 |
| The laptop killer for the couch? – Huawei MatePad Pro Max review |
Is the slimmest 13-inch tablet on the market also the best? We put Huawei's ambitious MatePad Pro Max to the test.
When Huawei announced the MatePad Pro Max, they made a bold claim: this would be the thinnest tablet in its size class. At just 4.7mm thick, it's a staggering feat of engineering that makes even the sleekest competitors look chunky by comparison. But here's the million-dollar question—can something this thin actually deliver the performance and features needed to replace your laptop?
I've spent the last two weeks with the MatePad Pro Max, pushing it through everything from 4K video editing to marathon gaming sessions. Here's my honest, no-holds-barred review of Huawei's most ambitious tablet yet.
First Impressions: Slimmer Than a Pencil
Let's get the obvious out of the way first—this tablet is absurdly thin. At 4.7mm, it's thinner than most smartphones, and holding it feels almost surreal. The aluminum frame gives it that premium, cold-to-the-touch feel that immediately signals you're dealing with a flagship device.
The 13.2-inch display dominates the front with a 91% screen-to-body ratio, and the matte PaperMatte finish instantly sets it apart from every other tablet on the market. More on that display later—trust me, it deserves its own section.
What's in the box? Huawei includes the keyboard in some regions (check your local bundle), a USB-C cable, and a polishing cloth. The M-Pencil Pro is sold separately, though you'll often find it bundled at a discount.
Design and Build Quality: Engineering Marvel
Huawei has clearly invested serious R&D into making this the thinnest 13-inch tablet ever. Measuring just 4.7mm at its thinnest point (the camera bump brings it to 7.85mm), the MatePad Pro Max undercuts the previous record holder by a hair's breadth.
Build quality is exceptional. The gaps are tight, the materials feel premium, and despite the impossibly thin profile, the tablet feels rigid—though there is the tiniest bit of creaking if you really twist it.
The tablet comes in gray and blue options, weighs just 509g (1.12 pounds), and features IP42 splash resistance. It's comfortable to hold for extended periods, whether you're reading, watching movies, or taking notes.
The Verdict on Design: If you're looking for the thinnest, most portable 13-inch tablet money can buy, this is it. No competition.
Display: The PaperMatte OLED Revolution
This is where the MatePad Pro Max truly shines—literally and figuratively.
Brightness That Blinds
Huawei rates this display at 1,600 nits peak brightness, and while our tests measured 1,485 nits with small white areas and 908 nits full-screen, these are still exceptionally bright figures. The PaperMatte anti-glare finish makes a world of difference outdoors—I could comfortably read and work in direct sunlight without squinting.
Color Accuracy
The 13.2-inch OLED panel runs at 3000 x 2000 resolution (273 PPI) with a 144Hz refresh rate. Color reproduction is good, though our testing revealed it runs slightly cool out of the box. For most users, this won't be noticeable, but professionals might want to calibrate.
PWM Flickering
For those sensitive to PWM flickering, good news: the high-frequency 360Hz base with 1,479Hz at minimum brightness means most users won't experience eye strain.
Response Times
At 0.94ms black-to-white and 0.52ms gray-to-gray, this display is blazing fast. Gamers will appreciate the lack of ghosting, and the 144Hz refresh rate makes scrolling butter-smooth.
The PaperMatte Difference: This isn't just marketing fluff. The nano-etched finish genuinely reduces glare and reflections, making it feel more like writing on paper than a glossy screen. It's a game-changer for note-taking and creative work.
Performance: Kirin 9030 Pro Delivers
The MatePad Pro Max runs on Huawei's top-tier Kirin 9030 Pro chipset (also referred to as the T93 Pro). Here's how it stacks up:
CPU Performance
In Geekbench 6.7, the tablet scored:
- Single-Core: 1,818 points
- Multi-Core: 6,504 points
These numbers put it behind the competition from Apple (M4), Samsung (Dimensity 9400+), and Honor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 5), but here's the thing—everyday performance is excellent. I threw multiple apps at it simultaneously, edited 4K video, and never once hit a stutter.
GPU Performance (The Weak Spot)
The Maleoon 935 GPU supports ray tracing, which sounds impressive, but benchmarks tell a different story:
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 3,028 points
- 3DMark Solar Bay: 3,952 points
For comparison, the iPad Pro M4 scores 8,889 points in Wild Life Extreme. The MatePad Pro Max falls significantly behind competitors in graphics-intensive tasks. Gamers should look elsewhere if you want to play the latest 3D titles at high settings.
