In today's world tablets are seen starting to change the way we use devices such as laptops. This can be seen through the offering of increasingly large sizes with various built-in advanced functions. In addition to saving space while ensuring that we can work as comfortably as possible. Recently I was given the opportunity to try out the new Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2" tablet to see how capable it is in daily work processes. If you are wondering about its abilities, here is what I share in this review article.
Specifications And Design
Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2″
13.2-inch screen, 2880 x 1920 pixels
3:2 ratio (~262 ppi density)
Kirin 9000S processor (7nm)
1×2.62 GHz Taishan Big chip
3×2.15 GHz Taishan Mid
4×1.53GHz Cortex-A510
Maleoon 910 MP4 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB RAM
Internal Load 256/512GB ROM
Main Camera 13MP (wide), PDAF
8MP (ultra-wide)
4K@30fps/1080p@30fps
Selfie Camera 16 MP, f/2.2
3D TOF
1080p@30fps
10,100mAh battery
88W wired charging
SIM/Telephony None
NFC None
No Audio Jack
Waterproof None
Scan System None
Sale Price RM4,599 (12/256GB)
RM4,999 (12/512GB)
Physical Design
Not just an ordinary tablet, the MatePad Pro 13.2″ looks interesting in a class of its own. If followed in terms of size, it is the largest ever produced by Huawei for the tablet segment. Then it is also easy to use due to its thin body with only 5.5mm and weighing around 580 grams. But I don't recommend you use it with one hand for a long time because it can cause fatigue in the arm.
As you can see the color green is used as the dominant color here which feels appropriate to its name which is Green. For those of you who prefer evergreen colors, you can get the MatePad Pro 13.2″ in Golden Black. The frame is completely made of magnesium alloy which is also rounded. Meanwhile, a fiberglass-based panel with a matte finish is used on the back and is very easy to collect dirt such as dust and sweat.
Also complementing this back panel is of course the Huawei branding which can be seen in silver. Also followed by a round camera module that contains two camera sensors along with an LED Flash. It is not so big and prominent, at the same time not too distracting from the color deck that resembles the body.
The only thing that could potentially bother you is the large notch on the front display. As can be seen this notch is in the middle which also houses the single selfie camera. I'm honestly a bit bothered by this notch especially when holding the tablet vertically.
This situation further causes the selfie camera to accidentally close, as well as blocking the content being displayed. This situation always happens but I'm still trying to get used to it, at the same time it should also be praised for the size of the bezel which is pleasing to the eye.
Next, a 13.2-inch screen with a 3:2 ratio is used with a Flexible OLED display with a resolution of 2880 × 1920 pixels. The display is best at 144Hz refresh rate but users are still given the option to switch to 120Hz and 60Hz for battery saving. In addition to offering a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, a display capability of up to 1.07 billion and a peak brightness of 1,000nits as an addition. There is also TÜV Rheinland Global Eye Care 3.0 protection aimed at reducing blue light to protect the eyes especially involving use in dark areas.
No issues were found, in fact the displayed image looked beautiful, clear and lively even though it was used in an open area. Vivid color reproduction can be clearly seen, as well as having good viewing angles and quite responsive response. The almost equally large bezel size makes the screen appear wider with a screen-to-body ratio of up to 94%.
If possible, I recommend you to use the tablet in landscape mode which definitely promises a more optimal experience especially for multimedia content. Even then you can't watch Netflix in full HD because the tablet only supports Widevine L3 which means it's limited to SD definition only.
There is no fingerprint sensor, instead the 3D unlocking system uses the face along with conventional unlocking methods such as pin, pattern and password installed on the tablet. There is also a Smart Unlock feature that allows you to unlock the tablet using connected devices such as earphones and smart watches.
Moving to the sides, the power button is placed on the left side along with two speakers. Followed by two more speakers and a USB-C port on the right side. Then the audio adjustment button is at the top along with three microphone holes, in addition to being a place to place the M-Pencil Gen 3 for charging purposes.
If followed as many as six speakers that support Huawei Sound are provided with quite strong audio output. The bass is also punchy and the audio separation is good, making the listening experience truly satisfying. Unfortunately there is no 3.5mm audio jack leaving users to rely entirely on wireless earphones.
The absence of a SIM slot indicates that the tablet only supports WiFi without cellular capabilities. One more thing, the tablet also does not pass any waterproof certification which requires close care so as not to be damaged.
Accessories – Huawei M-Pencil Gen 3 & Smart Magnetic Keyboard
The MatePad Pro 13.2″ supports two main accessories, the Huawei M-Pencil Gen 3 and the all-new portable Smart Magnetic Keyboard. It's a full-sized keyboard with enough space between keys for comfort. In addition to loading a touch pad makes the typing experience just smooth.
It's magnetically placed on the back with a variety of uses including Laptop Form for a laptop-like typing experience. Also followed by Split Form which allows the keyboard and tablet to be placed separately for a more flexible interesting experience. Next, Studio Form provides more comfort using the MatePad Pro 13.2″ without a keyboard.
Next Huawei M-Pencil Gen 3 is also better with NearLink technology with the ability to detect more than 10,000 pressure levels.
