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Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2" can be seen as a tablet that is not only high performance but also given a touch of modern design. It has gone on sale in Malaysia today with a retail price of RM4,599. Personally, some consider it a high price offer for a tablet. Then started to trigger questions regarding the performance of this tablet in real world use. Here is a full review for this new Huawei tablet.
Brief Specifications
Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2″
12.2-inch screen, 2880 x 1920 pixels
3:2 ratio (~262 ppi density)
Kirin T91 processor
8 Core Chip
Graphics Chip –
RAM 12GB RAM
Internal Load 512GB ROM
Main Camera 13MP (wide),
8MP (ultra-wide)
4K@30fps/1080p@30fps
Selfie Camera 16 MP, f/2.2
1080p@30fps
10,100mAh battery
100W charging
SIM/Telephony None
NFC None
No Audio Jack
Waterproof None
Face Scan Scan System
Fingerprint Scan
Sale Price RM4,599 (12/512GB)
The main focus is on the 12.2″ screen surface that uses an anti-glare and reflection layer with Dual-Later Tandem OLED technology. Huawei says this panel is able to offer better brightness than regular OLED. This can be confirmed through my daily use which is generally quite bright, clear and easy to see in all scenarios. The equally thick bezel on all four sides makes the front of the tablet quite symmetrical. No complaints about the screen as it feels quite satisfactory.
The combination between 2.8K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate also increases the pleasure of using the screen in daily activities. The anti-glare and reflective coating used helps improve visibility on the screen while reducing eye fatigue, especially when used in dim environments.
In addition to being able to give an experience as if you are reading, writing and drawing on paper. It can be said that it is very suitable to be used by people who like to read digital versions of books but want a more interesting reading experience like flipping through the paper.
From the size of the screen, it looks like this tablet is big, but it's actually just comfortable to carry anywhere. The situation is driven by a thin tablet body construction with a thickness of only 5.9mm and a weight of about 680 grams. At the same time it looks premium through the fiberglass material with a unique golden silk finish on the back. It is interesting enough that it feels capable of creating its own aesthetic element. The frame however is only made of plastic but feels sturdy and nice to hold for a long period of time.
Also complementing it is a round camera bump with two camera sensors and LED Flash. The power button can be found on the left side which is also integrated with the fingerprint scanner function. Followed by two speakers in the same section. The audio adjustment button is at the top along with three microphone holes.
In addition to having two more speakers and a USB-C port on the right side. Again the lack of SIM slot space clearly indicates that the tablet only supports WiFi only with no cellular capability. One more thing, the tablet also does not pass any waterproof certification which requires close care so as not to be damaged.
Usage Experience
Huawei Malaysia does not publicly disclose the processing chip used. But a review through Huawei UAE and the Aida94 application shows that this tablet is powered by an eight-core Kirin T91 processor chip. This is paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage which feels sufficient for most modern users.
The tablet works well in most usage situations. I did not notice any significant lag issues even when used to complete multiple tasks or activities simultaneously over a relatively long period of time. Scrolling and switching apps is also smooth where I can take full advantage of the included 144Hz display.
In addition, Huawei seems to have successfully optimized the software for a responsive experience at all times. The tablet can also run most games without any problems, but it is hoped not to put too much hope since it is certainly not the main choice for hardcore gamers. In fact, it also occurs intermittently during response time, especially in long game sessions. In a benchmark test, this tablet was compared to the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ with the score difference as below:
AnTuTu 3D
Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2 – 691,241
Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 – 1,509,513
Geekbench 5 –
Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2 – 982/3535
Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 – 1895/4996
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ – 1974/6921
Wildlife Extreme
Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2 – 3.885
Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 – 2989
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ – 4197
Software – HarmonyOS 4.2
MatePad Pro 12.2″ runs the latest HarmonyOS 4.0 software without Google Mobile Services which means users have to rely entirely on AppGallery and Petal Search. It can certainly cause some errors especially among users who are tied to Google platforms such as GMail, YouTube, Maps and others.
A number of daily applications such as WhatsApp, Netflix, Instagram, Facebook and Spotify were found to be unavailable directly in the AppGallery. Instead it will offer another alternative through a connection to the APK Pure website application for the purpose of downloading. The process wasn't complicated but required me to wait for a security scan first before installing it manually.
Another thing I noticed when opening the AppGallery there was a three second ad that appeared before the content was supposed to be displayed. The situation is different from the experience when I did a review for the MatePad Pro 13.2″ before where ads appeared on the Huawei browser instead of the AppGallery.
However, it does not mean that there is no direct attraction, in fact Huawei is seen to optimize this software as best as possible for a responsive user experience. The interface is seen to still retain the previous EMUI elements. The home screen displays various folders and each one represents a different category with suggested apps that can be downloaded from the AppGallery.
