The MatePad 12 X is the latest in Huawei's line of ambitious tablets, and it just got revealed, alongside the Watch GT 6. Between the Mate 12 X and Huawei's other two offerings for 2025, however, it might become difficult to figure out which device is built for whom.
Huawei MatePad 12 X announced with a rich, but confusing set of features
Huawei's tablets typically aim high and perform admirably, and at least on paper, the MatePad 12 X seems to follow suite. The company would like to pose the 12 X as a device with a cutting-edge display, and a feature set built for professionals and productivity-freaks.
Before we get into it, let's go over the specs:
12" body about 6mm thick, weighing in at roughly 555 grams
Features a 2800×1840, 280 PPI display with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits
12GB of RAM
256GB of storage - no variants mentioned
A 10,100 mAh battery with support for several fast-charging standards
50MP camera on the back and a 8MP selfie cam
Interestingly enough: a set of six speakers, unlike any of its relatives
Runs HarmonyOS 4.3 out of the box
Before you get tempted and ask for the price tag, let's go over the features. The MatePad 12 X's main draw is the PaperMatte display and the latest M-Pencil Pro stylus. You may be quick to confuse the display with that of the MatePad Pro 12.2 for example, but that device came with a Tandem OLED panel. The 12 X in contrast features the same technology, packed with a TFT LCD. On the topic of PaperMatte, our very own Rad put it nicely:
Once again, the usual disclaimer is due that while the PaperMatte screen reduces reflections and makes hand-writing feel more natural, it also adds a very slight grain to the screen and makes it appear less lively. This is the usual tradeoff with matte screens.
We can expect the same status quo on the MatePad Pro 12 X, but it is worth bringing up that this type of treatment makes eye strain less likely. Personally, I love the way it feels, but I can absolutely see how HDR-lovers would be quick to shun away from it. In terms of specific improvements: this generation is stated to be 50% better at reducing screen glare too.
The M-Pencil Pro stylus brings more productivity-friendly menus and a slew of tools, which would be most beneficial to designers and illustrators. Note-takes will also appreciate the opportunity to utilize a new shortcut key, which opens up the Notes app directly.
Naturally, the new features likely work only within Huawei's built-in set of apps, so it is unclear if things such as pressure sensitivity levels could even work outside, let's say, the GoPaint app. Beyond that, as expected with a solid modern-day stylus, the M-Pencil Pro supports handwriting recognition and additional gesture controls.
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A great kit, confined to first-party software
A quick overview of the specs of Huawei's latest tablet offerings. | Image by Huawei
As we are all well aware by this point: Huawei's platform is not based on Android. On the one hand, if Huawei has done its due diligence, this should mean better integration of the aforementioned tools. On the other: if you are used to some apps, solely available on Google Play, you'll certainly won't be able to use them on the 12 X.
Right now, we've got some solid tablets available on the west, like the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus, which we found to offer great value for its price, or the OnePlus Pad 3, which to us seemed comparable to the latest of Apple's acclaimed iPad series.
Beyond that, Huawei's own rich catalogue of tablets makes it difficult to commit to a choice. Do you get the pricier tablet with the better screen, the smaller (and cheaper) option which is quite comparable to the 12 X, or the latter itself which is the only one among the three that has six speakers and a 50MP camera?
What is your favorite MatePad 12 X feature?
Even if the screen isn't OLED, it still sounds great!
30.77%
Six speakers is overkill, but I love it!
0%
As long as it comes with a keyboard and stylus, I'm good.
0%
That upgraded camera setup won me over.
0%
Honestly, neither, it all sounds like a mess.
69.23%
The MatePad 12 X is a hard choice, but easy sell
The 12 X in full-on laptop mode. | Image by Huawei
I'll be honest: for a niche group of users, this will be the dream-tablet. It is both feature-rich and cheaper than the available Pro models, while having some unique features that help it stand out.
At a glance, the tablet does really seem like a mixed bag: a downgraded display and smaller size, but with upgraded audio and camera setups? For a tablet, it doesn't seem like a solid trade-off. But then again: this allows Huawei to lower the price, while keeping the core feature-set alive: the great display technology, app suite, and the new M-Pencil Pro.
The release is quite timely, too, as it is September. The bundle is likely to vary between regions, but in some areas, the MatePad 12 X comes not only with the stylus, but with a keyboard too. This means that you practically have a laptop. Not a super-powerful laptop with a popular OS, but still: a great package for a price that even most chromebooks struggle to offer.
I don't want to say anything too final before we check the device out for ourselves, but as of now: the 12 X seems like a great fit for a niche audience. And, honestly, I might even be among them.
The Huawei MatePad 12 X is already on sale on Huawei's official online store in the UK. For £599.99, the tablet comes with a SuperCharge adapter, USB-C cable, the M-Pencil Pro stylus and a Magnetic Keyboard.
Stan, also known as Stako, is a smartphone enthusiast who loves exploring the limits of Android customization. His journey with mobile tech began with the Nokia 5110 and evolved with devices like the BlackBerry 9350 Curve and Samsung Galaxy A4. Despite his love for Android, he holds equal respect for Apple, considering the iPhone 4s as a significant milestone in mobile tech. Stan started his writing career early, contributing to MetalWorld, and harbors a passion for creative writing. Beyond smartphones, he's interested in photography, design, composition, and gaming, often preferring solo projects to hone his objective thinking. He's also an avid student of open-source technology and consoles, with a special fondness for the Pebble Watch, Arduboy, and Playdate.
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