOMM, and Texas Instrument.
In my test, Cherry has no problem playing any Full HD video, no matter what format it is. The only problem is that with the 4:3 display, a great percentage of the screen will be wasted during video playbacks as most videos come in widescreen.
8.E-reading
As is mentioned earlier, Cherry is born for E-reading fans, while B&N’s Nook tablets and Amazon’s Kindle Fires all bundled with wild screens and are not ideal for browsing and E-book reading. Cherry, on the other hand, provides an 8 inch XGA screen which is quite comfortable for readers. IPS display’s brightness and vibrant colors also contributes to my joyful experience reading with Cherry.
9.Gaming
The Dual core Processor Cherry embodies is powered by Mali-400MP4 as its GPU, the same with Samsung’s famous Exynos 4410 and Exynos 4412, and can be seen as a guarantee for high performance and great compatibility for gaming. According to my actual test, Cherry doesn’t disappoint, almost all games can be played smoothly on it.
10.Verdict
Priced at $127, Cube U9GT3 is one of the best android devices below $150. The tablet is solidly built and it doesn’t look cheap by any standard. Similar to most tablets made in China, Cherry has lots of desirable aspects, but also many defects.
We Liked:
The 8 inch XGA IPS display is one of the biggest talking points on Cherry, which is ideal for E-reading and browsing;
The tablet adopts a solid build and is quite well made, showing no cheapness at all;
The delicately designed Metro UI is also a plus for this tablet, and allows Cherry to stand out from its competitors;
The powerful RK3066 dual core processor with Mali-400MP4 guarantees Cherry’s high performance on everything from video playback to gaming;
@$127, it is one of the most cost-efficient devices on the market.
We disliked:
Wifi Connectivity is Cherry’s Achilles' heel: data reception can be much poorer than other internet devices while there are signal blockers;
At 470 grams, it is notably heavier than most similar sized tablets, mainly due to its metal back cover;
Battery life is notably shorter than market leaders such as Galaxy Tab and Nexus 7.

