Teclast is a Chinese tablet maker best known for its dual-boot (Windows+Android) devices. The brand has extended its existence to European shores, and is starting to gain traction.
Gizchina News of the week
Teclast have now released a version of the X98 Plus with a ‘European ROM’, i.e., a ROM tailor-made for European audiences.
The 1.8GHz Intel Cherry Trail powered tablet has 4GB of RAM, 64GB of on-board storage and a 9.7-inch 1536 x 2048 pixel IGZO display, besides an 8,000mAh battery and a thickness of 7.9mm.
Other specs of the tablet include a 5 mega-pixel rear camera and a 2 mega-pixel front-facing camera besides the usual suite of radio (WiFi, Bluetooth).
The launch in the region has been made possible thanks to Teclast obtaining a CE certificate for a lot of its 2016 products. What this means is that folks in Europe can expect more Teclast tablets to launch in the coming months.
I have 2 with 2 original keyboards, and the keyboards doesn’t work with them, I can use them with any other Bluetooth device but not with the tablets that it was designed for, and you can’t find any firmware/bios/driver download at the official website, so I have 2 keyboards made for the specific models that doesn’t work, but besides that the X98 Plus is good, but avoid it if you want to use it as laptop since the official keyboard will not work with it..
If anyone know where I can find official updates for teclast products I would appreciate the help.
For my x80h there’s a thread on xda, I know there is for the original x98 also, so check XDA Developers out..?
Thanks, I did’t think a chinese tablet would have an active XDA thread.
With my Teclast X98 Air 3G I use that kb+case http://ru.aliexpress.com/item/Original-9-7-inch-Teclast-X98-Air-3G-Russian-Korean-Spanish-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Case-for-Teclast/32432117133.html
Where is this now available to buy from then, aside from the usual resellers?
Teclast should be offering these offline as well. We’ll try and check with them.
Thanks, its good to see more chinese brands trying to get into the EU market as they’re not always easy to get hold of, or you incur import fees/higher delivery fees for doing so.
The problem is though, because us westerners apparently have bucket loads more money, whenever anything goes official in our part of the world, it also get’s a larger price tag to ‘fit in’ as it were… 🙁
Honestly, the most important “spec” of tablets is weight. It’s what (mostly) differentiates it from small laptops, so I think it would be worthwhile to report that as well. IMO it separates a good tablet from a mediocre one (i.e. It’s easy to make a 700 gram tablet, it’s hard to make one that is only 380 grams while it’s 10.1 inches, like the Xperia Z4)
Two of the best tablets available are the Surface Pro 4 and iPad Pro, both are over 700 grams. A lot depends on size, both of those are well over 10.1 inches. One of the best 10.1 inch tablets is the Pixel C which weighs over 500 grams. I wouldn’t call any of these “medicore” tablets.
Surface Pro 4 is a 2in1.
Ipad Pro was not exactly a success story as far as iPad sales go.
Pixel C, hardware wise is way behind Tab S2 and Xperia Z4. Its software is nothing to write home about either. Nexus phones are great, google tablets not so much (don’t care about utilizing the extra size)…
iPad Pro wasn’t supposed to sell in high numbers. It’s a high end tablet for a high end market. Most consumers will get the air or regular iPad. Doesn’t make any less of a great tablet.
2in1 is still a tablet, just like a phablet is still a smartphone.
As for the two devices you mentioned the software is terrible on both of those compared to the Pixel C. Software is what holds those two back
Do you read reviews? Like ever? Xperia Tablet Z4 has universal acclaim. Pixel C had a lukewarm reception.
2in1 are 2in1s, something in-between a tablet and a laptop. It’s mostly used as a laptop, so it’s more of a laptop than a tablet. Anyway I’m not referring to them when I’m telling “weight matters”.
iPad pro’s had worse than expected reception actually. So it’s not just bad compared to iPad Air line, it’s bad compared to itself. I’m not sure of its future…
2 in 1’s like the Z4 that was comes bundled with a keyboard? I use a Surface everyday for work, I use it almost exclusively as a tablet. Around the MS offices it’s pretty even, some prefer it as a tablet others prefer it as a laptop.
