Pros and Cons of Huawei MatePad Air

The COVID-19 pandemic may be over, but the culture of mobile work continues to grow, with people embracing the freedom to work from a variety of locations, including home, cafes, and even tourist destinations.

Huawei has promoted the use of tablets as an alternative work device, given that they are more portable and are increasingly viewed as capable laptop replacements.

In response to this evolving demand, Huawei released the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023), which featured WPS-Office productivity applications similar to those found on PCs. This solution addresses the limitations of similar apps that are often encountered when installed on mobile devices.

Despite its intriguing features, the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023) had some flaws. With the introduction of the Huawei MatePad Air in July 2023, however, these drawbacks were addressed. The MatePad Air, positioned one tier above the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023) and one tier below the MatePad Pro series, was created with office productivity in mind.

The MatePad Air sales package includes an M-Pencil stylus pen, a Smart Magnetic Keyboard, and a wireless mouse. This tablet, like the Huawei MatePad 11 (2023), comes pre-installed with WPS and Huawei Notes office apps.

What sets the Huawei MatePad Air apart, besides its impressive sales package, are its numerous advantages across various sectors. A detailed comparison table highlights its strengths in different areas.

Before moving into the main topic, please see the table below for further information about the pros and cons of Huawei MatePad Air.

Pros of Huawei MatePad Air

The Huawei MatePad Air is advertised as a productivity device, but it also offers a variety of perks that make it a versatile and multipurpose tablet. Let's delve into the full details below.

1. Elegant and Lightweight Design

The Huawei MatePad Air is advertised as a productivity device, but it also offers a variety of perks that make it a versatile and multipurpose tablet. Let's delve into the full details below.

The back side of the Huawei MatePad Air resembles the MatePad 11 2023, particularly in the upper left corner's concave inward camera module. The MatePad Air's seamless texture, as opposed to the MatePad 11 2023's sandblasted texture, sets it apart. In addition, the back cover is designed to resist fingerprints, maintaining its clean appearance.

With a thickness of only 6.4 millimeters and a weight of approximately 508 grams, the MatePad Air is pleasant to hold and carry due to its compact dimensions. This characteristic makes it ideal for individuals with an active lifestyle.

It is important to note that the 508-gram weight refers to the tablet alone. Including the Magnetic Keyboard (372 grams) and the M-Pencil (17 grams), the total weight of the tablet is 897 grams, which is still lighter than the majority of ultrabook laptops, which typically weigh more than 1 kilogram.

The Huawei MatePad Air is available in two color options: white for a refined appearance and black for a more enticing look.

2. Large Display for Editing Documents

The MatePad Air boasts an IPS LCD screen measuring 11.5 inches diagonally, the largest screen ever featured on a Huawei tablet. Users can expect sharp and vibrant visuals with a screen resolution of 2.8K (2800 x 1840 pixels) and a pixel density of 291 ppi.

The tablet's bezels are elegantly minimal and evenly sized on all sides. Notably, the MatePad Air supports a 144 Hz refresh rate, a DCI-P3 color gamut, and 10-point touch functionality. The adaptive refresh rate ranges from 30 to 144 Hz.

The large display is a significant advantage for document editing, particularly for data-intensive duties such as spreadsheet creation. In contrast to many tablets that employ a 16:10 screen ratio, the MatePad Air employs a 3:2 ratio, thus maximizing the available screen space for effective productivity.

The MatePad Air's display is Widevine L1 certified, allowing users to view high-resolution content from streaming services such as HBO Go and Netflix in Full HD resolution.

Beyond the 10-point touch support, the Huawei M-Pencil stylus pen enhances navigation on the tablet's screen. The M-Pencil is magnetic, facilitating easy attachment to the top side of the tablet, where it automatically charges.

3. Stereo Speakers

The Huawei MatePad Air has amazing features that enhance the movie-watching experience for moviegoers. In addition to its large screen and Widevine L1 certification for high-resolution content, the tablet features stereo speakers, making it an ideal companion for multimedia consumption.

The four stereo speakers on the Huawei MatePad Air's left and right sides are what set it apart from other tablets. Huawei Histen 8.0 technology, which offers remarkable audio settings and immersive sound quality, powers these stereo speakers.

One noteworthy feature of the MatePad Air's stereo speakers is the AI noise cancellation technology. This advanced technology effectively filters out unwanted background sounds, such as keyboard clicks and typing, providing a clearer audio experience, especially during video calls or online meetings.

