The HUAWEI MatePad Air officially launches in the Philippines today, September 11, bringing a 12-inch 2.8K OLED display with HUAWEI's glare-killing PaperMatte finish in a body just 5.3mm thin and 509g light. Pre-orders come with a freebie bundle worth up to ₱33,886, per GizGuide — though HUAWEI has yet to post the tablet's official Philippine price.
MatePad Air specs at a glance
| Spec | HUAWEI MatePad Air |
|---|
| Display | 12-inch OLED, 2800 x 1840 (2.8K), 144Hz, 1,200 nits peak, PaperMatte anti-glare |
| Chip | Kirin T93C |
| Memory | 8GB or 12GB RAM, 256GB storage |
| Battery | 10,100mAh, 66W SuperCharge Turbo |
| Cameras | 50MP rear, 12MP front |
| Audio | 6-speaker crossover design |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Build | 5.3mm thin, 509g, metal unibody |
| Software | HarmonyOS 4.3 |
One number worth flagging: GizGuide's pre-launch report cites up to 18 hours of HDR video playback, while HUAWEI's own Philippine page claims 10 hours of online HDR streaming and 16 hours of local video playback — the official figures are the safer basis for expectations.
The PaperMatte display is the signature feature: a texture-etched OLED meant to cut glare and mimic writing on paper, aimed at students and professionals who read and annotate for hours. On the software side, REVU notes the launch build leans on AI-assisted tools — WPS Office, HUAWEI Notes, and the GoPaint drawing app — which pair with the stylus and keyboard in the pre-order bundle. HUAWEI's Philippine product page also lists a vapor-chamber cooling system and a 4.6mm bezel, and confirms the local release comes in one color: Airy Blue, with the White and Sakura Pink finishes sold elsewhere not offered here.
Pre-order promos and freebies
HUAWEI has been running early promos since September 7, ManilaShaker reported, with discount vouchers worth up to ₱5,000 on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok. On the HUAWEI Online Store, a ₱500 reservation deposit converts into a ₱7,000 discount at checkout, and 0% installment plans run up to 24 months on select cards.
The pre-order freebie bundle, valued at up to ₱33,886, is itemized in REVU's launch guide:
- Smart Magnetic Keyboard (₱9,999)
- M-Pencil Pro stylus (₱7,999)
- One-year WPS AI membership (₱7,000)
- PC-level WPS Office suite (₱4,999)
- Exclusive carrying bag (₱1,990)
- Bluetooth mouse (₱1,899)
That bundle effectively turns the tablet into a full laptop-replacement kit — keyboard, stylus, mouse, and an office suite — without add-on purchases.
Price: still the missing piece
As of this writing, HUAWEI has not published the MatePad Air's official Philippine SRP on its local store page — pricing goes live with today's launch across Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, and the HUAWEI Online Store. Until the official number posts, treat any price you see on marketplace listings with caution; gray-market listings for the global model have ranged widely.
Should you consider it?
On paper, the MatePad Air undercuts the usual premium-tablet trade-offs: OLED quality and a 144Hz refresh rate, a battery larger than most laptops', and an anti-glare finish none of its mainstream rivals offer at this size. The honest caveat is software: it runs HarmonyOS 4.3 rather than Android, so buyers should check that the apps they rely on daily are available for HUAWEI's platform before committing. For students and document-heavy workers, the WPS Office and AI-membership freebies do real work; for buyers deep in Google's app ecosystem, the fit needs more thought. The deciding factor — the price — arrives today.
