In Calendar Q1-24, Huawei's tablets slightly pulled ahead of Apple's iPad as confirmed by a report by Canalys. It was the first clean win for Huawei over the iPad, though it only covered "Mainland China" that didn't included Hong Kong where Apple's iPad is usually the hands down winner.  

While we've yet to see any reports on Q2-24 tablet shipments in China thus far, we do know that a new global tablet shipment report put Apple clearly in the drivers seat. Apple's CEO stated during the company's financial Conference Call that iPad "revenue was $7.2 billion, 24% higher year-over-year," due to their incredible launch of the all-new 11 and 13 inch iPad Air. That should provide Apple with a strong showing in "Mainland China," though that's yet to be confirmed.

To keep things fresh, Huawei introduced a new 12.2" tablet yesterday with excellent specifications that could put pressure on iPads in China. The new MatePad Pro 12.2 is their latest flagship tablet designed specifically for professional creators. The tablet features include a stunning dual-layer OLED display with higher specs than the iPad Pro and comes with the latest version of their digital painting app.

The 12.2" display’s impressive specifications include:

• 2800 x 1840 pixel resolution.
• 92% screen-to-body ratio.
• 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
• Peak brightness of 2000 nits.
• P3 wide color gamut.

The MatePad Pro 12.2 emphasizes portability, weighing just 508 grams—making it the lightest 12-inch tablet on the market, according to Huawei. This lightweight design is achieved thanks to a 0.5mm ultra-thin aviation-grade glass fiber back, finished in a distinctive “gold silk.”

The highlight of the MatePad Pro 12.2 is undoubtedly its display. Huawei claims it to be their most advanced yet, featuring a double-layer OLED panel with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits and a 2.8K resolution. Huawei claims its dual-layer or Tandem display triple the lifespan of a OLED panel and offers a 33% improvement in power efficiency.

The screen also includes “flash point elimination technology” to reduce flickering and enhance visibility in bright conditions. Other display features include a 144Hz refresh rate, a P3 wide color gamut, and a 3:2 aspect ratio.

The camera setup includes an 8MP front-facing camera and a rear dual-lens system with a 13MP main sensor. For audio, the tablet is equipped with eight speakers designed for both high and low frequencies.

The MatePad Pro 12.2 also supports the new Huawei Star Leap Keyboard, which features a built-in charging slot for the M-Pencil stylus. This eliminates the need for separate charging and provides convenient storage. The magnetic smart axis design allows for easy one-handed opening and closing, mimicking a laptop experience.

The prices start at US$600 for the base 12GB+256GB and US$1,160 for the top-tier 16GB+1TB Collector's Edition with the Pen Keyboard Set.

Sources: Gizmochina and Gizchina.