Huawei adds the MediaPad M2 audio-centric tablet to its lineup

After a well-deserved recap of international success and a detailed progress report, Huawei definitely didn't disappoint eager fans and introduced a brand new tablet device, dubbed the MediaPad M2.

Disproving the rumors from earlier today of an Honor X3 moniker, the Chinese giant decided to stick to continuity after all and release the device within the MediaPad family, where it logically belongs, although still breaking away from the "X" branding.

The device is equipped with a 10.1-ich display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, with automatic mode switching, an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a rather low pixel density of 226ppi. But while the screen might be a little lacking in terms of sharpness, Huawei endeavors to compensate with an impressive audio experience, courtesy of Harmon/Kardon and featuring four speakers, like Apple's iPad Pro. The top pair of speakers handles treble, while the bottom two add a bit of bass to the mix, thanks to a resonance chamber design. Clari-Fi audio up-sampling technology is also thrown in the mix.

Another notable hardware touch on the MediaPad M2 is a physical home button that also integrates a fingerprint reader. Judging from Huawei's recent advancements in this area, with excellent implementations, like on the Mate S and Mate 8 handset, we expect the same level of precision and speed on the tablet as well.

Going further down the specs sheet, we find a 13MP main camera, along with a 5MP front shooter. As for RAM and storage options, there is a 2GB version with 16GB of storage, as well as a 3GB one, that offers 64GB of onboard capacity, a micro SD card slot enables further expansion. Both are available in Wi-Fi, as well as Wi-Fi + LTE connectivity packages and the higher-tier models also support a stylus accessory.

Dubbed the M-Pen, it is sold separately and resembles recent offers by competitors like Apple and Microsoft in adding advanced drawing and writing capabilities to the tablet. It is still unclear whether the M-Pen is an active device with a separate power source or more of a passive accessory, like Samsung's S-pen solution, but Huawei did share that it supports up to 2048 pressure points and offers a "Pen-like writing experience".

As for pricing and availability, the four versions of the MediaPad M2 will retail for $349, $399, $419 and $469, for the 16GB Wi-Fi, 16GB LTE, 64GB Wi-Fi and 64GB LTE one respectively. There is still no info on a launch bracket, but the initial wave will apparently cover most major markets, including the US, China, India, UK and most other EU countries.