Different Magic - PIPO M8 Dual Core Tablet Hands-on Review

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First, I have to say that I am really very excited that PIPO has chosen me, along with 19 other people, to review this new tablet. I’ve become quite a fan of the device as soon as I laid my eyes on it. As I always go for uniqueness and the feel of black technology (Sorry, Apple!), the PIPO M8 gives me just everything I need!
For people who have never heard of this brand, it is a company focusing on making differentiated tablets in the Chinese markets. It is the first Chinese company to market a 7 inch tablet with 1280*800 IPS display, an 8.9 inch PLS tablet as well as this 9.4 IPS display device we are testing today. As far as I am concerned, this marketing strategy has been quite successful, as PIPO has attracted tens of thousands of fans in just a few months’ time since U1 hit the market.
Highlights
9.4” IPS Capacitive Touchscreen, 1280*800
Slim Magazine-like Design
Support WCDMA/GSM Mobile Internet (Only the 3G version)
Android 4.1 OS
RK3066 Dual Core 1.6GHZ processor, quad-core of Mali-400MP
1GB RAM, 16GB ROM
5.0 Mega-pixels AF Camera
Front facing Stereo Speakers
Bluetooth 2.1
Support OTG, HDMI
Support 2160p video playback
Specifications
Operating System: Android 4.1.1
Model: PIPO M8
Display Technology: IPS Capacitive touch screen
Screen Size: 9.4 inch
Resolution: 1280*800
CPU Manufacturer: Rockchip
CPU Model: RK3066 Dual core A9 Chipset with Mali-400MP4
CPU Speed: 1.6GHz
RAM:1GB [email protected]
Hard Drive Capacity: 16GB
PCMCIA Expansion: T-FLASH (Support 32GB MAX)
Camera: 2MP+5MP Auto Focus
HDMI: HDMI1.4
3G: Internal 3G for 3G version, external 3G for the WIFI version
Bluetooth: Yes
GPS:NO
G-Sensor:Yes
Gyroscope: Yes
Audio: Built in stereo speakers (frontal)/ Built in Microphone
Language:Multi-language support
Battery Type: Li-ion, 6500mAh
Charging Voltage: DC 9V - 2.5A
Color: Black
Item Dimensions/ W*D*H:240x 172 x 9.0mm
Net Weight: 520g
Connectors
Ports: 2 x Micro USB port (USB Host and USB data port)
1 x Micro SD card slot
1 x 2.5mm DC input (9V, 2.5A)
1 x Audio jack
1 x Mini HDMI port
Communications
Wireless Connection:WIFI 802.11 b/g/n; WIFI+3G for the 3G version
Bluetooth 2.1
Retail Package
I received a gigantic delivery package last Friday, within which there are a slim paper back box which holds the tablet and a warranty certificate, another smaller but thicker paper box which holds the fittings and the manual for this tablet. A protection cover which is more likely an optional fitting more than a bundled one.
And above are all the standard fittings for the tablet.
Design
There’s no questioning that PIPO has come up with a stand-out look for this tablet. From the second you see the M8, it’s clear that the company is making a statement about how you’ll live and work with the device. The basic shape calls to mind a folded book or magazine, which is really comfortable to look at even though it feels very different. The device sports a 9.4-inch screen and weighs in at 520g, but it feels lighter in your hands than other tablets on the market because of the way the shape allows weight to be distributed. The tablet is only 9.02mm at its thickest point, and tapers down to a narrow 4.36mm.
Whether or not you warm up to this design is probably a matter of taste, but I found myself a big fan of the magazine shape, in both two-handed and single-hand settings, as well as on a flat surface. The beveled shape makes typing slightly easier when you have the M8 on a desk.
Besides the big screen up front, the M8 features a 2.0 Mega Pixels Front-facing camera, an ambient light detection sensor which enables auto-brightness of the display, and two speaker gates. This is the first time I’ve seen any tablets putting speaker gates on the front, but this is actually a very smart move, as you could never block them again wherever you put your tablet, Both the clarity of the outer sound the stereo speakers produces and its volume is very good, better than any other Chinese branded tablets I have tested.
Most of the ports and all the hardware keys are located on the upper edge, including a menu key, an ESC key. a Micro SD card slot which supports cards up to 32GB, a Micro USB Host connector, a Micro USB data port, a Mini HDMI interface, an LED notification light and a DC charging jack. The plug PIPO includes is of the 9V-2.5A standard, which ensures great charging efficiency.
​
On the left edge lies a 3.5mm audio jack, and on the right a Power/Standby switch which is artistically designed.
On the back you will find a 5 Mega-pixels AF camera which is able to shoot fairly sharp photos, another outstanding feature for the gorgeous device. All of the ports and buttons on the device feel very reasonably placed and easy to find.
In all, the M8 is a distinct device with a lot going for it in terms of industrial design, and there is almost no misstep here that makes the device underwhelming. The skin-feel metal back cover gives the device all the feel of expensiveness it needs, even comparing to those Apple and Samsung tablets which are priced many times more.
Display
The front is occupied by a 9.4” 1280x800 pixels screen, surrounded by fairly thin bezel. The screen resolution is the main gripe to be held against the M8, in this day and age of flagship slates with 1080p displays and above. Having said that, it is a very good screen in terms of colors, contrast ratio and viewing angles. The display brightness is also really satisfactory, meaning that you would be able to use the M8 outside even on a sunny day.
Internals
