At its launch event in Shenzhen on Thursday, Huawei unveiled its first flagship mini tablet, the Huawei MatePad Mini. Designed around the concept of being “super powerful, super mini,” the 8.8-inch device combines an ultra-thin and lightweight form factor with integration into the HarmonyOS ecosystem, positioning it as a strong contender in the small-size tablet market.
Why it matters: Huawei’s MatePad Mini signals its push into a segment long dominated by Apple’s iPad mini and challenged by Xiaomi’s budget-friendly tablets. Notably, the MatePad Mini supports SIM cards and can make phone calls, which is a unique edge in connectivity.
Details: Huawei MatePad Mini offers four colors: black, white, green, and red. Its pricing ranges from RMB 3,299 ($460) for the standard 12GB+256GB version to RMB 6,499 ($910) for the 16GB+1TB edition.
- The MatePad Mini adopts an ultra-slim, lightweight design at just 5.1 mm thick and 255 g, making it thinner and lighter than Apple’s iPad mini, which measures 6.3 mm in thickness and weighs around 293 g (Wi-Fi version) to 297 g (cellular version). It features an 8.8-inch flexible OLED display with 2.5K resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, and 1,800 nits peak brightness. The screen includes TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification for improved eye comfort.
- As the industry’s first tablet to support SIM card calls, the MatePad Mini also features Wi-Fi 7 and two-way Beidou satellite messaging. This phone-call feature blurs the line between tablets and smartphones. Through the satellite messaging function, it can send emergency messages when there is no terrestrial network available.
- Running on HarmonyOS 5.1, the device works with the HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro stylus to deliver ultra-low latency writing at 2ms. The 6,400mAh large battery, combined with 66 W super fast charging, can reach 60% charge in 30 minutes. Additionally, its 32 MP front-facing camera supports RAW-quality portrait imaging, meeting the needs of video conferencing and live streaming.
Context: At the launch event, Huawei also unveiled its new triple-fold smartphone, the Mate XTs, with a starting price of RMB 17,999 ($2,500). The device is powered by the Kirin 9020 chip and runs HarmonyOS 5.0. It features a Z-shaped triple-fold design, offering a 10.2-inch display when unfolded and supporting PC-level multi-window interactions. The phone comes with a 5,600 mAh battery and will go on sale on September 12.
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