Review Verdict: The TCL Tab 10s 4G is one of the most affordable tablets in the Philippines, especially if you factor in that it includes the keyboard cover and stylus in its package. It’s a great starter device for anyone still looking for an affordable tablet for homeschooling, though its use of MediaTek’s aging Helio P22T processor limits its capabilities for anything more. 

Pros

• Keyboard included with the package
• Premium build

Cons

• Very old processor
• Stereo speakers lack depth

TCL Tab 10s 4G Review Philippines Specs

• Helio P22T Processor
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB internal storage
• 10.1-inch Full HD IPS display
• 8-megapixel f/2.0 rear camera
• 5-megapixel f/2.2 front camera
• 4G. LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
• Stereo speakers
• 8000mAh battery
• 18w charging
• Android 10, TCL UI

Aside from phones, TCL is also bringing over its tablets to the Philippines, and the Tab 10s 4G is among its initial offerings. TCL Philippines sent us the budget tablet to check out. Should you consider it if you need a budget home-school tab?

Design

Despite being a budget offering, TCL did make the Tab 10s 4G look as premium as possible. The back panel has a textured, durable-looking matte finish that is very resistant to smudges that looks up to the task of preventing obvious signs of daily wear and tear.

The raised camera bump houses a single 8-megapixel snapper and an LED flash. The protrusion is noticeable, that it is best to use a case (like the included keyboard cover) to protect it from bumps and scratches since it doesn’t lay down completely flat when you place it down on a table or a similar surface.

The top has the first set of speakers, USB-C port, LED indicator, and the power button, while the bottom has the other set of speakers. The right side has the volume controls and the SIM tray, while the left side houses POGO pins for the keyboard cover. It is strange to see a budget tablet omit the headphone jack, so you are left with either using a USB-C dongle (which is not included) or a pair of wireless earphones.

Display and speakers

The Tab 10s 4G has a 10.1-inch display with rather thick bezels and a Full HD+ resolution. The IPS panel only has a 60hz refresh rate, and the 5-megapixel selfie snapper is housed on the top bezel.

Even if it is a budget tablet, the Tab 10s 4G has a decent panel with good color accuracy and a decent brightness range that is enough for outdoor use. While it can play Full HD videos on YouTube, the Tab 10s 4G only has Widevine L3, which means that Netflix videos are limited to standard definition.

The Tab 10s 4G comes with a T-pen stylus that can be used for notetaking or illustrations. While the pen is not powered, we wish that TCL included a stylus holder so that you do not need to worry about losing it. There’s also a keyboard folio case included that protects the Tab 10s 4G and transforms it into a proper 2-in-1. The POGO pins power the detachable keyboard, which connects seamlessly to the tablet via magnets.

Speaking of the keyboard, the keys are a touch small for my hands, which is understandable because of the size of the tablet. Nevertheless, the key travel is good enough for long typing sessions.

The speakers are a different story, however. Despite having a stereo setup, the Tab 10s 4G lacks bass, and pushing the volume higher leads to tinny sound. You’re better off using a pair of USB-C earphones or wireless earbuds if you intend to use the Tab 10s for multimedia purposes.

Internals and Battery Life

Powering the Tab 10s 4G is an Helio P22T processor that is paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. While the RAM and internal storage configuration should suffice for most homeschooling needs, the Helio P22T processor is the biggest limiting factor of the Tab 10s 4G as a budget productivity tablet.

The Helio P22T is a very old processor at this point, and its 12nm process is vastly limiting compared to newer processors that use a more efficient manufacturing process (and newer ARM cores too). This is evident with the scores we got from synthetic benchmarks, and it becomes more apparent when you try to multi-task with the Tab 10s 4G. This should not be a concern for its target market, as students will most likely only use one (or two, at most) apps at a time while they use the Tab 10s 4G for their school work.

Aside from the outdated processor, the Tab 10s 4G only comes with Android 10 out of the box, and there is no word yet if it will receive Android 11 in the future.

With its 8000mAh battery, the Tab 10s 4G lasted for around 12 hours in our video loop test, which is at par with most tablets we have tested so far. Together with 18w USB-C charging, it takes around 4 hours to fully charge the battery to 100%.

Wrap up and Conclusions

Our review of the TCL Tab 10s 4G in the Philippines shows that the brand has almost nailed it right in offering a tablet for under Php 14k. While we appreciate the inclusion of a stylus and a keyboard folio cover to transform it into a 2-in-1 productivity device, the use of a 4-year old processor limits the potential of the Tab 10s 4G as a workhorse.

TCL Tab 10s 4G Review Philippines Price

The Tab 10s 4G is priced at Php 13,995 and is available in Lazada with the keyboard folio case and T-Pen. If you don’t need the keyboard folio case (or you have your own), you can get the Tab 10s 4G with only the T-Pen for Php 12,695.