It seems that tablets are a forgotten niche that is no longer able to win the hearts of users. Why? Because the device market has become synonymous with abundance, and we can choose the right solution to suit our needs. Phones, laptops, speakers, e-books… But what if I told you that a tablet with a decent price can handle all the tasks and become a multi-gadget useful for work, games, and office tasks? In today’s review, you will get to know Huawei MatePad 11.5.
Read also: Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 (2022) Review: Is it far from perfect?
Huawei MatePad 11.5″ is a modern tablet that went on sale in August. It has a large 11.5-inch screen and boasts a long operating time, while being quite affordable. It’s worth noting that there are two versions of the tablet – a regular one without a keyboard (6/128 GB) and one with a keyboard cover (8/128 GB).
Technical specifications of HUAWEI MatePad 11.5
- Display: 11.5 inches, 2200×1440 pixels, 229 PPI, TFT LCD (IPS), 120 Hz
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
- Processor: 1×[email protected] GHz + 3×[email protected] GHz + 4×[email protected] GHz
- Graphics processor: Adreno 644
- RAM: 6/8 GB
- STORAGE: 128 GB
- Main camera: 13 megapixels (f/1.8, autofocus)
- Front camera: 8 megapixels (f/2.2, fixed focal length)
- Battery: 7700 mAh
- Audio: HUAWEI Histen 8.1
- Charging: 10 V/2.25 A and 9 V/2 A
- Operating system: HarmonyOS 3.1
- Dimensions: 261.0 × 177.0 × 6.9 mm
- Weight: 499 g without case
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2×2 MIMO, HE160, Bluetooth 5.2, BLE, SBC, AAC, LDAC HD Audio
- Accessories: case with keyboard
Read also: Huawei MatePad SE 10.4 tablet review
Package contents
The white box with the MatePad 11.5″ contains a 22.5W charger, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and documentation. Of course, the charger could be more powerful, but it’s still good to have it. In a separate package, I received a case with a keyboard, which not only serves to protect the tablet, but also helps to easily type text messages.
Keyboard case
Of course, you can choose a version without a keyboard, but it’s better to get everything together. The keyboard allows you to make MatePad a powerful “transformer” for work, study and entertainment.
The HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard accessory consists of two parts – one part is a case with a stand, the other is a keyboard, they are connected by a magnet. The case has plastic frames, the outer part is made of eco-leather.
The case is relatively lightweight and pleasant to the touch, does not get dirty and does not collect fingerprints. Yes, it makes the tablet bulkier, but it’s also more versatile.
The keyboard buttons have a clear stroke and are of medium size. Those with large fingers will have to get used to this layout, but personally, it suited me.
The only obvious disadvantage is the lack of magnets on the keyboard side, which is worth remembering and taking into account – the case will not close perfectly. Nevertheless, the tablet does not fall out and is stable in the case.
The keyboard, unfortunately, does not have a backlight and touchpad – a simplification, but not critical.
Connecting the keyboard to the tablet is extremely convenient and fast. As soon as I inserted the MatePad 11.5″, information appeared on the screen and voila – the connection was made! No need to dig through the settings or even turn on Bluetooth.
There is a wireless connection between the keyboard and the tablet. You can separate the case and keyboard, put the tablet on a stand to raise it higher. This is also useful when traveling, for example, in a train – the device can stand on a table, and the keyboard can be held on your lap. Very convenient! The keyboard does not consume much power when connected to a tablet.
Read also: Huawei nova 11 Pro review: expressive design and interesting software solutions
Design and layout of elements
The tablet has a classic design – it looks stylish and laconic. It has a gray aluminum back surface, and the screen bezels are relatively small.
On the right side is the volume button. On the top is the power button, and on the bottom are the USB-C port and speaker grilles.
The tablet’s button layout is ergonomic. The keys are available in both landscape and portrait orientation. However, holding it horizontally with both hands, you can cover the speakers with your palms.
