Huawei MatePad Pro 11 (2022) review

An 8MP ultrawide joins the 13MP primary camera

The MatePad Pro 11 has more or less the same camera setup as the bigger 12.6-inch version, minus the ToF unit - you get a 13MP primary module and an 8MP ultrawide. On the front, a 16MP selfie camera will take over video call duty.

The main camera has a 26mm equivalent lens with an f/1.8 aperture, while the ultrawide reports a 16mm focal length an f/2.2 aperture. The front-facing camera, in turn, reports a 22mm focal length and an f/2.2 aperture. Out of the three, only the primary camera on the back has autofocus.

The camera app is the standard Huawei/Honor implementation, with adjustments made for the form factor and the relatively limited capabilities. You're all but guaranteed to be using both hands for taking photos, and the UI works well in either orientation. Oddly enough, the zoom selector has three presets - 1x, 'W' for the ultrawide, and a hard-to-explain '10x' setting.

The MatePad Pro 11's main camera captures solid images, as tablet photos go. Detail is very good with the exception of particularly complex grassy areas which can end up a bit murky. Noise, meanwhile, is thoroughly removed. Dynamic range is respectable, but colors tend to have a greenish cast in most instances. Also, a bit unusually in modern mobile cameras, there's visible vignetting and some corner softness.

Main camera samples

The ultrawide takes that green shift further still - so not only is it not on point with its colors in isolation, but it's also different from the main camera's output. That said, dynamic range and detail are pretty good for such modest hardware.

Ultrawide camera samples

The MatePad Pro 11 also does a decent job for video recording with its main camera. The 4K30 footage is reasonably detailed - not the sharpest, but still an improvement over 1080p. Colors are off in video as well, but not dealbreakingly so. The high contrast does deny you some detail in the extremes, but that too isn't a huge issue.

The ultrawide continues to stray away from the main camera's color rendition in video as well, but that doesn't make it any more accurate. Dynamic range is fairly limited here, while detail is just about alright.

The selfie camera captures okay stills. Detail is good, if not quite up to the 16MP label, colors are accurate and dynamic range is decent.

Selfie samples: Photo • Video framegrab

Verdict

The MatePad Pro 11's one glaring flaw is evident before you even get to experience the tablet itself - it's the lack of Google backing. So if you're at all reliant on the Google app suite, or apps that require Google Play Services to run, there's not much point in considering this particular tablet.

However, we'd argue the limitations are much easier to live with on a tablet than on your smartphone. If this doesn't bother you, the MatePad Pro 11 is a nicely capable and very appealing offering. It's got one of the best displays on a tablet and possibly the fastest charging we've encountered on one, fast enough to make the so-so battery life barely a mention in the cons section.

HarmonyOS may not be Google's Android, but you'll find a wide-ranging selection of the most used apps in Huawei's AppGallery. The proprietary features are useful and well thought out, and the optional stylus and keyboard make for a very versatile productivity/creativity package. The nice speakers are also a plus, as is the better-than-average camera system. The compact dimensions and low weight don't hurt either, though if you're after an 11-inch tablet, perhaps you're willing to accept some concessions in terms of bulk and heft.

All in all, the MatePad Pro 11 is worth a recommendation... Provided you can find one, which isn't straightforward in Europe, much less in the US.

Pros

• Lightest 11-incher, joint top stop for thinnest too; premium build and looks.
• Thoroughly great OLED display.
• Great performance for an Android tablet.
• Some of the fastest battery charging on a tablet.
• Loud and high-quality speaker system.
• HarmonyOS runs most apps and AppGallery has most apps. Great multi-tasking capabilities.
• M-Pencil works great, the innovative keyboard folio is nice too.
• Capable camera system as far as tablets go.

Cons

• No Google app suite support.
• Limited availability.
• Relatively short battery life.