Top Tablets Unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2023: A Comprehensive Roundup

The recently concluded Mobile World Congress 2023 in Barcelona offered tablet OEMs an excellent opportunity to showcase their innovative products. After being away for several years, the offline event witnessed an immense response from attendees eager to learn more about how these revolutionary tablets will transform our lives in the future. Pioneering the trend in this space are TCL, Lenovo, and Nubia. More prominent brands like Samsung decided to keep a low profile and remain relatively unnoticed.

In this comprehensive roundup, we will focus on the launches from these various brands. All the tablets have unique designs and specifications; TCL chose to stay within traditional guidelines, while Nubia went above and beyond with a revolutionary 3D tablet that does not require glasses! Without further delay, let us dive into our roundup.

Nubia shows off world’s first 3D tablet

At MWC 2023, ZTE stole the show with their innovative Nubia Pad 3D that offers a revolutionary glass-free 3D experience. While Asus and Acer have already introduced laptops of this type, ZTE is one of the first to introduce it on an Android tablet. Despite the impressive 3D display, it’s a shame that the Nubia Pad utilizes older hardware and comes at the same price tag as most premium tablets.

Partnering with Leia Inc., ZTE has included a 12.4 inch LCD screen with 2560x1600px native resolution at 120Hz refresh rate and 16:10 aspect ratio. The Nubia Pad 3D tablet offers a one-of-a-kind DLB layer, paired with the advanced 3D Light Field mode technology from Leia. The device is touted to not just display native 3D content – it can also transform 2D content into full three dimensional images in real time! But that’s not all: users will also have access to an exclusive app store featuring immersive games and educational applications created by Leia.

With all the power going in the display segment, the tablet does compromise on the SoC as it settles for flagship yet dated Snapdragon 888 chipset. Other specifications include 8MP and 16MP front and rear cameras, 256GB of internal storage. A 9070mAh battery backs the 3D tablet with a 33W fast charger.

If you live in one of its select markets, the ZTE nubia pad 3D is available for pre-order from March 25 and will be on sale starting April 11. Unfortunately, we don’t have information regarding how much this tablet costs yet.

OnePlus Pad gives a cameo too

Out of all the products featured at MWC, we found that the OnePlus Pad was in a league of its own. Its availability for purchase will be within a month, and it already looks ready for the market! The company’s initial Android tablet is a formidable device, featuring top-tier specs and an eye-catching design that might be polarizing for some.

At its Cloud 11 event on February 7th, 2023, OnePlus unveiled the Pad. During Mobile World Congress (MWC), they displayed a demo of the tablet and further announced that pre-orders would begin in April of next year. While we are still in the process of determining the pricing, you can expect to learn more about it when pre-orders open in April. Stay tuned for further details over the coming weeks.

Boasting an 11.61-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 2800×2000 pixels. Moreover, this tablet is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The tablet runs Android 13-based OxygenOS 13.1 out-of-the-box, and it’s all backed up by a 9510mAh battery. The OnePlus Pad features a 13MP rear camera, as well as an 8MP selfie lens for all your photographic needs. Connectivity options include USB Type-C, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, and GPS.

TCL unveils NXTPAPER 11 and TAB 11 

At the event, TCL launched two budget tablets: the Tab 11 and NXTPAPER 11. The former has a regular tablet design with standard features, while the latter presents something distinct with its paper-like display.

NXTPAPER 11 with a paper-like display

The NXTPAPER 11 tablet features a 10.95-inch IPS LCD screen with 2,000 x 1,200px (15:9) resolution for sharp visuals, and its unique coating provides a sensational feel like writing on paper. A pressure-sensitive stylus is also available as an optional purchase, boasting its ability to detect up to 4,096 levels of pressure.

Under the hood, the NXTPAPER 11 comes powered by an Helio P60T chipset, 4GB of RAM, and 28GB of storage that is expandable up to 2TB via microSD card. In the imaging segment, it sports an 8MP selfie camera and an 8MP rear camera. It supports connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 5 (ac) and Bluetooth 5.0. An 8,000mAh battery clubbed with an 18W USB-C charger completes the package. 

TAB 11 debuts as the budget offering

The TAB 11 features a 10.95-inch IPS display featuring a 2000×1200 2K resolution. It comes powered with the MediaTek Helio P60T SoC and Imagination PowerVR GE8320 GPU alongside 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB via microSD card. The tablet is also compatible with the low-latency T-Pen, which can be purchased separately. It sports an 8MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. Connectivity options include 4G/LTE (optional), WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, and more. An 8000mAh battery backs the TAB 11 with support for reverse charging.

