MeeGoPad T03 PRO is back, but is it any better?

I'm sure quite a few of my readers remember my review of one of the smallest computers, the MeeGoPad T02.
The review was probably remembered less for its description of the computer than for the difficulties involved in modifying it.
Although I managed to get it working back then, it wasn't exactly easy.
When I saw an updated version of this computer, I couldn't pass it up. I was curious to see whether it had really improved.
Anyway, if you're interested, come on in. :)

Since the previous model, the T02, and the new T03 are very similar, this review will partly compare the two devices.
The previous version had its advantages, as well as its drawbacks.
One of its biggest drawbacks was overheating under even the slightest load. I fixed the problem in my review, but not everyone is willing to make that kind of modification.

Now the manufacturer has released an updated version of the device, based on the new Intel Cherry Trail X5-Z8300 processor.
It's worth noting that there are three versions of the device (at least).
The old T02 with the Z3735F processor
The new T03 with the X5-Z8300 processor.
And an in-between version, for some reason called the T05, with the previous Atom Z3735F processor

The computer arrived in a small box, just like last time, but it looks much more basic.
The box is very sturdy; in my opinion, that's more important than colorful printing.
Though this time there's no information on the box at all, just the manufacturer's name. That's it—not even the specs or model name.


The contents are packed exactly as before, in the same two-tier arrangement.


The package contents are exactly the same as before, one-to-one.
Computer
Power supply
USB-MicroUSB cable
Manual
Warranty card.


I could have simply reused this photo from the previous review, since the manual has barely changed, and the cable and power supply haven't changed at all. It's nice that the manufacturer includes a power supply with a European plug, rather than flat pins plus an adapter.


The specs are almost the same as those of the previous version, but there are a few differences.
Operating system: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Cherry Trail X5-Z8300
Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics (8th generation)
Memory: 2GB RAM (DDR3L-1333) + 32GB ROM
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n WiFi 2.4GHz
Bluetooth: BT 4.0
Display: HDMI output, 1080P
External interfaces: 1x USB 3.0, 1x microUSB 2.0 + 1x microUSB 2.0 for powering the device.
Memory card support: 1 microSD slot, max. 64GB
Dimensions: 102 x 36.2 x 15 mm
Weight: 50 g

Yes, I know, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage for a Windows 10 computer is pretty pathetic and outdated, but what can you do? There don't seem to be any other options in this size for now.


The new microcomputer looks very much like its predecessor, though there are a few differences. It uses the same design, so you can plug it straight into a TV or monitor without any extra cables. Sometimes that's not possible, though, because of where the port is on the TV or monitor. In that case, you'll need to buy an angled adapter or cable.


One thing that's immediately noticeable from the outside: the microcomputer is a little narrower, but one and a half times thicker.
The previous version measured 110 x 43 x 9.9 mm; the new one is 102 x 36.2 x 15 mm.
The classic side-by-side photo to give you an idea of the size.


There are fewer ports now, too.
The full-size USB port has disappeared from one side, replaced by a microUSB port.
I think this is a questionable decision, since there are far fewer devices that use this connector, so you'll have to buy an adapter (it isn't included).
There's also a slot for a memory card on this side.


The other side of the case has changed as well.
On the downside, the headphone or amplifier jack has been removed.
On the plus side, there's now a full-size USB 3.0 port.
The power button is backlit by a red LED. It's not very bright, but it's easy to see.


There's a full-size HDMI male connector on the end.
The bottom of the case mentions that this is still the MeeGoPad T03, and lists the power supply requirements: 5 V, 2 A.
By the way, even under heavy loads, the power supply stayed slightly warm; it never got significantly hot. The previous version of this computer behaved the same way.


The manufacturer was a little creative with the claimed weight of 50 grams, or perhaps just copied the information from my previous review :)
This version weighs 56 grams instead of the claimed 50, though I don't think that's a big deal at all.


There are ventilation holes on top, through which you can even get a partial look inside. The holes aren't covered by anything.


The HDMI connector is positioned well off to one side.
On the one hand, that's convenient, since monitors often have the connector close to the back of the case. On the other hand, check the connector's orientation carefully: some are installed rotated 180 degrees. What should be a convenience can turn into a problem, and you'll have to buy a cable with a female-to-female adapter.


There's nothing else to say about the exterior, so I'll move on to the software and tests.

Since the computer doesn't come with any third-party software preinstalled, and I don't see any point in going over the features of Windows 10, I'll move on to performance and temperature tests.

Information from CPU-Z


For my first performance test, I ran the familiar Cinebench.
I'll show screenshots of the tests below and note in the comments how the same test scored on the previous T02 after its modifications.
T02 —
OpenGL — 5.94
CPU — 1.08


Testing the built-in flash drive.
Here I’ve put together the results for the different computers I tested.
MeeGoPad T03
Pipo X9
Pipo X7
Pipo X7S
Teclast X98 Pro
MeeGoPad T02
Pocket P1
Vensmile W10

In practice, PIPO is still comfortably in the lead, especially the X9.


3DMark 2006 test.
Here I’ll list the scores for the previous T02 and the new Intel X5-Z8500, a more powerful version of the processor installed in the T02 under review.
T02 — 1428-1594
Intel X5-Z8500 — 3824
As we can see, there’s a performance gap over the previous generation of processors, but it’s suspiciously small.
Of course, I understand that the graphics core in the 8300 version runs at a slightly lower clock speed than in the 8500 and 8700, but the gap still seems far too large.
On the plus side, the maximum temperature was just 75 degrees.


