Huawei’s New MatePad Has A Much Better Stylus Storage Than Apple’s iPad
by Ben Sin · ForbesI really like Apple's iPad Pro, but my biggest gripe with that tablet is there is no safe way to store the Apple Pencil — it just attaches on top of the tablet via magnets that are not particularly strong. This is fine when the iPad Pro is staying put on a desk, but whenever I put it in or take it out of my backpack laptop sleeve, there is at least a 50% chance the stylus gets yanked off. If this happens inside the bag, then I suppose it's not that big a deal. But I live in constant fear this will happen when outside the bag, like, say, when I am shoving the iPad back into my bag at a cafe and the stylus falls onto the cafe floor without my knowledge.
Unfortuately, almost every other tablet other than Samsung has followed this Apple approach of storing the stylus. And Samsung's approach is not the most elegant: the stylus sticks on the back, where it is then covered by a plastic flap that's part of an overpriced keyboard (retail price $350).
Leave it to Huawei to find the most elegant and practical solution: the company's latest tablet, the MatePad Pro 12.2 PaperMatte, has a stylus slot on the keyboard base, but this base has a clever hinge design so the stylus slot is hidden in view when not in use.
And when the entire tablet and keyboard closes up, there is room for the stylus slot to be stored completely enclosed, sandwiched by the keyboard and tablet. It's a very clever piece of hardware engineering that had to think outside the box to fix an issue that other companies seem not to care about.
The rest of the keyboard is also superior to other brands' tablet keyboard offerings. The keys have noticeably more travel, over 1mm. The trackpad is large for a tablet and is clickable on the entire pad, not just the corners. And, in one of my absolute favorite feature, the keyboard still works when detached. This is no ordinary Bluetooth connection, but uses Huwaei's proprietary NearLink tech, which combines Bluetooth and WiFi for stronger and more stable close range connection.
I work out of coffee shops often and to be able to prop up the tablet on a higher surface while I type around at waist level is much better for my neck than using just about any other laptop or tablet. I received this review unit very late, so I have not had much time to test the tablet itself, but the screen is brilliant: dual tandem OLED panel. This is the same tech Apple first used in its latest iPad Pro launched a few months ago.
Tandem OLED increases maximum brightness while keeping energy consumption lower. The screen also has a matte coating engraved at a nanotexture level, giving it an anti-reflective texture that also provides more friction against the tip of the stylus, making the glass screen feel more like paper.
Sketching on this tablet is a joy thanks to the responsive stylus along with the superior screen. The keyboard's hinge also allows the tablet to be propped up at an angle optimized for using the stylus.
Apple's iPad Pro still has the better silicon, but other than that, I like everything else about Huawei's new MatePad better from a hardware standpoint. I cannot praise this hardware enough.
Unfortunately, I also received the China version of the tablet for testing (there is a global version launching in Barcelona today), so the software is even more limited than what I am used to. But if I can overcome the software limitations, this tablet is a brilliant piece of on-the-go work and creativity kit.
The MatePad Pro 12.2-inch PaperMatte edition goes on sale in the U.K. and other European regions this month at about equivalent to $800 after conversion. I am certain this tablet will also make its way to Asia regions like Hong Kong and Southeast Asia in coming weeks.