I always have a healthy skepticism of free promotional devices offered by various phone companies. We found that they were often characterized by terrible displays, shoddy build quality, and anemic performance. These are all things you want to avoid on new devices. But surprisingly, that’s not the case with the T-Mobile Revvl Tab 5G.
Whether you want to get a Revvl Tab for free when you add a new line to your T-Mobile service or pay the full $200 for an affordable slate, there’s something for everyone here. think. Just don’t get too excited. When the new sensation wears off.
T-Mobile Revvl Tab 5G
The T-Mobile Revvl Tab 5G offers the flexibility of 5G coverage with decent performance for its price range. The 10.36-inch LCD display looks great when watching content, and the MediaTek Dimensity 700 is surprisingly nimble. With over 10 hours of screen time, Revvl is the perfect tablet for binge-watching.
- excellent battery
- good display
- solid build quality
- Charging is slow
- No expected updates
Price and availability
T-Mobile limited
The T-Mobile Revvl Tab 5G is available from T-Mobile (Shocker) for $200. However, if you add a new line to your service, you can receive a Revvl Tab for free as part of your carrier’s promotion.it’s not completely However, it’s free because you have to have 24 months of active service through T-Mobile. Each month, you will receive a bill credit for a portion of your tablet, so if you end your service early, you will be responsible for paying the remaining balance. It comes in one configuration with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and Dark Shadow is the only color option.
T-Mobile offers a fairly simple unboxing experience for the Revvl Tab. As you would expect from the price point, it comes with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable and a SIM tray tool. Charging brick is not included.
specification
- SoC
- Dimensions 700
- screen type
- liquid crystal
- Display dimensions
- 10.36 inch
- display resolution
- 1200×2000
- rum
- 6GB
- storage
- 128GB
- battery
- 7,040mAh
- charging speed
- 15W
- port
- USB-C
- SIM support
- yes
- operating system
- android 13
- front camera
- 8MP
- rear camera
- 8MP
- cellular connection
- yes
- Wi-Fi connection
- yes
- Connectivity
- 5G, 4GLTE, Wi-Fi
- bluetooth
- 5.1
- size
- 0.31×9.75×6.19
- weight
- 513g
- color
- dark shadow
- price
- 200
design
Boxy but gets the job done
If you’re the type of person who walks into an ice cream shop and asks for a big cup of vanilla, Revvl’s design will appeal to you. It’s a tablet straight out of the central casting, with no notable features aside from a faint T-Mobile logo on the back. Its only charm lies in the magenta power button. This is the color choice you’d expect from T-Mobile. The Revvl is blocky and has rounded edges, and is a little heavy at 513g, but I didn’t notice the extra weight while using it.
The Revvl Tab’s bezels are thicker than an iPad, but thinner than similarly priced tablets like the Amazon Fire HD 10. I’ve never cared about bezels on tablets. A tablet bezel gives you a place to hold your device. It will interfere with the display.
Along the outer border are the stereo speakers and a SIM card tray that houses a nano SIM slot for 5G connectivity, as well as a MicroSD card slot (if you have a compatible microSD card). The speakers aren’t the loudest I’ve ever tested, but they’re also free of distortion. If you need more volume, you can always pair your favorite girlfriend’s Bluetooth headset for a better listening experience.
Overall, the metal casing feels durable and sturdy. While we never recommend shocking your tablet, the Revvl Tab feels like it won’t break after a lick or two. It’s exactly the build quality you’d expect at this price point, and we’re glad that T-Mobile has done enough to maintain a solid feel while focusing on other areas.
screen
Better than expected for the price
We’re thankful for the quality of displays on budget tablets that have improved in recent years. Nothing degrades the user experience faster than a poor panel. I’m glad T-Mobile got his Revvl Tab notes. The spec sheet won’t knock your socks off. It is a 10.36 inch LCD display with a resolution of 1200×2000. At first glance, it seems that the colors are not very accurate and the shades are cool, but once you start looking at the content, such concerns disappear. I found myself completely immersed in streaming videos and movies without being distracted by the display.
The Revvl’s panel isn’t the brightest display (it will struggle in sunlight), but it’s perfectly fine for indoor viewing. When it comes to tablets in this price range, I judge them first and foremost on their ability to binge-watch content, and the Revvl Tab passes the test with flying colors. Suits marathons on Netflix are fun. Games also look great in the Revvl tab, with cars playing Asphalt 9 popping off the screen.
software
Fairly standard Android experience
The Revvl Tab 5G runs Android 13 out of the box. T-Mobile’s Android flavor is rather standard, with few aesthetic changes from the basic Google Pixel experience. Unlike the carrier devices we’ve seen so far, the Revvl tab isn’t loaded with bloatware. You’ll notice that it comes preloaded with the T-Mobile app and T-Mobile Play, which is a far cry from the nightmare scenario you get with carrier software. If you haven’t been nostalgic for the 90s lately, McAfee Anti-virus is also included in his Revvl tab. It has tablet-friendly UI elements such as the dock, which makes multitasking easier.
