While Huawei’s presence in Western markets has somewhat diminished over the years, it’s clear that the company has decided to continue building up its hardware and software portfolio, undeterred by the whole fiasco with Google. In fact, Huawei’s recent product releases have been quite impressive, and the same can be said for its newest tablet launch.
It’s important to note that Huawei’s most recent launch actually consists of two tablets, the Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2-inch, and the MatePad 12 X. With that said though, the Pro version is currently exclusive for Chinese markets, while the 12 X is the one that’s been launched for global markets. It’s actually a rather capable device, at least on paper – what can you expect though?
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Let’s take a look at the design – at first glance, the MatePad 12 X looks like any other current tablet on the market right now, with a sleek aluminium body, slim bezels, and a large display. It’s a safe design choice from Huawei, and while it doesn’t do anything to drastically reinvent product design, it keeps the MatePad 12 X consistent in terms of aesthetics, at least with the rest of the market.
At the centre of this design is a 12-inch display, which features a 2800×1840 pixel resolution, and an impressive 144Hz refresh rate, something not commonly seen even on other premium tablets from rival brands. We reckon that this should be more than enough for most users who want a good-looking display for entertainment such as media streaming and games, and a bit of productivity every now and then. It also supports stylus input for more in-depth work, if you’re into that sort of thing. It should also be noted that Huawei will be selling a version of the tablet with a matte texture display, which seems to be more ideal for writing on with a stylus.
Inside is Huawei’s Kirin-series T90A chipset, so you’re not getting any Qualcomm or MediaTek smarts in here. The chip works alongside 8GB of RAM, although there’s also an option for a 12GB RAM model. Both memory options come with 256GB of internal storage, and the whole tablet runs on a 10,100 mAh battery with support for 66W charging. For software, the tablet comes pre-installed with HarmonyOS 4.2 Huawei’s own smart device platform.
As with other tablets these days, the MatePad 12 X also comes with a pair of cameras onboard. Don’t go expecting Pixel or iPhone-levels of hardware here though, as it’s pretty much a basic affair. On the back you’ll find a 13MP main camera, while an 8MP front camera handles video calls and selfies.
As far as price is concerned, the Huawei MatePad 12 X starts at £549, making it a bit more affordable versus other competing premium tablets from the likes of Samsung and Apple. Of course there’s a bit of consideration regarding its compatibility with Android apps and Google services, although on its own it should be a pretty solid performer overall.
