Huawei introduces the MatePad Mini, featuring calling capabilities and a slimmer design compared to Apple's iPad mini.

      Credit: Huawei

      During its launch event in Shenzhen on Thursday, Huawei introduced its inaugural flagship mini tablet, the Huawei MatePad Mini. Built on the idea of being “super powerful, super mini,” this 8.8-inch device merges an ultra-slim and lightweight design with cohesive integration into the HarmonyOS ecosystem, positioning itself as a formidable player in the small tablet market.

      Significance: The MatePad Mini marks Huawei's entry into a market segment largely dominated by Apple's iPad mini and increasingly competitive with Xiaomi's budget tablets. Notably, it supports SIM cards and can make phone calls, providing a distinctive advantage in terms of connectivity.

      Details: The Huawei MatePad Mini is available in four colors: black, white, green, and red. Its pricing ranges from RMB 3,299 ($460) for the standard 12GB+256GB model to RMB 6,499 ($910) for the 16GB+1TB version.

      With a sleek and lightweight profile of just 5.1 mm in thickness and weighing 255 g, the MatePad Mini is both thinner and lighter than Apple’s iPad mini, which has a thickness of 6.3 mm and weighs approximately 293 g (Wi-Fi version) to 297 g (cellular version). It showcases an 8.8-inch flexible OLED display boasting a 2.5K resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 1,800 nits. The screen is certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue light emission, enhancing eye comfort.

      Recognized as the first tablet in the industry to facilitate SIM card calls, the MatePad Mini also incorporates Wi-Fi 7 and enables two-way Beidou satellite messaging. This calling capability blurs the lines between tablets and smartphones. Additionally, it can send emergency messages via satellite in the absence of terrestrial network coverage.

      Powered by HarmonyOS 5.1, the device is compatible with the HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro stylus, providing ultra-low latency writing performance at 2ms. Its 6,400mAh battery, coupled with 66 W super fast charging, can achieve a 60% charge in just 30 minutes. Furthermore, the 32 MP front-facing camera supports RAW-quality portrait imaging, catering to video conferencing and live streaming needs.

      Background: At the same launch event, Huawei revealed its new triple-fold smartphone, the Mate XTs, which starts at RMB 17,999 ($2,500). This device runs on the Kirin 9020 chip with HarmonyOS 5.0, features a Z-shaped triple-fold design, unfolds to reveal a 10.2-inch display, and supports PC-level multi-window interactions. It also includes a 5,600 mAh battery and is set to go on sale on September 12.

      Jessie Wu is a tech journalist located in Shanghai. She reports on consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. You can connect with her via e-mail: [email protected].