Inside the M8, you will find a healthy dose of familiar Android guts. The device is powered by Rockchip RK3066 dual core A9 chipset, running at 1.6GHZ, meaning you’ll get solid performance on all almost all applications. According to previous tests with other tablets powered by this chipset, RK3066 is arguably the most powerful dual core ARM processor. The M8 has 1GB of RAM onboard and 16GB of internal storage. The device also sports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an array of sensors (gyro, light, accelerometer, etc.).
Software
​
Most tablets these days must be judged on their software. In the case of Android Jelly Bean tablets, that’s not exactly a Herculean effort.
PIPO is no different in the sense that the company has opted for slight tweaks in the software rather than a major overhaul. The M8 utilizes largely the same build of Jelly Bean as other tablets (like the Galaxy Tab 8.9), though there are a few notable differences.
First, PIPO has designed a customized M8 homescreen which does not have a portrait mode, this can be quite annoying sometimes when you exit an portrait-default application like an E-reader or games such as Temple Run.
The widgets and icons of the regular applications have been revised to fit the custom UI. Having seen lots of stock Android UIs, I find myself quite a fan of those cute, crystal-like icons. As the M8 has no hardware controls for volume adjustment, PIPO has put the virtual volume rocker in the permanent android status bar, along with a screenshot button and the regular ECS key, Home key and Task Switcher.
PIPO has also preinstalled a few applications and games on the M8, but one of them PIPO-exclusive. You can easily find them free in any android market app.
Cameras
The rear-facing 5.0 Mega-pixels camera does a great job of capturing images — if you’re into holding a nearly 10-inch tablet up while you snap away. As I’ve said in many other tablet reviews, taking photos with the cameras on tablets are completely silly to me, even though I actually have seen quite a few Chinese and Japanese people doing that in public. I certainly won’t. On the other hand, the front-facing camera here is a step up from most other models, and I’m happy to see PIPO trying to improve the specs on what is normally an afterthought.
Just know this: even though the rear camera is probably the best I have seen on any Chinese tablet, it won’t replace a real camera or decent smartphone option — mostly due to the size of the device and awkwardness in use.
You can also capture 480P videos with the M8, though this seems even more bizarre to me than snapping photos. Quality was solid, though the device’s awkward size made it tough to get steady content.
Performance
As I have mentioned above, the RK3066 chipset, although seemingly a little outdated as a bunch of quad-corers have already hit the market, is still able to provide more than enough power to run the device smoothly over a variety of applications.
Some benchmark scores of the M8 and the comparison to other dual core devices.
In terms of General performance, the device seemed speedy running graphically intense games. And the experience of video playback is also very pleasant as the chipset can easily supports all formats of videos to at least 1080P. Thanks to the updates Google has made for Android4.1, the responsiveness and smoothness is better than ever. It doesn’t pale even compared to the Apple iOS.
Connectivity
As for connectivity, M8 has probably the best WIFI reception of all Chinese tablets I've tested, Online video streaming is possible even when you are 10 meters and some walls away from the WIFI router.
Besides, M8 also has built-in Bluetooth, which is a rare feature for Chinese slates. The WIFI version of the tablet can also get access to 3G network through connecting a 3G network card to the device through an OTG cable. And the 3G version has built-in 3G module which supports WCDMA/GSM SIM card. As I've only received a WIFI version, I cannot tell you how well the 3G module works on the M8.
Battery Life
Battery life on the M8 seemed solid to me, as the device features a 6500mAh rechargeable Li-PO battery. In my intense 720p video playback test, the M8 lasted nearly 8 hours, which is quite something considering that most Chinese tablets can hardly stand 5 hours of screen-on use. However, I did notice a more pronounced drain on the battery when the device was sleeping than my Tegra2 powered Samsung Galaxy Tab8.9 and Motorola XOOM, and I felt it fell short of competitors like the Ainol NOVO10 (8000mAh battery) and FSL Fast (8000mAh battery) in terms of overall battery longevity.
Another annoying issue is that the device does not support charging under the shutdown state, even though the charging efficiency with the 9V-2.5A plug is quite amazing (A full charge only takes as short as 3 hours).
Wrap-up
Good stuff:
Fascinating industrial design
Great looking display
Capable cameras
Excellent front facing stereo speakers
Solid battery life
Wonderful WIFI reception
Not so good stuff:
Incapability of charging under a shutdown state
Pricier than alternative options
Android slates are mostly competing on specs and price these days, rather than with design and overall experience.
The M8 goes for RMB1199 ($193) from PIPO, and, granted, this is $200 less than the market-leading iPad Mini, or the original 9.4 inch Sony Tablet S which is powered by the quad-core Tegra3 chipset. But for the same $200 price you can get the Exynos Qua-core Ramos W30, or the brand new Ployer MOMO19 with quad-core A31 and 2GB of ram.
The M8 does offer some features to differentiate itself from the competition, though, apart from the distinctive looks, like the very capable cameras and battery. Other than that, you can find plenty of decent Android tablets with this screen resolution and processing power for even less.
Overall, those who'd appreciate the more distinctive, elegant look will find the M8 right up their alley. But for those who just want a cheap Chinese tablet with a big screen and decent processing power, there might be other options.

