Huawei MatePad Specs, Pricing & Everything Else You Need To Know

Doing away with the MediaPad branding for its tablets, Huawei unveiled the MatePad Pro not too long ago. It packed some of the highest-end internals and features that we’ve seen on any tablet, though it did seem to have taken a lot of inspiration from Apple’s iPad Pro line. Now, the Chinese tech giant has announced a mid-range alternative to the MatePad Pro, simply called MatePad. The new non-Pro variant borrows a lot from its more premium sibling but has a few of its own features to maintain the distinction.

The mid-tier Huawei MatePad has been announced in China and is already available for pre-booking. Here is everything that you need to know about the new mid-ranger, including its detailed specifications, prices, availability details, and some good alternatives.

Read: Our Huawei MatePad 10.4 Review

Highlights

• 10.4-inch FHD+ screen
• Kirin 810 processor
• EMUI 10.1, based on Android 10
• Up to 6GB of RAM, 12GB of storage
• Memory expansion support
• 7250mAh batter
• Four speakers
• 4G LTE support
• Two cameras
• M-Pencil stylus

Huawei MatePad: The Basics

Following the design language of the Pro model, this variant comes with a modern look with thin bezels and an edge-to-edge screen. The MatePad’s display measures 10.4 inches and has a pretty decent full HD+ resolution. You can dial its brightness up to 470 nits, and it also supports the new M-Pencil stylus that Huawei introduced with the MatePad Pro, taking inspiration from the iPad Pro. With this stylus, you can expect the same premium experience and precision the MatePad Pro offers. Plus, the device also comes with a quad-speaker setup, going with that massive display, to enhance your media watching experience. However, it lacks the headphone jack.

Being a mid-range machine, the Huawei MatePad comes equipped with the Kirin 810 chip instead of its higher-end alternative. This processor should be plenty powerful for your day-to-day use, especially considering it is paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. On the software front, Huawei has preinstalled the latest version of its EMUI skin, which is based on Android 10, although you shouldn’t expect it to get any Google apps, given the tussle between the US and Huawei. This OS version includes a bunch of localized features created for children learning from their homes and educators, while the stylus also aids in the learning process.

Read: The Best Huawei Tablets You Can Buy In 2020

If you like clicking photos from your tablet, then you’d like to know that the MatePad has a pair of 8-megapixel cameras — one each on the front and back — with the former being paired with an LED flash. For ensuring seamless connectivity even when you’re on the go, the tablet can take in a 4G LTE SIM, besides supporting the latest Bluetooth 5.1 standard and Wi-Fi ac. Mirroring the speaker count, the device has four microphones as well for clearer audio capture. It packs a 7250mAh battery that charges using a wired 18W charger. Unlike the Pro, the non-Pro model doesn’t support wireless charging of any form, likely to save some costs.

Full Specifications

Read: Comparison: Huawei MediaPad M6 vs. M5: These Are The Differences

Pricing & Availability

For now, Huawei will sell the standard MatePad only in China in multiple color options and memory configurations. You can pick the tablet from the company’s partner sales channels in Beima White and Night Grey colors for a starting price of 1900 Chinese yuan or $270 for the base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. You’ll have to shell out 2200 yuan ($310) for the higher-end variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and if you want to add 4G LTE to this mix, you’ll be required to pay about $50 more. Bear in mind that these prices don’t include the Huawei M-Pencil, which you must buy separately for 600 yuan or $85.

Huawei MatePad Alternatives

If you’re looking for a similar package complete with a stylus and even keyboard attachment, then you can go for the new 10.2-inch Apple iPad 7 (review), that supports both the Apple Pencil and the company’s keyboard accessory. It usually costs the same as the MatePad in the US, plus its accessories are much more readily available. Aside from that, Samsung recently came out with the mid-tier Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, which supports the S Pen stylus and has a modern design. In case you’re in China and can spend a little extra, the MatePad Pro appears to be a wildly better option than the non-Pro model.

And in case you live outside the Asian market, you’ve still got a handful of options, like the flagship Galaxy Tab S6 (review), which has not only a more robust stylus but also supports keyboard input. Even the iPad Air (review) could be a good alternative offering a relatively complete package. The only caveat with the costlier Apple tablet is that you’re still getting a far older design. For those who don’t stress on having a stylus can look at the Galaxy Tab S5e (review), which should come in at a lower price now that it’s a bit old. On the Windows side, there is the little Surface Go (review), which also supports everything from a stylus to a keyboard, though Microsoft is expected to refresh it soon.

Read: Best Budget Tablets Under $200 | 2020 Edition

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Huawei MatePad 10.4

Read now: Our Huawei MatePad 10.4 Review

Especially when considering its price, the Huawei MatePad 10.4 offers a fantastic array of features. We're getting a premium design, a pretty display, four good speakers, Android 10, and pen support. At the same time, the graphics performance is outstanding for its price. Sadly, the Google services are not preinstalled and it's hard to install them yourself. Without those, I can't recommend this tablet for most people.

Positive

• Premium design
• Powerful SoC
• Good LCD screen
• Stylus support
• Great speakers
• Android 10

Negative

• No Google services
• No Netflix HD support

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• Huawei MatePad 10.4 Review: Fantastic But With One Major Flaw