Huawei MatePad 11.5 Review: iPad Rival That’s Missing a Trick

Price When Reviewed

Not available in the US

Best Prices Today: Huawei 11.5in MatePad PaperMatte

The Huawei MatePad returns for 2025, aiming to be the go-to option for students and professionals alike as September rolls around. It can handle note-taking, essay-writing, and late-night streaming without breaking a sweat.

On paper, it’s pitched squarely against the entry-level Apple iPad and mid-range Android rivals such as the Xiaomi Pad 7. And in many ways, it holds its own. The matte, paper-like display is a pleasure to use, the M-Pencil stylus glides naturally across the surface, and battery life is more than enough for a full day’s work. Cameras are decent for video calls, and the build quality feels reassuringly premium.

But once again, Huawei’s software ecosystem remains the sticking point. The absence of Google services and gaps in app availability create a barrier for anyone who isn’t willing to tinker with third-party workarounds, and ultimately makes this tablet a tough sell for potential users in Europe.

Design & Build

• No headphone jack
• Two-part smart keyboard
• No trackpad

Huawei has slimmed the MatePad down to just 6.1mm, while adding a touch of weight – now 515g versus last year’s 499g. The extra heft means that it feels more premium in hand, and the matte finish, available in Violet or Space Gray, resists fingerprints without feeling cheap. It also means the tablet has reduced glare when used in the sun, while the clean lines keep it looking sharp, whether on a desk or coffee table.

Port selection is minimal but functional: USB-C for charging and data (though the included USB-C to USB-A cable feels outdated), plus the usual power and volume controls. Unfortunately, there’s no headphone jack.

It’s comfortable for long typing sessions

Biometrics are handled by fast face unlock only – there’s no fingerprint scanner unless you step up to the MatePad Pro. It works reliably in good light but can be less dependable in dim conditions.

The included Smart Keyboard case come in two parts: a magnetic kickstand cover, and a detachable keyboard (with no trackpad). It’s comfortable for long typing sessions, though the fixed viewing angle and occasional software hiccups – such as the on-screen keyboard refusing to appear when the physical keyboard is disconnected – are frustrating.

Stylus storage is also less elegant than on the Pro model, with only a magnetic clip that leaves the M-Pencil exposed and easy to lose.

Screen & Speakers

• Excellent resolution and color balance
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Impressive audio

The 11.5-inch LCD panel has seen a subtle but welcome bump in resolution to 2456×1600, up from 2200×1440 last year. Text looks crisp, images have finer detail, and the adaptive refresh rate still peaks at 120Hz, keeping scrolling smooth.

The Huawei’s high resolution and color balance is noticeably better than other Android tablets. Watching a nature documentary, the MatePad captures the texture of an ibex’s fur with nuance, while other Chinese manufacturers sometimes err on unnaturally brightening the palette in an attempt to make their displays seem more impressive. The MatePad avoids this pitfall, controlling the whites for a more realistic picture.

The Huawei’s high resolution and color balance is noticeably better than other Android tablets

At the other end of the spectrum, the MatePad captures the rain-soaked leather of the caped crusader’s costume in The Batman (2022) with an inky depth that is difficult for competitors to match. As he emerges in the metro to take on a posse of clown-like criminals, it feels like the MatePad is holding back until the last second before revealing that the dark knight has been standing in the shadows all along.

Audio, meanwhile, comes from a familiar quad-speaker setup, and is still impressively loud and clear, easily filling a small room without distortion.

Specs & Performance

• Storage options of either 128GB or 256GB
• 8GB RAM
• Responsive and capable

Huawei has kept things consistent here, with 8GB of RAM standard and storage options at 128GB or 256GB. Although the company has yet to confirm the chipset, GSMArena has it with an octo-core Kirin 8020 on the inside, matched with a Maloon 920 2cu GPU.

The chipset remains capable for everyday tasks, from browsing and HD streaming to more demanding multitasking. Huawei has done a decent job keeping this tablet responsive, ideal for higher-intensity workloads.

Huawei MatePad benchmarks

Cameras

Cameras on a tablet are never a priority, but Huawei’s rear 13MP f/1.8 camera provides a solid performance. The green graffiti on a London wall pops without being oversaturated, and its handling of shadows across a gravestone shows a decent eye for the difference in shades.

Small details, such as the strands in a spider’s web, are lost a little, but that’s to be expected. Similarly, when pointed at bright lights hitting the side of a church window, the MatePad is unable to properly deal with the overbearing whites and loses any differentiation in the colors.

The MatePad’s camera is capable of a 5x zoom at most, but this should be avoided as images are far too blurry for use.

Meanwhile, the 8MP front-facing camera is clean and clear. Although it has many of the same issues as the rear camera, users will have no issue when using it for video calls.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is the real leap forward, with the 2025 MatePad jumping to a hefty 10,100mAh from last year’s 7,700mAh. The tablet will manage a day’s use with ease and, with a compatible 40W plug and cable, you can take advantage of its fast-charging capabilities.

The tablet will manage a day’s use with ease

But that will cost you extra, as Huawei only provides a lower-end cable and power brick. This means that, using it with a 12W Philips travel plug, it only reaches 6% in 15 minutes and 13% after 30 minutes.