Regarding pricing and availability, the NXTPAPER 11 tablet starts at $249, while the TAB 11 is more on the budget side, starting at $179. Both tablets are expected to go official in Europe in May 2023. 

Lenovo brings out IdeaPad Duet 3i 2-in-1 

Lenovo also joined the ranks of other PC and phone manufacturers at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and unveiled the much-awaited IdeaPad Duet 3i 2-in-1. We reviewed its predecessor; you can check out the review here. 

The IdeaPad Duet 3i 2-in-1 features an expansive 11.5-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 2000×1200, DCI-P3 coverage, and 400-nits peak brightness. Intel’s robust N200 processor powers the device boasting four cores and four threads for optimal performance at up to 3.7GHz clock speeds. The IdeaPad Duet 3i 2-in-1 can be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB M.2 PCIe solid-state storage.

Connectivity options in this convertible tablet include WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports. It also has a stylus pairing option that allows you to easily draw or take notes — making it ideal for students, as claimed by Lenovo. The imaging segment includes a 5MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear camera. Lenovo touts the device offers up to 8.5 hours of battery backup on a single charge, and with Rapid Charge boost, users can easily get two hours’ worth of battery life with only 15 minutes of charging.

Remember, the keyboard is included in the base price, while Lenovo Digital Pen requires an additional purchase. The 2-in-1 laptop is anticipated to officially launch in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in June 2023 at €449 (estimated $473). There has been no information concerning its availability in North America.

Foldable Tech at MWC 2023

The MWC 2023 was abuzz with foldable tech – from phones to laptops. Several brands, including Tecno- renowned for budget offerings – launched their debut foldable at the event. Oppo and Honor also made significant contributions to the expanding market of folding devices by displaying their products at this year’s Mobile World Congress. Here’s a rundown of top foldable phones that featured at the event.

Oppo Find N2

Last December, we were delighted to discover the Oppo Find Z2 foldable phone. This device is remarkably similar to its earlier version: it’s still small and pocket-friendly, has a minimal crease line, and boasts an incredibly satisfying hinge mechanism.

The Find N2 sports an impressive 7.1-inch inner display and a more spacious 5.54-inch FHD cover display – both boast high brightness levels of 1550 nits and 1350 nits, respectively.

Oppo has fitted the device with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip that guarantees increased battery life and sustained performance. They also added 67W charging to ensure you’re always powered up. Plus, an impressive 32MP telephoto and 48MP ultrawide camera is equipped with Hasselblad color calibration for optimum photography results. Unfortunately, this device might not be available worldwide and stay exclusive to China only.

Honor Magic Vs

At MWC 2023, the Honor Magic Vs was another remarkable book-style foldable gadget. But what truly sets this device apart is its revolutionary hinge, which decreases the number of structural support components from 92 to 4 and reduces its thickness to a mere 12.9 mm when it’s folded shut without leaving any gap.

The adoption of foldables has been stunted by the fact that they possess a multitude of parts within their hinges, making them prone to structural issues over time. With so many moving pieces and potential points for failure, users have shied away from investing in these innovative devices.

Honor has found a way to create an enduring product with its minimalistic design. Additionally, the Magic Vs comes equipped with a 5000mAh battery and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip for optimal performance. Unfortunately, it does have one downfall – the brightness of its 7.9-inch main display is capped at 800 nits.

Tecno Phantom V Fold

Tecno might be a new name for you, but the brand is fairly known in Asia-Pacific; it appeared at the MWC 2023 with its newest foldable device—the Phantom V Fold.

Tecno is primarily renowned for its value-priced handsets, but its latest model, the Phantom V Fold, screams luxury. It features a leather finish and an impressive circular camera bump holding three lenses – a 50MP main lens, 50MP telephoto, and 13 MP ultrawide – that is touted to take your photography game to the next level.

Boasting a maximum brightness of 1100 nits, the 7.85-inch inner display, and 6.42-inch LTPO cover screen provides exceptional visuals safeguarded with Gorilla Glass Victus for added protection. However, unlike Honor Magic Vs or Samsung’s foldable, the Tecno Phantom V Fold lacks the finish. 

Overall, the tablets unveiled at the MWC 2023 have set the bar high for future releases in terms of design, performance, and innovation. Whether you’re in the market for a new tablet or simply curious about the latest advancements, this comprehensive roundup provides a thorough overview of the top tablets launched at MWC 2023, helping you make an informed decision on which device is right for you. Which tablet is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!