However, this application is not ready to be installed and can even be removed from the list of suggestions easily. In addition, the main screen also provides an application bar at the bottom that can hold up to eight types of most frequently used applications.
The biggest advantage this time is certainly the GoPaint application which is suitable for drawing with more than 150 types of unique brushes and 320 canvas layers available. It is even more special when there is a New Batik function that is offered exclusively for the Malaysian market only. It was actually developed in collaboration with the National Academy of Arts and Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) as well as allowing users to try traditional Malaysian batik art in a digital format.
The most important thing of course is that this application is provided for free without any additional payment charges. In addition, Huawei Notes has also been upgraded with more smart features such as the Lasso Tool that can change the color of the selected text and then create its own color. Also followed by various toolbars that place frequently used items for more efficient work purposes.
There are no drastic changes in the Control Panel and the notification panel is also able to divide reminders based on priority. For example, important notifications are placed at the top followed by others at the bottom. The choice of widgets is also more with various sizes that can be placed on the home screen. In addition, this tablet can also be used for various multi-tasking tasks. For example, activate the multi-window feature that allows two applications to be used simultaneously.
In addition, the Floating Windows Display function allows any application that does not support landscape orientation to be used on the main screen. It supports up to two different apps and the rest appear as small floating icons on the side. There is also a Multi-Window Dock feature that makes it easier to open the device without leaving the home screen. Other features such as SuperHub, Huawei Share and Super Device are included to further complement the Huawei product ecosystem.
I also like the support for additional accessories such as the new stylus and keyboard. The connection process is magnetically simple then a notification appears asking whether to continue the connection or otherwise. In the sense of easy, very easy, fast and neat. Other advantages include the new supported keyboard having a hidden slot for storage purposes and charging the stylus magnetically directly in the keyboard.
This situation can help reduce the problem of losing or misplacing the stylus due to the user's own carelessness. In addition, the stylus is also powered by NearLink technology, which is significantly improved in terms of accuracy and latency. At the same time, it makes the experience of drawing on the GoPaint application quite enjoyable.
Camera
The part that feels like it doesn't need to be discussed too deeply considering that tablets usually offer fairly average camera performance. But it is still sufficient to be used for normal daily activities. Same as MatePad Pro 12.2″ which uses 13MP main camera and 8MP ultra-wide without OIS. Image reproduction looks good but not particularly impressive. Likewise with the results of ultra-wide images that are seen to have quite significant distortion problems.
Ultra-wide
1X
3X
5X
10X
Other advantages include a built-in autofocus system that works well and supports 4K/30FPS video recording. There is also the ability to zoom up to 10X which complements the offer earlier but it is hoped not to place high hopes since the results are not very good. The 16MP front camera can be used for video calls with FollowCam capabilities that can ensure the subject is always in the frame.
Audio
Personally the four speakers on this tablet are satisfactory. It supports the Huawei Sound audio system provided with strong enough audio output. The bass is also punchy and the audio separation is good, making the listening experience truly satisfying. To my ears, it sounds great for most activities whether it's watching videos, movies or music. The tablet also does not include any built-in 3.5mm audio jack.
Battery Endurance
MatePad Pro 12.2″ may have a thin body with a thickness of 5.9mm but it can still offer a large enough battery capacity of 10,100mAh. With this, there is no tablet problem to function for a full day with normal daily use. It's even better when it can also be recharged quickly using the 100W fast charging system. Of course there is no need to worry about the charging head because it is provided directly in the purchase box.
What's in the Box?
1 X HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2″ Tablet
1 X User Manual.
1 X USB-C to USB C Cable.
1 X Huawei SuperCharge 100W Charger.
1 X Huawei Glide Keyboard.
Conclusion
The screen that uses an anti-glare and reflection layer with Dual-Layer Tandem OLED technology is the main focus here. The combination of 2.8K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate makes it even more fun to use. At the same time able to ensure that all activities whether scrolling applications or animations are always smooth. The battery capacity can be considered standard for now but the support of the 100W fast charging system has added another value to the tablet. At the same time, it can save the time of users who are mostly busy 'haunted' with daily work tasks.
Support for additional accessories such as the new stylus and keyboard is also interesting. Other advantages include the new supported keyboard having a hidden slot for storage purposes and charging the stylus magnetically directly in the keyboard. The lack of GMS is bound to cause some error, especially among users tied to the Google platform. In addition, Huawei's secretive approach regarding the details of the processing chip has also caused questions among the public.
PRO
Thin and light design.
Bright OLED Tandem Screen.
Smooth scrolling with a 144Hz screen.
Faster charging system.
CONS
No Google built in.
Not waterproof.
No audio jack.
No LTE version.