HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2″ Review: A powerful tablet delivering a full-fledged PC experience
It might sound odd at first to recommend a tablet to someone who’s in the market for a laptop. But in this case, it’s justified. The latest HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2″ is built as a laptop alternative, and while it is undeniably a tablet through-and-through, its fleet of desktop-like features and bundled peripherals certainly bumps its likeness to a laptop.
It does tag a hefty price of RM4,999, but it comes bundled with a magnetic back cover, a Smart Magnetic Keyboard, and even the M-Pencil (3rd Gen). Put it all together and you’ll have a PC-like experience that rivals those of an actual computer. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty later on, but first, let’s talk about hardware.
Top-notch build quality, as usual
Peripherals aside, on its own, the MatePad Pro 13.2″ still shines. It’s no surprise: HUAWEI has somewhat become synonymous with immaculate build quality. We’ve seen it at launches and hands-on briefings, and we can even vouch for some of their tablets – like the MatePad 12 X – which impressed us when it landed on our tables late last year.
The MatePro 13.2″ hasn’t swayed our perceptions. The rear panel feels as smooth as ironed silk, yet sturdy enough to take a few hits (still, don’t hit it). It looks gorgeous to say the least, especially draped in the Premium Gold colourway – almost like a thin slab of gold. Given its size, the MatePad is considerably light, weighing only 580g. However, you can expect a fair increase to about 1kg with the back cover and keyboard attached.
The MatePro 13.2″ is undoubtedly a premium tablet with no chink in the armour as far as aesthetics and build quality go.
Performance and Display
More than just looks, we’re happy to report that the tablet comes with substance to boot. Let’s get a few key details out of the way. The MatePad Pro 13.2″ is only available in a single 12GB+512GB configuration. There’s no LTE option, but Wi-Fi is often more than enough since you can always connect it to your phone’s hotspot.
The tablet is powered by HUAWEI’s proprietary Kirin T92 processor. There’s not much to harp about here, except that it is capable of running medium-intensive apps like CapCut efficiently. And hey, it can even run Mobile Legends: Bang Bang with a high frame rate and graphics tuned to Ultra, which is a good benchmark if you intend to do some light gaming.
The main highlight though is the PaperMatte display that adds a deluxe touch to the tablet. It is an appealing feature – not solely because it soothes the scrolling and scribbling experience – but because of its anti-glare properties. This is one display that remains undeterred even under harsh sunlight or annoyingly bright overhead lighting, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
The MatePad Pro, as the name suggests, is 13.2″ in size and sports a Flexible OLED panel offering 2.8K (2880×1920) resolution, topped off with whopping 144Hz refresh rates.
For creatives, it supports P3 wide colour gamut for accurate colour reproduction. We reckon the paper-like texture and bundled M-Pencil (3rd gen) will have its part to play in your next masterpiece. Speaking of creativity, the GoPaint app is worth exploring as a canvas to flex your creative muscles. HUAWEI has been showcasing artwork created using the GoPaint app in its recent launches and they were mightily impressive to say the least.
Multi-screen and WPS Office
For the rest of us who can’t draw a decent stickman even if it were a matter of life or death, I wouldn’t turn away just yet. If you’re a working professional who’s constantly on-the-go, this is a solid option as a laptop replacement – particularly if you’re not overly reliant on Google.
WPS Office is a viable alternative to the more familiar Word and Google Docs. The basic version is free and more than sufficient for those who need just the basic functions. In addition to WPS Doc, the tablet also comes with WPS Presentation (a.ka. PowerPoint) and WPS Spreadsheet pre-installed.
Meanwhile, the Multi-Window feature in HarmonyOS enhances multitasking, and when combined with the 13.2″ display, makes it feel very similar to working on a laptop.
I did find it odd that the WPS Doc isn’t directly compatible with the Multi-Window feature. What I mean by ‘directly’ is that whenever I try to open the WPS Doc app using the Multi-Window feature, I get the message: “HUAWEI PC Software Engine does not support split screen display.”
There is a workaround, though. Instead of pairing it with the WPS Docs app itself, pair it with the WPS Office app (the all-in-one app for WPS software), then select WPS Docs. Sure, it’s an additional step, but once everything is set up, pairing the web browser with WPS Docs works wonders – especially for research-intensive tasks.
Peripherals
I mentioned earlier that the value lies in the peripherals. There’s no single outstanding feature or add-on, just little positives that stack up to create a pleasant experience. Firstly, the magnetic cover doubles as a kickstand with an impressive range of tilt. Personally, I prefer this type of stand over those with grooves that only allow for fixed angles.
Other than that, the Smart Magnetic Bluetooth Keyboard deserves a shout too. It’s connected via NearLink, which – if you’re unfamiliar – is HUAWEI’s short-range wireless technology. It makes connectivity between HUAWEI devices seamless and easy enough for even the non-tech-savvy to navigate. In the case of the keyboard, it only needs to be connected during the pairing phase. Once paired, you can detach the keyboard and position it in whichever way suits your setup.
Since the tablet is no longer confined to the keyboard, it opens up new realms of versatility that you might not get with keyboards requiring a physical connection. For instance, I can now place my tablet on a separate desk stand at a higher level that suits my viewing angle, while keeping my keyboard on the lower desk where it’s more comfortable to type. As a result, it works out to be a far more flexible option than even a laptop, where the keyboard and display are permanently attached.
Connecting to the M-Pencil is just as simple. Pairing is as easy as snapping the stylus onto the top landscape edge of the tablet, after which a prompt will appear asking you to confirm the pairing – you just need to tap ‘Yes’. As for the M-Pencil (3rd gen), while I can’t say much about what it brings to the artistic table, I can affirm that it’s highly responsive as an everyday-use stylus.
The verdict
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2″ is an undeniably refined tablet. It’s exactly what you’d expect after forking out RM4,999 on a machine: up-to-par performance, gorgeous aesthetics, a crisp display, and a complete set of peripherals to bring the PC-like experience to life. The tablet ecosystem is well thought-out and simple to navigate, and the new Bluetooth keyboard offers significantly better versatility for various work and leisure uses.
I can certainly see on-the-go professionals and freelancers benefiting from the highly versatile setup and multitasking capabilities, which mimic those of an actual PC. Additionally, creatives too, should give the MatePad Pro 13.2″ a ponder since it does come with the M-Pencil (3rd gen). Plus, through the many exhibitions and contests we’ve seen so far, the GoPaint app has proven to be a reliable canvas for artistic ventures.
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