Huawei Product Expert Kelsen Tan introduces the MatePad Pro 13.2 inch, which is the Chinese brand's flagship productivity tablet in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 18, 2025. Handout 

KUALA LUMPUR – Huawei unveiled a big new flagship tablet during its global launch for several new devices in Malaysia’s capital on Tuesday.

Introduced alongside the much-anticipated ‘trifold’ phone, Huawei’s new MatePad Pro 13.2 inch, as the name suggests, is bigger than most tablets and is aimed squarely at productivity. But besides being big (it’s almost the size of a laptop screen) the new MatePad also has a new feature that Huawei said sets it apart from other tablets–its PaperMatte screen.

According to Huawei, the new MatePad Pro’s flexible OLED display is better at reducing glare than even the ‘nano-textured glass’ or another tablet brand. The company demoed the screen’s glare-reducing feature during the event by placing another tablet side by side with the new MatePad Pro.

Tech journalists try out the Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 inch in Kuala Lumpur. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

Huawei also touted its new tablet’s color accuracy, ultra-high brightness up to 1,000 nits, and its 2.8K (2880 × 1920) resolution.

According to Huawei Product Expert Kelsen Tan, the MatePad Pro 13.2 inch also ‘elevates productivity to new heights rivaling that of a PC.”

Tan said its optional magnetic keyboard connects wirelessly to the tablet, allowing it to be used even when detached. He said this makes it “more flexible and convenient” as it can be used in different configurations such as a traditional laptop with the tablet resting in landscape mode, or in portrait mode, or with the tablet fully detached from the keyboard.  

The Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 inch in Kuala Lumpur. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

“Along with this keyboard we offer PC-level WPS (office suite) allowing you to work efficiently anytime and anywhere using our tablet,” Tan said.

WPS is an office productivity suite that includes a text editor, a slideshow app, a spreadsheet program, and other apps that are designed to be compatible with the dominant Microsoft 365 (formerly Microsoft Office) suite of apps.

Huawei said the tablet can easily handle documents with hundreds of pages, as well as spreadsheets with tens of thousands of rows, just like on a PC.

“In addition, the new HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch 2025 allows users to maximize their productivity and creativity with built-in professional applications such as HUAWEI Notes and GoPaint App,” he added.

Tech journalists try out the Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 inch in Kuala Lumpur. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

Tech journalists were able to try the GoPaint illustration and painting app using Huawei’s included M-Pen and it was functionally similar to the popular Procreate app on the iPad. Pen input was smooth and very responsive, with hardly any lag.

Despite its numerous features, the tablet only weighs 580 grams and is just 5.5 millimeters thick, according to Huawei.

The MatePad Pro 13.2 inch is powered by the Kirin T92 processor, with 12GB of memory and 512GB of storage, and Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4.3 operating system.

Huawei officials said the new tablet will be made available in the Philippines but have yet to set a date for its launch, as well as how much its price will be.