Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

NOTE: 5 Ghz WiFi can be enabled if you're willing to root and edit 1 file. Head over to XDA forums / mediapad 3 and find the topic asking if it can be unlocked. Page 3 of the topic has the info. If you're like me you're looking at this tablet wondering if it's worth it. At $299 or less it's absolutely worth it! At the total rip off price that I'm seeing while typing this, avoid it. $599 really? Being a long time Nexus 7 (2013) user and not being happy with any other tablet. I've finally found it's replacement. I've never used anything made by Huawei, that alone concerned me. All I've read is they make good hardware but their skin (EMUI) they place on Android is bad. While I prefer pure Android any day over a skin, EMUI is not all that bad. Actually has some functional tweaks. It allows you to hide icons of apps you don't use. You're able to protect apps so no one else can open them without a pin or your finger print. That's just a couple things it allows you to do. I've also heard the complaint about there not being an app drawer. With EMUI you are confined to placing everything in folders. Very similar to what Apple does. You can get around this if it bothers you that much. Simply change the launcher to something like the Google Now launcher. Then you get the feel of a closer to pure Android experience. It's not, but it's much closer. Then there's the complaint of notifications and shortcuts being separated. It's not that difficult to swipe over or tap the tab. On my nexus 7 I had to pull down twice to get to shortcuts. It a wash as far as I'm concerned. As far as hardware goes. I absolutely love it. The finger scanner is super quick. The fact I can use it for navigation instead of the on screen buttons that you can disable is wonderful. Simple tap and you go back 1. Swipe to access open apps. Hold your finger over it to return home. Personally didn't think I would like it, but now I prefer it. Screen looks great, seems to respond well and it's accurate to touch. Sounds is really good for a tablet. Am I blown away, no, it's a tablet there's only so much it can do. I'll say it is louder than my iPad mini. Cameras are so so at best. I've never used a tablet to take pictures. That I don't care much about. I would really like it if they would separate the volume and power button more. To often I accidently hit the power when I'm going for volume. The size is different for each button but I still do it. I prefer the power to be on top. Battery seems to last a while. I don't think it will last as long as my iPad mini does. It blows away what my Nexus 7 was doing after 3 years. As with just about every Android tablet I've used it will have it's stutter points. I don't think I've ever seen Facebook runs totally smooth on Android. This could be more software than hardware. Am I going to say it's buttery smooth. No, but it is really good. I give it an A+ overall. I've given up on many Android tablets to stick with my Nexus 7 for years. This is the one I've replaced it with. If you're concerned because of the manufacture or their skin, don't let that stop you. If you can get it at the more reasonable price of $299 or less, do it. If you have any questions I'll be more than happy to help if I can. EDIT: 12/1/16 -- I've come across an issue that bothers me that has to do with the finger scanner. I've mentioned the gesture that are suppose to function. That being a quick tap, L/R swipe and a long press. I'm having an issue with my finger going over the scanner from top to bottom and it activates Google now. I figured simple enough, I'll remove now. I did that and it now activates my browser. I cannot find a setting for gestures to stop this behavior. Think about how often your finger is around the scanner if you use it for navigation. Also to make it worse I found the bottom corners of the tablet make this happen too. For now I've gone back to using on screen navigation until I find (if) an answer to stop this.