HMD T21: The Entry-level Tablet That Balances Performance And Value

Body and Build Quality

The HMD T21 measures 247.5×157.3×7.5 mm and weighs in at a manageable 467 grams. Its construction features a glass front and an aluminum back, giving it a premium feel while ensuring durability. The scratch-resistant glass adds an extra layer of protection against everyday wear and tear. Here are the relevant specs:

The body of the HMD T21 tablet strikes a balance between durability and portability, making it an appealing choice for a wide range of users. Those dimensions place it comfortably in the ergonomic tablet category, offering a substantial screen size without being overly bulky. The weight of the tablet is well-balanced against its size, making it comfortable to keep on your lap for extended periods. Whether you're watching movies, browsing the internet, or working on documents, the HMD T21 won't feel cumbersome or heavy.

The slim profile (7.5 mm) and moderate weight ensure that the tablet is easy to carry around. It fits snugly in a backpack or a medium-sized handbag, making it an ideal companion for daily commutes, travel, or moving between rooms in your home or office.

The inclusion of scratch-resistant glass is a significant benefit for the HMD T21. It protects the display from minor scratches and scuffs that can occur from everyday use, such as placing the tablet on rough surfaces or carrying it alongside keys and other objects. Maintaining a scratch-free screen ensures that the display remains clear and visually appealing, preserving the tablet's premium look over time. Not to mention that tablets with well-maintained screens often retain higher resale values, making scratch-resistant glass a practical investment for future-proofing your device.

The HMD T21 features an aluminum back, which offers several advantages. Aluminum is a robust material that provides excellent protection against drops and impacts, helping to safeguard the internal components of the tablet. It has good thermal conductivity, which aids in dissipating heat more efficiently compared to plastic. This can help keep the tablet cooler during intensive tasks. And the metal back gives the tablet a sleek, premium feel that is often associated with high-end devices. It adds a touch of elegance and sturdiness to the overall design.

However, while aluminum is relatively lightweight for a metal, it is heavier than plastic, which can contribute to the overall weight of the tablet. It can feel cold to the touch in cooler environments, which might be less comfortable for some users compared to the warmer feel of plastic or rubberized materials. Also, although aluminum is durable, it can dent upon significant impact. This is less likely with normal use but worth considering if you frequently handle your tablet in rugged environments.

In summary, the HMD T21's body design is well-thought-out, balancing the need for durability, aesthetics, and practicality. Its dimensions and weight make it comfortable for extended use and easy to carry, while the scratch-resistant glass and aluminum back enhance its durability and premium appeal. These characteristics make the HMD T21 a reliable choice for users looking for a robust, stylish, and versatile tablet that can handle everyday tasks with ease.

IP Rating

(Related: IP ratings explained.)

The HMD T21 does not feature an official IP rating, but it boasts a splash resistant design, which is a nice touch for added peace of mind.

The splash-resistant design is your T21's superhero cape against accidental encounters with water - a spilled drink, a light drizzle, or the occasional splash. It's not ready for a deep-sea dive, but it can certainly handle the day-to-day water skirmishes.

Now, let's talk survival tips for your HMD T21 in the wild, wild world. Consider these your tablet's strategy for befriending the environmental elements:

• Avoid Deep Waters: As tempting as it might be, resist the urge to plunge your tablet into the depths of water bodies. Splash-resistant is not Atlantis-proof.
• Rainy Day Tactics: Caught in the rain? Shelter your tablet like it's the crown jewel. Slip it into your bag, seek refuge under an umbrella, or simply appreciate the beauty of rain without risking a wet tablet.
• Beverage Buddy System: Enjoying a beverage? Keep your tablet at a safe distance. A splash-resistant tablet doesn't appreciate a soda shower.
• Armor Up - Protective Case and Screen Protector: Now, for the armor! A protective case and a screen protector are your tablet's trusty sidekicks. They shield it from the bumps, scratches, and accidental encounters that are an inevitable part of life. Think of them as the superheroes in your tablet's justice league.

In the grand tablet opera, a splash-proof HMD T21 paired with a sturdy case and screen protector is the winning symphony. It's not just a tablet; it's a resilient companion ready to face the elements - one splash at a time!

