The new and improved 2022 MatePad 10.4 is a mid-range tablet from Huawei and runs on HarmonyOS 2. In terms of hardware, it uses a mid-range SoC Kirin 710A chipset with 4GB RAM with 128GB of internal storage, Mali G51 GPU, a 10.4-inch IPS display with 2000 x 1200 resolution and a 7,250 mAh battery.

From an OS perspective, the 10.4-inch HUAWEI MatePad is a part of the “Super Device” experience, allowing users to have an interconnected experience that allows them to multitask across multiple devices. Under the Tablet-PC Multi-screen collaboration, three modes can be used: Mirror, Extend and Collaborate

This is a tablet built to compete with mid-range tablets from Apple, Microsoft and Samsung and with the optional Huawei’s M-Pencil stylus and Smart Magnetic Keyboard, it can also be used as an effective laptop alternative.

Specifications

Chipset:	HUAWEI Kirin 710A
CPU:	4 x [email protected] GHz 4 x [email protected] GHz
GPU:	Mali G51
RAM:	3 GB / 4 GB RAM
Display:	10.4 inches IPS 2000 x 1200 16.7 million colours 470 nits
Storage:	64/128 GB (expandable via nano memory card up to 512GB)
Camera:	Main Camera 13 MP(f/1.8 aperture, AF) 1080p@30fps video LED flash, HDR, panorama Front Camera 8 megapixel, f/2.0 aperture, fixed focal length 1080p@30fps video
Speakers	Stereo speakers (4 speakers)
OS:	HarmonyOS 2
Connectivity:	LTE IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Bluetooth 5.1 USB Type-C 2.0
Battery:	Li-Po 7250 mAh (non-removable) 10W
Dimensions:	245.2 x 154.96 x 7.35 mm
Weight:	450 g

Our test device is the Wi-Fi version with 4GB RAM and 128GB memory, storage can be expanded further using a Huawei Nano memory card. Similar to the original version, the 2022 MatePad 10.4 has no support for Google apps.

Packaging

The packaging comes in a white, Huawei branded box. The box includes the below:

Tablet
Charger
USB Type-C Cable
Quick Start Guide
Eject Tool
Warranty Card

There is no USB to 3.5mm dongle included.

Design & Build

The 2022 MatePad 10.4 has a premium design and thin bezels. The frame is made of magnesium alloy it is very well made and there are no wobbles or rattles in the construction. The overall matte grey finish looks and feels great.

The only ports are a USB Type-C port and a SIM + SD Card slot. On the front is an 8-megapixel camera for selfies and face unlock within the top bezel along with the IR sensor. At the back is a 13-megapixel main camera with autofocus and LED Flash.

With a weight of 450 grams and thickness of 7.35 mm, the 2022 MatePad 10.4 is thin and light to use. The finishing of the body and built-in buttons are great. However, the tablet does not have any IP certifications.

While the device supports 2D face scan for biometric identification in addition to the conventional unlocking methods (PIN, pattern, password), there is no fingerprint sensor.

Display

The 2022 MatePad 10.4 sports a 10.4-inch IPS screen in 16:9 format with a resolution of 2,000 x 1,200 pixels. The display reaches a maximum brightness of 470 nits and offers a 84% screen-to-body ratio. HUAWEI MatePad has obtained TÜV Rheinland dual certification. It reduces harmful blue light and annoying flickers, and helps you to avoid eye strain and discomfort from long-time viewing.

With a maximum brightness of 470 nits and the 1500:1 contrast ratio makes the screen looks sharp and vibrant. The display offers good viewing angles is easy to read outdoors and in bright environments. There is no information about Gorilla Glass, but the display glass seems scratch proof during our use.

The display has standard features such as automatic brightness control, a blue light or eye comfort mode, e-book mode and a dark mode integrated with the OS. If you need to make more precise inputs on the display, you will need the Huawei M-Pencil, the same pen that works with the MatePad Pro. The Huawei M-Pencil is also useful for drawing sketches, staking notes directly or working with documents. The pen is charged wirelessly by attaching to the tablet magnetically, and recognizes over 4000 different pressure levels.

Camera

The 8-megapixel selfie camera has a fixed focus and an f/2.0 aperture and performs well for face unlocking and HD video conferencing as well as snapping decent selfies when the lighting is right.

At the back is a 13-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/1.8 with support for phase focusing and an LED flash. HDR is also supported, although not automatic. The sharpness and details of the shots are good in lit conditions. However, in the dark, low-light shots are poor, grainy and not very sharp. The secondary camera is an 8 MP wide-angle.

In terms of video recording, the camera can capture video at 1080p at 30 FPS.

