Baka MEGAPAD 2 (‘to) … Jokes aside, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on one of these ever since TECNO released the MegaPad 10, the first in the series. I’m curious to see how TECNO has been able to produce decent hardware in the midst of the ongoing RAM crisis.
Well, TECNO said, “Say no more…” and sent their newly released MEGAPAD 2 to our office to get the complete Unbox Diaries experience. Now, I’m left wondering, mega lang ba ‘to sa laki o mega rin ‘to sa sulit?
Let’s find out.
What’s in the Box?
TECNO was gracious enough to send us not only the MEGAPAD 2 itself but also the Bluetooth keyboard so we could get the complete MegaPad experience. By the way, for every purchase of the TECNO MEGAPAD 2, you’ll also be receiving a Bluetooth keyboard, so there’s no need to go out and buy a third-party one because it’s already included.
The TECNO MEGAPAD 2 and the Bluetooth keyboard come in their own separate black boxes. The unboxing itself is pretty straightforward. Just lift the top cover and voila! Inside the box you’ll get the following:
- TECNO MEGAPAD 2
- 18W Super Charge brick
- USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable
- Quick start guide and warranty information
For what it’s worth (which I’ll reveal later…), the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 gives you everything you need to get started.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
The TECNO MegaPad 2 stays true to its name. It definitely is a MEGA pad. But even with such a massive footprint, the tablet remains easy to carry thanks to its 6.6 mm thickness. However, what it lost in thickness, it more than made up for in weight. At 547 g, it’s slightly heavier than its competitors, but that’s because of all the features TECNO packed inside.
Most of that weight comes from the TECNO MEGAPAD 2’s full metal build. From the back to the sides, every inch of the tablet is crafted from anodized metal with a sandblasted finish. Pair that with the MEGAPAD 2’s new colors, Light Green and Cosmic Orange. But if that’s not your cup of tea, there’s also the much safer Space Grey color.
Regardless of which color you choose, the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 looks and feels like it’s worth much more than what you’re paying for. It’s like that saying, “Tipid pero ‘di tinipid.”
Aside from the full metal build, the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 features an all new design, well, new for the MEGAPAD series at least, that incorporates some elements of the Interstellar Spaceship design which you can clearly see on the camera island’s design.
All the buttons, including the AI button, along with the SIM card tray, are found on the right side of the tablet. The left side, meanwhile, is devoid of any buttons or ports. You’ll find two of the four speaker grille at the top and the other two at the bottom along with the USB Type-C charging port which also doubles as your audio port. No 3.5mm here, unfortunately…
Massive Experience That’s Easy on the Eyes
Much of that massive footprint comes from the TECNO MEGAPAD 2’s 11″ 2.5K IPS LCD screen. It’s a 90Hz panel that can boost up to 550 nits, which is more than enough for binge-watching, presentations, and getting work done on the tablet.
Speaking of getting work done, I bet most people buying the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 are students and young professionals entering the workforce for the first time. That’s why it’s important that the massive 2.5K display is not only sharp and bright, but also easy on the eyes.
Luckily, the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 is TÜV Rheinland Certified for both Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light, which means less eye strain, better sleep quality, and a more comfortable viewing experience.
Powering the MEGAPAD 2
At the heart of the new TECNO MEGAPAD 2 is the MediaTek MT8781, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It’s basically the MediaTek Helio G99, but a version that’s widely used on tablets and other platforms.
Now, I’m already seeing the comments section of this article. “Helio G99 na naman!? Wala na bang iba?” But there’s a reason this chip is still being used. The MediaTek Helio G99 is like the Toyota Vios of the smartphone world. It won’t beat any records, but it’ll get you from point A to point B without any issues.
The same goes for people looking to buy the TECNO MEGAPAD 2. You’re not buying this for insane performance. You’re buying it for the insane value you get for the price. But just to see what it can do, we ran AnTuTu Benchmark V11 and GeekBench 6.
