Huawei MatePad 12X in review: Like paper, only better?
A TEST REPORT from Dominic Lux 
on March 03, 2025, 10:00 pm | Write a comment
With the MatePad 12X, Huawei is launching a premium tablet that is aimed primarily at creative and productive users. With a 12,6 inch (approx. 32 cm) matte display, a powerful stylus and a slim design, it wants to position itself as a serious alternative to the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Our test shows whether it succeeds.
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tl;dr: Perfect for creative users
The Huawei MatePad 12X offers a high-quality, matte 12,6-inch display with 120 Hz, a precise stylus and powerful hardware. It is particularly suitable for creative and productive users. The battery life is good and the fast charging is impressive. However, the Google Play Store is missing and the display brightness could be a bit higher due to the matte display. With a few detours, many of the otherwise unavailable Google apps can be used natively. This could perhaps make the MatePad 12X a valid choice for many.
Design and workmanship: typical MatePad
The Huawei MatePad 12X impresses with its high-quality workmanship and slim aluminum casing. The back feels pleasant and gives a premium impression. Despite the large display, the tablet fits well in the hand and looks very modern thanks to the narrow display edges. With a weight of just under 660 grams, it is not the lightest model on the market, but can still be used comfortably for longer periods of time.
The magnetic connection for the stylus on the side of the case is particularly practical. This means the pen can be transported safely and charged at the same time. The optional keyboard cover also fits well into the design and makes the MatePad 12X a real laptop replacement, at least in terms of feel.
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- Picture: TechnikNews
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Display: Matte and pleasant for the eyes
The highlight of the MatePad 12X is the matte 12,2-inch display with a resolution of 2800 × 1840 pixels. Thanks to the matte coating, reflections are minimized, which is a real advantage, especially when working under direct light. The colors are strong and true to life, and the 120 Hz refresh rate ensures a particularly smooth user experience. This high frame rate is particularly noticeable when scrolling or drawing with the stylus.
However, the maximum brightness of the display is a little lower than that of some competing models. Those who often work outside may notice limitations here. Nevertheless, the viewing angle stability is excellent and even when working for longer periods of time, the anti-reflective surface means your eyes remain pleasantly relaxed.
Software: Finally no Android?
Under the hood is the powerful Kirin 9000S processor, which ensures smooth performance. In combination with 12 GB RAM and up to 512 GB internal storage, the tablet is ideal for multitasking and creative applications. Even with graphics-intensive tasks such as image editing or 3D modeling, the performance remains stable. However, for graphics-intensive apps or games, you should still opt for a tablet with a Snapdragon processor.
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- Picture: TechnikNews
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However, Huawei continues to use HarmonyOS 4, which means that Google services are missing. Anyone who relies on Google apps such as YouTube or Google Drive will have to resort to alternatives or accept workarounds such as using the browser. Nevertheless, there are many useful apps in the Huawei AppGallery, and thanks to the improved desktop environment, several applications can be used comfortably alongside one another. Interestingly, various Google apps can be installed permanently on the MatePad using sideloading. Previously, you had to set up a sandbox environment to emulate them. Perhaps Google has reduced the dependency on Google services somewhat. This makes using the Google cosmos significantly better, with minor compromises.
stylus and input
The included third-generation Huawei M-Pencil makes a very good impression. It offers extremely low latency and supports 4096 pressure levels, which is ideal for sketching and taking notes. The pen tip glides comfortably over the matte display without being too slippery or blunt. It almost feels like you're writing on a piece of paper.
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- Picture: TechnikNews
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- Picture: TechnikNews
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- Picture: TechnikNews
The new gesture functions are particularly practical: a double tap on the pen allows you to switch between different tools, making operation even more intuitive. Palm recognition has also been improved, so that annoying input errors are minimized. The MatePad 12X is therefore ideal for handwritten notes or creative drawings.
Battery life and charging
The 10.500 mAh battery provides a runtime of around 12 hours with mixed use - surfing, video streaming and occasional work with the stylus. This means the tablet lasts proa whole working day without any problems.
A real highlight is the fast charging: With 88 watts, the MatePad 12X can be almost fully charged in just under an hour. This is particularly practical for frequent users who often use their device on the go and don't want to put up with long charging times.
Buy MatePad 12X
Currently you get the MatePad 12X including stylus + Freebuds 5i in-ear headphones and the keyboard cover for 499 euros (including 19 percent VAT) in the Huawei online shop. A really good price for a fast and, above all, practical tablet in the upper mid-range segment.