Packard Bell Silverstone T11 review – Versatile value on a second screen

7.0 TAKEOFF IN T-11

Packard Bell's Silverstone T11 tablet enters the competitive budget Android tablet market swinging. It offers good value for money at its price point, with a crisp display and good battery life. However, deciding whether to spend on a tablet can be tough, as laptops and smartphones tend to offer more value for money. If you're looking for an extra screen for entertainment or creative purposes that also packs enough of a processing punch to keep up, Packard Bell's Silverstone T11 might just be what you need.

• Build 7
• Display 8
• Processor 7
• Software 6
• User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

Packard Bell’s Silverstone T11 tablet arrives as part of the Acer subsidiary’s Silverstone series, throwing its hat into the highly-contested budget Android tablet fray. The Silverstone T11 offers decent value for money in this price range. It has pros for a creative or professional, particularly regarding its display and battery, but the key is knowing whether you can live with the cons.

Touchy-feely

The Silverstone T11’s signature metallic body provides good heft and durability. The only concern is its high susceptibility to fingerprints. The back panel is also smooth and slippery so handling requires care. Fortunately, the T11 includes a folio-style cover that improves handling and acts as a stand. It also has a screen protector applied and two more in the box so there’s no excuse for scuffed screens.

On display

The Silverstone T11 is best suited for users either in creative fields or who have a highly visual and interactive workflow. Its 10.1in 1,920 x 1,200 IPS display is decent enough. IPS tech means users don’t have to worry about finding a specific angle to enjoy the visuals. Colours are bright and vivid, and the deep blacks help add detail and depth to images.

Because of the low-end chip, visuals above 1080p pose a real struggle for smoothness. The YouTube app won’t even allow you to go above 720p on most videos. Film fans might not prefer this as their main viewing device, but it’s still a quality backup to catch up on missed episodes. At least it responds well to multi-touch, making for a better typing experience.

The 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, though a step above the sub-10MP rear cameras you’ll find in this price range, clears a very low bar. The front camera is decent for video calling, but not much else. The 13MP rear struggles for sharpness so much that it can barely scan a close-range QR code. Users should be fine provided they’re working in the daytime, and taking no professional photos or footage. You’ll get more mileage from messing around with various productivity and creativity apps.

 

Silverstone’s drivers

We’re not the biggest fans of Android 13. Despite this, the combination of the processor and OS allows for a smooth navigation experience, though nowhere near the level of a premium tablet. It’s buggy in some respects, and the black-and-white UI is underwhelming. The Auto-rotate function doesn’t function well with many third-party apps. The Silverstone T11 also struggles with accessories and its OTG (on-the-go) function pales compared to many mid-level smartphones. Mouse and keyboard have slight lag. When using a drawing tablet, the T11 doesn’t even show the cursor on screen, dissolving the prospect of using this as a primary screen for digital art.

The Silverstone T11’s powered by the 8-core Unisoc SC9863A chipset, which you can also find in the T10 and the Nokia C32. It also supports the T11’s 4GB of RAM. Considering what the general user will purchase the Silverstone T11 for, this is passable. The thickness and weight at least come in handy by permitting four air vents on either side. It’s highly unlikely that the T11 can be pushed to the point of overheating.

The chipset is best at power efficiency and conservation. Paired with the 6,000mAh battery, a full charge will last you about a day and a half. This whittles to a quality eight hours of binging Netflix and YouTube.  A lack of fast charging means you’ll wait roughly three hours to get from empty to full charge. This can feel excruciating if you’re used to faster devices. With 128GB of internal storage, you won’t worry about deleting pictures and apps any time soon, especially if you’re using this tablet as a secondary or tertiary screen.

Packard Bell Silverstone-T11 verdict

Ultimately, the Silverstone T11 proves to be a decent tool for creative professionals who need a budget tablet with a vivid display, but also packing more of a processing and storage punch. It’s difficult for many to justify R4,000 for a tablet. The Silverstone T11’s crisp display and long-lasting battery make it a reliable companion, but creative types should remember that rather than pairing it with extra gadgets, a device like this is better as an accessory to something more powerful.