
Those who have been following Digital Reg for years know that I have owned and reviewed HUAWEI MatePads in recent years. On the first year of the pandemic, we acquired the HUAWEI Matepad Pro which became my go-to device for office work and content creation. While I have moved on from the pandemic and tablets, for that matter, I missed working on one so we requested a review unit of the new HUAWEI Matepad 12 X to be sent to us.
Can this tablet be a better alternative than carrying a laptop for productivity purposes? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
HUAWEI Matepad 12 X SPECS:
OS: | HarmonyOS 4.2 |
---|---|
Processor: | 2.4GHz Kirin T90A Octa-Core Processor |
Display: | 12-inch 2800×1840 144Hz IPS LCD PaperMatte |
Wi-Fi: | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/, 2.4G/5G, Bluetooth 5.2 |
Memory: | 12GB+256GB |
Connectors: | USB Type-C |
Cameras: | Rear Camera: 13MP (f/1.8) Camera, 8MP (f/2.2) Ultra-wide Front Camera: 8MP (f/2.2) Wide Camera |
SIM Card Slots: | None |
Battery: | 10,100mAh |
Price: | Php 37,999 |
The Looks and Feel

Compared to the previous MatePads we’ve reviewed throughout the years, the HUAWEI Matepad 12 X has a different appeal to me. Instead of the usual Midnight Grey, our review unit comes in pastel Greenery which is not only unique, but also easy on the eyes. This is the only color available for retail units sold in the Philippines.

The dimensions of the Matepad 12 X are 183 x 270 x 5.9mm and weighs at 555 grams. Given its size, I found it surprisingly lightweight even with the keyboard folio attached. I would rather carry this along with me rather than my work laptop if I want to work elsewhere like in a coffee shop.

The screen orientation of the Matepad is in landscape mode. On top is the volume button while the power button is found nearby on the left side of the tablet. Kind of unusual for these button placements but at least they’re nearby to each other. Each side of the tablet have dual stereo speakers. A Type-C USB port is found on the right side of the Matepad.

Guys would probably prefer colors with darker shade like gray or gunmetal but personally, I think these colors are already out of style. The pastel Greenery color is not for women users only, it can be for men too. Holding this tablet in public is like a fashion accessory, especially if you are wearing light-colored business suits conducting a meeting with a client in a coffee shop on a bright, sunny day in the city.
The Sound and Display

The HUAWEI Matepad 12 X has a large 12″ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2800×1840. It also has a refresh rate of 144Hz which provides smooth animations. We noticed it has a PaperMatte Display, which the HUAWEI Matepad 11″ we reviewed last year also had. Aziel, who reviewed the tablet that time, shared her positive experience with me which convinced me to review the new Matepad 12 X.
It is my first time to use this kind of display, and I instantly fell in love with it! I can use it anywhere, whether inside my home office or outdoors like in a park. Unlike other phones or tablets I’ve used before, the Matepad 12 X does prevent any kind of light being reflected on its screen.
I initially thought it was rough but it turned out to have a smooth surface. I also thought the textured display might affect its color quality. After using the device for reading and watching videos, I was convinced that the color quality was acceptable to my tastes.
The speakers of the Matepad 12 X are loud and crisp. It made me watch a lot of streaming videos on the tablet than on my bedroom’s TV during the recent holidays. I also used the Matepad for streaming audio while I cooked our Christmas day dishes.
The Performance

Powering the HUAWEI Matepad 12 X is a 2.4GHz Kirin T90A chipset. It’s been years since I reviewed a HUAWEI device with a Kirin processor so I am not sure what to expect. To give us an idea, we did some benchmark tests on the Matepad 12 X.








I used the Matepad 12 X on a daily basis as my laptop replacement. I installed my usual productivity apps like Microsoft 365 Office, OneNote, and Google Chrome. Unlike before, Google apps like Gmail and Maps can be downloaded on the Matepad 12 X, but I opted not to since I’d rather open them through Google Chrome like what I always do on a PC or laptop. I was able to do everything on the tablet, from video conference calls to writing or signing documents.

I haven’t been gaming that much recently but I did test some games on the Matepad 12 X. Installed Honor of Kings and graphics were set to FPS High, Ultra Resolution and Level 4 Overall Graphics Quality, which was already the maximum since Level 5 up to Ultimate is not supported by the device. Also installed Call of Duty Mobile with graphic quality set to High and Max Frame Rate. Both games played flawlessly under these settings. The only nuisance I encountered while playing these games was its screenshot mode. Apparently, the Matepad has some gestures turned on for taking screenshots which disrupted my gameplay. These can be turned off under Settings.

