Huawei is making another play for the premium tablet market. The newly launched Huawei MatePad Edge features a massive 14.2-inch flexible OLED display with 3120 x 2080 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness up to 1000 nits. Running HarmonyOS 5.1 and powered by the Kirin X90A chipset, this 2-in-1 tablet is designed to compete directly with Apple’s iPad Pro lineup.
The Huawei MatePad Edge packs serious hardware with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. That’s double the maximum RAM offered by the latest iPad Pro with Apple’s M5 chip. Battery life looks impressive too, with a 12,900 mAh capacity and ultra-fast 140W wired charging. The tablet also includes an advanced cooling system featuring liquid cooling, dual vapor chambers, and two internal fans. This is honestly overkill for most tablets, but if you’re looking for a true laptop replacement, it makes sense.
Desktop-grade performance and versatility
What sets the Huawei MatePad Edge apart is its focus on multiple usage modes. The tablet switches seamlessly between tablet, stand display, and laptop mode with an optional floating keyboard. It even includes a built-in kickstand and PC mode with gesture switching. This approach targets users who want a tablet that functions like a full PC, emphasizing productivity with desktop-grade performance.
For creative work, the MatePad Edge supports stylus input via Huawei’s M-Pencil Pro. The camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, 8MP secondary rear camera, and 32MP front camera. Audio comes through a six-speaker stereo setup, which beats the iPad Pro’s four-speaker system. At 789g, it’s heavier than the 11-inch iPad Pro but competitive with the 12.9-inch model.
The big question is ecosystem. While the Huawei MatePad Edge offers impressive hardware, HarmonyOS faces the same app availability challenges that have plagued Android tablets against iPadOS. Apple’s tighter hardware-software integration and mature creative app ecosystem remain significant advantages. However, for users already invested in Huawei’s ecosystem or working primarily with web apps and productivity tools, the MatePad Edge presents a compelling alternative with superior specs in several key areas.