- AnTuTu Benchmark V11: 557,693
- GeekBench 6 CPU: 721 (single-core) | 1773 (multi-core)
- GeekBench 6 GPU: 1700
For day to day use, the MEGAPAD 2 should have no problem handling spreadsheets, presentations, web browsing, video calls, and even some light gaming. It may not be the most powerful tablet in its class, but it’s more than capable of handling the tasks most people will throw at it.
Where I think the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 will really excel, other than productivity of course, is entertainment. With an 11″ 2.5K display paired with a quad speaker stereo setup featuring DTS:X audio, the tablet will surely give you that well deserved binge-watching experience after a long day’s work.
Even after a whole day of spreadsheets and presentations, the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 should still have plenty of battery left in the tank. After all, the MEGAPAD 2’s weight isn’t just because of its display and full metal body. It’s also because of the massive 8,200 mAh battery that TECNO says can last up to 74 days on standby. In fact, the battery is so big that you can use it as a powerbank for all of your devices.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
We’ve already talked about how ideal the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 is when it comes to productivity, but we haven’t really talked about why.
For starters, the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 comes bundled with a Bluetooth keyboard, which vastly improves its ability to handle tasks like taking notes and creating presentations. Other tablets in its price range don’t include one, which means you’ll have to spend more to do more.
And in an era where everything is done online, the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 stays connected with 4G LTE connectivity. Again, it’s not the bleeding edge, but it’ll reliably keep you connected wherever you are in the country.
On the software side, TECNO baked in a ton of features that specifically target productivity. The biggest one is the PC-level multi-window experience. Now you can watch Khan Academy on one side while taking notes on the other. It’s also particularly useful when creating presentations using the pre-installed WPS Office.
The experience gets even better if you’re already using other TECNO devices. Through the company’s OneLeap Ecosystem, you can use the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 as an additional monitor. Or if you want to transfer files from your PC to your MEGAPAD 2, it’s as easy as dragging and dropping them.
Learning Made Easier
Of course, like any phone or tablet released in the past few years, the experience wouldn’t be complete without AI. Most of the AI features found in the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 revolve around learning.
- AI Problem Solving: Not all of us are mathematical geniuses, but we’d all love to help our kids with their homework. With AI Problem Solving, you can simply take a photo of the problem, and the AI not only solves it but also teaches your kids how the solution was reached.
- AI Painting: Kids often find themselves limited by their skills, but not by their imagination. AI Painting helps bridge that gap by turning basic sketches into artwork using the five available art styles.
- AI SnapMemo & MindHub: Using captured screen content, the AI in the TECNO MegaPad 2 creates a summary of all the information you need and compiles it into MindHub. Think of it as your own personal hub for everything important.
There’s a lot more AI that we haven’t covered, but you’ll get the chance to explore it yourself. You can even access these features through the AI Quick Button, which activates TECNO’s AI Ella voice assistant.
Last but not the least, if you’re planning to give this to a pre-school child, the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 includes the Learning Center which includes over 30,000+ lessons in a fun and interactive way that is sure to capture your kid’s attention.
Final Thoughts
So, mega lang ba sa laki? Definitely not.
It’s clear from the get go what the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 is and what it isn’t. It’s not here to win any performance drag races. It’s here to deliver on the things that matter most: a large and sharp display, a premium and durable build, long battery life, productivity focused software, and thoughtful extras like the bundled Bluetooth keyboard to tie everything together.
For those looking for an affordable and reliable tablet for work, online classes, and casual entertainment, the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 brings more to the table than many of its competitors.
But how much does all of this cost?
Pricing and Availability
The TECNO MEGAPAD 2 comes in two variants: 12/128GB (6GB Extended), which retails for ₱16,999, and 16/256GB (8GB Extended), which goes for ₱19,999. And as I mentioned, every purchase comes with a free Bluetooth keyboard.
You can now get your very own TECNO MEGAPAD 2 through TECNO’s official Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop, as well as their offline stores.