Take note, Apple – Huawei’s new tablets come with a keyboard in the box

Say hello to the MatePad Pro 12.2 and the MatePad 12 X

News By Jamie Richards published 19 September 2024

Huawei has officially unveiled two new tablets: the flagship MatePad Pro 12.2-inch PaperMatte edition and the “younger generation”-focused MatePad 12 X.

The MatePad Pro 12.2-inch comes equipped with – you guessed it – a 12.2-inch tandem OLED display, with a paper-effect outer screen that Huawei calls PaperMatte. The screen has a maximum brightness of 2000 nits, and works with Huawei’s M-Pencil stylus.

Huawei describes the MatePad 12 X as “a lightweight flagship model” designed for younger users – it features the same PaperMatte technology as its larger sibling, as well as a pearlescent rear panel.

Refreshingly, both new Huawei tablets include the Huawei Glide keyboard in the box, where rival companies like Apple and Samsung require you to purchase keyboards separately for their respective flagship tablets.

For reference, a Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro (2024) costs $299 / £299 / AU$499, and keyboard cases for Android tablets tend to hover at around two-thirds of that price.

Huawei does not sell consumer devices in the US due to ongoing political tensions, but the company is a powerhouse in China and seems keen to keep its presence felt in other Western markets.

In the case of these two new tablets, Huawei is offering a few sweeteners to customers in the UK – those who order a MatePad Pro 12.2-inch or MatePad 12 X from the UK Huawei Store between September 19 and October 22 will receive a £100 discount in the form of a Huawei coupon.

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