Huawei MatePad Mini: 8.8-inch tablet with 5G and SatCom introduced
Huawei has just unveiled something very small and something very big. The company is launching a premium mini tablet, something rare outside the iPad ecosystem. The Huawei MatePad Mini is accompanied by the Huawei MateTV in a standard and a Pro version.
Huawei MatePad Mini
The Huawei MatePad Mini has an 8.8-inch display, a 2,560 x 1,600 pixel (16:10) OLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate, 1,800 nits of brightness, and 10-bit color (it’s also HDR Vivid certified). This makes it smaller than the Mate XT Ultimate, which unfolds to 10.2 inches! Incidentally, there’s a Soft Light version, similar to the MatePad Pros, which reduces screen reflections. In any case, you can use an M-Pencil Pro stylus for writing and drawing.
The Huawei MatePad Mini is quite compact for a tablet: It measures 198.6 x 127.3 x 5.1 mm and weighs 255 g. The 6,400 mAh battery may be a bit small, but according to Huawei, it’s sufficient for 15.5 hours of video playback. Thanks to the 66-watt charging function, the battery can be recharged quickly (a full charge takes about an hour).
The tablet runs on HarmonyOS 5.1, but Huawei, as usual, remains tight-lipped about the chipset. It has 12 GB of RAM and 256/512 GB of storage. Soft Light is only available on the 512 GB model.
The Huawei MatePad Mini is network-capable and can make voice calls. It also supports two-way satellite messaging via the BeiDou system. Other wireless connections include Wi-Fi 7 (be, dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2 (LDAC, L2HC), and the self-developed Bluetooth alternative StarFlash. NFC is not available. A USB-C 3.0 port is available for data and charging.
There’s a 32 MP front camera (f/2.4, fixed focus) and two on the back – a 50 MP main camera (f/1.8 AF) and an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera (f/2.2 AF). The rear camera can record 4K videos, while the front camera can only record up to 1080p.
The Huawei MatePad Mini also features a fingerprint reader integrated into the side power button. It also has stereo speakers.
Prices
The base model with 12/256 GB costs 4,000 CNY (€479/$560). The 12/512 GB model costs 4,500 CNY. You’ll need to pay 500 CNY more for the soft-light screen. Note that there’s currently a small discount of 100 CNY (€12/$14). The Huawei MatePad Mini is available in Obsidian Black, Snow White, and Spruce Green. However, the choice of memory/soft light options affects the available colors.
Huawei MateTV
The Huawei MateTV is available in 65-, 75-, 85-, and 98-inch sizes. There’s also a MateTV Pro that skips the 65-inch size and is only available in larger formats. Both are HarmonyOS smart TVs with a mobile chipset that has not yet been announced. The standard model is equipped with 8/128 GB of storage, the Pro model with 12/256 GB.
Both use Super Mini LED displays, but the Pro model has an anti-reflective coating and a floating touch function.
The two TVs also differ in their integrated audio systems. The Huawei MateTV has a powerful 2.2 system with six speakers and a total output of 120 watts. The MateTV Pro has two upward-firing 20-watt speakers for a 3.2.2 system with a total of nine speakers and 180 watts of peak power.
Huawei has developed various control options for its TVs. One of these is a standard remote control with air mouse functionality. Alternatively, a stylus can be used—practical for offices and classrooms. Finally, there’s a touch controller for games. It has shoulder buttons, but instead of thumbsticks or buttons, there’s only a large touchpad on the front.
Prices
Prices range from 9,000 CNY (1,078 €/1,260 $) for the 65-inch Huawei MateTV to 31,000 CNY (3,714 €/4,340 $) for the 98-inch MateTV Pro.