As for reviews, the Pixel C has that same acclaim:
Cnet –
Pixel C – 4.5 stars
Z4 – 4 stars
Engadget –
Pixel C – 77
Z4 – 79
Techradar –
Pixel C – 4.5
Z4 – 4.5
PC Advisor –
Pixel C – 4.5 (also proclaim it the best Android Tablet yet)
Z4 – 4.5
So the question is, do you read reviews? Or did you only read the press clippings from Sony.com? As for the UI, I prefer my UI to be bloatware free something neither Sony or Samsung seem to understand. Samsung is getting better, but from every review I had read Sony is only getting worse.
Like I said you didn’t read the reviews. If you had done you would know that the number one complaint that most of the serious reviews had was that PixelC makes a bad use of the extra space. In simple terms “Google doesn’t get it”.
Both Sony and Samsung attempt ways to solve it (mini apps and multi-window). BTW it’s easy to remove bloatware since lollipop you just disabled it…
Sony is not an 2in1, it runs a “consumption OS”, it’s not a laptop, nobody uses it as a laptop.
Surface Pro is a 2in1 , most users use it as a laptop, Microsoft market it as one. The odd ones out do use it as a tablet, they must be the same percentage of people who buy windows phones.
Anyway 2in1s have an uptick of sales mostly from people who want to replace their aging laptop, their purpose on the market it clear enough, on the users’ hands not so , that’s why I call them 2in1s instead of a modern variation of laptops.
…and like I said I don’t talk of 2in1s here. Weight matters there too but mostly in the way that it matters in laptops (making them easy to carry).
Like I said you didn’t read any of the reviews. Your initial point was the reviews were much more favorable for Z4, after I teared that to shreds you come up with more BS. Now Do you have actual statistics to back up these “most people” and “no one” claims?
Microsoft markets the Surface as a tablet. It even says it on the order page for the Microsoft Store:
“The TABLET that can replace your laptop”
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Surface-Pro-4/productID.325711500?s_kwcid=AL!4249!3!82559868533!e!!g!!surface%20pro%204&WT.mc_id=pointitsem+Google+Adwords+5+-+Surface+Pro+4%2F4+-+RLSA&ef_id=VgvxyAAABTl4kR6e:20160211040004:s
Disabling bloatware doesn’t get rid of it lol.
The reviews are much more favorable for Z4, read them again, instead of referencing ratings which mostly don’t matter.
Z4 beats Pixel C in many crucial sectors like battery, comfort of use, better use of the extended space. Like I said, read again.
Disabling bloatware gets rid of it. It only uses storage space, which is not much. It is not part of a tablet’s life cycle.
Microsoft markets Surface Pro as a way to replace your laptop. They can call it whatever they want as far as I’m concerned, it’s the functional equivalent of laptops.
2in1s mostly sale instead of traditional laptops. Reread the sales charts, it tracks the fall in laptop sales. An iPad person won’t sell it to buy a Surface Pro, he may buy a surface pro because it’s convenient, it’s not a tablet replacement, not even Microsoft markets it as such.
Anyway *again* my intital comment was not about 2in1s. There is no pressing need to lower their weight.
Ratings are reflective of the reviews themselves. The reviews are more favorable to you because you are a huge fan of the Sony Z4. To me who isn’t really a huge fan of either of them, the reviews are about equal.
I don’t even own the tablet. I just happen to read the reviews instead of glancing at the ratings and then move on.
For example Engadget decimates Pixel C and then goes on to put a 77% score to it, then admits that Xperia Z4 is probably the best android ablet and still puts a 79%.
You can see how little ratings often tell. Typically big name products (Apple, Google, Microsoft) have a boost in scores that OEMs don’t. Thankfully if you read the actual reviews the illusion is broken…
Like I told you countless times (in other posts too): read, test, challenge any ingrained beliefs.
I lost you at Sony one of the largest and most powerful brands in the world, not being a big name product. For example Engagdet decimates the Sony Z and then goes on to put a 79% score to it (which proves that their scores are balanced regardless of brand name). And the z4 isn’t even mentioned in the their review of the Pixel C. Like I told you countless times: Read and don’t make stuff up to make yourself sound smart. Actually read what it is written.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/08/google-pixel-c-review/
Pocket Lint did a side by side comparison of the two, they say they are both good devices but if it came down to a choice they would pick the Pixel.
