Explore the detailed review of the Huawei MatePad 11 (2021) with a 120Hz display, Snapdragon 865 chipset, and HarmonyOS 2.0. Discover its features, performance, and more.
Introduction
The Huawei MatePad 11 (2021), released in July 2021, is a premium tablet designed for users who need powerful performance, smooth multitasking, and an immersive display experience. The tablet is packed with a 10.95-inch IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, powered by the Snapdragon 865 chipset, and runs on HarmonyOS 2.0 with an upgrade path to 3.0.
Whether you’re a student, creative professional, or casual user, the MatePad 11 offers a robust feature set at a competitive price. With support for the Huawei M-Pencil, the MatePad 11 is also perfect for note-taking, sketching, and other productivity tasks.
In this review, we’ll explore the MatePad 11’s design, display, performance, software, camera, battery life, and overall value.
Design and Build Quality
The Huawei MatePad 11 (2021) has a sleek, minimalist design with dimensions of 253.8 x 165.3 x 7.3 mm and a weight of 485g, making it portable and easy to handle. The aluminum frame and glass front give it a premium feel, while the Matte Gray color adds a touch of elegance.
The tablet also supports the Huawei M-Pencil (2nd generation), which magnetically attaches to the side, making it a great tool for professionals and students who require a stylus for creative work or note-taking.
Although it lacks cellular connectivity and 3.5mm headphone jack, the MatePad 11 compensates with its powerful hardware and excellent speaker system, tuned by Harman Kardon.
Display
One of the standout features of the MatePad 11 is its 10.95-inch IPS LCD display. With a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a 276 ppi density, the display is crisp, vibrant, and ideal for media consumption, gaming, and productivity tasks.
The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations, making it great for users who enjoy fluid visuals. Whether you’re watching videos or multitasking between apps, the high refresh rate enhances the overall experience.
The tablet has a measured maximum brightness of 497 nits, which provides good visibility even in bright environments, though it may struggle slightly under direct sunlight. The contrast ratio of 1200:1 ensures deep blacks and bright whites, making it an excellent display for most tasks.
Performance
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) chipset, the MatePad 11 delivers top-tier performance for a mid-range tablet. The octa-core CPU (1×2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) combined with the Adreno 650 GPU ensures smooth multitasking, gaming, and productivity.
The tablet is available in configurations with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and internal storage options of 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, providing plenty of space for apps, games, and media. Additionally, it supports storage expansion through a microSDXC card.
The performance is excellent for both everyday tasks and demanding applications, such as gaming or video editing. The Snapdragon 865 handles intensive workloads with ease, and the HarmonyOS 2.0 offers a fluid and responsive user experience.
Software: HarmonyOS 2.0
The MatePad 11 comes pre-installed with HarmonyOS 2.0, Huawei’s operating system designed to integrate with other Huawei devices for a seamless experience. HarmonyOS offers a variety of features, including Multi-Screen Collaboration, which allows users to mirror their Huawei smartphone or transfer files between devices with ease.
HarmonyOS is optimized for multitasking, and the App Multiplier and Multi-Window features allow users to run multiple apps side-by-side, improving productivity. However, users should note that Google Play Services are not available, and apps must be downloaded from Huawei’s AppGallery or other third-party sources.
HarmonyOS 2.0 can be upgraded to HarmonyOS 3.0, which introduces additional features and optimizations for even better performance and multitasking.
Camera
The camera system on the Huawei MatePad 11 (2021) is decent for a tablet. The rear camera features a 13 MP sensor (f/1.8, PDAF), which is capable of capturing sharp images in good lighting conditions. It supports features like HDR, panorama, and LED flash. For video, the rear camera can record in 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30fps, providing decent video quality for casual recording.
On the front, the MatePad 11 has an 8 MP camera (f/2.0) for selfies and video calls. The front camera supports 1080p video recording, which is ideal for video conferences, online classes, and other communication needs.
Battery and Charging
The MatePad 11 is powered by a 7250mAh battery, which provides solid battery life for a full day of moderate use. Whether you’re working, streaming videos, or gaming, the battery holds up well, lasting up to 10 hours on a single charge.
For charging, the tablet supports 22.5W wired charging, which can charge the tablet to full capacity in just over 2 hours. Additionally, it offers 5W reverse wired charging, allowing you to charge smaller devices like smartphones or wireless earbuds.
While the battery life and charging speeds are not the fastest in the market, they are more than sufficient for most users.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Huawei MatePad 11 supports a range of modern connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB Type-C 3.1 for fast data transfer and charging. Although the tablet lacks NFC and cellular connectivity, it makes up for it with its four stereo speakers, which deliver rich and immersive sound quality, perfect for media consumption.
Other features include support for GPS for navigation, though the tablet does not have NFC or an FM radio. For security, it includes basic sensors such as an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass.
Price and Availability
The Huawei MatePad 11 (2021) is priced at around 400 EUR, making it an affordable option in the premium mid-range tablet market. Considering the features it offers, including the 120Hz display, Snapdragon 865 chipset, and HarmonyOS 2.0, it provides excellent value for users who need a versatile and powerful tablet.
Specifications Table
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Network | No cellular connectivity |
| Dimensions | 253.8 x 165.3 x 7.3 mm |
| Weight | 485 g |
| SIM | No SIM support |
| Display | 10.95 inches, IPS LCD, 2560 x 1600 pixels (~276 ppi), 120Hz refresh rate |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 (upgradable to 3.0) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 |
| Internal Storage | 64GB/128GB/256GB, 6GB/8GB RAM, microSDXC card slot |
| Main Camera | 13 MP (wide), 4K video recording |
| Selfie Camera | 8 MP (wide), 1080p video recording |
| Battery | 7250 mAh, 22.5W wired charging, 5W reverse wired charging |
| Colors | Matte Gray |
| Price | Around 400 EUR |
Conclusion
The Huawei MatePad 11 (2021) is a well-rounded and powerful tablet that strikes a great balance between performance, display quality, and price. With a 120Hz display, Snapdragon 865 chipset, and HarmonyOS 2.0, it is perfect for professionals, students, and media enthusiasts alike. The tablet offers smooth multitasking, excellent sound quality, and solid battery life, making it an ideal choice for productivity and entertainment.
While the lack of Google Play Services and cellular connectivity may be a drawback for some users, the growing Huawei AppGallery and other app options still provide plenty of functionality. At a price point of 400 EUR, the MatePad 11 offers fantastic value for users looking for a versatile tablet.
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