thanks for your report.
questions:
how fast is the gpu clock for the mali mp400mp4 in the m8, ist the clock at 533 mhz???

Thanks for your question, the GPU is clocked at 399MHZ, powerful enough to run all Android games smoothly.
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium

against cube u30gt how does it compete?
thanks

Okay, ive got one for over a week now, the M* 3G (built in), and I must say......it rocks! Can work for about 6 Hrs without recharging, Wifi is perfect, design is a beauty,Im living in the Netherlands and today I tried (without any hopes of working) my built in 3G sim...guess what, no problem, worked right away. Graphic Speed is more than sufficient. The screenres. is perfect, tried to stream from my QNAP 469 (Twonky & Serviio) and the QNAP apps, worked like charm ( besides the mkv of 20+ gb.....but that's normal). When you buy this Tablet, beware of the fact that the OTG cable can be defect (as was mine...) when i tried to hook up a keyboard which i ordered in a sleeve, after replacing it it worked fine (also mouse and HDD). Sufficient power out for the HDD. Conclusion for me (mind...non-gamer, mediafreak yess) for about $185 ex. shipping: A WINNER!

For me, m8 is the better choice, u30gt is much porkier. And I prefer the design of m8.
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium

the 3G version, $185? r u serious? It's priced at RMB1,399 here in China, which is above $200....
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium

You should mention in the negatives that you can't update the android OS by OTA you have to do a whole procedure to do a system update via your pc (so if you have a linux based pc you are pretty much sc....d). In my case I have an Andersson ADT 2.6 which is a rebranded Pipo M8
Sent from my ADT 2.6 using Tapatalk 4

M8 replacement
For those who love their M8 Pro, like I do ...and would like a viable replacement someday, look to the M8HD.
It is the same case with a 10.1" brighter screen installed; thinner screen surrounds; bigger battery.
Pretty sure the M8 Pro is being/has been discontinued. I hated that they might give up the M8 size and style.
Not so, thankfully!
Could be one day we will see a RK3288 in the M8 case. Now that would be nice! ?:good:
Edit on 6/28/15
Amazing that I can still edit this post after so long. My M8 Pro finally died a quiet death. I was going to give it to a family member now that I have my Cube T9; decided to update the RileyRom, and bricked the tablet. Dead android on back; frozen on screen with a triangle above him marking his demise.
Boo hoo! There was a lot about the M8 Pro I really liked!
?

The battery is not even close to what the review is referring. Its last for 2 hours only in daily use and it was something like that from the begging. I have the tablet for 1 and a half year and after 6 months it started to hang, freez, you hard reset it and does not come on easily. As a conclusion DO NOT BUY IT!!! NEVER NEVER!!!