Display

(Related: Know more about the various kinds of displays and screen specs.)

The HMD T21 boasts a 10.36-inch IPS LCD with a typical brightness of 360 nits. With a resolution of 1200×2000 pixels, it delivers sharp and vibrant visuals, making it perfect for watching movies, browsing the web, or working on creative projects. The display supports stylus input, which is great for note-taking and drawing.

Image credit: HMD

Here are the relevant specs:

The display of the HMD T21 is one of its standout features, offering a balance of size, resolution, and functionality that caters to a broad range of uses. The tablet employs an IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD panel, which is known for several key advantages. IPS panels maintain color accuracy and clarity even when viewed from different angles, making them ideal for sharing content with others or using the tablet at various orientations.

These displays typically offer better color reproduction compared to TN (Twisted Nematic) panels, resulting in more vibrant and accurate colors, which is beneficial for media consumption and creative work. The overall image quality and consistency of IPS panels are superior, providing a reliable and pleasing visual experience for both casual and professional use.

With a resolution of 1200×2000 pixels and a pixel density of approximately 225 PPI, the HMD T21 delivers crisp and detailed visuals. This level of sharpness is excellent for reading text, viewing photos, and watching high-definition videos. The 5:3 aspect ratio provides a balanced display area, suitable for both portrait and landscape modes. It enhances the viewing experience for multimedia content and web browsing.

A typical brightness of 360 nits is adequate for indoor use, providing clear visibility in standard lighting conditions, such as at home, in an office, or a classroom. However, a this brightness level may fall short under bright outdoor conditions or direct sunlight. You might find it challenging to see the screen clearly in such environments, necessitating the use of shading or adjusting angles for better visibility.

Stylus support in the HMD T21 is a valuable feature for users who engage in tasks that require precision, such as note-taking, drawing, and detailed editing. It transforms the tablet into a versatile tool for both creative and professional activities. The ability to use a stylus can significantly enhance productivity, especially for users who prefer handwritten notes or need to annotate documents quickly.

In summary, the HMD T21's display is well-suited for a variety of uses, thanks to its IPS LCD technology, sharp resolution, and useful stylus support. While the 360 nits brightness is sufficient for indoor settings, it might be limiting in bright outdoor environments, potentially requiring you to seek shade or adjust the tablet's position for optimal visibility.

Nonetheless, the overall display quality is impressive, making the HMD T21 a compelling choice for those seeking a tablet that performs well across different scenarios.

Networks

(Related: Cellular networks explained.)

Navigating through the tech landscape, the HMD T21 supports the GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies.

GSM and HSPA are the stalwarts, providing 2G and 3G connectivity, respectively. Then there's LTE, the foundation of modern 4G networks, delivering faster internet speeds.

SIM

The HMD T21 supports a single Nano-SIM.

Chipset: Performance

The HMD T21 is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset. This 12-nm octa-core processor, consisting of two types of cores, is paired with a Mali-G57 GPU, providing sufficient power for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. Here are the relevant specs:

The HMD T21 tablet is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset, which includes an octa-core CPU and a Mali-G57 GPU. The Unisoc Tiger T612 is a lower midrange chipset designed to balance performance and power efficiency, making it suitable for everyday tasks and light to moderate usage scenarios.

The CPU in the HMD T21 consists of eight cores, divided into two types:

• Cortex-A75 Cores: The two Cortex-A75 cores are designed for higher performance and are tasked with handling more demanding operations. These cores are responsible for processing-intensive tasks such as gaming, video editing, and running complex applications.
• Cortex-A55 Cores: The remaining six Cortex-A55 cores are optimized for power efficiency and handle less demanding tasks. These cores take on routine operations such as web browsing, email, social media, and background tasks. They ensure that the tablet runs smoothly while conserving battery life during everyday use.

