Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 Tablet review: High-end tablet without Google
Top hardware and software gaps. The 32-centimeter Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 tablet is one of the largest Android tablets. The performance is also top, because the OLED tablet competes directly with heavyweights like the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 and Samsung's Galaxy Tab S7 Plus with its high-end HiSilicon Kirin 9000E SoC. However, Google apps are not installed.
Large Android tablets are few and far between. Therefore, it is all the more pleasing that Huawei has taken on this topic with the MatePad Pro 12.6 and created a high-end device.
The Huawei tablet has a screen size of 12.6 inches, which makes it one of the largest Android tablets ever. Its HDR10-compatible display has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and relies on a high-contrast OLED panel.
The MatePad Pro 12.6 is powered by the eight-core SoC HiSilicon Kirin 9000E and can rely on 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The price is around 800 Euros (~$928). There is no mobile option or other storage configurations. Nevertheless, the MatePad Pro 12.6 aims at high-end rivals like the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus.
Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 (MatePad Series)
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.
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Possible competitors in comparison
Case - 5.6 millimeters thin and still very stable
The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 is slim despite its almost 13-inch screen. The OLED screen is framed by a narrow bezel of only 5.6 millimeters (~0.22 in) on each side. This not only looks pretty chic, but also gives the Huawei a strong screen-to-body ratio of 90%.
The thin metal frame does not come at the expense of stability. The MatePad Pro 12.6 is excellently manufactured, feels high quality and can hardly be twisted even with greater force. At 609 grams (~22 oz), the tablet is still relatively light and can be held well, especially due to its only 6.7 millimeter (~0.26 in) thin chassis.
The tablet's back is soberly designed. The Huawei logo is emblazoned in the center, while the small camera unit in the upper right corner of the back cover looks downright tiny. Visually, it strongly reminds of the camera humps of Huawei's P40 series and is equipped with a 13 MP triple camera that is almost lavish for tablet standards.
The power button and volume rocker are placed "around the corner", the former on the short side opposite the camera, the volume rocker on the upper long side. Huawei offers its XXL tablet in the case color "Matte Grey" like our review sample. An Olive Green variant with a vegan leather cover is also available.
Size comparison
Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 ❌
286.5 mm / 11.3 inch184.7 mm / 7.27 inch6.7 mm / 0.2638 inch609 g1.343 lbs285 mm / 11.2 inch185 mm / 7.28 inch5.7 mm / 0.2244 inch575 g1.268 lbs280.6 mm / 11 inch214.9 mm / 8.46 inch6.4 mm / 0.252 inch682 g1.504 lbs264.28 mm / 10.4 inch171.4 mm / 6.75 inch5.8 mm / 0.2283 inch485 g1.069 lbs246 mm / 9.69 inch159 mm / 6.26 inch7.2 mm / 0.2835 inch460 g1.014 lbs