The Doogee T30 Max is a $399.99 Android tablet designed to provide users with an expansive screen experience combined with decent performance and useful features. Having a 12.4-inch display, substantial battery life, ample internal storage, and 4G cellular capabilities makes it a competitive option in the budget tablet market. However, it does have several shortcomings, particularly in processor performance, audio quality, and software sophistication. This review aims to take an in-depth look at the Doogee T30 Max by comparing it with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, which is suggested as a more worthwhile investment for those willing to spend a little extra for enhanced features and better performance.
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Doogee T30 Max is functional but lacks the premium feel seen in higher-end tablets. The front is adorned with a glass display surrounded by a black bezel, giving it a uniform look. At the back, the tablet sports a leather-like, soft-touch finish available in black or green. This finish not only adds a touch of elegance to the device but also improves grip, reducing the chances of accidental drops. While the flat side edges contribute to its contemporary appearance, the noticeable seam between the glass front and the frame can be a minor eyesore, depicting a slight compromise in the refined build quality.
When it comes to dimensions, the Doogee T30 Max measures 7.30 by 11.22 by 0.31 inches and weighs in at 1.52 pounds. These dimensions are fairly close to those of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, which measures 7.30 by 11.24 by 0.26 inches and weighs 1.38 pounds. The T30 Max is primarily designed for use in landscape mode, featuring a front-facing camera on the long edge. The fingerprint sensor, which doubles as the power button, is located on the top edge alongside the volume rocker. However, one significant drawback noted during usage is the inconsistency of the fingerprint sensor. Often, it fails to recognize fingerprints reliably, making a PIN code a more dependable option for security.
Connectivity and Durability
In terms of connectivity, the Doogee T30 Max offers 4G cellular capabilities, a feature that makes it stand out in its price range. It supports up to two physical SIM cards or alternatively, one SIM and one microSD card. This versatility is particularly advantageous for users who require cellular connectivity while on the move and also need expandable storage. Despite these wins, the device falls short in the durability department. Unlike the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, which boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, the T30 Max comes without any official durability rating. This indicates that it may not be as resilient in rough or harsh conditions, raising concerns about its long-term durability.
Display Quality
The display is often a critical aspect of any tablet experience, and the Doogee T30 Max strives to deliver a good one. It features a large 12.4-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels. With a 60Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 600 nits, the screen is capable of rendering vibrant and sharp video content. However, outdoor visibility is somewhat compromised due to the lower brightness and reflective nature of the glass. On particularly sunny days, users might find it challenging to view the screen clearly.
Comparatively, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers a slightly superior visual experience with its 12.4-inch display that includes a 90Hz refresh rate and 720 nits of brightness. This results in smoother visuals and better outdoor visibility, making it a more appropriate choice for users who often consume media on the go or in varying lighting conditions.
Audio Performance
Audio quality is another area where the Doogee T30 Max shows room for improvement. The side-mounted stereo speakers do provide decent stereo separation, but they lack the depth and bass that are often essential for an immersive audio experience. During our tests, the maximum volume reached 93.7dB, which is ample for small rooms. However, this volume level does not compensate for the overall deficit in sound quality, particularly if you are someone who values rich, high-fidelity audio.
One more notable absence is the 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature still favored by many users for wired audio connectivity. This omission means that users will need to rely on Bluetooth headphones or an adapter for their audio needs, which could be a slight inconvenience for some.
Performance and Gaming
Performance on the Doogee T30 Max is driven by a MediaTek Helio G99 chip, paired with 8GB of RAM and a generous 512GB of internal storage. Users can also expand the storage up to 2TB via a microSD card. For everyday tasks such as browsing, checking emails, and streaming media, the tablet performs adequately. However, when it comes to more demanding activities, the device begins to show its limitations. Pushing the tablet beyond basic tasks results in noticeable stuttering and lags, a clear indication that the device struggles with heavier loads.
Gaming is another area where the T30 Max falls short. It is only suitable for casual games; graphic-intensive games experience lower frame rates, resulting in a less than optimal gaming experience. Benchmarks further highlight these performance issues, with the T30 Max scoring 729 on the Geekbench single-core test and 2,004 on the multi-core test. These scores pale in comparison to the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ which scores 1,011 and 2,897 respectively. In the GFXBench Aztec Ruins test, the T30 Max managed a mere 5.5fps compared to the Tab S9 FE+’s 12fps, cementing its position as a device better suited to lighter, more casual applications.
Battery Life and Charging
One of the standout features of the Doogee T30 Max is its battery life. Housing a large 10,800mAh battery, the tablet supports 33W fast charging. During our testing, the T30 Max lasted around 8 hours and 5 minutes while streaming HD video over Wi-Fi at full brightness. This is fairly impressive and makes it a reliable companion for media consumption and prolonged use on a single charge.
Charging the device is relatively quick, with the battery reaching full capacity in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Additionally, it reached 24% in 15 minutes and 35% in half an hour. This rapid charging time is beneficial for users who are constantly on the go and need their devices charged and ready in a short period.
Camera Capabilities
When it comes to camera performance, the Doogee T30 Max offers a 50MP main camera that defaults to 16MP shots. The primary camera is capable of capturing decent detail, although the colors can appear slightly washed out. This may not be a significant drawback for casual photography, but those who demand vibrant and highly detailed images might find it lacking. The tablet also includes a 2MP macro camera intended for close-up shots. However, the low resolution of this camera affects the overall sharpness and quality of the macro shots.
For selfies and video calls, the T30 Max is equipped with a 20MP front-facing camera, which delivers adequate detail for most purposes. Both the rear and front cameras support 1080p video recording at 30fps. However, the rear camera’s audio quality during video recording is notably better, offering clearer sound than the front-facing camera.
Software and Updates
The Doogee T30 Max runs on Android 14, bringing the latest features and improvements made by Google. It promises regular updates twice a year, including two years of operating system upgrades. This level of support is modest and falls short compared to Samsung’s commitment of four years of OS updates and five years of security patches for its devices, making Samsung a more future-proof option.
Doogee offers a minimally customized Android experience, which might appeal to users who prefer a more vanilla version of the OS. However, this simplicity means the absence of some advanced features found in Samsung’s One UI. Users looking for productivity tools, enhanced multitasking capabilities, and additional customization options might find the T30 Max lacking in comparison to its Samsung counterpart.
Conclusion
The Doogee T30 Max is a $399.99 Android tablet aimed at offering a broad screen experience alongside solid performance and useful features. It boasts a 12.4-inch display, enduring battery life, ample internal storage, and 4G capabilities, making it a competitive choice in the budget tablet market. Despite these advantages, the T30 Max does fall short in a few areas, especially regarding processor performance, audio quality, and software sophistication.
This review dives deep into the Doogee T30 Max, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses while comparing it to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+. The Samsung option, though pricier, is touted as a more worthwhile investment for anyone willing to spend a bit more for enhanced features and superior performance. For users, the key decision factors come down to budget constraints versus the desire for a more robust and refined user experience.
If a large, clear display and decent battery life are primary concerns, the T30 Max delivers on those fronts. However, potential buyers should weigh these benefits against the significant lag in processor speed and the less impressive audio and software capabilities. The comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ serves as a critical point of reflection; the latter offers a more advanced performance profile, making it a superior option for those who demand more from their tablet experience.