Smart Comes Big – ThL W7 Quad Core Phablet Hands-On Review

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When the 5.3 inch Galaxy Note made its debut appearance at IFA, 2011, lots of reviewers and editors believed that Sammy had taken things too far and called for the death of the smartphone-tablet hybrid category. However, it did not die. Later in 2012, when the 5.5 inch Galaxy Note2 hit the market, some still argue that no one on this planet would want such a massive cell phone. Then Samsung sold 5 million units around the world in just 60 days, making it one of the best-selling phone/tablets in 2012. So, like it or not, the era of “phablet” is upon us.
If you consider the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 too big for you, then you would probably want to skip this review ‘coz what I am introducing today is an even more humongous device.
ThL W7, following this “phablet” trend, has pushed the display to an even bigger 5.7 inch, marketing directly towards users who want larger screens or perhaps don’t want a tablet-smartphone pair.
For People who have never heard of this brand, I can tell you it’s a smart phone brand founded by Shenzhen Hongjiayuan Communication Technology Co., Ltd., a high-tech enterprise specializing in smart phone R & D, production, sales and service. Adhering to the marketing idea of "true benefit to users by direct sales", ThL has created the innovative mode of experiential marketing plus experiential services focusing on direct sales in experience stores coupled with online direct sales. By the end of September 2012, ThL has opened over 300 brand experience stores in more than 30 provinces and cities throughout China.
And recently, ThL has gained more popularity by sponsoring CCTV.com, the state-owned television network in China. It is also the partner of the most famous television show – the Chinese version of “The Voice”, which attracts hundreds of millions of viewers each week.
Highlights:
5.7 inch Capacitive IPS Display, 1280*720 pixels, PPI=258;
MT6589 Quad Core Processor;
PowerVR SGX544MP GPU;
1GB DDR3 RAM;
3.2MP front-facing Camera & 8MP rear camera;
Android4.2 OS;
Dual SIM Card Support;
Priced at only RMB 1,699 ($275).
Retail Package
ThL is extremely generous when it comes to the W7’s retail package, not only does it offer the normally bundled fittings such as the charger and a data cable, it also provides its customer with a very exquisite pair of earphones and not one, but two screen protection covers!
Design
The ThL W7 takes a lot of design cues from the Samsung Galaxy Note2, only the display is 0.2 inch bigger. The most noticeable difference is probably that you won’t see Samsung’s LOGO above the display of the W7. Other than that, the two are stunningly alike: the same Home Key, the same back button and the same menu button.
Connectors and hardware controls are kept to the minimum, you would only find a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge, a micro USB charging/data port on the bottom edge. The power/standby key is located on the right side while the volume rocker is located on the left side of the phone.
It's 10.2mm thick body gives the W7 a solid hold.
Display
The ThL W7 has featured a 5.7 inch IPS display, with the resolution of 1280*720. The display density of the W7 absolutely pales in comparison to that of the 1080P displays on OPPO Find5 or HTC ONE. But the brightness, the color contrast and the viewing angles of this 5.7 inch display are nothing but satisfactory.
Watching videos is a much better experience on a phablet than it is on smaller smartphones. I haven’t installed any online video apps on my Motorola RAZR because too much is lost on its tiny display. With the W7, I actually found myself streaming live tennis matches — and enjoying them — on more than one occasion.
System & UI
The ThL W7 is carrying the lastest version of Android OS - Android4.2, which is even smoother and more powerful than Android 4.1. ThL has done almost none modification to the stock Jelly Bean, except offering its own set of user interfaces. There are 11 gorgeous themes for the users to choose. There are also some preinstalled third party apps, all only useful for Chinese users.
Hardware
When it comes to Soc., the ThL W7 has featured the MT6589 Quad core processor, which is based on cortex-A7 frame and uses 28nm workmanship. The speed of each core can reach 1.2GHZ. I would not say it makes the W7 one of the most powerful smartphones in the world coz it doesn’t., especially with the quad-core A15 Tegra4 and the impeccable Exynos 5 Octa 5410 on the scene now. But as a quad-core chipset, the MT6589 still generates more than enough power to run everything smoothly on the W7. The 533MHZ PowerVR SGX544 GPU by Imagination Technologies enables the W7 to support even the most graphic-intense Android games.
Here are some benchmark scores of the W7:
Features
One of the key characteristics of the ThL W7 is that it has dual SIM card support, which means you can use two mobile numbers in one cell phone. One of the slots supports both WCDMA & GSM networks while the other supports only GSM. You can use the settings to control the roles of these two numbers.
Disappointingly, the W7 has only 8GB built-in storage, and 1GB of that has been used as ROM. Fortunately Micro SD card support is on board. The TF card slot, which is located besides the two SIM card slots, can support card up to 32GB, adequate for the majority of phone/tablet users.
Another very exciting feature on the W7, for me, is the stereo speakers, the clarity of the sound is more than satisfactory, and the volume is also nice. You could hardly miss a phone call even if you somehow put yourself in a noisy environment. And you can listen to music or stream an online video on your W7 without earphones.
Camera
For a smartphone priced at less than $300, the ThL W7’s cameras are stunning! Both the 3.2MP front-facing camera and 8.0MP rear camera can shoot sharp images. They work great for what most people will be using it for including video conferencing and taking quick pictures for friends and family. The rear facing camera can also capture 1080P videos, which comes in the format of 3GP.
Rear Camera shots
Front-facing camera shot​
Battery Life
The ThL W7 has featured a 2,300 rechargeable Li-Po battery, which is not so generous compared to Galaxy Note2’s 3100mAh battery or Huawei Ascend Mate’s crazy 4050mAh power bank.
However, during my 720P video playback battery test, W7 lasted 6 hours and 50 minutes (50% screen brightness, 50% volume). This is pretty impressive for a smartphone with such a giant, power-consuming display. And in another online video streaming test, the W7 stood 4 hours and 20 minutes. So, I would say the performance of W7’s battery exceeds my expectations, but it would always be better to have a battery with more power storage.
Verdict
I wouldn’t call myself a phablet lover, as I would never buy a cellphone with a display bigger than 4.7 inch myself. Instead, I have regularly said that handsets with displays measuring about 4.3 inches diagonally are good for me and I often use the Motorola Razr as an example of my ideal phone size. From screen size to thickness and overall footprint, the Razr is perfect for me.
Having said that, as I used the ThL W7 more, I began to understand why Galaxy Note is so popular, a phablet can actually replace a 7 inch tablet on most occasions, and it’s generally easier to carry around. The display is big enough to be truly useful compared to other phones with slightly smaller screens, a lot of information can be shown at once.
Here are a few thoughts after spending more than 10 days carrying the ThL W7 and using it regularly:
The Good
The IPS display on ThL W7 is absolutely gorgeous, having more screen real estate in general is awesome. Objects are larger and clearer, and that obviously carries over to touch targets, which means fewer failed pokes.
The W7 has wonderful build quality, every detail has been taken great care of, and the metal wiredrawing pattern of the plastic battery cover gives the device all the expensiveness it deserves.
The MTK MT6589 Quad-core Processor is a decent choice as Soc., everything happens very fast on the W7, and I have experienced zero lag.
The cameras, both frontal and rear, are ideal for daily usage.
The Bad
The design of the device clearly falls into the category of Galaxy Note2 copycats, for a manufacture which aims to build a name for itself, copycatting is not a smart move, why not show some innovative ideas of your own, ThL?
For a phablet product with a power-consuming 5.7 inch display, the W7 has only featured a 2,300mAh Li-PO battery, which can hardly support an entire day of intense use.
Despite all the benefits the W7 might afford because of its size, it is still uncomfortable to hold for quite a number of users. One handed operation is very difficult, and this could be annoying if your left hand is occupied by something else.
Ultimately, there's no getting away from the fact that the ThL W7 is a niche device, if you can get over its size and the fact that it is another Galaxy Note2 copycat. It’s priced at only $275, making it one of the most cost-effective phablets in the market.