4. Snapdragon 888: Delivering Powerful Performance

The highly regarded Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, which gained notoriety as a top-tier System-on-a-Chip (SoC) in 2021 flagship smartphones, powers the Huawei MatePad Air. Even in 2023, this chipset will continue to provide remarkable speed and performance.

While the Snapdragon 888 SoC is renowned for its exceptional speed, it has also acquired a reputation for producing excessive heat, causing throttling issues in certain devices. Nevertheless, the MatePad Air has a superior cooling system with larger cooling components that effectively manage the SoC's thermal output. Therefore, the MatePad Air's Snapdragon 888 remains a powerful and reliable chipset.

In gaming tests conducted by the YouTube channel Sobat Hape, the MatePad Air demonstrated smooth gameplay in resource-intensive titles like Genshin Impact, even with graphics settings pushed to the "highest 60 fps" level. This gaming capability exemplifies the tablet's robust performance.

In addition, Huawei MatePad Air evaluators found its potent processing capabilities to be highly advantageous for a laptop-like work experience. The tablet excels at multitasking, seamlessly transitioning between applications and managing documents with multiple pages.

The MatePad Air demonstrates commendable performance thanks to its Snapdragon 888 SoC, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of internal storage. According to nanoreview, the 5 nm SoC obtains a remarkable AnTuTu 9 score of 812,642. In addition, it achieves a GeekBench 5 single-core score of 1128 and a multi-core score of 3720.

5. Smart Front Camera

The Huawei MatePad Air includes two cameras: a rear camera and a front camera. The rear camera has a 13 MP resolution, autofocus, and a flashlight, allowing it to record 4K videos at 30 frames per second.

However, what makes the front camera particularly intriguing are two distinct features: First and foremost, the front camera is strategically positioned on the longest side of the screen bezel, an ideal placement for a tablet.

The MatePad Air's front camera features an ultrawide lens with an extraordinary 105-degree field of view. In addition, it includes the intelligent FollowCam feature, which significantly improves the video calling experience.

With FollowCam, users can easily remain in frame while walking or moving during video conversations. This innovative functionality is comparable to the Center Stage feature of the Apple iPad Pro, enhancing communication and interaction during video conferencing sessions.

6. Long-Lasting Battery with 40 Watt Fast Charging

When it comes to productivity, the battery life of a device is a crucial factor that cannot be ignored. Thankfully, the Huawei MatePad Air's 8300 mAh battery capacity excels in this aspect. This substantial battery capacity is suitable for a tablet with an 11.5-inch display.

The MatePad Air's battery life in a test by Jagat Review was impressive, lasting 26 hours during local 1080p video playback scenarios. In addition, Sobat Hape's usage proved the tablet's durability, with the MatePad Air able to withstand two full days of work-related duties without requiring a recharge.

In addition to its exceptional battery life, the MatePad Air features superior quick charging capabilities. With 40 W of fast charging support, the tablet ensures minimal interruption through rapid recharging. Also, the inclusion of a 40 W charger in the sales package improves the overall user experience by making it more convenient for customers to take advantage of the tablet's fast charging capabilities.

The battery can be charged from empty to full capacity in a remarkable 1 hour and 17 minutes, allowing users to return to their tasks with minimal interruption.

7. USB Display Out and Huawei's Exclusive Features

The integration of USB display out is a compelling case in favor of the Huawei MatePad Air over the MatePad 11 (2023). While the MatePad 11 (2023) received praise upon its release, it was criticized for its use of a USB Type-C 2.0 port, which prevented it from supporting USB display out or connecting to an additional monitor.

This was perceived as a decrease compared to the capabilities of the Huawei MatePad 11 series in 2021, which featured USB display out.

USB display out capability is of the utmost importance for users seeking a laptop replacement for work. USB display out is notably uncommon, particularly in tablets priced below Rp10 million. Therefore, the addition of this capability to the MatePad Air is praiseworthy.

Using a USB Type-C to Type-C cable or a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter, users can project the tablet's display onto an external monitor or connect it to a projector. This seamless connectivity boosts productivity by making it easier to work on larger displays or share presentations during meetings.

In addition to the USB display out, the Huawei MatePad Air offers other distinctive features that support productive activities. Let's delve into three essential aspects: the M-Pencil, Smart Magnetic Keyboard, and WPS Office.

First, the M-Pencil introduces the remarkable Take & Snippet 2.0 feature, which enables users to capture photos and text from various sources and seamlessly integrate them into documents. For instance, you can easily drag and drop a screenshot from a website into a document within the Huawei Notes app.

