VANKYO MatrixPad Z4 Android 9 Overview

Ever heard of the Vankyo brand before? Me neither.  There's always an "unknown" brand that comes along, and going on reviews looks to be an excellent tablet. However, these days it pays to be suspicious of any new brand that has a mountain of 5 star reviews on Amazon UK. Why do I say this you may ask? Well, basically it is so easy to manipulate the review system on Amazon. Yes, even when the reviews are "verified".

And given that this tablet (the VANKYO MatrixPad Z4 Android 9), and the brand itself, is fairly new to the Amazon tablet marketplace, a trick that some sellers use (but not necessarily this one) to get their product feedback off to a flying start, is to pay for some "verified reviews".

This, in turn, makes that product look great and reels in genuine customers. Another tactic is to give some products away in return for a review. This is completely fine, and many companies do this. But needless to say, these reviews will most of the time be a bit bias in nature because the person has received a free product, so they will "be nice", while listing a few minor annoyances, rather than be brutally honest.

So what does the VANKYO MatrixPad Z4 have specification wise

It has a 10.1 Inch 1280 x 800 IPS display, Quad Core Processor @ 1.5 GHz, Android 9.0 (Pie) pre-installed, 32GB of internal storage space (expandable to 128GB via SD card), 2GB RAM, a fairly good 8 mega pixel camera (rear facing) and a 2mp front camera, WiFI, Bluetooth and a respectable battery life. It also comes with a 1 and a half year warranty.

So what's my opinion on this tablet?

Going on the research I have done, and what I know to look out for on Amazon regarding fake reviews, my opinion is that this tablet is not as good as it looks.

The big majority of 5 star reviews have conveniently added many pictures of the product, and a good amount of them have added video footage of the tablet in use, almost like they were given the product for free in return for an in-depth review that must include either pictures, video, or both. Seems very suspicious to me.

You don't even get that many people posting sample pictures taken from a top of the range camera they just bought from Amazon, let alone that many for a cheap tablet. Not even Apple iPads have that many picture / video reviews on Amazon per 54 reviews. That's the amount of reviews the VANKYO MatrixPad Z4 has as I'm writing this.

It may be a decent tablet, but with how much it costs, and with how dodgy the reviews appear to be, why buy this tablet over the many brands that are not just much more well known,  but tried and tested, and also sit within the same price range. Brands like Samsung, Fusion5, NeoCore, Lenovo and Huawei.

PolaTab Q10.3 10.6" Octa Core Review

Just when you thought that the boundary for quality had reached its highest possible limit when it comes to low-budget Tablets, PolaTab comes out with a new release that takes that boundary to a new level. The build quality of the PolaTab Q10.3 is nothing short of spectacular when considering how cheap it is to buy.

It has a build quality similar to Tablets that cost considerably more money to buy. In fact, almost everything about the Q10.3 is impressive and will leave most people pleasantly surprised. The specification surpasses almost everything else in its category.

First off, the screen size is 10.6 Inches. This is around half an inch bigger than the "standard" screen size that the rest of the 10 Inch Tablets have, as most are 10.1". And although it's not a massive size difference, it is a nice improvement.

Great for someone who's looking for maximum viewing area without compromising on-screen quality. Some Tablets that have tried to increase the size of the screen have, from being stretched to fit, lost some of the sharpness that is achieved with the smaller screened Tablets of the same brand.

But with the PolaTab Q10.3 having a respectable 1366 x 768 IPS display, and having adequate processor support, there is no issue with quality being reduced. The colours, graphics and sharpness are all superb for a Tablet in this price range. And they remain that way even when viewing the screen from unusual angles.

The Q10.3 starts up very fast and is extremely clean of much bloatware, like pre-installed Apps and software programs that routinely come as standard on many Tablets. Battery life is good, lasting between 3 - 6+ hours on average depending on how demanding you are. And the charge time is also fairly swift. Movies and clips run smoothly and the WiFi works great.

Overall, it's a very responsive device, that runs really well and feels solidly built. If you're after a low-priced Tablet to use for all the usual things, like Facebook, YouTube, online shopping, gaming, emailing, and watching the odd film or two, the Q10.3 would make an excellent purchase. It's an absolute steal for what it's on sale for.