The front camera is inconspicuous and has a round shape. The 13-megapixel rear camera is located on a mini-island. And this is perhaps the only distinctive design element. But do not forget to carefully place the gadget on the “back”, as the camera protrudes above the body. It will be even easier to just use the case.
I like the design of the MatePad, every component is in its place. The tablet is thin and relatively light, weighing 499 g.
Perfect fit and luxurious minimalism – that’s how you can characterize the appearance of the device.
It’s a pity that it doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner in the power button, as this is a very simple and quick way to confirm the owner’s identity. Another drawback is the lack of a 3.5 mm jack. However, this element is not important for everyone.
The tablet in the keyboard case looks like a real laptop. It’s cool, because you can fold it all up and get a compact but multifunctional device.
Read also: Huawei P60 Pro review: The world’s best mobile camera again?
HUAWEI MatePad 11.5″ display
The display of this device is a true love. The manufacturer did not skimp on the quality of the screen, despite the relatively low price of the tablet. Here we have an 11.5-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 2200×1440 and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
When you turn on the MatePad, you’ll notice the crispness and brightness of the screen right away. Black depth is excellent, and colors are rich and vibrant. I liked both static and moving images in games or videos. The viewing angles are wide, and you can read all the information without any problems when tilting the screen.
Indoors, the maximum brightness is enough for comfortable work, but outdoors the screen dims.
On the plus side, Huawei does not use pulse width modulation (PWM) to adjust the brightness. At the minimum display brightness, we notice only high-frequency flickering, which does not cause discomfort.
The settings also include personalization features such as e-book mode, brightness settings, dark mode, vision protection and smart battery, as well as multi-window mode.
We also have a senior mode, which makes the font and icons larger and the interface more convenient to use.
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MatePad 11.5″ performance
The device is powered by a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The processor is suitable for both office tasks and games. Yes, it does not demonstrate flagship power and is unlikely to be “sharpened” for gaming, but it is quite possible to play current 3D games on medium graphics settings. Personally, I had no complaints about performance – all processes were fast, it was comfortable to work with.
And since I don’t play a lot, I tested the basic tools – notepad, browser, email, instant messaging, text and photo editing, YouTube. Thanks to the powerful hardware and 120 Hz refresh rate, you get smooth animations. During prolonged use, I did not notice even a slight heating of the device.
Sometimes I played games on the MatePad and was also satisfied – fast character movements, good sound and graphics – what more could you want from a tablet for this price?
So we have a good “worker” for entertainment and office tasks.
Cameras
The Huawei MatePad 11.5″ tablet has a standard configuration – a 13-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. Both cameras can record video in maximum Full HD resolution at 30 fps.
To be honest, the cameras are mediocre, nothing special. These modules may come in handy when you don’t have your phone at hand and suddenly need to take a picture of something while studying or working – no more. Photos taken with the main camera lack detail and contrast. Selfies are good, I can’t say anything bad – it’s more than enough for Skype calls.
HUAWEI MatePad 11.5″ battery
The tablet has a 7700 mAh battery. It comes with a 22.5W charger that can charge the device in 2.5 hours. It’s worth noting right away that battery life is one of the main strengths of this model.
In the screenshots, we can see that the battery life is satisfactory. The system independently estimates the number of hours of operation without recharging, and in standby mode this figure increases significantly.
The good news is that we don’t have to worry about whether our tablet is charged every day, and that’s a plus – especially since it’s a device for everyday use. Personally, I had enough charge for 4 days of testing (several hours of use per day)! For about 12 hours of quiet work – Internet, social networks, instant messaging, video – the tablet will definitely last.
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Sound
How does the sound work? We have a set of 4 solid speakers that produce good sound with a lot of bass. They do a great job of playing videos, music, or recordings (for example, in Messenger). There is also an LDAC audio codec and the ability to adjust the sound in the settings for even better sound.
As I already mentioned, there is no 3.5 mm headphone jack. You need to use a USB-C adapter or wireless headphones.
