When words such as ‘productivity’ and ‘portability’ are thrown around, typically what comes to mind for me is laptops. If I wanted to get work done on the go, nothing beats a portable PC.
But maybe HUAWEI can change my mind. The new HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch provides PC-level productivity and performance, while simultaneously showcasing an impressive display.
Design & build
This new iteration MatePad Pro is the epitome of elegance. The back cover is topped off with a matte finish that is clean to look at and soft to the touch. It evokes both a premium and professional feel, which I really like.
Two color options are available for this tablet: Black and Premium Gold. The latter is vibrant, yet subtle and sophisticated. Add a splash of color to your professionalism. However, for my personal taste, I would still rather go with Black since I am quite basic (or so I’m told).
The device also features a slim and lightweight form factor. In terms of the exact numbers. It weighs 580g. Personally, I barely felt any fatigue on my arm while holding the tablet for extended periods. It is also quite portable, being only 5.5mm thin.
Extra goodies
Upon purchase of the tablet, you will also receive the HUAWEI Detachable Keyboard for that PC-like typing experience. The keyboard has a clean design that matches the aesthetic of the MatePad Pro. It offers a satisfying typing experience with the tactile feedback as well.
The magnetic keyboard also allows the tablet to take on several form factors. PC form, split form, and studio form are all available to you depending on your most comfortable working position.
Unleash your inner da Vinci with the HUAWEI M-Pencil. It has 16,484 pressure sensing levels for accurate strokes. Doodling and taking down notes felt excellent on the tablet. Much of that is thanks to the PaperMatte display as well.
Both devices are powered by NearLink Technology for seamless integration. Shoutout to HUAWEI for these added goodies to help boost your creativity and productivity on-the-go.
Display
We get an upgrade with the display compared to the previous generation. The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch features a flexible OLED PaperMatte display. It has a resolution of 2880 x 1920, a high refresh rate of 144 Hz, and an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 94%.
I thoroughly enjoyed consuming content on the display; just in time for BINI’s new comeback. The colors were popping, and the clarity made the experience all the more enjoyable. Even in an outdoor setting, the display can do no wrong as the absence of glare was quite noticeable.
Using the M-Pencil to write on the display was such a satisfying experience as well. This is something HUAWEI does really well. They are able to capture almost perfectly the sensation of writing on paper with your pen. I lean heavily on the pen and notebook combo, but I can definitely see myself using the MatePad Pro instead.
Camera
Even though tablets aren’t known for their photo-taking capabilities, it usually still comes in handy to have a decent camera system. The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch’s main shooter is a 50 MP main camera and an 8 MP wide camera.
If you’re working remotely, say at the white-sand beach of Boracay, and you feel the need to capture a photo and share it with your workmates, then you can do just that. The color and clarity are overall decent and can be used for everyday sharing online.
For shooting videos, the tablet can support up to 4K@30FPS
On the other hand, the selfie camera is a 16 MP shooter. This is especially helpful for when you’re having those Zoom meetings.
Under the hood
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch is powered by a Kirin T92 chipset. It is accompanied by 512 GB of storage and 12 GB of RAM. Daily driving this device for all my work needs was definitely a breeze. Multitasking was a seamless experience especially given the various software features at your disposal.
I was able to carry out some more intensive loads such as gaming and video editing on CapCut. I will never get used to gaming on a tablet, but the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2 is able to run Genshin Impact on the highest graphics settings.
This iteration of the MatePad Pro runs on Harmony OS 4.3. Features such as the floating window and the split screen mode essentially allow me to access multiple windows at a time which is incredibly useful for various working scenarios.
Super Hub and Super Device are also ever-present to provide you with an efficient and uninterrupted workflow. To know more about Super Hub and Super Device, check out our full review on HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 here.
Notable HUAWEI apps
HUAWEI’s WPS Office offers a PC-level experience for your work needs. Whether you need to create a document, prepare a presentation, or crunch some numbers on a spreadsheet, WPS Office has got you covered.
Have you ever looked at your notes and wondered “Why did I even write this?” HUAWEI Notes removes all doubt. You can record the discussion while taking down your notes. After the session, you can go back to the recording to see what was being written during that exact moment.
However, HUAWEI Notes is not only useful for your professional or academic needs. You can jot down all your personal feelings or plans to keep your own personal journal. Either way using the app for professional or personal means will offer a satisfying user experience.
For your more creative endeavors, you have GoPaint. I’m not much of an artist, but those who can well utilize this app (as seen in the photo above) have nothing but praise for it. The accuracy of your strokes, the vibrant colors, and the overall versatility of GoPaint bring digital creation much closer to its “real life” counterpart.
Battery & charging
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch is powered by a 10,100 mAh battery. The device is capable of up to 13 hours of video playback. Based on my own personal experience, the device was able to last me a little over a day, given that my load was heavy gaming and some light work.
Charging the battery is also quite quick. Achieving a full charge from a fully-drained battery took me about 70-75 mins the 100W fast charging.
Verdict
As I mentioned earlier, I will always gravitate towards a laptop if I want to get work done on-the-go. But with the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch, you can almost replicate the full experience.
The impressive display, powerful performance, and PC-level experience make the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch a worthy option in the premium tablet segment. The previous iteration was priced at Php 64,999. If this current generation comes close to that price range, then you could potentially consider upgrading this 2025.
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch is available for pre-order starting February 28.
Photos by Mica de los Reyes