PolaTab Q10.3 (A106T) Specification

• 10.6" Screen with 1366 x 768 (Smart Colour) IPS Display

• Octa Core Allwinner A83T Processor @ 8 x 1.8GHz - 2.0GHz A7 Cores

• Android Lollipop 5.1 Operating System

• 16GB Storage space (Upgradable to an additional 32GB)

• 2GB RAM (DDR3)

• Bluetooth 4.0

• Dual Cameras

• Twin 3.5mm headphone jacks

• Micro SD Slot

• 1 x Micro USB Port

Comes complete with Mains Adapter, USB Cable, On-The-Go Host Cable, Free (standard) Earphones, User guide and also a 1 year warranty.

The Allwinner Octa Core A83T (with Cortex-A7 cores) is a very capable Processor. It's noted for its enhanced graphics capabilities and very low energy consumption. The Cores of this Processor are variable speed. Their speed is set at 1.8GHz each, which is good on its own, but they can reach up to 2.0GHz (Burst) at times when resources are under a heavy workload and feeling the strain. Nice to have that extra little burst of power to call on if needed.

The Octa Core A83T Processor, coupled with the generous 2GB RAM (DDR3) that the Q10.3 comes complete with makes this device very fast and responsive, even when under a considerable workload. This would make a decent gaming computer. And a perfect, cost-effective device for general day-to-day usage.

How many times have you had to share one of your headphones with someone when watching a movie or listening to music on your Tablet? Not needed with the Q10.3. It has two separate headphone jacks so it's just perfect for watching a late night movie or listening to music with someone when you need to keep the noise down, or don't want to be looked at as ignorant or anti-social.

Whatever the reason, it's an excellent little feature that's not seen too often in this price range. If you like and want this feature but already own a Tablet that you're happy with, you can always just buy a splitter so that you can use two sets of headphone at the same time through one headphone port. They are relatively cheap. But the Q3 takes out this added expense and makes things more convenient by having this feature built-in.

Some things to consider

More connection ports on a device is always a good thing, and sadly, other than the two headphone jacks, which is a great feature, this doesn't have that many more. Of course, there are ways to work around the lack of ports, but for ease of use and with so many people being more familiar and comfortable with actual ports, it would have been the icing on the cake if the PolaTab Q10.3 was riddled with them. But within this low budget category, there are always going to be a few compromises that will have to be made.

The dual cameras are the standard, low quality 0.3 MP front facing and 2.0 MP rear that are found on many of the cheaper models. There is no GPS in this device, and it does not have a HDMI port. Instead it uses "Cast Screen", which ultimately removes the need for the device to be wired via a HDMI lead. However, in order to successfully connect them together, the TV will need to have this technology built-in (Smart TV). If it does not an external dongle will be needed.

If you're looking for the cheapest Tablet but still want something that has great performance and offers serious value for money, here is something to remember. Not all companies do this but some do, so it's worth keeping an eye out. When a company releases a new Tablet they usually put down the price of their previous model.

This is exactly what PolaTab have done in this instance with their Q10.1. It's being sold at a discount. But, considering that the difference isn't all that much between the 10.1 and the 10.3, even with the discount applied, it still makes more sense to go with the newer model. It is well worth the extra bit of money, and is no doubt one of the leading, best value for money devices in this price bracket. One word: Excellent! Other models worth considering for 2021: Neocore N1 and E1.

A New Generation Of Neocore E1

Neocore have been busy making sure they are ahead of the game by bringing out a newer generation of their very popular and excellent performing E1 model. At this time, the E1 appears to now be Neocore's flagship model. And rightfully so. It's one of their best products.

The previous E1 already had an impressive review score, and now with some added upgrades in the new model, the positive reviews will no doubt continue to grow. The hands on video review below will basically tell you all you need to know about what's new, but I will briefly jot some of the improvements down, as some people prefer to read rather than watch video. Back in stock on Amazon.

New Release: November 2021 E2 model available here at Amazon and the official Neocore website.

