Explore the in-depth review of the Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 (2021), a powerful tablet with a stunning OLED display, impressive performance, and all-day battery life. Learn why it’s ideal for productivity and entertainment.
Introduction
The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 (2021) stands out as one of the best productivity tablets available, thanks to its large 12.6-inch OLED display, powerful Kirin 9000E 5G chipset, and long-lasting 10,050mAh battery. Released in June 2021, it competes directly with other high-end tablets, positioning itself as a versatile tool for professionals, creatives, and multimedia consumers. Running on HarmonyOS 2.0, the MatePad Pro offers a seamless user experience, especially for those embedded in Huawei’s ecosystem.
In this review, we dive deep into its performance, camera capabilities, display quality, and overall user experience to help you decide whether the MatePad Pro 12.6 (2021) is the right tablet for you.
Design and Build Quality
The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 has a sleek, premium design, measuring 286.5 x 184.7 x 6.7 mm and weighing 609g. Despite its large size, it feels slim and lightweight, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. The tablet has an aluminum frame and a premium glass front, which gives it a solid and robust feel.
Available in Matte Gray, Green, and Silver, the tablet offers a professional appearance suitable for both business and casual users. It also supports a magnetic stylus (Huawei M-Pencil), which is ideal for digital artists and note-takers.
Display
One of the MatePad Pro 12.6’s key highlights is its stunning 12.6-inch OLED display. With a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a pixel density of ~240 ppi, the screen delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and sharp details. The display covers 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it excellent for watching movies, editing photos, or doing creative work.
The 16:10 aspect ratio provides a balance between widescreen media and productivity tasks like document editing or web browsing. The 87% screen-to-body ratio ensures an immersive viewing experience, while the 382 nits of brightness make it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, though it may struggle in direct sunlight.
Performance
The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 is powered by the Kirin 9000E 5G chipset in the Wi-Fi version and the Kirin 9000 5G chipset in the 5G model. Both chipsets are built on a 5nm process, making them highly efficient while delivering excellent performance. The octa-core CPU (1×3.13 GHz Cortex-A77, 3×2.54 GHz Cortex-A77, 4×2.05 GHz Cortex-A55) ensures smooth multitasking, while the Mali-G78 MP22 GPU (in the Wi-Fi model) and Mali-G78 MP24 GPU (in the 5G model) handle demanding applications like gaming and video editing.
Available with up to 12GB of RAM, the tablet can effortlessly handle multiple apps, heavy workloads, and even professional-level creative software. The UFS 3.1 storage ensures fast data transfer speeds, and the tablet comes in three storage options: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. For those needing more space, the tablet supports NM (Nano Memory) cards of up to 256GB, though it uses a shared SIM slot.
Software: HarmonyOS 2.0
The MatePad Pro 12.6 runs on HarmonyOS 2.0, which is designed to integrate seamlessly with other Huawei devices, including smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches. The OS offers a fluid and responsive user experience, with features like Multi-Screen Collaboration that allow users to extend their Huawei smartphone display onto the tablet or share files instantly between devices.
While the absence of Google Play Services might be a concern for some users, Huawei’s AppGallery offers a growing selection of apps, and popular apps can be sideloaded if necessary. HarmonyOS also brings intuitive multitasking features such as Multi-Window and App Multiplier, which allow users to run multiple apps side-by-side, enhancing productivity.
Camera
The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 comes equipped with a dual-camera setup on the back:
- 13 MP primary camera (f/1.8, PDAF): The main sensor captures sharp and detailed images, with good dynamic range and vibrant colors. It works well in well-lit conditions, though low-light performance is average.
- 8 MP ultrawide camera (f/2.4): The ultrawide sensor allows for more expansive shots, ideal for landscapes and group photos.
- TOF 3D sensor: This sensor enhances depth-sensing capabilities, making portrait shots more accurate with better bokeh effects.
The rear camera supports 4K video recording at 30fps and 1080p recording at 30fps, providing decent video quality for casual video recording or conference calls.
On the front, the tablet features an 8 MP selfie camera (f/2.0), which is perfect for video calls and selfies. The front camera also supports 1080p video recording, which is suitable for professional meetings and personal vlogs.
Battery and Charging
One of the standout features of the MatePad Pro 12.6 is its 10,050mAh battery, which provides impressive battery life. Whether you’re working, streaming videos, or gaming, the tablet can last up to two days on a single charge with moderate use.
For charging, the tablet supports 40W wired charging, which can recharge the large battery in about 2 hours. It also supports 27W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge other devices like smartphones or wireless earbuds. The reverse wireless charging feature is a convenient addition, making the tablet a portable charging station for smaller devices.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 is equipped with the latest connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and USB Type-C 3.1 with OTG support. The tablet also supports dual-band Wi-Fi Direct for faster file transfers and GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, and QZSS for accurate navigation.
The device lacks NFC, which may disappoint some users, but it makes up for it with its robust positioning features and eight stereo speakers for immersive audio. The sound quality is excellent for media consumption, with deep bass and clear highs.
Price and Availability
The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 (2021) is priced at around 800 EUR, making it a premium tablet that competes with top-tier options like the iPad Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+. While the price may seem steep, the tablet’s high-end features, performance, and versatility make it worth the investment for professionals and creative users.
Specifications Table
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Dimensions | 286.5 x 184.7 x 6.7 mm |
| Weight | 609 g |
| SIM | Nano-SIM, Stylus support (magnetic) |
| Display | 12.6 inches OLED, 2560 x 1600 pixels (~240 ppi) |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000E 5G (Wi-Fi) / Kirin 9000 5G (5G model) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×3.13 GHz Cortex-A77, 3×2.54 GHz Cortex-A77, 4×2.05 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP22 (Wi-Fi) / Mali-G78 MP24 (5G model) |
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB, 4GB/8GB/12GB RAM, NM Card slot (up to 256GB) |
| Main Camera | 13 MP (wide), 8 MP (ultrawide), TOF 3D sensor |
| Selfie Camera | 8 MP (wide) |
| Battery | 10,050 mAh, 40W wired, 27W wireless, 10W reverse wireless |
| Colors | Matte Gray, Green, Silver |
| Price | Around 800 EUR |
Conclusion
The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 (2021) is a powerful and versatile tablet that offers an exceptional display, robust performance, and long battery life, making it ideal for both productivity and entertainment. Whether you’re a creative professional, a student, or someone who needs a reliable tablet for work, the MatePad Pro 12.6 delivers an experience that rivals even the most popular tablets in the market. Its premium price is justified by its high-end features, making it a worthy investment for those seeking a top-tier device.
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