The app itself enhances the M-Pencil experience by providing temporary text highlighting, text cropping, text deletion, and color sampling from various kinds of image sources. In addition, the stylus allows document searches simply by typing keywords in the Huawei Notes search field.

Moving on to the Smart Magnetic Keyboard, this accessory enhances convenience with its magnetic mechanism, easily attaching to the back of the tablet and doubling as a cover and stand. The keyboard can connect via the pogo pin or be used wirelessly through Bluetooth, offering users a choice in how they prefer to work.

The tablet can be propped up on the stand, with the keyboard and mouse readily accessible, making typing and navigation more seamless.

Lastly, the WPS Office installed on the Huawei MatePad Air is an exclusive version designed specifically for Huawei tablets. Distinguished from the standard WPS available on other devices, this version mirrors the WPS Office experience on a PC.

Users can utilize sophisticated features such as VLOOKUP in Spreadsheets, modify margins, add page numbers, and even include watermarks in the Writer or by-word section.

8. Complete Sales Package

Choosing the Huawei MatePad Air is beneficial for consumers because they don't need to allocate additional funds for accessories. This tablet comes with a comprehensive set of accessories, making it an all-inclusive solution.

Users will find a 40 W charger adapter and a USB Type-C cable inside the packaging, allowing for efficient and fast charging of the device. In addition, the package contains three accessories that enhance the user experience: a magnetic keyboard, a wireless mouse, and an M-Pencil stylus pen.

Cons of Huawei MatePad Air

The Huawei MatePad Air undeniably stands out as an attractive tablet option. However, it's essential to consider the following points before making a decision.

1. Limited App Options

Huawei's HarmonyOS 3.1 is the operating system utilized by the MatePad Air. It is important to note that not all Android applications are compatible with this operating system, despite the fact that it can operate some of them without an issue.

HarmonyOS lacks support for Google Mobile Services (GMS), which are required for the operation of certain Android applications.

Fortunately, many popular apps like WhatsApp, Netflix, Zoom, Capcut, Canva, and Instagram are available for download on the Huawei AppGallery. However, GMS-based apps such as YouTube and Google Drive are absent. To access these services, users can resort to using their web browsers to access YouTube and Google Drive directly.

2. Insufficient Internal Memory

Even though the Huawei MatePad Air has a respectable 128 GB of internal memory, some users may find it insufficient for installing applications or saving files. In addition, the lack of storage expansion options via microSD cards can be a drawback for users who need additional capacity for their data.

To address this concern, users can carefully consider which files are necessary to store on the device and prioritize the most important applications. Alternatively, external storage solutions can be an acceptable choice.

The USB On-The-Go feature enables users to attach a flash drive or external SSD to the MatePad Air, increasing storage capacity and allowing for the storage of additional files and data.

3. No Cellular Network

This tablet does not support cellular networks, despite the fact that the Huawei MatePad Air performs extremely well as a navigator with support for multiple navigation standards, such as GPS. Therefore, it operates exclusively as a WiFi-only device, relying on WiFi networks for internet connectivity.

For online activities, users have to make sure they have access to WiFi, whether via modem, repeater, or tethering from a smartphone.

In addition, users who prefer wired headphones should be aware that the MatePad Air lacks a 3.5 mm audio jack. This means that audio accessories must be connected via a USB-C adapter or Bluetooth.

Summary

The Huawei MatePad Air surpasses the typical tablet experience, offering a super tablet with a price tag of USD470. Beyond its attractive design, wide screen, and fast performance, this tablet boasts a series of features tailored to meet the needs of highly productive individuals.

Key productivity-enhancing features include FollowCam, Take & Snippet 2.0, and the exclusive WPS Office. Moreover, the rare presence of a display out in its class makes the MatePad Air stand out even more.

One of the tablet's strong selling points is its complete sales package, which includes essential accessories like a charger, stylus, keyboard, and mouse. However, it's worth noting that the application variety might be somewhat limited and the storage capacity could be insufficient for heavy users.

Additionally, the MatePad Air lacks cellular connectivity, relying solely on WiFi for internet access. When compared to Windows laptops, it may fall short in terms of multi-tasking capabilities and port availability, limiting its overall flexibility.

Nonetheless, the Huawei MatePad Air excels as a lightweight, portable, and versatile device ideal for office work. With its impressive camera capabilities and lag-free performance, it is a strong contender for replacing traditional laptops in specific use cases.