The new E1 now has 2GB RAM, compared to 1GB that was in the earlier model. Android 7.0 comes pre installed, and this model has a bigger SD card capacity. Holding up to 256GB of extra space. Available in black or grey, the latest E1 also has a stickier / grippable back casing so it stands less chance of being dropped. Better battery saving ability while in standby mode is a feature that buyers will welcome.

New Neocore E1 Hands-On Video Review

If you're not aware of what else the E1 has, here is a quick low down of the spec. Note: Most of the specification below is not exclusive to this generation and can also be found on some of the previous versions of the E Series. You can find the latest E2 version for sale here. The latest version has some specification impovements, inlcuding a larger SD memory card capacity (now at 400GB). Update: The new E2 can now hold up to 1 Terabyte (1TB) of extra storage space via the SD card.

The E1 specification features a 10.1 Inch IPS display, a glass screen, a 64-bit MTK (MediaTek) Quad Core Processor, which consists of 4x Cortex A53's running at 1.3GHz, Dual WiFi, Bluetooth, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage space, GPS, mini HDMI, Micro USB port, headphone connection, dual cameras, two built-in speakers, 7000 mAh battery, SD Card slot (can hold up to 256GB) and a 2 year warranty. Excellent deal for the price.

Be Careful When Buying Cheap Tablets

What's the biggest problem with cheap tablets. Is it the manufacturers, the cheap electric components used in the device, or is it the actual companies themselves. Do they go into the tablet business with the wrong mindset and the wrong goals. Most notably, to use the cheapest components possible in each tablet so as to maximise the profit from each sale. A lot of these cheap brands, which mostly originate in China, build a few different models of tablet, fill them with cheap but capable technology and electronics, then launch them for sale online on sites like Amazon.

If sales are slow, that's not a problem. All that is needed is to buy a few fake 5 star reviews to get the ball rolling, and the real sales will eventually start to trickle in. Sorry to burst your bubble if you weren't aware of these types of shady tactics, but that is the sad reality of the situation. They are all the rage in this day and age.

Am I being too harsh? Maybe. Not all cheap tablet brands do this, and not all of them produce completely terrible devices. Example: I'm not saying the OYYU brand of tablets have done this. Actually, looking at their other models I'd say they haven't, because the general Amazon review scores for most of their other tablets is not very good. And their OYYU T11 Tablet / Phablet is actually not a bad device for the price.

The key giveaways for fake reviews are either an excellent review score with not many "verified purchases", review text that seems odd, or a review score that started off with everyone rating five stars and then going downhill as soon as the "real customers" started buying the product. Some sellers are more savvy and will mix it up constantly. Needless to say, this type of deceit is much harder to detect.

However, I've been in this business for quite a few years now, and I've seen so many little known brands come and go. Take for instance, brands like PolaTab and NPOLE, they used to sell tablets under their brand name. In fact, some of the  PolaTab models were pretty good. Where are they now? Well, PolaTab are nowhere to be found and  NPOLE sell a whole range of other products. They have one tablet for sale in used condition.

What I'm saying here is that not many of the cheaper tablet brands originating from China specialise in only tablets. For most of them, tablets are just another product within a long line of products that they produce and sell, from PC accessories and mops, to toothbrushes.

That's one of the main reasons NOT to buy a cheap tablet from an widely unknown brand. There's not much support if things go wrong, and sadly, not much care has gone into ensuring a quality product is being sold to customers. Quality control and reliable parts are lacking. In so many cases, the internal components are just not of a high enough standard of quality to last a long time. Hence why you see so many of the cheaper tablet review scores filled with unhappy customers.

The really really good news for you, as a consumer, is that now in 2018 - 2019, you absolutely don't have to buy a tablet from an unknown brand with a poor review score. That's because brands like Samsung, Lenovo and Huawei now have tablets for sale at the same price as what many of the cheaper "no name" brands cost to buy. In some cases the better, more well know brands, such as the Huawei "T" models, are even cheaper.

So, before you buy a unknown brand just because the spec sounds amazing, and you think that's all your budget will allow, have a shop around for some of the brands mentioned here. I think you'll be surprised at what you can get for the same price.