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/136119-google-pixel-c-vs-sony-xperia-z4-tablet-what-s-the-difference
One of us has said all along that both are good devices (but I dont like Sony’s bloated UI). Another person (you) has said Pixel C is terrible. Every review tends to agree with me. Android Authority, Engadget, Cnet, Pocket Link, Tech Radar. They all mention that both are excellent tablets. This is just lost on you because you are so in love with the Z4.
I didn’t call those 3 “the big 3” by accident: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_public_corporations_by_market_capitalization#2015
Yeah, pretty much everybody else is small time compared to them. For example Sony is an order of magnitude smaller than those.
BTW I’m not trying to sound smart (or whatever), I’m just telling you things. For one is that you should not care about ranking alone, the other is: beware of selective reading.
I can equally well isolate points proving the opposite:
Engadget on Xperia Z4: If you can pick one up alone, it might be the perfect tablet for you, but it’s too expensive to recommend with the dock included. (dock is not included in most markets).
Engadget on Pixel C: But while it certainly feels like an obsessively designed device, it’s a bit too clunky to recommend
Careful reading (meta-reading of sorts) would give you a different picture.
Xperia Z4 for example is universally praised (apart from its keyboard, but that’s not part of the bundle in many places of the world anyway). Pixel C on the other hand has many polemics written against it. By default certain sites would praise it (for being a Google product), but the ones that make a step deeper would universally criticize its failings (motstly that it tries to emulate Microsoft too much).
It’s notable that Z4 didn’t have such problems.
BTW hardware wise it’s clearly the best product. In 2/3rds of the size they manage to include better battery life and mostly similar innards. That’s impressive to say the least.
Software is a mixed bag. Bloat is never a good thing, but the tablet gives you ways to kill it. On the other hand Pixel C’s chromeOS base doesn’t do it any justice and Google inability or unwillingness to make use of the extra space is still a curse for pure Android tablets. Still it’s the closest to stock so to some that’s a plus.
I can see why a person who loves stock android would buy the Pixel C, the Z4 is still the better tablet though (if you are willing to spend the 10 minutes to disable/uninstall the bloat, care about battery life and comfort of use)
Sony additionally have the AOSP program of theirs , so they’re not much behind from a Google device there…
Anyway this thread has become a long diatribe on why the Z4 is a better product which is *certainly* not my point, you’re frequently derailing me … damn.
My point was and remains, that weight is one of the most important specs on *tablets* (not so on 2in1s that are meant to be used via a stand). So I would very much appreciate if Gizchina would refer to it (again I’m talking about classic tablets, not transformer PCs/Tablets)…
Anyone can pick and choose sentences from a review to make one look better than the other. I could that all day long and it wouldn’t accomplish a thing. Weight is on of the most important specs for YOU. We often get into these debates because you can’t seem to realize that every user has their own wants and needs. For some it’s weight, for others its power, for others its convenience. You’re point about 2 in 1’s vs Tablets falls apart given that the Z4 comes bundled with a keyboard, many of those others it’s an optional accessory.
As for your Big 3 comment, that list is incomplete, here is the actual Fortune 500 for 2015 and the following companies have the following ranks:
Samsung -13
Apple – 16
Microsoft – 94
Sony – 116
Google (Alphabet) – 124
Google would not be included in the Big 3 based on the ranking you chose to use.
By market cap those are the big 3. Market cap is the relevant metric as it shows which companies are higher in the public’s mind. Those 3 are an order of magnitude than Sony (around 30 bil).
Tablets are the functional equivalent of books. So not unlike books, the weight measures comfort for long use.
2in1s are laptops-tablets. Adding a keyboard to an Android doesn’t make it a laptop, that’s an obviously untrue statement. If not my Photon Q is a 2in1.
2in1 are very often used like laptops, in an upright position through a kickstand, weight matters less to them.
