Display, Audio and Imaging

The Teclast X98 features a very good 2048x1536 IGZO panel from LG, which translates into about 264ppi on 9.7 inches. It’s an IPS panel and viewing angles are good. We have no complaints about the brightness, either.

However, things could have been better. We can understand the lack of oleophobic coating and hardened glass in this price range, as well as the fact that the digitizer is not laminated, but the failure to include an ambient light sensor is a problem. It would have helped improve battery life and user experience. It’s not a huge deal if you use your tablet solely in your living room, but if you want to take it outside, or like to read in your bed, you’ll have to adjust the brightness manually.

On the audio front, the tablet has a weak speaker, which is disappointing given the good spec and snappy GPU that make gaming enjoyable. We’ve heard louder and clearer speakers on $100 phones. The microphone is average, but you can use a 3.5mm headset for the occasional Skype call, should you need it. Output via the 3.5mm port is loud and clear. The puny integrated speaker is definitely the weakest link here.

We don’t bother doing extensive imaging tests in tablet reviews because most people don’t use tablets to take a lot of photos. Still, the rear 5-megapixel camera based on an OmniVision sensor is actually quite good. It’s better than comparable units used on cheap tablets. The front-facing shooter is a 2-megapixel affair and it gets the job done. It’s good enough for video calls, but it’s not spectacular by any stretch of the imagination.