Pipo M7 Pro 3G Review
Specifications and features...you can refer to these links below, a very comprehensive overview of key features of this amazing tablet.
From Pipo website – in chinese,
产å“*展示--å“*铂科技
from Tabletsprint – in english,
PIPO M7 PRO - QUAD CORE 16GB - 8.9 INCH 1900X1200 DISPLAY - BLUETOOTH - BUILT-IN GPS - AUGUST 1ST PRODUCT LAUNCH - TabletSprint
I bought the 3G white version – set menu 1 @ 1,429 yuan , from the Tmall reseller below…he has excellent ratings, plenty of positive feedbacks and reviews, and highest transaction volume of all. I believe he ships overseas as well, though its mentioned free shipping, I doubt it applies to overseas shipping…but you can check.
To save me the hassle, I used an forwarder/agent, Hirakawa, who did the ordering and everything else for me...excellent service, prompt response and reliable , hence highly recommended. Delivery took a bit longer than usual...7 business days, from the day shipment arrived at Hirakawa’s warehouse. My package arrived with everything in order and correct, and most importantly, the tablet wasn’t a dud.
Shipping and delivery costs S$30 for the 2 kg package.
Total paid is S$325..which is not bad with all those accessories.
Reseller Link: ( rate was then 4.85 for me )
http://xhcxsm.tmall.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a221p.5847809.0.0.BbqV6E&user_number_id=1040719034
Agent Hirakawa link:
MO:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/m...aper-alternative-shipping-method-2684430.html
Another reliable agent, with cheap rates I would use as well in future, but currently he is overwhelmed, so response can be quite slow...anyway, bookmarked.
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/m...y~-best-rates~-no-handling-fees~-4011931.html
Package delivered:
Here’s my package opened…underneath those accessories is the Pipo Box bubble wrapped.
Here are the accessories with the set menu 1…. starting clockwise - HDMI cable, black leather case, tablet stand, TF card reader, capacitative pen, cleaning cloth, fish bone winder, and USB Lan adapter.
Inside the Pipo box are the standard accessories...charger on the left, the rest still wrapped up are the OTG cable, USB cable, and ear phones, with chinese manual and warrranty card.
Heres the Pipo M7 Pro 3G white version…you can see the protective plastic mask still pasted( with sticker ) yet to be peeled off, underneath this, is the protective screen already thoughtfully applied.
Build quality is excellent and solid, not flimsy at all. It doesn’t feel like its going to fall apart holding it with only one hand at one end, and unlike the Note 8.0, twisting it a little doesn’t warp it the slightest . It is about 10mm at its thickest, not exactly a thin beauty like the Xperia Z tablet, or the iPad.
It does feels heavier than the advertised 410g, and with a digital scale, I can confirm the weight to be 488g! For comparisons,
iPad mini at 312g
Samsung Note 8.0 at 345g
Sony Xperia Z tablet at 495g
iPad at 652g
Screen:
Pipo's marketing:
"In the current market, although many types of China Tablet PC, but the tablet size choices for consumers, but not rich. For example 16:10 widescreen, generally only 7-inch, 10.1-inch two specifications. The 8-inch, 9.7-inch products are mainly denominated in a 4:3 square screen. However, unlike the vast majority of tablet computers are different, PiPOM7pro uses a very special Samsung 8.9-inch PLS screen.
PLS screen with IPS screen technology principle is the same, the liquid crystal molecules belong to the deflection theory using the plane to get wide angle screen technology. However, due to M7pro using this screen into the latest technology developed by Samsung Electronics, the screen display is better than the other 8.9-inch IPS screen even better! In the realization of the screen 400 nits high brightness while, the screen contrast ratio up to 900:1 (compared with other 8.9-inch IPS screen 800:1), the screen response speed Geng Shibi other 8.9-inch IPS screen more than 1 times faster response time only is 16ms (compared to other 8.9-inch IPS screen 32ms)."
The FHD screen is gorgeous…sharp images with no visible pixels, colours are vibrant and most importantly, no dead pixels…and yes, its the very same panel that is used in the Kindle Fire HD 8.9, a Samsung PS panel. Viewing angles are excellent. And I prefer this 16:10 aspect ratio.
However the brightness is not what you might expect at full. Personally, I find it quite comfortable at around 60% setting...plus it helps conserve battery power and prolong usage.
Outdoor viewing, on a bright sunny afternoon, is rather difficult, solely because the protective screen is just too reflective. Its like trying to watch your shiny flat panel tv on a sunny afternoon placed next to the window.
I find the screen still very responsive even with the thick protective mask plastic still on the tablet. And the quality glass screen gives the tablet its sturdiness…G+G - could it be gorilla glass?
Heres a screen capture of the display
One gripe..the panel wasn’t centred properly within the white bezel borders…its shifted slightly to the left by 1mm as seen in the pic below. Anyway its just a minor aesthetic problem.
The tablet does not come pre-rooted, and kernel version dated July 2013. I upgraded to the latest stock ROM (19 Aug 2013) from Pipo website, just to make sure it is up to speed and at its optimum… and then did the Antutu benchmark…not bad!
Browser:
Preloaded with Chrome…its pretty snappy, dependent on your internet connection. Even with the page still loading, I am still able to scroll, and even pan around, zoom in ,etc without any lag. Chrome seems to work very well this time with android 4.2.2 OS.
Audio & Video:
Very smooth video playback for even HD videos so far, with no stuttering.
Though the speakers are back facing, they still sound loud and clear.
The speaker audio from music files is surprisingly loud at full volume , same with youtube videos . Compared with the bigger size 720p and 1080p videos I played..its definitely softer but still audible at full vol, however the smaller size rmvb, xvid video files are just as loud as the music files. So could it be due to the video format and audio encoding??
I think the sound from tablet and laptop speakers generally dont sound that great, especially at high volume anyways, but with earphones, its world of difference...the sound quality is superb, and loud too. Whether using a "2 striped jack" or "3 striped jack" earphones, both sound equally good and loud ...even my cheap brandless "2 striped jack" earphones sounds loud and clear.
Wifi:
For reference, I used my iPhone 4s to test WIfi signal strength alongside the M7 Pro, with 2 different wireless routers. ( do note that the wifi icon in iPhone has only 3 bar, whereas the M7 Pro has 4 bars; distance means from the router )
a. Starhub standard issued CISCO wireless router DPC3925..
Same room @ 3m - tablet 3-4 bar, iphone 3 bar
1 concrete wall @ 5m – tablet 2-3 bar, iphone 3 bar @7 m – tablet 1-2 bar, iphone 2bar
2 concrete walls @ 6m - tablet 2 bar, iphone 2 bar @7m - tablet 1bar, iphone2 bar
3 concrete walls @ 7m - tablet 0 reception, iphone 1 bar.
b. Asus RT-N66U ( a better router with good wifi range )
The router is situated on the 2nd storey in a room at the front of the house.
2 concrete walls @ 11m - tablet 2-3 bar, iphone 2 bar.
1st floor dining room at middle of house @ 11m – tablet 2-3 bar, iphone 2 bar. Adjacent kitchen, separated by another concrete wall, - tablet 1-2 bar, iphone 1 bar.
Conclusion: From my tests, the wifi reception for this tablet seems good, however the iphone 4S wifi reception is still better...where the tablet lost reception , the iPhone managed to maintain internet connection at 1 bar. As seen above, a good router can increase your wifi range.