Optional Accessories

HUAWEI M-Pencil (2nd Generation)

HUAWEI M-Pencil features a transparent tip design, platinum-coated nib, and rounded hexagonal shape, making it comfortable to hold. It is equipped with 4096 Levels of Pressure Sensitivity and supports tilt writing, and registers movement with a nearly 9ms latency. Huawei’s M-Pencil is accurate when it comes to pointing, handwriting, and drawing, and is comfortable to use.

When not in use, it can be attached magnetically to the side of the slate and recharge wirelessly. In terms of battery life, 30 seconds of charge gives it 10 minutes of usage time; 60 minutes of charging gives it about 10 hours of usage time.

Smart Magnetic Keyboard

The smart magnetic keyboard supports wireless charging and connects to the tablet via Bluetooth. It features a 1.3-mm travel distance and provides a comfortable typing experience for web browsing and emails, but it does not work well when speed typing. It also supports multiple shortcut keys.

It also doubles as a dock for the 2022 MatePad 10.4 and allows for two different levels for the table tilt. The magnetic element works well and snaps firmly to the tablet.

OS & Features

The 2022 MatePad 10.4 comes preloaded with the Huawei Harmony OS 2.0. One of highlights of the new OS is the “Super Device” functionality, which allows users to have an interconnected experience that allows them to multitask across multiple devices such as phones, tablets and PC’s. Using Tablet-PC multi-screen collaboration, there are three possible modes available: Mirror, Extend and Collaborate.

The Harmony OS UI looks similar iOS. Apps can be sorted on multiple homescreens and there is a launcher dock along with most used apps next to it. There is support for widgets, side dock, draggable windows, system-wide dark mode. Sliding left opens the News Feed along which also displays app suggested at the top and an area more widgets.

Navigation can be a bit confusing at first but becomes a breeze once you get used to it. Swiping left from the left edge is used to go back to the previous screen. Swiping up and holding from the bottom edge of the screen shows a list of all open apps. Swiping and holding either edges of the screen opens up the multi-window app shortcuts which displays up to 4 apps on-screen at once. You can open as many apps as you like but only two are displayed on screen at a time.

There are two dropdown interfaces – a swipe on the upper left of the homescreen shows notifications and from the upper right shows the settings control panel, the brightness slider and a menu to show other connected super devices.

Even though the 2022 MatePad 10.4 doesn’t support Google Play Services, you can install Android apps either via the Huawei AppGallery store or via third party app stores such as APKPure. Some of the new apps with the HarmonyOS include Game Center, Petal Maps, Huawei Books, Huawei Video, Huawei Music and redesigned productivity tools such as email, calendar, notepad, file manager etc.

With the Huawei smart magnetic keyboard dock, you can also pair a Bluetooth mouse with the MatePad 10.4 which makes it really efficient as an alternative to a work laptop.

Performance

The 2022 Huawei MatePad 10.4 comes with a mid-range SoC Kirin 710A chipset with 4GB RAM with 128GB of internal storage, Mali G51 GPU, a 10.4-inch IPS display with 2000 x 1200 resolution and a 7,250 mAh battery.

In terms of performance, the SoC Kirin 710A chipset with 4GB RAM with 128GB of internal storage, Mali G51 GPU and is powerful enough for most everyday tasks and gaming.

The CPU consists of 4 x [email protected] GHz and 4 x [email protected] GHz. The SoC is supported by an integrated 6-core Mali-G51 GPU for graphic-intensive tasks. Backed by 4GB RAM, most apps and games are smooth. Switching between apps is seamless, split-screen multi-tasking works very well.

Audio

Just like the newest iPad and Samsung tablets, there isn’t a headphone jack on the MatePad. However, there is a USB to 3.5mm dongle included.

The MatePad 10.4 comes with a quad speaker system tuned by Harman Kardon, split on either side of the tablet. The sound quality is good and the audio is loud and clear.

Battery

The 2022 MatePad 10.4 comes with a large 7,250 mAh battery and easily lasts two to three days depending on usage. The device can charge with the included 10W Huawei adapter and takes about 3 hours to fully recharge from 0 to 100%.

Conclusion

The 2022 MatePad 10.4 offers good hardware and software for multitasking, entertainment and productivity. The new HarmonyOS is more refined, does everything you need and the Super Device functionalities are amazing.

This is a great mid-range tablet with a gorgeous display, good battery life, performance to match and premium build quality. Add in the optional Smart Magnetic Keyboard, a Bluetooth mouse and this works perfectly as a portable laptop alternative.

The deal-breaker here could be the lack of Google Play Services, but there are plenty of built-in features and applications that make up for this.