Huawei MatePad Paper in for review

Huawei introduced the MatePad Paper at MWC 2022, its most unorthodox tablet yet with an e-ink display. Now that unusual device is finally in our office and we are about to start its review. But before that here are some early impressions.

The MatePad Paper ships with a folio cover, and Huawei provided an M Pencil in the retail package as well. They all snap together neatly, thanks to the magic of magnets.

The e-ink display is rather big - 10.3” in diagonal. It has an unusual off-center positioning, with a thicker bezel on the left side enabling easier holding. The whole device feels quite light in the hand, which is crucial for lengthy reading sessions.

The software is HarmonyOS 2.0, and it is unlike any other tablet or e-reader we’ve seen. The home screen looks rudimentary, but you do have AppGallery, so we will be testing just how the tablet handles Android apps.

Technically, any app can run on the Kirin 820-powered MatePad Paper, but we have to check if the experience is worth it.

We are also curious how useful the M Pencil can be on a screen with such low response time.

Our review is already brewing so stay tuned for the answers to all questions you might have about the device!