Design and Build Quality: A Familiar Yet Functional Approach
The Micromax tablet arrives in a package that is minimalist, containing the device itself, a charging adapter, a USB-C cable, and essential documentation. The first point of contact is its chassis, which is constructed primarily from polycarbonate. This choice of material is a clear nod to cost-saving, but it has been executed with a reasonable degree of finesse. The rear panel features a subtle, matte-textured finish that successfully resists fingerprint smudges, a common annoyance on glossy plastic devices. The contours are gently curved, making the tablet comfortable to hold for extended periods, though its overall footprint and bezels feel slightly dated compared to modern, ultra-slim designs from premium brands.
Weighing in at approximately 510 grams, it has a noticeable heft that lends it a sense of substance, though it may feel a bit heavy for younger users during prolonged use. The button placement is ergonomic, with the power button and volume rocker situated on the right-hand side, offering a satisfying tactile click. A significant and welcome inclusion is a dedicated slot for a SIM card and a microSD card, allowing for expandable storage and cellular connectivity—a feature often omitted in this price segment. The USB-C port for charging and data transfer is a modern touch that future-proofs the device, while the 3.5mm headphone jack remains present for wired audio enthusiasts. The overall build inspires confidence for daily handling, feeling sturdy enough to withstand minor bumps without feeling fragile.
Display: Sharpness and Color Accuracy Under Scrutiny
The centerpiece of any tablet is its display, and the Micromax model features a 10.95-inch FHD+ (2000 x 1200 pixels) IPS LCD panel. The resolution is adequate, resulting in a pixel density of around 212 PPI. For everyday tasks like web browsing, reading eBooks, and watching YouTube videos, the screen is sufficiently sharp. Text renders clearly without visible jagged edges, which is crucial for productivity and reading applications.
Color reproduction is a mixed bag. The IPS technology ensures decent viewing angles, with colors shifting only slightly when viewed from extreme angles. However, the color palette tends to lean towards a cooler tone, with whites appearing slightly blueish out of the box. Saturation is moderate; it doesn’t boast the vibrant, oversaturated pop of some AMOLED screens, but it also doesn’t look overly washed out. The brightness levels are a notable limitation. With a peak brightness we measured at approximately 380 nits, the tablet struggles with legibility in direct sunlight. Indoor and shaded outdoor use is perfectly manageable, but HDR content playback lacks the necessary luminance and contrast for a truly immersive experience. The absence of a high refresh rate is expected at this price, and the standard 60Hz refresh rate feels perfectly smooth for general navigation and media consumption, though it cannot match the fluidity of 90Hz or 120Hz panels.
Performance and Software: Navigating Day-to-Day Tasks
Under the hood, the Micromax tablet is powered by a MediaTek Helio G80 octa-core processor. This is a well-established chipset built on a 12nm process, featuring two ARM Cortex-A75 performance cores clocked at 2.0GHz and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores at 1.8GHz, paired with a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. Our review unit was configured with 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which is a commendable combination for a budget device.
In real-world usage, this hardware configuration delivers a generally reliable experience. The tablet handles routine operations—switching between social media apps, managing emails, and browsing with multiple Chrome tabs—with acceptable fluidity. There are occasional, slight stutters when launching heavy applications or during intensive multitasking, but they are not pervasive enough to hamper the overall experience. The UFS 2.2 storage provides noticeably faster app load times and file transfers compared to tablets relying on slower eMMC storage.
For gaming, the Helio G80 and Mali-G52 combo is capable. Casual titles like Among Us or Candy Crush run flawlessly. More graphically demanding games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact are playable, but require graphics settings to be tuned down to Medium or Low for a stable frame rate. Extended gaming sessions result in a perceptible warmth on the tablet’s rear, but it never reached uncomfortable levels of heat during our testing.
The software experience is a significant highlight. The tablet runs a near-stock version of Android 13, with a promise of two major OS updates. The absence of heavy, resource-hogging custom skins and bloatware is a breath of fresh air. The interface is clean, intuitive, and responsive. Features like Dark Mode, Digital Wellbeing, and Google’s Discover feed are present and functional. This clean software approach maximizes the available hardware resources, contributing significantly to the tablet’s smooth performance and is a key differentiator in a market flooded with poorly optimized skins.
Camera Capabilities: Adequate for Scanning, Not for Shooting
Tablet cameras are rarely a forte, and this holds true for the Micromax model. The rear camera system consists of a single 13-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. In ample daylight, it can capture images with passable detail and accurate colors for a quick document scan or a reference photo. However, dynamic range is limited, with highlights often blowing out in high-contrast scenes. Details become soft and noise is prominent as the light dips, making the camera virtually useless in low-light conditions. There is no dedicated night mode to mitigate these issues.
The 8-megapixel front-facing camera, housed in a thick bezel, is sufficient for video calls on Google Meet, Zoom, and Skype. It produces grainy images in poor lighting, but for its primary purpose of video conferencing, it performs adequately. Both front and rear cameras can record video at up to 1080p resolution at 30fps, with electronic image stabilization (EIS) that provides a slightly shaky but usable output.
Battery Life and Audio: Marathon Endurance with Basic Sound
The tablet is equipped with a substantial 7,000mAh battery. In our standardized battery drain test, which involves a looped video playback at 50% brightness and with Wi-Fi connected, the device lasted for an impressive 12 hours and 15 minutes. This translates to exceptional real-world endurance. For a typical user, this means about two to three days of mixed usage involving 6-7 hours of screen-on time per day, encompassing web browsing, video streaming, and light gaming. It is a true all-day companion without constant anxiety about finding a power outlet.
Charging, however, is a slower affair. The bundled 18W charger takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes to replenish the massive battery from 0 to 100%. The inclusion of a faster charger would have been a welcome addition, but the trade-off for such long battery life is generally considered acceptable.
The audio experience is delivered through a dual-speaker setup, though both speakers are located on the same edge of the tablet. This results in a stereo image that is easily blocked when holding the device in landscape mode. The sound output is clear at medium volumes but lacks any significant bass. At maximum volume, there is noticeable distortion, and the speakers struggle to fill a room. For personal entertainment, using the 3.5mm jack or a pair of Bluetooth headphones is highly recommended for a more immersive and higher-quality audio experience.
Connectivity and Additional Features
Connectivity options are comprehensive for a device in this category. It supports dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, which provides a stable and faster connection on 5GHz networks. Bluetooth 5.3 ensures efficient pairing with peripherals like headphones, keyboards, and speakers. The inclusion of GPS with GLONASS provides accurate location services. The 4G LTE capability, enabled via the SIM slot, is a major advantage for users who require constant internet access on the go, transforming the tablet into a large-screen communication device for calls and messages. The software also includes basic optimizations for a larger screen, such as a split-screen mode for multitasking, though it lacks more advanced desktop-like features found in some competing UI skins.