Seems nobody is interested in this copycat device.
Sent from my GT-P7300 using xda premium

Great review!!! Wish i would had seen this post before I bought this phone for my friend. lol :laugh: Actually just received the phone today. There wouldn't happen to be any kind of custom roms?

i am also a happy user of this phone.I fully agree with the reviewer.My device is the one with 4gb internal rom but no problem for me,because i put a sd card and my external sd card showed in the system as first one,so i can move apps there.Τhe only "bad" thing for me is that it hasnt a big community to create for it.My other phone is the great hd2 and every day i can change roms.There are too many roms to choose.I would like to see a great development for this device too

using Skype video chat
clio94 said:
i am also a happy user of this phone.I fully agree with the reviewer.My device is the one with 4gb internal rom but no problem for me,because i put a sd card and my external sd card showed in the system as first one,so i can move apps there.Τhe only "bad" thing for me is that it hasnt a big community to create for it.My other phone is the great hd2 and every day i can change roms.There are too many roms to choose.I would like to see a great development for this device too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I purchased w7s a couple weeks ago and it is a nice phone. However, i am having a problem with Skype videa call. Microphone does not change over to speakerphone mode when i am using a video call feature with Skype and hangout. Is there any solution for this problem?
Thank you.

Home Button no wake up the sceen.
Hi I received my THL W7S is very good, but I can not wake up screen with home button, is well or is broken? i can configure this? thanks

Nightwolf30 said:
Hi I received my THL W7S is very good, but I can not wake up screen with home button, is well or is broken? i can configure this? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its by design - waking up only with power button
There is workaround:
- install root (framaroot will do)
- install root explorer
- edit /system/usr/keylayout/mhl-keyboard.kl /system/usr/keylayout/generic.kl
on line 102, change
Code:
key 102 HOME
to
Code:
key 102 HOME WAKE_DROPPED
ie adding " WAKE_DROPPED" - notice space before Wake
Same on line 172
Reboot
It wakes the phone... tho sometimes you have to press several times

chavv said:
Its by design - waking up only with power button
There is workaround:
- install root (framaroot will do)
- install root explorer
- edit /system/usr/keylayout/mhl-keyboard.kl
on line 102, change
Code:
key 102 HOME
to
Code:
key 102 HOME WAKE_DROPPED
ie adding " WAKE_DROPPED" - notice space before Wake
Same on line 172
Reboot
It wakes the phone... tho sometimes you have to press several times
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for responding, I try to do that but I have not the file mhl-keyboard.kl I send you a screenshot.

/System/usr/keylayout/generic.kl
That is the correct file

chavv said:
/System/usr/keylayout/generic.kl
That is the correct file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works perfect. Thank you very much.

Custom Recovery
Hi...is there anyone who success insalled a custom recovery on the THL w7s (like ClockWorkMod) ?
I can't figure out how to do that! there are a lot of guide lines for THL 8/8+ wich is quite the same smartphone but nothing about the THL w7s

radudac said:
Hi...is there anyone who success insalled a custom recovery on the THL w7s (like ClockWorkMod) ?
I can't figure out how to do that! there are a lot of guide lines for THL 8/8+ wich is quite the same smartphone but nothing about the THL w7s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- via SPFlashTool - download recovery and flash only recovery.img
or
root the phone, install MobileUncleTools from play market, copy recovery.img to sdcard root folder and in MobileUncle choose "Recovery Update"- pointing to recovery.img

thl w7s
I wish we'll have custom roms available for this phone

There are plenty custom ROMs
- Gravity mod, based on THL 8 rom
- Lewa 5 , latest from 15.11.2013
- MIUI v5. 3.11.27
- port from Lenovo S920
All of these are from 4pda.ru... if interested, i can give link&short description... but can't support, because i prefer my THL to be stock

please help no cwm install on w7 with sp flash tool or mobileuncle

pls give links to custom rom for W7S,
does it has notification led? how to enable it? or its just a charging indicator? thanks