I agree about quotting though. Free quotes don’t prove a thing. Meta-reviewing a product though (like I often do) does play a role. It tells you for example why Pixel C was hardly a move forwards even when compared to Nexus 10…
Heh, I love disposing your points I must admit :p
Except you never dispute anything. You just throw it more of your opinions and think they are fact. And when I prove you wrong with something (like your attempt to use the Fortune 500 that only included Public companies) you try to change it to some other metric. It is hilarious that you can’t just admit when you are wrong.
E-readers are the functional equivalent of books. And for those weight definitely matters.
Market Cap isn’t a fair metric to use, Google has a much higher market cap because Android is used in 80% of all devices sold and their advertising side. If we compare just their smartphone/tablet sales (nexus line) they arent even close to being a Big 3 manufacturer. Based on smartphone sales the Big 3 would be Samsung, Apple and Lenovo/Huawei (they often compete for 3rd).
Here’s what I mean by Market Cap: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_capitalization
BTW I didn’t change it, you attempted to change what I wanted to tell you by linking to an irrelevant source. I clearly linked to a Wiki listing of public companies by Market capitalization.
Market capitalization of public traded shares is the important metric in our conversation because it shows a company’s dynamic. In other words how much talked / given attention to a company is. Obviously it’s the more relevant metric to any score inflation that may be in place. What you posted is gibberish. Like I told you in the past: pay attention.
A functional equivalent does not mean that it does the same (or similar) things, but rather that it is used in the same/similar ways. In the couch, in bed, in … the restroom, in the seat of a cramped airplane. You know places where a laptop cannot go…
BTW yeah, I misspoke there. I don’t have to dispute anything, I have nothing against your opinions. I’m merely explaining to you what I mean by a post because you often seem to need footnotes … I’m disposing your misunderstandings…
Market Cap means nothing for our conversation. Our conversation is only about smartphones and tablets/2 in 1’s. Market Cap takes into account all of their business ventures. As a smartphone producer Sony is a much bigger company.
I use my laptop in bed, on the couch, i have used it in the restroom, in an airplane etc. By your definition of functional equivalent we can say a Tablet is the same as a coffee cup.
You do have something against my opinions thats what started this whole thing. I mentioned the Pixel C and you were incredibly hurt that I left out your precious Z4 (which I have said all along is a good tablet with poor software).
Market Cap is an indication of how a popular a company is at any given time. I merely used it as one of the reasons that Pixel C (a Google product) takes as higher score, despite the trashing it got in reviews, especially about its software.
You don’t use your laptop in any of those places unless you’re on an seating position (ok the restroom is a different story, you’re probably on a seating position there :p ). Like I said a tablet is the functional equivalent of a book, that’s not hard to understand. It is being used as a book would. A laptop and/or 2in1s use stands of some kind.
Since Tablets proper do not benefit from a stand (like books), weight is absolutely crucial. As an avid bookreader for the last 20 years or so I would *always* choose the less heavy edition of a book, it’s always the best option for long use.
BTW I have nothing against your opinions, I honestly don’t. I merely correct your misunderstandings here and there, mostly when they have to do with things I wrote.
Market Cap has next to nothing to do with popularity, market cap is the total number of shares x the share price. Exxon Mobile is number 2 in your list of Market Cap, it is one of the least popular companies in the world (due to rising oil prices the past decade). The reason the Pixel C got a good score, is because it is a good tablet. Nothing more, nothing less. The writers for Engadget don’t care about (most probably don’t know enough about) Market Cap. Since Engadget is so focused on Market Cap why did they score the Microsoft Lumia 950 so low? Or do they only use Market Cap when it comes to Google?
I don’t use my tablet unless I am in a seated or laying down position either. As an avid book reader of the last 30 years I buy the book I want, not the one that is “lighter”. In fact if given the choice I will always take a hardcover over a paperback. Hardcover is a much better choice for long use, it is more durable, easier to hold and the font is usually much bigger which is easier on the eyes. Your book example is terrible, no matter how much you try to justify it.
Actually Microsoft phones get great scores in many places because of the “Microsoft name” they’re hardlyhardly smarphones in practical use (or they’re smartphone from early this decade) yet are still being reported. Hugely unpopular too. Market cap shows the dynamic of a publicly traded company. Currently the big 3 Literally is Goog, Appl and Microsoft.