The Linx test is useful for two reasons: measuring performance and checking how well the cooling system works.
This test puts a heavy load on the processor and heats it up quite a bit. In real-world use, sustained loads like this are rare; they mostly occur during video encoding or gaming, where the graphics core adds extra heat.
The good news is that even in this test, although the processor reached 83 degrees, it still had 8 degrees of headroom before the clock speed was automatically reduced.
The bad news is that I’d hoped this computer would be a bit faster.
After modification, the T02 reached a peak performance of 5.8721 Gflops. The new one was actually a little slower, scoring 5.7404.
A very strange result, since nothing was limiting the processor’s speed.
You could say the processors performed about the same in this test.


WinRAR archiving test.
I made a small mistake here: I didn’t reset the temperature measurements before the test.
That said, it doesn’t matter, since there was no point in running the test for long anyway. The processor ran much cooler than in the Linx test.
But the results are very strange.
After being modified, the previous version scored around 1600 points in this test, as did the new 8500 processor.
Here, though, performance is noticeably lower. It’s unclear whether this was a testing error or a quirk of WinRAR itself.


7ZIP performance test.
I ran this test just for the record, since a couple of people had asked me to.


Last time, I praised the T02’s Wi-Fi performance. That was probably the one thing it really did well.
So I was doubly curious to see how the updated version would perform.
First, I tried it in my usual spot, at my desk, but the connection was unstable, although I was able to download TeamViewer.
I needed this program for the tests because carrying a monitor around the apartment is extremely inconvenient. So I run the tests wherever it suits me, using remote access.
The test procedure is simple: start the speed test, disconnect, then reconnect a few minutes later and check the results.

The second test was at my usual spot for testing wireless devices. The router is about 12 m away, with several reinforced-concrete walls in between and no direct line of sight.


But the actual connection speed was extremely low. Sometimes it was more or less okay, and sometimes it dropped almost to zero.
The T02 managed 5,10/18,92 in this spot.
TeamViewer also kept annoying me with a pop-up about problems capturing the screen.


After that, I moved the computer a little closer to the router: 7 meters away, with two interior concrete walls in between and no line of sight.


The results here are much better, even though this spot isn't much farther away than the previous one.
The T02 got 27.27/33.58 in the same spot.

The final test was done with a clear line of sight, in the same room as the router.
My plan is 50 Mbps, so I simply hit the ISP's limit.



That wraps up the main tests, so I can now take it apart without worrying about breaking anything and getting test results that differ from the original ones.


Well, now I can draw some conclusions. But first, I can anticipate a few questions I didn't answer during the review.
1. Is the fan noisy?
You can hear the fan, but it isn't annoying. At night, when it's quiet, you'll definitely hear it in the room. If there's some background noise, you won't.
For example, I could hear it from 5 meters away. But when the computer was under my desk during testing and music was playing quietly on it, I couldn't hear the fan at all.

2. The computer is advertised as having USB 3.0. Where are the tests?
There won't be any tests, at least not until I figure out the problem. Here's what happened.
I can test USB 3.0 with only two devices: an old 32GB Transcend flash drive and an external hard drive that I've reviewed before.
First, I ran a test with the flash drive, but the speed topped out at 40 MB/s. I put that down to it being old and full.
But I wanted to check, so I decided to test with the external hard drive, whose speed I know for sure. The computer can't spin up the drive on any of its ports, even though the power supply has plenty of headroom.
All right, I got out a USB 3.0 hub, connected an external power supply, and saw something even stranger.
In this setup, USB 3.0 devices don't work. And if they do start working, it's only in USB 2.0 mode. The maximum speed I saw with the external hard drive was the same 40 MB/s.
The photos clearly show that the USB 3.0 connector is fully soldered onto the board. I don't know what's causing the problem yet, so suggest some ways to test it.

That's about it. Now for a quick summary.
Pros
Compact size
No cooling issues
USB 3.0 port (full functionality not confirmed)
Stable operation
The operating system is set up correctly out of the box.

Cons
Weak WiFi, noticeable when far from the router.
WiFi only supports the 2.4 GHz band; the maximum connection speed was 150 Mbps.
It has a fan, but that's the price you pay to avoid overheating.
The USB 3.0 situation is unclear.

My take: during testing, I got the impression that the manufacturer, spooked by overheating problems with the previous version, went a little overboard with the precautions.
The fan and what seems to be a cap on the processor's clock speed point to that. The computer now performs like a version with an older processor but proper cooling.
The only area where performance seems to have improved is the graphics test.
A fan is a nuisance, of course. It tends to clog with dust, and in my opinion, an external heatsink would be a better option. But the manufacturer wanted a compact solution, and that's what they made: the computer is small and doesn't overheat. If they'd also added automatic fan speed control, it would have been perfect.
WiFi is a whole other story. It looks like they overcomplicated things. The T02 had great reception, but they changed the antenna here, and speeds dropped over longer distances. If the computer is in the same room as the router or an adjacent one, everything should work fine. But with a weak signal, things could get frustrating.
By the way, I noticed something interesting. I tried installing Radmin instead of TeamViewer, which kept flashing a warning about video output problems. But using Radmin felt like working over a dial-up modem, even though the actual connection speed was over 50 Mbps. I don't know what that's about. Could it be a Windows 10 quirk?

That's everything. I've shared all the information I could gather. I'm looking forward to your questions and suggestions for tests in the comments, as well as any additions or corrections.

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The product was provided by the store for review.