Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2″: A Game-Changer for Creatives

The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2-inch PaperMatte Edition is a sleek, powerful tablet designed for those seeking both premium performance and an enhanced experience for digital art, multimedia consumption, and productivity. Featuring a cutting-edge dual-layer OLED display, a robust keyboard, and Huawei’s signature PaperMatte finish, it offers an impressive combination of design and features. However, it comes with its own set of trade-offs, particularly for those dependent on Google services.

Design and Build Quality

The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2 is a visually striking device that strikes a balance between size and portability. Despite the large 12.2-inch display, the tablet maintains a manageable weight of just 508g—lighter than many of its competitors, such as the Apple iPad Pro (13-inch, 579g) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (12.4-inch, 581g).

The device has slim, symmetrical bezels, making the large screen more manageable. The back features a unique Golden Silk finish, giving it a luxurious, paper-like texture. It feels premium but might divide opinion. The edges are coated in a matte golden hue that’s both grippy and resistant to fingerprints. There’s a fingerprint reader combined with the power button, a volume rocker on the right, and a USB-C port at the base, along with speakers and microphones placed symmetrically along the edges.

Glide Keyboard and M-Pencil

The MatePad Pro 12.2 is compatible with Huawei’s new Glide Keyboard, which is a significant upgrade over previous keyboard covers. Unlike traditional designs that have a separate kickstand and keyboard section, the Glide Keyboard features a single-piece design, offering a more robust and secure hinge. The keyboard feels natural to type on with good key travel, a stiff deck, and a large trackpad.

One of the standout features of this new keyboard is its hinge, which allows users to adjust the screen angle freely without worry. There are two preset magnetic positions, and the hinge has a compartment to securely store the M-Pencil, which also charges while stowed. While it adds weight (420g for the keyboard), the overall setup remains lighter than most laptops.

Pros of the Glide Keyboard:

• Comfortable, tactile typing experience
• Excellent trackpad performance
• Secure storage and charging for M-Pencil

Cons of the Glide Keyboard:

• Increased overall weight compared to typical keyboard covers
• Hinge protrudes further when closed, increasing the footprint

Display: Stunning PaperMatte OLED Technology

The 12.2-inch display is a true highlight of the Huawei MatePad Pro. Featuring dual-layer OLED technology, it offers an extraordinary 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a blazing-fast 144Hz refresh rate. With a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, the screen is not only incredibly vibrant but also incredibly durable, with reduced risk of burn-in due to the dual-layer technology. Additionally, the PaperMatte finish ensures minimal glare, making it the ideal tablet for outdoor use.

For users who prefer a more traditional glossy screen, the MatePad Pro also offers an option for a glass-coated display, providing deeper blacks and better contrast for indoor viewing. However, the PaperMatte display significantly reduces reflections and is more resistant to fingerprints, making it better suited for sketching and general outdoor use.

The only limitation here is the lack of a Widevine L1 certification, which means streaming HDR content on services like Netflix is not available in its full quality. But for most, this display is a winner, with HDR content looking absolutely stunning.

Display Highlights:

• Dual-Layer OLED with PaperMatte finish
• 2000 nits peak brightness
• 144Hz refresh rate
• Anti-glare for outdoor visibility

Performance: Solid, But Not Top-Tier

The MatePad Pro 12.2 is powered by what is likely the Kirin 9000S chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. While Huawei has not officially confirmed the chipset, the performance is solid enough for most everyday tasks.

In benchmarking tests, the MatePad Pro lags behind other premium tablets, such as the Apple iPad Pro and the Samsung Tab S9+, particularly in GPU-heavy tasks. However, the tablet holds its own when running most games, such as Genshin Impact at medium settings, delivering smooth gameplay at 60fps. For productivity and light multitasking, this device performs admirably, with little to no slowdown during regular use.

Battery Life: Exceptional for Prolonged Use

The MatePad Pro 12.2 packs a massive 10,100mAh battery, which Huawei claims can provide up to 14 hours of video playback. During testing, the battery life has been nothing short of impressive. Even with a few hours of browsing, illustrating, and media consumption each day, the device comfortably lasted for an entire week on a single charge. Additionally, the tablet supports 100W fast charging, which can recharge the device fully in under an hour, a great perk for on-the-go use.

Battery Performance:

• Battery Capacity: 10,100mAh
• Video Playback Time: Up to 14 hours
• Fast Charging: 100W (Full charge in under an hour)

Cameras: Decent, But Not Exceptional

Cameras on tablets are usually underwhelming, and the MatePad Pro 12.2 is no exception. It features a 13MP f/1.8 main camera and an 8MP ultrawide, with support for 4K 30fps video recording. The front-facing 16MP camera is good for video calls but lacks autofocus and struggles in low light.

While the rear camera is reliable for basic photography, there’s no optical image stabilization (OIS), and the 10x zoom feature is largely impractical due to excessive pixelation.

Software: HarmonyOS 4.2 with Some Caveats

Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4.2 powers the MatePad Pro, offering an intuitive and smooth experience, but it lacks native support for Google services. While the absence of Google’s Play Store is a major downside for many, tech-savvy users can employ workarounds (such as using MicroG or the Aurora Store) to run Google apps like YouTube, Gmail, and Google Drive.

Huawei’s exclusive apps, such as GoPaint (for digital painting) and Huawei Notes, provide useful features for productivity and creative work. GoPaint, in particular, offers an experience comparable to Procreate, making it a fantastic tool for artists.

Software Pros:

• HarmonyOS is well-designed and smooth
• GoPaint for digital art is excellent
• Seamless integration with Huawei’s ecosystem

Software Cons:

• No native Google services (requires workaround)
• Limited app availability via Huawei’s AppGallery

Pricing and Value

The MatePad Pro 12.2 is competitively priced, especially compared to other premium tablets like the iPad Pro and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+. The pricing starts at £699.99 for the 256GB variant, with the 512GB version available for £799.99. With a keyboard and M-Pencil bundled in the introductory offer, this is an excellent deal considering the premium features on offer.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Stunning PaperMatte OLED display
• Great for digital artists (GoPaint app, M-Pencil)
• Exceptional battery life with 100W fast charging
• Lightweight and portable for a 12-inch tablet
• High-quality, durable build
• Excellent keyboard and trackpad experience

Cons:

• Slower-than-average processor (for heavy gaming or tasks)
• No native Google services (requires workaround)
• Limited streaming quality due to lack of Widevine L1 certification
• Cameras are subpar for a “Pro” tablet

Conclusion

The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2″ PaperMatte Edition is an exceptional device for digital artists and media enthusiasts. Its stunning display, solid performance, and unique features make it a strong contender in the premium tablet market. However, the lack of Google services and the outdated Android base might turn off some users, especially those looking for a more seamless, plug-and-play experience.

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