While the Cortex-A55 cores have the same clock speed (1.8 GHz) as the Cortex-A75 cores, the two types of cores serve different purposes:

• Task Optimization: Using two different types of cores allows the chipset to optimize for both performance and power efficiency. The Cortex-A75 cores provide the necessary power for demanding tasks, while the Cortex-A55 cores ensure energy efficiency for lighter workloads.
• Dynamic Switching: This big.LITTLE architecture enables dynamic switching between cores based on the task's requirements, ensuring that the tablet delivers adequate performance without draining the battery unnecessarily.
• Thermal Management: By distributing tasks between high-performance and power-efficient cores, the system can manage heat generation more effectively, preventing overheating and maintaining consistent performance.

In the graphics department, the Mali-G57 GPU is capable of handling most graphical tasks associated with low-end devices. It supports casual gaming, video playback, and rendering tasks with decent efficiency. Designed to be power-efficient, the Mali-G57 balances graphical performance with energy consumption, contributing to the HMD T21's overall battery life.

With these components at the helm, the processing prowess of the T21 is adequate for a variety of tasks, including:

• Everyday Use: The HMD T21 is well-equipped for everyday tasks such as web browsing, streaming video content, social media, email, and document editing.
• Light to Moderate Gaming: Casual games and some moderately demanding games should run smoothly on this device.
• Multimedia Consumption: The tablet can handle video playback, including HD content, and basic photo editing.
• Productivity: Applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and note-taking apps will perform adequately, especially with the help of the stylus support.

However, there are tasks that might benefit from a more powerful configuration, such as:

• High-End Gaming: Resource-intensive games with high graphical demands might not perform optimally on the HMD T21.
• Advanced Video Editing: While basic video editing is possible, tasks involving multiple layers, high-resolution footage, and extensive effects may require a more powerful CPU and GPU.
• Heavy Multitasking: Users who need to run multiple high-performance applications simultaneously might experience limitations due to the low midrange nature of the chipset.
• Professional Graphic Design: High-resolution image editing, 3D modeling, and other professional graphic design tasks may demand a more powerful and specialized configuration.

In conclusion, the HMD T21’s Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset, with its octa-core CPU and Mali-G57 GPU, provides a balanced performance suitable for a wide range of everyday tasks and moderate usage scenarios. The dual-core architecture of the CPU allows for efficient handling of both demanding and routine tasks, ensuring a smooth user experience while conserving battery life.

However, for high-end gaming, advanced video editing, heavy multitasking, and professional graphic design, a more powerful device would be necessary to meet those demanding requirements.

Memory and Storage

Here are the relevant specs:

The HMD T21 comes with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, expandable via a dedicated microSDXC slot. The eMMC 5.1 storage type might not be the fastest, but it gets the job done for its price range.

Cameras

The HMD T21 features an 8 MP rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash, capable of recording 1080p video at 30 fps. The front-facing camera also sports an 8 MP sensor, sufficient for video calls and selfies. While these cameras won't replace your smartphone's high-end shooters, they are more than adequate for casual photography and video chatting.

Rear Camera

Image credit: HMD

The HMD T21 is equipped with a single 8 MP rear camera that includes autofocus (AF) and an LED flash. While the camera setup is relatively modest, it is sufficient for many everyday photography and videography needs. Let's delve into the features of the camera and assess its suitability for different types of use. Here are the relevant specs:

Specification	HMD T21
Number of Cameras	1 (Single)
Resolution (Megapixels)	8 MP
Autofocus	AF
Video Recording	1080p at 30 fps
Other Features	LED flash

The 8 MP sensor provides decent image quality, suitable for capturing clear and detailed photos in good lighting conditions. While it won't compete with higher-end smartphones or tablets with more advanced camera systems, it is adequate for general use.

AF (Autofocus) is a valuable feature that helps ensure subjects are sharp and well-defined. It automatically adjusts the lens to focus on the subject, making it easier to take clear photos, especially for close-ups and dynamic scenes. AF reduces the need for manual adjustments, allowing you to capture moments quickly and with minimal effort.

The inclusion of an LED flash improves the camera's performance in low-light conditions. It helps illuminate the scene, making it possible to take clearer photos in darker environments. It can also serve as a fill light to reduce shadows in brightly lit situations or to highlight subjects more effectively.

