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Huawei has been on fairly the journey. With geopolitical tensions between China and the West which means its entry to many platforms and items of {hardware} and software program we take as a right, the Chinese language tech big’s quick rise was considerably stalled within the western hemisphere. Undaunted, Huawei has began making its personal chipsets and its personal suite of apps and software program, and within the Huawei MatePad 11.5″S (2025), essentially the most polished – and addictive – of the lot makes it definitely worth the buy all by itself.However is GoPaint sufficient to beat the challenges of getting to obtain acquainted apps through APK packs and make the most recent MatePad a real iPad various? I’ve had the MatePad 11.5″S for over a month to seek out out.Huawei MatePad 11.5″S (2025): Key specificationsSwipe to scroll horizontallyChipset:Kirin 9000WL, Octa-coreRAM:8GB Storage:256GBDimensions:261 x 177.3 x 6.2mmWeight:510gConnection kind:USB-CBattery: 8800mAhScreen:TFT LCD (IPS), as much as 144 Hz refresh price, 2800x1840p, 16.7 million colors, P3 large color gamutDesign and display screen
(Picture credit score: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)The MatePad has all the time been effectively constructed, and this mannequin isn’t any completely different. The metallic chassis is sturdy however not too heavy (solely 510 grams) and the feel of the again makes it snug to carry. It is available in two colors, gray and violet; I acquired the a lot prettier one, the violet, to check.Whereas another pill makers provide solely the pill itself, with every little thing else as payable add-ons [looks sternly in the direction of Apple], the MatePad comes with a keyboard, protecting case with built-in stand and an M-Pencil as customary. This shouldn’t be undervalued in right now’s endlessly irritating upselling financial system.The display screen, in contrast to many others, shouldn’t be an OLED or AMOLED, nevertheless it comes with a function many different tablets sadly lack. The TFT LCD (IPS tech) display screen is a 10-point multitouch providing, and the near-3K decision is sweet and sharp regardless of not being an OLED show.It is a teeny bit greater than the 11-inch M4 iPad and a teeny bit thicker too, however the minuscule further thickness will not be an excessive amount of of a difficulty as I think about many individuals are like me and can instantly wrap their fairly lil’ pill within the protecting coat of the magnetically fitted case and keyboard combo anyway.And maybe most significantly, it is extraordinarily nice to have a look at and use for prolonged durations of time because of the PaperMatte coating that is turn into Huawei’s trump card within the final couple of years. The coating signifies that glare is drastically diminished, which makes it very best for drawing and artworking since you’re not combating reflections, even in vibrant gentle, and the feel of the display screen turns into extra lifelike, particularly when utilizing watercolour and oil paint canvases and brushes.Each day design information, evaluations, how-tos and extra, as picked by the editors.Options and efficiency
(Picture credit score: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)On account of Huawei’s lack of entry to mainstream western software program platforms (equivalent to all of Google and lots of different apps and suites we take as a right), they’ve provide you with their very own app retailer, browser apps, workplace apps and inventive apps.The very best of the bunch is GoPaint, a portray, drawing and artworking app that options a whole bunch of brushes, floor templates and even help to the hand-stability-challenged like me (maintain a tough circle for a second to create a smoother one, make strains and paths snap into place, get tutorials on each function in-app, and so forth). I am a ineffective visible artist, however I like spending time on GoPaint, and I will be darned if I have not improved only a teeny tiny little bit since getting swallowed up in its addictive options.One other useful device is Huawei Notes, a extra feature-filled note-taking app than your common Notes, with sketching instruments, turning handwriting into extra legible textual content, and simple sharing inbuilt.The native app retailer accommodates hundreds of apps and video games of every type, together with many clear copies of extra well-known video games and apps, however you can even get the originals by going a little bit ‘pirate’ (however nonetheless completely authorized, usually a minimum of ahem). Discover APK packs on your desired apps, unpack these after which set up, and it is best to have the ability to largely replicate your standard Android expertise right here. Not utterly although, and I do know that lack of prepared Google entry might be a deal-breaker to many.For those who’re getting a brand new iPad, you are shopping for PC efficiency in a pill, particularly if you happen to get the higher-spec variants.Not so right here. Regardless of guarantees on the packaging of “PC-level efficiency”, the spec sheet will put a fast cease to any 3D-modelling-on-my-tablet pipe goals. To be truthful to Huawei, the 8GB of RAM and an octa-core processor (Huawei’s personal improvement, branded ‘Kirin’) together with 256GB of SSD storage, it actually matches equally priced Chromebooks and entry-level Home windows laptops, however something above fundamental productiveness, on prime of artworking and drawing.The HarmonyOS loaded onto the MatePad is a Linux-developed working system constructed on Android 12, and whereas it replicates the Android consumer expertise largely efficiently, efficiency is unfortunately missing a good bit.Geekbench assessments put the Huawei far behind the likes of the most recent iPads (and even many older iPads), inserting it close to price range and midrange smartphones such because the Xiaomi Poco or Samsung Galaxy A52 in CPU and GPU assessments. If you are able to do a process on a fundamental Chromebook, it is best to have the ability to a equally heavy process right here, however that is actually not way more than fundamental searching, productiveness and drawing/artworking energy.Swipe to scroll horizontallyiPad Professional (M4, 2024) Geekbench 6 benchmark scoringHeader Cell – Column 0 CPU single-coreCPU GB multi-coreGPU scoreHuawei MatePad 11.5″S (2025)1.3093,5702,271 (OpenCL)iPad Professional M4 16GB3,65614,66253,252 (Steel)iPad Air M2 8GB2,6229,17230,563 (Steel)iPad Professional M1 16GB2,3858,78033,104 (Steel)Worth and availability
(Picture credit score: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)On the time of writing the UK Huawei web site lists the Huawei MatePad 11.5″S PaperMatte for £449.99. This places it above price range tablets like sister model Honor, however at a extra reasonably priced degree than iPad and Samsung tablets, and the efficiency and have set mirror that. It is a truthful value in my thoughts, so long as you realise what you are shopping for this pill for (and maybe extra importantly, what you are not shopping for it for). The Huawei model shouldn’t be formally accessible within the US, sadly.Purchase it if…
(Picture credit score: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)You want drawingYou wish to get higher at drawingYou need ultraportability with good fundamental productiveness featuresDon’t purchase it if…You want top-spec pill performanceYou need a true laptop computer replacementYou’re reliant on the Google ecosystemHuawei MatePad 11.5″S PaperMatte Version: Worth Comparability