I’m not too worried about the Revvl Tab’s software support as I don’t really have high expectations for it. You’ll need to use this tablet primarily for content viewing and light web browsing, so the latest and greatest Android features are secondary. We hope T-Mobile updates security patches at least on a quarterly basis, but don’t expect full-fledged feature removal or monthly updates when using a Pixel device.
performance
Punch above your weight
Despite its affordable price, the Revvl tab’s performance is very smooth. It’s powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700, which isn’t very eye-catching, but does a decent job with multitasking and social media apps. Even Genshin Impact, the great equalizer, works great with the Revvl tab. Fully playable, although limited to low graphics settings.
I never experienced any debilitating lag, but it was easy to see how the chipset could get bogged down under heavy load. If you keep your expectations in check, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how nimble the Revvl tab feels when scrolling through Facebook or scrubbing through your Peacock show listings. However, try playing Call of Duty Mobile at maximum settings and the frame-limited experience will quickly remind you of the tab’s lower price tag.
battery life
The best parts of the Revvl tab
T-Mobile claims the Revvl Tab has a “long-lasting” battery. This is the most vague metric I’ve ever seen, but Revvl holds up well in our tests. I was consistently able to get over 10 hours of screen on time, especially when I was using the tablet primarily for focused viewing. Revvl’s 7,040mAh time cell holds up well with 5G, and streaming outside the home will only shave an hour or two off that number. Standby drains are almost non-existent, so if you leave it unplugged one night, you won’t come back to a useless tablet the next day.
Unfortunately, the Revvl Tab’s charging is limited to 15W, so it will take a while to charge the larger battery. On average, it took just over three hours to fully charge. As such, the Revvl is a tablet that heavy users will want to remember to keep plugged in overnight for easy refilling during the day. It’s impossible.
Connectivity
Covered (almost) wherever you are
5G works well with the Revvl tab. He connected to T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity without any issues and found the signal strength to be comparable to his T-Mobile service, which he uses on phones like the Samsung Galaxy A54 and Pixel 7a. Streaming worked well outdoors and was never hampered by video buffering. If you’ve used T-Mobile before, you’ll expect similar coverage and performance. It’s always nice to be able to take out your tablet on the bus or train without having to worry about Wi-Fi connectivity.
camera
Exactly what you would expect from a tablet
As you might expect, the Revvl Tab’s camera isn’t great. The main 8MP sensor is good for scanning documents, but don’t expect to capture cute moments with your cat. T-Mobile includes his 2MP depth sensor that supports portrait mode, but the image is soft in anything but ideal lighting. Portrait mode is still welcome on such an inexpensive tablet, but I would have liked to see it on the more expensive Apple iPad as well.
The 8MP front sensor supports selfie shooting. The image gets washed out and grainy easily, but it’s good enough for video calls. Don’t expect to take glamorous photos with your friends.
competition
Quite a few options
It’s hard to talk about tablets in Revvl’s price range without mentioning the Amazon Fire HD 10. This year’s refreshed Fire HD features improved stylus support and upgraded display and performance. Combine this with the great discount on Fire HD and it’s hard to recommend anything else. The build quality of the Revvl Tab is excellent and stands up to long-term use, making the T-mobile device worth a look unless you’re part of the Amazon ecosystem.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) review: A media tablet disguised as a productivity machine
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If you don’t mind spending a little more, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 is a great choice. For about $100 more than the Revvl Tab, you get better performance and a 120Hz refresh rate. Lenovo also has pen support and desk mode software, and you can connect an external keyboard to it to replace your laptop. It’s a close call, but if you’re only using your tablet to watch shows or respond to emails, it’s worth saving the money and sticking with Revvl.
Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 review: The tablet worthy of your next binge
Your eyes will thank you after the next 8 hour marathon
Should I buy it?
If you get the Revvl Tab for free, it’s hard to pass up. Unlike other promotional throw-ins, this one is not e-waste and has a crisp display and decent performance. Even if you pay full price, Revvl offers quality features. I like the build quality of the device. And the flexibility of 5G connectivity gives you peace of mind even when you’re always on the go. Add in great battery life and you have the makings of a winner. It’s not a slam dunk, but sometimes you just want vanilla.
T-Mobile Revvl Tab 5G
The T-Mobile Revvl Tab 5G offers the flexibility of 5G coverage with decent performance for its price range. The 10.36-inch LCD display looks great when watching content, and the MediaTek Dimensity 700 is surprisingly snappy. With over 10 hours of screen time, Revvl is the perfect tablet for binge-watching.
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