The HMD T21's main camera setup is adequate for a variety of photography and videography needs, including:

• Casual Photography: The 8 MP camera is suitable for casual photography, such as taking snapshots of daily life, landscapes, and other routine scenes. It's ideal for users who need a simple camera for everyday use.
• Social Media: Photos taken with this camera are suitable for sharing on social media platforms where ultra-high resolution is not a necessity.
• Documentation: The camera is sufficient for taking pictures of documents, receipts, whiteboards, and other practical purposes that don't require high-end image quality.
• Basic Video Recording: The main camera can record 1080p videos at 30 frames per second, which is adequate for basic video recording. This includes capturing family moments, recording school projects, or creating simple video content for social media.
• Video Calls: The camera setup works well for video calls and conferences, providing clear video quality that is sufficient for most communication needs.

However, there are tasks that might benefit from a more powerful configuration, such as:

• Professional Photography: Users who require high-resolution images with advanced features like optical zoom, wide-angle lenses, and enhanced low-light performance would need a more sophisticated camera setup.
• Advanced Videography: Tasks such as professional video production, vlogging, and creating high-quality YouTube content may require a camera with higher resolution, better stabilization, and more advanced video features.
• Creative Photography: Enthusiasts who enjoy creative photography, such as macro photography, portrait photography with bokeh effects, and high dynamic range (HDR) photography, would benefit from a more advanced camera system with specialized lenses and sensors.

In conclusion, the HMD T21’s main camera setup, featuring an 8 MP sensor with autofocus and an LED flash, is designed to meet basic photography and videography needs. It is well-suited for casual photography, social media sharing, and everyday documentation, as well as basic video recording and video calls.

However, for professional photography, advanced videography, and more creative photography endeavors, a tablet or device with a more powerful and versatile camera configuration would be necessary to achieve the desired quality and features.

Battery and Charging

(Related: Battery specs and charging types explained.)

Here are the relevant specs:

One of the standout features of the HMD T21 is its 8200 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. This massive battery ensures extended usage times, whether you're watching videos, browsing the web, or working on documents. The tablet supports 18 W wired charging via PD 3.0, allowing for moderately quick recharges.

Sound

(Related: Know more about the sound specs and features.)

Here are the relevant specs:

For audio, the HMD T21 includes stereo speakers that provide a good sound experience for multimedia consumption. The presence of a 3.5 mm headphone jack is a welcome feature, allowing you to connect your favorite wired headphones without needing adapters.

Connectivity

The HMD T21 doesn't skimp on essential connectivity options. With support for dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, it ensures you can connect to common Wi-Fi networks.

The HMD T21 boasts Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring a seamless connection, whether you're connecting to headphones, speakers, or other devices. With features like A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for high-quality audio streaming and LE (Low Energy) for power efficiency, your Bluetooth experience reaches new heights.

The HMD T21 features GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO positioning systems for accurate navigation and location services.

Depending upon the market where you get your HMD T21, it may have NFC, the digital magician! This technology allows you to make contactless payments, share files, and connect with other NFC-enabled devices with just a tap. It's like having a digital handshake, simplifying tasks and making your device interactions effortless.

Plus, FM radio adds a touch of nostalgia for those who enjoy traditional broadcasts.

Last but not least, the trusty USB-C 2.0 - the universal connector. Whether you're charging your device, transferring files, or connecting to external devices, USB Type-C 2.0 ensures a reliable connection. It's the jack-of-all-trades, allowing you to expand your device's capabilities and stay connected to the wider world of technology. And the support for OTG (USB On-The-Go) enables your device to act as host and connect to other USB devices, such as flash drives, keyboards, cameras, and more, without needing a computer as an intermediary.

Sensors and Other Features

The HMD T21 comes equipped with the following sensors:

• Proximity Sensor (Accessories Only): Detects the presence or movement of an object (say, with infrared) without physically contacting it. "Accessories only" means that its functionality is specifically designed to work with certain accessories, like specific add-ons created by HMD or certain third-party manufacturers.
• Accelerometer: The accelerometer detects changes in the device's orientation and acceleration. If you tilt, shake, or move your device, the accelerometer knows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is HMD T21 release date?

  The HMD T21 has been announced and released on the 15th May, 2024.

• What is HMD T21 price?

  The HMD T21 is priced at EUR 299.99 (about USD 325).