Huawei MatePad Pro 11 (2022) review

Introduction

Announced in the summer, the MatePad Pro 11 for 2022 brings some most welcome updates to Huawei's high-end tablet lineup. The 11 in the name is the display diagonal, up from 10.8 on last year's smaller Pro, but it's now an OLED display - just like the Pro 12.6 from 2021.

A Snapdragon 888 chip replaces the SD870 for the cellular connectivity version, which we have for review here and you now get an extra ultrawide camera on the back. All this is packed in what Huawei calls the thinnest and lightest 11-inch tablet to date.

We're calling this the MatePad Pro 11 (2022) in our specs in an attempt to make things as clear as possible, but Huawei doesn't use the model year in their press materials. It's technically the only MatePad Pro with an 11-inch display so far but there is the MatePad (non-Pro) 11 from last year to get us all mixed up, and next year might very well bring a successor - so Pro 11 (2022) should be uniquely identifiable as this MatePad we have here, both now and going forward. Well, minus that chipset/connectivity divide, but more on that when it comes up.

MatePad Pro 11 (2022) • MatePad Pro 12.6 (2021) • MatePad Pro 10.8 (2021) • MatePad 11 (2021)

Huawei MatePad Pro 11 (2022) specs at a glance:

• Body: 249.2x160.4x5.9mm, 449g.
• Display: 11.0" OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 600 nits (typ), 2560x1600px resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, 274ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) (cellular version); Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) (Wi-Fi-only version).
• Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
• OS/Software: HarmonyOS 3.0.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2.
• Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.2.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
• Battery: 8300mAh; 66W wired (cellular version), 40W wired (Wi-Fi-only version).
• Misc: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass; stereo speakers (6 speakers).

Huawei MatePad Pro 11 unboxing

The MatePad Pro 11 arrives in a sturdy white cardboard box with some small prints on it - the device name is front and center, and there's a Huawei logo, the display diagonal and a mention of the AppGallery.

Inside the box, we got a charger rated at 40W for our SD888-equipped cellular-capable version of the tablet even though the device should support up to 66W of charging.

The Wi-Fi-only model maxes out at 40W but ships with a 22.5W adapter - we're not sure why the two differ in charging capability and even then why they aren't bundled with matching adapters.