Storage
With 512GB UFS 4.1 storage (483.74GB usable) and 12GB LPDDR5x RAM, the tablet handles heavy multitasking without breaking a sweat. Read speeds hit 4,327 MB/s, and write speeds reached 4,118 MB/s in our tests.
Benchmark Summary
| Test | Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,818 | Behind competition |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 6,504 | Middle of pack |
| PCMark Work 3.x | 15,508 | Solid everyday performance |
| Antutu v11 | 1,982,664 | Respectable |
The Bottom Line: The Kirin 9030 Pro isn't winning any benchmark trophies, but it's more than enough for 95% of users. Unless you're a hardcore gamer or video editor, you won't feel the performance gap.
Software: HarmonyOS 4.3 and the Google Question
The Elephant in the Room
Yes, the MatePad Pro Max runs HarmonyOS 4.3, based on Open Android 12. And no, Google Play Services are not installed out of the box.
But here's the workaround: You can download the Aurora Store from Huawei's AppGallery, which gives you access to the Google Play Store ecosystem. It's not perfect, but it works.
Huawei has promised six years of security patches (until May 2032), and there's speculation that EMUI 16 (based on Android 16) could arrive for this device. No official confirmation yet, though.
Bloatware and Advertising
One of my bigger frustrations: Huawei pre-installs quite a few third-party apps and displays advertising throughout the system. The good news? You can uninstall or disable most of it. It's an annoyance, but not a dealbreaker.
Productivity Features
The desktop layout in WPS Office, smart-sensing features (display stays on when you're looking at it), and knuckle gestures make this a serious productivity machine. The software is clearly optimized for the large screen.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 but No 6GHz
This is a mixed bag. The tablet supports:
- Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be)
- Bluetooth 6.0
- NearLink (for keyboard and stylus)
- GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS
The Catch: No 6GHz Wi-Fi support. Transfer speeds are still excellent (we measured 1,708 MB/s transmit, 1,758 MB/s receive), but 6GHz could have made it even better.
USB Port
The USB 3.2 port supports video output (though it mirrors the display), fast charging, and data transfer speeds of 252 MB/s. No cellular option, and no NFC.
Cameras: Good Enough
Let's be honest—no one buys a tablet for photography. The 50MP main camera and 12MP front-facing camera deliver clear images in good lighting, suitable for video calls and document scanning.
Video Recording: Ultra HD at 60FPS from both cameras, but no optical image stabilization.
Final Verdict: Fine for the occasional photo or video call. Nothing special, but nothing terrible either.
Audio: Surprisingly Excellent
With six speakers, the MatePad Pro Max produces genuinely impressive audio. The bass is present, the mids are balanced, and the highs are crisp. At 89.3dB, it gets very loud without distorting.
Our Analysis:
- Bass: 4.1% from median (excellent)
- Mids: 4.1% from median (balanced)
- Highs: 2.2% from median (outstanding)
- Overall linearity: 8% (top 2% of all tested devices)
These are among the best tablet speakers I've ever heard.
Battery Life: The Only Real Disappointment
With a 9,760mAh battery, the MatePad Pro Max has the smallest battery in its class, and it shows in the runtime tests:
| Device | Battery Size | Wi-Fi Browsing Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Lenovo Idea Tab Pro Gen 2 | 10,200mAh | 14.2 hours |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra | 11,600mAh | 13.2 hours |
| Honor MagicPad 4 | 10,100mAh | 13.1 hours |
| Apple iPad Pro 13 2024 | 10,209mAh | 12.5 hours |
| Huawei MatePad Pro Max | 9,760mAh | 10.7 hours |
10.7 hours is by no means terrible, but it's the shortest in the comparison group. The fast charging (50% in 18 minutes, 80% in 24 minutes, 100% in 36 minutes) partially compensates for this.
Power Consumption:
- Idle minimum: 2.57W
- Idle maximum: 4.44W
- Load average: 9.52W
Heat and Throttling
One area where the MatePad Pro Max excels is temperature management. Even under sustained load, surface temperatures stay below 40°C (maximum 39.8°C at the bottom, 37.8°C at the top).