1.8GHZ Quad Core + FHD display - in depth Review the CUBE U30GT2

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The CUBE U30GT2 has actually been on sale for quite a while now. The ten inch tablet runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), with 1.8GHz quad-core processor, the display’s resolution is WUXGA (1920 x 1200). It has a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. It is 9.6 mm thick, comes in black & white.
For:
1. The High-resolution screen rivals the iPad4's display in sharpness and clarity.
2. Extremely powerful, Apps launch quickly, 3D games run smoothly.
3. Excellent battery life, probably the best among all Chinese slates with FHD or Retina displays.
Against:
1. A littile bit heavy and porky.
2. Outdoor visibility is still unsatisfactory.
3. The rear-facing camera is really not much more than just decoration.
Key Features
◇10.1 inch 16M-color super IPS display at WUXGA resolution (1920X1200 pixels), 224PPI
◇Rockchip RK3188 SoC., 28nm quad core 1.8GHZ Cortex-A9 processor, Mali-400MP4 GPU, 2GB DDR3 RAM
◇Stock Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
◇32GB of built-in-storage
◇2MP front facing camera, 5.0MP rear-facing AF camera
◇Stereo speakers
◇HDMI TV-out
◇Bluetooth 2.1
◇Anti-rolling frame
◇USB host
◇MicroSD card slot
◇1080p video playback
◇7200mAh Li-Po rechargeable battery
First Impressions​
The CUBE U30GT2 feels like a solid tablet. I really fancy its white plastic chassis, which makes me forget how much a fan I am of the feel of black technology.
Contrary to my worries before receiving this slate, the RK3188 SoC. seems to support the FHD display very well, tasks from scrolling image-heavy webpages to running graphic-intense games were all handled with ease. And the tablet remains incredibly responsive while running several big applications at the same time!
Design and Build​
The CUBE U30GT2 uses the kind of design which most large-screen tablets look like. It’s thinner than its predecessor, the dual core U30GT, at just 9.6 mm. It is also a little bit lighter at just 659 g, but still way too heavy for single-handed use. There’s sufficient amount of bezel on either side of the screen, so you can use it in any orientation comfortably.
A 2MP front-facing camera sits comfortably in the middle of the bezel above the display, which can be used for online video chatting. The intelligent light sensor, which helps the tablet to automatically adjust the display brightness, is located on the upper left corner of this flagship slate, covered by the sticker.
All the keys and connectors are hosted on the left edge. You will find a power button, a volume rocker, a mini HDMI port, a MicroSD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack and a 2.5mm DC port there. The metal frame around the edges looks very cool.
The stereo speakers are hosted on the middle of the right edge, which is not reasonable at all, as they are easily covered by our palm while we are holding the tablet with both hands.
The back of the U30GT2 is ABS plastic, which is not only good-looking, but also very durable. The UV coating process also helps with avoiding the feel of plasticky or cheap. The 5MP AF rear side camera and a LED flash sits on the top-left corner, but don’t get excited too soon, the quality of the shots is nowhere near images coming from a 5.0MP cell phone camera.
Display and Sound
The LCD-backlit IPS display on the U30GT2 is a lot better as compared to the MVA screen on the U30GT. The full HD resolution (1920 x 1200) at that size offers a decent pixel count of 224 PPI. This is not too far off from Apple’s 264 PPI on the iPad4, which means you won’t notice a huge difference between them in everyday use. The display is bright and text is sharp and crisp; perfect for web browsing or catching up on your TV shows. The viewing angles are wide -- so wide, in fact, that you can easily watch a movie with the tablet placed face-up on a table in front of you (not that you'd need to do this ever). The display also has a screen guard protecting it, just like the other CUBE tablets, but I left it alone this time.
The brightness of the display is decent, but not amazing as the one on PIPO M9, which can boast 600nit brightness. While I am using the U30GT2 outdoors, the screen glare sometimes overpowers whatever's on screen.
Like many other CUBE tablets, the U30GT2 comes endowed with ACC speakers, which make for some loud, though not exceptionally rich sound. Just keep in mind that the speaker is located on the right edge, which means if you are holding the tablet with both hands, any songs and movie dialogue will sound muffled.
Performance
The CUBE U30GT2 packs an 1.8GHz quad-core Rockchip chip (RK3188), which is built on Cortex-A9 frame and 28nm process, paired up with 533MHZ quad core Mali-400MP GPU and 2GB of DDR3 RAM. Although this is not the first tablet I've tested this setup, it is truly the first one with FHD display, and it didn't disappoint—the U30GT2 scorched the benchmarks, recording some of the highest scores I've seen across the board. The 16,413 overall Antutu benchmark score handily beat the 10,401 notched by the Onda V973 and approached the 18,000-20,000 marked by the Sony Xperia Tablet Z and Asus Padfone Infinity, both of which use Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 APQ8064 quad core chipset.
High CF-Bench and Vellamo HTML5 scores confirmed anecdotally speedy Web browsing performance during day-to-day use, while Nenamark2 frame rates were among the best I’ve seen. From rapidly switching between multiple running apps to playing graphically intensive games like NFS17, the U30GT2 handled everything I threw at it easily. Sliding between widget-loaded home screens and scrolling down media-heavy websites was smooth, with very rare choppiness.
The U30GT2’s benchmark score compared with other tablets with quad core processor.
The tablet has 32GB of internal memory with the option of adding up to a 32GB microSD card, which will suffice the need of majority of users. If that’s not enough, you can always connect an USB disk or mobile hard drive to the slate via OTG.
Software
The U30GT2 isn’t skinned with CUBE’s much loved yet also much hated Win8-like interface, instead it uses the original launcher of the stock Android 4.1.1. There are indeed some very cool and useful preinstalled applications, but none of them actually developed by CUBE, and you can find them in Google play or any third-party app market.
Multi-media
Media playback is solid with the U30GT2 and it breezed through anything I threw at it, including MPEG-4, RMVB, and MKV files at resolutions up to 1080p. The sound the speakers produce is of relatively high volume and nice quality.
Also, the U30GT2 has HDMI support, you can output the display to much bigger monitor and TV screens in Full HD resolution via an HDMI cable, enjoying movies and funny videos with friends and family.
Communication
New tablets should have an easy time in the connectivity test. However, many voices spoke out about the poor WLAN performance of many of CUBE’s slates. This was not really the case for the U30GT2, as I am pleasantly surprised with its Wi-Fi reception.
The U30GT2 uses 802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth 2.1. A version with a 3G module has not yet been announced by CUBE. In my standard Wi-Fi reception test, the U30GT2 beats most Chinese tablets in test results:
Cameras
There are two cameras on board here, a 5-megapixel F2.8 rear-facing camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera disappointed in my tests, with noticeably grainy images in both indoor and outdoor settings. Images are moderately sharp, but the U30GT2 struggles with dynamic range, blowing out highlighted areas and losing detail in shadows. You can record video at 480p resolution, but I'd use it as a last resort—video is shaky and riddled with image noise. The front-facing camera is serviceable for Skype calls, but not much more. This, however, is pretty typical of most tablet cameras.
Battery
The U30GT2 packs a 7200mAh battery. In my battery rundown test, which loops a video with screen brightness set to 30% and Wi-Fi turned off, the U30GT2 lasted 10 hours, 38 minutes. That's pretty impressive compared to the Onda V973's 8 hours, 5 minutes and the Nexus10's 8 hours, 47 minutes on the same test.
During testing, I also noticed the U30GT2 seemed to charge faster than competing models, a full charge only took about 4 hours with its bundled 12V-2A charger. But, contrary to most other Chinese tablet products with RK3188 chipset, the U30GT2 cannot be charged under a shutdown state. And I believe this is gonna annoy quite a number of people.
The competition
With a 1920 x 1200 screen and a $204 starting price to match, there's little question that the CUBE U30GT2 was intended as a cost-efficient device. By now, most Chinese tablet makers have lowered the price of their goods, leaving the U30GT2 with only a handful of competitors in the 2-hundred-dollar range. Starting with the obvious, there's the ifive X2, which sports an 8.9-inch, 1920*1200 PLS screen, along with a RK3188 processor and 2GB of RAM. All told, these are similar specs, except ifive's model costs $40 less and runs a slightly more skinned version of Android. As it happens, I am in the process of testing one now, but not quite ready to post my impressions and benchmarks results. In the meantime, then, it's at least safe to say that the X2 sits in the same class as the Infinity U30GT2 and is definitely worth your consideration, although it is beaten by the U30GT2 in internal storage (16GB: 32GB).
Within the same price range there’re also the Yuandao N90HD, the Aoson M33 and the PIPO M9 Pro, all of which pack a Retina display and the same RK3188 set-up, posting serious threat to the U30GT2’s market share.
It's also worth noting that the U30GT2 could face competition from within the CUBE line: the U30GT1 has already been on sale for a couple of weeks, at only $169 it is very likely to draw lots of users’ attentions away from the U30GT2.
Conclusion
The U30GT2 is a truly impressive tablet. It's exquisitely designed, exceedingly fast, and has a sharp full-HD display. Throw in extras like anti-rolling frame, built-in Bluetooth, expandable memory, and dual cameras and you have a seriously loaded Android tablet.
If you want arguably the fastest Android tablet with a full HD display for under $250, the U30GT2 is the way to go, since it is much more pleasant to use than those Allwinner A31 powered tablets with Retina displays. But my suggestion remains with the PIPO M9, as a standard resolution still has much better compatibility with most applications.