Unlocking methods
The following unlocking options are available to choose from:
- Face recognition
- Password
- Smart unlocking
There’s no fingerprint scanner, so the only biometric way to unlock the tablet is with your face. It’s not the most secure method, but it works well, at least when there is light.
Okay, but what does “smart unlock” mean? Let’s quote from the device: “Unlock your tablet without a passcode or biometric verification when you connect a trusted Bluetooth device.” In practice, this means that if, for example, you wear a smartwatch or headphones, you can unlock your MatePad through them. Again, not very secure.
During testing, I used a PIN code, which I think is the best option.
Read also: Huawei FreeBuds 5 review: Super headphones with a strange design
Data transfer
The tested model supports Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2 x 2 MIMO, HE160, Bluetooth 5.2, BLE, SBC, AAC. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth worked without any complaints – there were no problems with the Internet connection during testing.
HUAWEI MatePad 11.5″ software
Huawei MatePad 11.5″ runs on HarmonyOS 3.1, which hasn’t changed much since the MatePad SE. The interface is neat, intuitive, not cluttered, and there are automatic tips when you first use it that will be useful for both beginners and older people. Everything is clearly organized. In addition, the system works very smoothly, which is the result of careful optimization and high-quality components used in the device.
Manufacturers usually offer us to install games or helper programs – shortcuts that can be used to download apps. But do we really need them? I had to uninstall all of them manually.
WPS Office is worth mentioning. It is a free office suite that allows you to create new text documents, multimedia presentations, and spreadsheets. We can also open and edit files uploaded by colleagues, regardless of whether they are stored in the cloud or sent via email or instant messaging.
My favorite feature is the multi-window mode. This is a decent solution for people who need to do several things at once. The applications scale smoothly and flawlessly, so the mode effectively helps with multitasking.
An interesting feature is the ability to launch the same application several times, which is especially useful in the case of WPS Office. We can launch the main screen of the program and individual documents separately and easily switch between them.
Working with different programs, you can, for example, use a browser and a notepad at the same time. In addition, links and images can be moved between applications using drag & drop.
In this section, I want to dispel the myth that a tablet without Google is a bad tablet. Here you can easily get services of any application through the GBox application. All you have to do is log in, download, and pin to your home screen, and you’re done!
Instead of the Play Store, apps can be installed from the Huawei AppGallery – almost everything is there, and what is not, you can easily and safely download it using an .apk file.
The settings also include options for protecting user data: app blocking, file storage, password storage, and a device search option. From the settings, you can also change access to data and programs.
HarmonyOS has a number of personalization features, such as themes, icons, the ability to turn on the app drawer, and the choice of how to navigate the system.
The tablet also allows you to connect wirelessly to Huawei smartphones – just expand the control center in the upper right corner and select the appropriate icon, which allows you to share the clipboard, among other things.
In addition, you can quickly connect to your phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot without taking it out of your pocket. As you can see, we have everything you need to work comfortably and, most importantly, safely.
Read also: Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 Review: The Promised MacBook Killer?
Conclusions
Huawei MatePad 11.5″ is a versatile and, most importantly, affordable device that will delight you with multitasking and smooth processes. The tablet will become an assistant in work and leisure. However, there are some simplifications, but more on that later. The MatePad is easy to carry, as it weighs very little, even with the keyboard case. It can be supplemented with a wireless mouse or stylus to expand its capabilities. So is it worth investing in the hero of our review? Read about all the pros and cons, and the decision will come to you.
Advantages of Huawei MatePad 11.5″
- Stylish design, slim construction, metal body
- User-friendly and intuitive HarmonyOS interface
- Long operating time
- Good speakers
- Convenient case with keyboard
- Excellent 120 Hz screen
- Value for money
Disadvantages of Huawei MatePad 11.5″
- Lack of Google services (although they can be easily added, and all useful applications are already available out of the box)
- No 3.5 mm jack
- No fingerprint scanner
- No magnets on the keyboard side of the case
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