An innovative and certainly highly attractive tablet! HUAWEI MATEPAD PRO review

People might derisively call it the iPad Pro clone, but it can’t be denied that whatever you want to think of it, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro is still one attractive device! HUAWEI Malaysia provided us a review device, and for those who prefer Android, this one is definitely a tablet you’d want to keep in mind.

Granted, if you’re an Android enthusiast, HUAWEI currently cannot utilize any Google services, so you’d have to obtain your apps via a third party service. Nevertheless, it runs EMUI 10.0.1 based off Android 10.0 with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, so right off the bat it’s already packing some heat!

Design and screen: slim and crystal clear

At only 400g, all the device’s hardware is housed in a lightweight magnesium alloy body, making it light and powerful. There’s only two buttons: on the top and the side, one for lock/unlock/switch off and the other is for the volume/zoom. It gives it a very streamlined look! Besides the physical buttons, there are four audio grilles using Harmon Kardon technology for that 360 degree surround sound for the MatePad Pro. A port is available for charge or transfer via USB Type-C. This tablet does not come with an audio jack, so you can utilize a type-C connection for your headphones, which is included in the box.

The screen is 10.8 inches with 2560 x 1600 resolution and 280 pixels per inch, 540 nits brightness and DCI-P3 colour support, so you can watch things as though they were films in the theater! This screen is quite large for a tablet and with its thin bezels, you can really enjoy the clear images. The colours, contrast and brightness are all great, for that amazing viewing experience!

The rear of the device has kept to a minimalist design with only the HUAWEI and Harman Kardon logos. The tablet is obtainable in Pearl White and Midnight Grey colours. We’d prefer the Midnight Grey version to have it appear more as an exclusive product!

Software and specs: what powers this baby?

As mentioned, the tablet does not utilize Google Play services, but you can still get your apps from the HUAWEI App Gallery, so there’s a bit less of hardship there. Otherwise, the MatePad Pro is no different from other Android tablets besides requiring third party sources to install apps from the Play Store, nor can you directly have Google Docs or Gmail apps. The websites still work fine, however.

The hardware on this tablet is nothing to sniff at, packing the Kirin 990 chipset, 8GB RAM and 256GB for internal storage. There’s probably nothing you need to worry about for most regular users. Split-screen is available on the MatePad Pro so you can multi-task as you wish. If you’re all HUAWEI, you can have both devices sync work together too for that Productivity.

Connectivity and battery: long lasting, on the go!

You’d be hardpressed to find another tablet that has so much emphasis on the battery compared to the MatePad Pro. Not only does it have 40W fast charging support for a full 0 to 100% charge in less than 90 minutes, you also have 15W wireless charging support! If you happen not to need the tablet, the battery is even capable of lasting up to two days! Otherwise, for active users, it can still hold up for a respectable 10 hours, 6 hours if you’re gaming non-stop.

As for the connectivity options, you have both Wi-Fi and 4G access, and the signal will be strong. There are no visible antennas around the device either if that is something that bothers you. Besides that, we also had the magnetic keyboard and M-Pencil bundled with this tablet, that connects automatically when you have them placed. Easy peasy!

Vivid capture with the camera

The MatePad Pro is no slouch in the camera department either. The tablet is still capable of great capture, and the wide screen means you can really admire those shots in full detail. The main camera is a 13MP f/1.8 shooter, which is still capable of quality capture with up to 10x zoom. You have both auto and manual focus, especially handy for things in motion. A panorama feature is also available, which we also tried out!

The front camera is 8MP for the selfie lovers, so not to worry in that department. If you prefer to film, then you can capture Full HD video, though best results might only be in good lightning and stable movement. Check out the gallery for sample pictures of the MatePad Pro:

Harmon Kardon for the audio oomph

As you might expect from a tablet packing Harman Kardon audio, the MatePad Pro is probably one of the better tablets to grace audiophiles. There are four of them on both sides of the tablet, for that “surround” sound around the device bearing clarity like you haven’t heard before. Expect no less than the best sound quality for a mini theater in your hands. It might be a shame for those who prefer an audio jack since the tablet does not have one, so you’d need to use headphones with USB Type-C connectivity.

Gaming on the MatePad Pro

If you’re not used gaming on a tablet, it might feel a bit strange, but nevertheless, we persevere! The first one on deck will be something you should all be familiar with: PUBG Mobile! You most likely will need to change your control settings, but graphics wise? With high graphics HDR and Frame Rate Ultra on this big screen, you’d have that little bit of an edge over your opponent when you can see everything crystal clear on the slate! Best of all, there’s no lag or heating up of the tablet! You can expect similar performance for mobile Fortnite too.

For something different, we tried out Asphalt, racing along with its incredibly realistic 3D graphics. At the highest settings, you can truly feel like you’re on the race track. If you fancy cranking up that volume, you’ll be able to immerse yourself even further into the race, perhaps at the expense of anyone else in your household and your neighbours. As with the previously mentioned games, there is no lag.

Perfectly paired accessories: the Magnetic Keyboard and M-Pencil

Thanks to HUAWEI Malaysia, we were provided the Magnetic Keyboard and M-Pencil accessories, which both go perfectly well with the HUAWEI MatePad Pro! Let’s go through them individually:

Magnetic Keyboard

For the office worker on the go, have the Magnetic Keyboard with you to instantly transform the MatePad Pro from a tablet to a mini PC. Of course, it’s handy when you need to type out those notes or just work on documents. It’s comfortable to use despite the small keys, and it’s soft to the touch. Just have it attached to your tablet, and it’ll connect at once. The magnets are quite strong, so you don’t have to worry about the tablet falling out from the keyboard.

M-Pencil

For those who prefer handwritten notes or if you’re the creative type, then the M-Pencil would be something that will appeal to you. You can stick the pen onto the side of the MatePad Pro thanks to its magnet. It doesn’t have a soft tip due to the motions also utilizing magnets, so you might worry about scratches. Put those fears aside, as there will be none of that.

The wireless feature is especially attractive, automatically charging when its stuck to the MatePad Pro. It will provide a notification to tell you if your pen is charging and with this ease of use, you don’t need to worry about it running out of battery. If you fancy making doodles in your spare time, then pick this accessory up!

Verdict: to get the MatePad Pro or not, that is the question

Actually, no question at all! Throughout our time of utilizing this tablet during the MCO, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro is a definite pick-me-up! It’s comfortable to use, easy to bring everywhere being compact and lightweight, yet still having a wide screen for all your needs: there’s no room to doubt how great this tablet is. The UI will be the least of your issues, as it is pretty much just like any Android 10 UI out there sans the pre-installed Google applications.

Starting from RM2399, HUAWEI also includes the accessory bundle for free, namely, the MatePad Pro + Keyboard Bundle Free Gift that is worth over RM459. You’ll also get Cloud Storage up to 50GB that you can redeem for up to 12 months, premium HUAWEI Video for 3 months and WPS Office Premium for 3 months, and of course, the HUAWEI M-Pencil.

Get your own through the online HUAWEI store or find an official retailer!

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