Stress Test Stability:
- Wild Life Extreme: 78.4% stability
- Solar Bay Extreme: 99.8% stability
- Steel Nomad Light: 98.6% stability
The chip doesn't throttle excessively, maintaining consistent performance even during extended gaming or rendering sessions.
Pricing and Availability
The Huawei MatePad Pro Max carries a €1,299 MSRP (roughly $1,507). The keyboard is included in some regions (check your local bundle), while the M-Pencil Pro and charger are sold separately.
Where to Buy
- Huawei Official Store: Buy the HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max here
- Amazon: Check latest price on Amazon
- Amazon: Alternative offers
- Amazon: More options
Competitor Comparison
| Feature | Huawei MatePad Pro Max | Samsung Tab S11 Ultra | Apple iPad Pro 13 | Honor MagicPad 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 4.7mm | 5.5mm | 5.1mm | 5.2mm |
| Weight | 509g | 695g | 579g | 450g |
| Display | 13.2" OLED PaperMatte | 14.6" Dynamic AMOLED | 13" Tandem OLED | 12.3" OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz | 144Hz |
| Processor | Kirin 9030 Pro | Dimensity 9400+ | Apple M4 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 |
| Battery | 9,760mAh | 11,600mAh | 10,209mAh | 10,100mAh |
| Charging | 100W | 45W | Unknown | 100W |
| Price | €1,299 | €1,489 | €2,279 | €600 |
Pros and Cons Summary
What We Love ✅
- World's thinnest 13-inch tablet – genuinely impressive engineering
- PaperMatte OLED display – anti-glare, bright, and beautiful
- Premium build quality – aluminum frame, tight gaps, excellent feel
- Exceptional speakers – among the best in any tablet
- Fast charging – 0-100% in 36 minutes
- Modern connectivity – Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NearLink
- Low temperatures – stays cool even under load
- Solid everyday performance – handles multitasking with ease
What We Dislike ❌
- No Google Play Services out of the box (though workaround exists)
- No 6GHz Wi-Fi support despite Wi-Fi 7 branding
- GPU performance lags behind competitors
- Shorter battery life than rivals
- Bloatware and advertising pre-installed
- No cellular option available
- Software updates unclear (Android 16 still unconfirmed)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This For?
The Huawei MatePad Pro Max is a tablet of extremes. It excels in display quality, audio, and design, delivering an experience that rivals the best in the industry. But it stumbles in graphics performance, software, and battery life.
This is the perfect tablet for:
- Creative professionals – the PaperMatte display is phenomenal for artists and designers
- Productivity users – the keyboard and stylus turn it into a legitimate laptop replacement
- Media consumers – incredible display and speakers for movies and streaming
- Frequent travelers – extremely thin and lightweight for maximum portability
- Outdoor users – anti-glare display works beautifully in sunlight
This is NOT for:
- Hardcore gamers – GPU performance can't keep up with rivals
- Google ecosystem dependents – lack of Play Services creates friction
- Cellular connectivity seekers – Wi-Fi only
- Battery life fanatics – 10.7 hours is good but not great
Final Score: Impressive but Not Perfect
The Huawei MatePad Pro Max represents Huawei at its most ambitious – pushing the boundaries of tablet design with an impossibly thin chassis and an innovative PaperMatte display that genuinely improves the user experience. It's a multimedia powerhouse that handles productivity tasks with grace, and the six-speaker audio system delivers sound quality that rivals dedicated speakers.
But the compromises are real. The GPU performance gap means this isn't the best choice for gamers, the software situation remains complicated for those dependent on Google services, and the battery life, while decent, falls short of the competition.
If you value design, display quality, and audio above all else, the MatePad Pro Max is a compelling choice that justifies its premium price tag. For everyone else, the decision requires careful consideration of where you're willing to compromise.
Where to Get the Best Deal
- Buy Directly from Huawei: HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max Store Page
- Amazon Options: Price Check 1 | Price Check 2 | More Options
Have you tried the Huawei MatePad Pro Max? Share your experience in the comments below!
Tags: Huawei MatePad Pro Max, world's thinnest tablet, PaperMatte OLED, tablet review, laptop replacement, Huawei review, best tablets 2026, 13-inch tablet, productivity tablet, creative tablet
