Table of Contents
Introduction
The Huawei MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition is a high-end tablet designed to meet the needs of professionals, students, and content creators. Featuring a unique PaperMatte display, powerful hardware, and the HarmonyOS 3.1 operating system, this tablet is tailored for those who seek a blend of productivity and entertainment. In this review, we’ll explore the key features and performance of the MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition to determine if it lives up to its premium positioning.
Design and Build Quality
The Huawei MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition is a beautifully crafted tablet that exudes sophistication and functionality. The tablet’s dimensions of 178.17 mm in height, 261.89 mm in width, and a mere 6.4 mm in thickness make it slim and highly portable. Weighing just 508 grams, it’s light enough to carry around effortlessly, whether you’re heading to a meeting or enjoying some leisure time.
The tablet is available in an elegant White color, which complements its sleek and modern design. The build quality is robust, with a smooth finish that feels premium in hand. The device is designed with narrow bezels, contributing to an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 83.92%, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
The MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition also supports a smart magnetic keyboard and Huawei’s M-Pencil, making it an ideal companion for note-taking, drawing, and productivity tasks. The tablet is built to be both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional, catering to users who need a device that can handle both work and play.
Display
One of the most distinctive features of the Huawei MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition is its 11.5-inch PaperMatte display. This IPS LCD screen offers a resolution of 2800 x 1840 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 291 PPI, which ensures crisp and detailed visuals. The display supports a high refresh rate of 144 Hz, making it ideal for smooth scrolling, gaming, and fast-paced content consumption.
The PaperMatte display is specifically designed to reduce glare and reflections, providing an experience similar to reading on paper. This makes it particularly well-suited for reading, writing, and prolonged use, as it reduces eye strain. The screen also includes features such as an e-book mode and eye comfort mode (blue light filter), further enhancing its suitability for long sessions of use.
The display supports a wide color gamut (P3) and offers a brightness level that adapts well to different lighting conditions, with vibrant colors and good contrast ratios. Whether you’re watching videos, editing photos, or reading, the MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition delivers a visually pleasing experience.
Performance and Software
At the core of the Huawei MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, an octa-core processor with a maximum clock speed of 2.84 GHz. This powerful processor, combined with 12 GB of RAM, ensures that the tablet can handle demanding tasks with ease, from multitasking and gaming to content creation and productivity applications.
The tablet comes with 256 GB of internal storage, providing ample space for apps, documents, and media files. The device runs on HarmonyOS 3.1, Huawei’s own operating system, which is designed to offer a seamless and intuitive user experience. HarmonyOS 3.1 introduces a range of features, including enhanced multitasking, smoother animations, and improved connectivity with other Huawei devices.
The MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition also includes Huawei’s Histen 8.0 sound system, which, combined with the tablet’s four stereo speakers, delivers immersive audio for both entertainment and professional use. The tablet’s performance is further enhanced by its efficient cooling system, ensuring that it remains responsive even during intensive tasks.
Camera System
While the MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition is primarily designed as a productivity and entertainment device, it still offers a competent camera setup for those moments when you need to capture photos or conduct video calls.
Rear Camera Setup:
- Primary Camera:
- Resolution: 13 MP
- Aperture: f/1.8
- Features: Auto Focus (AF), UHD 4K video recording at 30 fps, panorama, and more.
- Performance: The rear camera is capable of capturing clear images and videos, making it suitable for casual photography, document scanning, and video recording.
Front Camera Setup:
- Resolution: 8 MP
- Aperture: f/2.2
- Features: Fixed Focus (FF), FHD video recording at 30 fps, beauty mode, and wide-angle support.
- Performance: The front camera is optimized for video calls and selfies, offering decent image quality with good color accuracy and detail.
Battery Life and Charging
The Huawei MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition is powered by an 8300 mAh battery, which is more than adequate for a full day of heavy use. Whether you’re streaming content, working on documents, or browsing the web, the tablet’s battery life is robust, ensuring you won’t need to recharge frequently.
The tablet supports fast charging with a 10V/4A (40W) charger, allowing you to quickly recharge and get back to work. This feature is particularly useful for users who are constantly on the go and need their device to be ready at a moment’s notice.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Huawei MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition offers a comprehensive set of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you are.
Connectivity:
- Wi-Fi: Supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with MIMO technology, ensuring fast and stable internet connections.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2 provides reliable connections with peripherals such as headphones, keyboards, and other devices.
- GPS: The tablet includes GPS with support for multiple satellite systems, ensuring accurate navigation and location tracking.
- USB-C: Equipped with USB-C 3.2 for fast data transfer, charging, and connectivity.
Sensors and Security:
- Fingerprint Sensor: The tablet does not include a fingerprint sensor, but it offers other security options such as facial recognition and traditional PIN/password protection.
- Additional Sensors: The MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, and a digital compass, enhancing the overall user experience.
Audio and Multimedia:
- Speakers: Four stereo speakers deliver clear and rich audio, making the tablet ideal for media consumption.
- Microphones: Four microphones ensure clear voice capture, making the tablet suitable for video calls and voice recordings.
Other Features:
- Smart Accessories Support: The tablet supports Huawei’s smart magnetic keyboard and M-Pencil, turning it into a versatile tool for productivity and creativity.
- PaperMatte Display: The PaperMatte display is a unique feature that mimics the feel of paper, providing a more comfortable reading and writing experience.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unique PaperMatte Display: Provides a paper-like experience, reducing glare and eye strain, making it ideal for reading and writing.
- Powerful Performance: Snapdragon 888 chipset and 12 GB of RAM ensure smooth multitasking and efficient handling of demanding tasks.
- High-Quality Display: The 11.5-inch IPS LCD offers vibrant colors, high resolution, and a 144 Hz refresh rate.
- Robust Battery Life: The 8300 mAh battery ensures long-lasting performance with fast charging support.
- Versatile Accessories: Support for smart keyboard and M-Pencil enhances productivity and creativity.
Cons:
- No Expandable Storage: The lack of microSD card support may limit storage options for users with large media libraries.
- No Fingerprint Sensor: Lacks biometric fingerprint security, relying on traditional PIN/password and facial recognition.
Conclusion
The Huawei MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition is a versatile tablet that excels in both productivity and entertainment. Its unique PaperMatte display sets it apart from other tablets on the market, providing a comfortable and immersive experience for reading, writing, and content creation. The powerful hardware, combined with HarmonyOS 3.1, ensures that the tablet can handle a wide range of tasks, making it suitable for professionals, students, and creatives alike.
While the absence of expandable storage and a fingerprint sensor may be drawbacks for some users, the MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition’s overall performance, design, and feature set make it an excellent choice for those who value a premium tablet experience. Whether you’re working on the go, enjoying media, or engaging in creative projects, this tablet is a strong contender in the high-end tablet market.
All images are copyrighted by Huawei.