The Matepad 12 X is pre-installed with HarmonyOS 4.2 based on Android 12. Unlike five years ago, when HUAWEI was banned from using Google services, the newer devices with this OS can now be installed with Google apps like Chrome, Maps, or Gmail through AppGallery. While some apps may require GBox which automatically installs on the tablet, others will divert you to download the APK source before installation.
Speaking of apps, the Matepad 12 X was filled with lots of bloatware. If you see them as an eyesore, the bad news is they have to be removed one by one. There are other pre-installed apps though I find useful like WPS Office and GoPaint, which I will be discussing in a while.
What I liked about my old Matepad Pro is the EMUI Desktop mode which turns the interface similar to a desktop PC. Unfortunately, that option is no longer available because obviously EMUI has been changed to HarmonyOS.
The Accessories

To achieve PC-Level Productivity, HUAWEI also provided accessories for the Matepad 12 X review. The HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard attaches to the Matepad and instantly connects thanks to its NearLink technology. The keyboard weighs 308 grams and it doesn’t make the Matepad heavier when attached. The tablet can be adjusted in two different angles for typing or sketching. I had a pleasant experience using the keyboard and was able to get a lot of work done with it. My only complaint is it can easily attract dirt so I had to clean it every once in a while.

Aside from the keyboard, we were also sent the HUAWEI M-Pencil, now on its 3rd Generation. I have used both the first and second gen of M-Pencils and I could say that there’s a huge improvement with the new 3rd Gen M-Pencil. It now has a pressure sensitivity of over 10,000 levels compared to the 2nd Gen’s 4,096. It also has an ultra-low latency thanks again to its NearLink wireless technology. The M-Pencil can be charged by attaching it on top of the Matepad.


Since I am not good in drawing, I asked my daughter to use the Matepad 12 X to create an artwork from scratch. She has tried several devices before including a pen tablet attached to her laptop. I could tell she enjoyed using the M-Pencil 3rd Gen with the Matepad 12 X as she continued to work on her work for the next hour without any complaints. After showing me her completed artwork, she said she liked drawing on the the Matepad 12 X more than the iPad Pro. The combination of the PaperMatte Display and responsiveness of the M-Pencil 3rd Gen were the major factors for her to let her enjoy creating her art on the tablet.

On the productivity side, it still has the Take Snippet and Annotate features that can be dragged down from the upper right corner of the display. Snippet lets me copy a phrase from an article and paste it on the clipboard or another app, while Annotate lets me comments on the page or highlight important phrases. It will be saved as a screenshot before it can be shared to another user.
The Cameras

This is probably the first time I’ve seen a tablet with a rear dual-camera setup. The Matepad 12 X is equipped with a 13 Megapixel main camera supported by an 8 Megapixel ultra-wide lens. While I don’t like the idea of using a tablet as your main device for taking photos, adding the ultra-wide lens is a plus especially for taking group photos. No need to awkwardly move backwards just to fit everyone in the frame. Photos turned out fine as long as these were taken with good lighting in the background. Definitely wouldn’t compete with cameraphones but they’re okay to use for social media postings.
Meanwhile, the front camera is an 8-Megapixel lens which is also decent. I only used it though mostly for video conference calls and not for taking selfies.
Here are some sample photos taken with the HUAWEI Matepad 12 X:





The Battery Life
Inside the HUAWEI Matepad 12 X is a massive 10,100 mAh battery. Typing and editing articles, signing documents, web-browsing and occasional viewing of videos lasted me a whole work day, with still more than enough battery life for watching streaming videos or playing mobile games in the evening. Charging the Matepad 12 X takes only less than 2 hours with its 66W charger.
DR’S CONCLUSION

My experience with the HUAWEI Matepad 12 X was mostly pleasant. I saw a lot of improvements compared to my experience with my own Matepad Pro five years ago. The PaperMatte Display not only repels light but also helps writing or drawing a better experience. The M-Pencil has also improved a lot since it was first introduced with the Matepad Pro, and while HarmonyOS 4.2 isn’t stable yet, at least we can now install Google apps.
Those who are looking for an alternative to a laptop may consider the HUAWEI Matepad 12 X. I wouldn’t say it’s the best productivity tablet out there, but for its features, bundled accessories and price, I think it’s a good alternative.
For more information about the HUAWEI Matepad 12 X, visit this link.