It doesn’t have to do with with actual revenues, it has to do with how it is in the public’s eye, it’s basically the most intensely traded shares. In that sense of course Exonn Mobile is popular, popular not as in liked, but as in -very much- talked.
A company’s dynamic obviously disseminates in every face of the society. I don’t know if the reviewers do it consciously or unconsciously but they always seem to inflate the score of those three. Xperia Z4 and Pixel C are great examples because one thing is said in the reviews and another in the ratings, and it happens again and again with so many other products of those companies…
My book example was/is about ease of long-term continuous use. You talk about different things like longevity, or if you like its texture when you hold it. My point is practical at the time of use, yours is aesthetic, I don’t touch the aesthetic part (as you often do) because there is no true answer there, I touch the practical one. I’m always clear that that’s the part I’m talking about because opinions don’t enter into it, but you conveniently sidestep it by trying to derail the conversation.
BTW does that imply that a tablet is more than its practical value? Most certainly. Many people would buy an iPad for its aesthetics. But it’s hard to argue aesthetics so I *always* try to avoid that topic because then you’ll tell me “that’s what you like and nothing more” and you’d be right o do so.
The topic that I choose to talk about are always the practical ones. I have a great many things that I like because their aesthetic appeal to me. I.don’t.talk.about.those because there is no answer there. BTW that’s why I’m currently not owning a Z4 , I don’t like Sony designer’s aesthetic sense, but you won’t see me talking about that, it’s not a universal.
The weight of a product that is to be held without the help of a stand *is* a greatly important parameter that characterizes many of its facets, and you can’t avoid that no matter how you try to square it. It has to do with human physiology (fast twitch/slow twich muscles) that won’t change anytime soon.
I like the wealth of windows 10 tablets that are coming out — there are a ton of low cost options. But I do feel like everyone should wait until 4GB is where 2GB was at last year.. and tablets with “upgraded” ram come in at 8GB, with a few heavy hitters coming with 16GB.
I think it really depends on what the individual user plans to do on it. Some people will be able to get by with 2GB, but most should have at least 4GB. I use a Surface 3 at work (work for Msoft) it only has 2GB of RAM and it is never an issue but at the same time I only use it for the basics (conference calls, office, internet etc).
“Haha must be a MSoft employee. Windows is a cespool of Malware and Spyware.” – quoting your comment from 7 months ago.
Now, not only you are using Windows, but you are also working for MS. That’s interesting…
It’s funny how things work out 😉
If I didn’t know you I would say you are bullshiting. Still regardless of platform I say 8GB is enough for user space currently.
If I was gonna bullshit I would say I work for Xiaomi lol.
Sorry. You can’t work for Xiaomi. You never whare in the pioneer summer camp.
Working for the dark side, huh? lol
Lol for now. I am actually looking at taking a break from work and going back to school for a bit. But so far Msoft has been good to me.
Good luck with your choices, and, well, with your tech knowledge you’d probably make a living (or pay the bills at least) while you study/learn useful stuff.
well, that is strange. I don’t agree with you. I mean .. if what you mean by “getting by” is whether the operating system will successfully boot up on 2GB, then yes. But if you intend to do anything…at all with it, then no, 2GB is going to make task switching difficult and even simple things like watching youtube may be impossible.
I have no issues with web browsing, youtube or Skype using my 2GB Surface 3.
then you have the patience or metabolism (or both) of a sloth 🙂
you really can’t understand that 2GB on a great optimized device (Surface3) is more then enough?
my experience has been that it really isn’t enough even in Android, let alone windows 10.
Hmmm…. I have an older Core 2 Quad desktop with 3.5GB RAM that is used on a daily basis for regular tasks and it runs fine in Windows 10 64bit.
But for 2GB tablets, if they ship with a 32bit Win10 version that should be tailored towards that amount of RAM? 64bit…. that I agree would never pass.
My Thinkpad with 12GB RAM currently with Chrome, Skype, VLC, and MS Office running has 2.9GB used… so yeah
it isn’t clear if it’s a new model or just new firmware…
Can i have suggestions for a decent 8inch tablet?