Price Incorrect - Or Changed?
Hi.
Nice review. I like that I can compare it to your Pipo review.
Question: you state that the cube can be found for around $200.00 or so. Where was that? I realizes prices can change, but your review is just a few weeks ago, and the typical price is around $250.00. The U30GT (version 1) goes for around $200.
Thanks!
-Pie

Hardware is good, but the rom is poor. it is always the problem of china tablet.

EatingPie said:
Hi.
Nice review. I like that I can compare it to your Pipo review.
Question: you state that the cube can be found for around $200.00 or so. Where was that? I realizes prices can change, but your review is just a few weeks ago, and the typical price is around $250.00. The U30GT (version 1) goes for around $200.
Thanks!
-Pie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The price that I presented here is turned from the retial price in China (RMB) to USD according to the exchange rate, the actual price in your country or some online stores might differ.

jupiter2012 said:
The price that I presented here is turned from the retial price in China (RMB) to USD according to the exchange rate, the actual price in your country or some online stores might differ.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, so they cost less when in China. Makes sense. But a road trip across the Pacific to save $50.00 is probably out of the question for me at this point.
BTW, can U30GT2 do chroot and run Linux distros like Ubuntu under Android? I use LinuxonAndroid and it made the process really easy on my Nook HD+... and it left me wanting for speed, which is why I'm interested in the UG30GT2.
Thanks.
-Pie

The best review i've ever read. Thank you mate!!

antooonn said:
The best review i've ever read. Thank you mate!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank u for your support!
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium

Screen on/off power button no workee
I just got the Cube U30GT2 in the mail earlier this week. You're right, it's got a bit more heft to it, but not so bad, just a tad heavier than my Galaxy tab 10.1. However, unlike that tablet, the U30GT has lots of options for connecting things, micro USB, micro SDHC, micro HDMI. My tab 10.1 couldn't do any of those.
On the bummer side, the momentary power button, screen on/off doesn't seem to be working. The tablet is new with all the wrappings on, but that button is slightly busted. It will reboot the tablet, but won't turn the screen on or off. I worked around it for now with a screen always on app, and screen off app. I also discovered plugging or unplugging the power cord from the tablet also turns the screen back on. But aggravating. I have yet to succeed at getting the attention of the seller (androidtablet.com).
The price was middle of the road: $250 or so. But that's terrific compared to a Galaxy Tab or other recent tablet.
---------- Post added at 08:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:34 PM ----------
I forgot to mention, I read lots of reviews online for the Cube U30GT2 before popping for it. Most rated it as one of the currently best Chinese tablets, and not withstanding the power button issue, I tend to agree. However, all of the Chinese Android tablets seem to suffer from weak wi-fi signals, and in my table at least, this is true.
I tested my Galaxy tab laying right next to the Cube tablet. The Galaxy was able to knock out 10mbs on my wi-fi router from my family which is 15 feet or so away. The cube tablet only hit 2 to 5 mbs. Mind you, I couldn't tell much of a difference when hitting youtube, but it is a distinct disadvantage. I'm going overseas next month and the weaker reception could mean I won't get reliable wi-fi reception in the hotel.

Looks good.
I have the previous one and it's great .
Recommended.

Looks OK. Just wished they opted to put a slightly better GPU in it. The Mali 400 is good for phones but for a tablet that had a 1080p + display needs a bit more power. However, this is a good bargain considering it's original nexus 7 price tag.
Sent from my YP-G1 using xda app-developers app

Thanks for the nice review.
I think according to the price its a good tablet. But I agree to obscuresword, that the GPU it too weak for the Resolution. My Galaxy S3 has the same GPU and many benchmarks show, that its not as good as many people think.
The HP Touchpad tought as, never trust the hardware, if the software isnt good. Because of that, i never bought a Tablet from China. Android is not efficient enough, to ignore new Android versions...

artoni said:
Thanks for the nice review.
I think according to the price its a good tablet. But I agree to obscuresword, that the GPU it too weak for the Resolution. My Galaxy S3 has the same GPU and many benchmarks show, that its not as good as many people think.
The HP Touchpad tought as, never trust the hardware, if the software isnt good. Because of that, i never bought a Tablet from China. Android is not efficient enough, to ignore new Android versions...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How come I don't understand your last sentence....
Android has its advantages and disadvantages, that all comes down to personal preference. As for myself, I could never get used to the iOS system. I used to own an ipad2, but got too sick of the system after using it for just 2 months and gave it away.

Very comprehensive review! Thanks a bunch!
The deal-breaker for me is the placement of the "stereo" speakers on the righthand side. You'd think they would have separated the two speakers, one on the left side of the tab and one on the right side, but they didn't.

1.8?
I just wanted to point out that the clock is running at 1.6Ghz and not 1.8Ghz as advised. It is still a good choice for the price thought.

vondroid CFW
http://vondroid.com/resources/cfw-vondroid-cube-u30gt2-1-x.374/
4GB Internal Storage
CWM Recovery (ClockWorkMod)
Rooted
Debloated Chinese Software
Add apps (Youtube, ES File Explorer)
Apps updated
Ads block
Partial Build.prop optimise
Solved Settings crash issue
Fully Build.prop optimise
Fully market support
Init.d support
Init.d tweaks
Update apps (GoogleSearch)
General system optimise (Launcher.apk, Framework-res.apk)
Vondroid Boot animation
Support extra .ko files (Tun.ko, cifs.ko, nls,...)

antooonn said:
The best review i've ever read. Thank you mate!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yaah men i agree

WHich one
I have been looking at the cube u30gt2 and still undecided which one to get.
i have looked at.
1. Cube u30gt2
2. Pipo Max m9 pro
3. Ramos W30HD
4. Ramos I9
each seem to have similar pros and cons,
I am just nervous I buy the wrong one and nervous I am buying from china?
Please help me decide

Quite a good review. Ordered mine from China together with the Onda. Yet to receive them. Will post impressions after I drive the two.

Root
I can´t find a rooting tutorial for this tablet. Can some one give a clue about that?
Thks
Pirex

jy_P said:
I just wanted to point out that the clock is running at 1.6Ghz and not 1.8Ghz as advised. It is still a good choice for the price thought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got one, and mine is runnig at 1.8Ghz
Cheers