Benchmark – Kirin 9000s
Our review through the official website of Huawei Malaysia, the processing chip listed is Hisilicon Kirin 9000W. However, it should be emphasized that this review unit received is based on the Hisilicon Kirin 9000s chip, which is the same processor used in the Huawei Mate 60 device.
It is said to be built based on 7nm technology, in addition to supporting the Maleoon 910 MP4 GPU. The memory combination is 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage which should be more than enough to ensure the tablet works well. In a benchmark test, the MatePad 13.2″ was compared to other tablets in a comparable class and the score difference was as below:
AnTuTu 3D Benchmark
Huawei MatePad 13.2″ – 646,502
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE – 595,820
Xiaomi Pad 6 – 657,448
Geekbench 6
Huawei MatePad 13.2″ – 1234/4113
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE – 990/2790
Xiaomi Pad 6 – 1293/3279
Wildlife Extreme Stress
Huawei MatePad 13.2″ – 1,205
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE – 2,939
Xiaomi Pad 6 – 1,227
Software And Usage – HarmonyOS 4.0
The HarmonyOS 4.0 operating system on tablets provides customization options for themes, icons and a more comprehensive interface. Users have many options for lock screen and AOD support. For example, users can put their own pictures, or change the background with their favorite text and emoji.
The choice of widgets is also more with various sizes that can be placed on the home screen. Also followed is the Panorama Wether function which allows the daily weather forecast with real-time updates to be placed on the lock screen. The notification panel looks smarter with a division of reminders based on priority that shows any important notifications are placed at the top. Other notifications follow at the bottom.
In my opinion, in general, no problems were found throughout the use for almost a week. MatePad Pro 13.2″ can perform well in most daily tasks. Most apps can be launched without a problem, and the tablet feels fast especially with the 144Hz screen enabled.
Intermittent and overheating problems also did not occur during the review period. The initial play of Mobile Legend Bang-Bang also provides different settings, which by default are set to High/High. But it can still be changed up to the maximum Ultra/Ultra which will necessarily change the playing experience.
Glad to say no negative comments can be given for performance involving multimedia presentations and daily tasks. Except for the issue of not having built-in Google support which requires another solution to be used to take advantage of this tablet. For example, such as Huawei AppGallery and Petal Search, but it must be emphasized that both still download third-party applications such as APKPure, which is certainly not a security measure.
This makes it difficult for some users who want a versatile tablet like other Android tablets. In fact there are also weaknesses that occur due to the lack of certain applications through it such as Alphast 9 and Genshin Impact. Another thing I started to notice is that there are ads appearing on the Huawei browser before the content should be displayed.
Camera And Picture Quality
MatePad Pro 13.2″ loads a dual-camera on the back with 13MP (main) + 8MP (ultra-wide), followed by a 16MP + 3D ToF selfie camera for a more secure unlocking system. The application interface offers a number of built-in camera modes such as Aperature, Night, Portrait Photo, Video and More. Followed by three zoom options that include wide angle, 1X and 10X. The camera can also record maximum 4K video however EIS stabilization is only supported at 1080P/30fps mode.
Wide Angle
1X zoom
10X zoom
Logically, not many people use the camera on a tablet to take pictures, including myself. It seems strange that the additional camera on a tablet usually gives only mediocre results. Our tests found that the image results were completely dependent on the light source. This means that satisfactory picture quality can be taken with sufficient light sources.
But not so sharp with simple and inconsistent color reproduction. Noise can be clearly seen especially in dark areas. The same goes for ultra-wide images that also experience the same issue as before. Selfie image quality provides soft results but good color reproduction. In addition, there is also a built-in beauty mode available if necessary.
Battery Endurance
With a 10,010 mAh battery, this tablet can operate with SOT between 7 - 8 hours per day for normal use such as browsing the web, watching video content and playing games. The battery can also be recharged using the USB-C port and 88W fast charging that takes almost an hour. The charging head is also provided in the purchase box which leads to savings among consumers.
What's in the Box?
1 X HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2″ Tablet
1 X User Manual.
1 X USB-C to USB C Cable.
1 X Huawei SuperCharge 88W Charger.
1 X Keyboard.
1 X Huawei M-Pencil Gen 3.
Conclusion
Not just an ordinary tablet as the MatePad Pro 13.2″ is more than adequate for daily use. It can be seen through a large screen that is bright and clear and easy to use for many things. Plus satisfactory performance without program failures occurring. In addition to supporting two main accessories such as M-Pencil Gen 3 and Smart Magnetic Keyboard that can make it look like a 'laptop'.
A large battery with fast charging is also an attractive plus. Yet Google's lack of built-in is a big drawback on tablets. Moreover, the lack of specific applications through the main store of the device makes it impossible for all users to get used to it. The sales price starts at RM4,599 (12/256GB) and RM4,999 (12/512GB) in Malaysia.
PRO
Large and light design.
Beautiful and bright screen can be used in all scenarios.
Fast scrolling with a 144Hz screen.
The combination of powerful processor and memory.
The large battery supports fast charging.
CONS
The big notch is a bit annoying.
No Google built in.
Not waterproof.
No audio jack.
No LTE version.