You know what’s super annoying? When you’re trying to use your tablet, and then there’s a big glare on your screen! And if you’re outside, the sun makes it even worse!

So, does this new HUAWEI MatePad 11.5”S PaperMatte Edition fix that problem? Well, let’s find out, after using this tablet not only for the PaperMatte screen but for all the different apps that I have managed to test on this tablet, making this tablet more than a PC.

 

Why PaperMatte?

All right, let’s talk about why this PaperMatte is great. Imagine having two tablets side by side. One has a shiny, glossy screen that not only gets covered in fingerprints but also has super annoying glare, this is very common, especially in a room with lots of lights, like here in our studio, where it makes it super annoying to use daily.

And then there is this tablet, which has the PaperMatte screen where not only it does not attract any fingerprints, but that annoying glare that I’ve mentioned is significantly reduced, hence making it super nice to use.

Then when you compare this to reading a physical book, both might look nice when you’re reading an e-book or a comic. But with this PaperMatte technology, the colors on the tablet look way more true-to-life, like you’re reading on real paper!

So how does all of this work? Well, because it uses a special color mapping algorithm that adjusts the screen’s brightness, color, and temperature to make it feel like you’re looking at a real page. So, whether or not you’re reading an online magazine, an e-book, or even a comic, the display on this looks very vibrant and also immersive.

Plus, there’s also the patented color mapping algorithm that accurately maps thousands of colors from the screen (RGB) to a painting-like color (CMYK). This creates an effect that’s just like how you’re reading on paper. Cool, right?

 

New PaperMatte Display

All right, let’s dive into the PaperMatte 2.0 as this is the all-new HUAWEI PaperMatte Display, and it’s packed with some really cool patented technology. 

First, it has a 27-layer PaperMatte Technology, and that makes the screen easier on the eyes and super clear as well.

Another cool feature is the Nanoscale Anti-glare Etching, which cuts down on up to 99% of ambient light. This is why you won’t have that annoying reflection as mentioned earlier. 

It offers a paper-like writing experience and I’ll talk more about my experience using the new HUAWEI M-Pencil with the Nearlink technology later.

Another awesome feature is the Nanoscale Magnetron Optical Layer and this is because matte displays in general do not usually have great light coming out from the screen, but this specific tech increases the screen light transmittance up to 95%, so it’s overall still bright and clear, even though it has a matte display.

And on top of that, it has all the right certifications like the SGS first-ever Low Visual Fatigue 2.0, the TUV Rheinland Reflection-Free, Low Blue Light, and Flicker-Free certifications. 

This means that it reduces eye fatigue by 34% and even brain fatigue by 17% when you’re writing and really focusing on the screen. This is perfect for someone like me who always suffers from migraines often.

Next, let’s dive into the real-time scenarios of when this HUAWEI MatePad 11.5”S together with the PaperMatte display gives you the overall benefit when it comes to the app, so let’s start with HUAWEI’s GoPaint App

 

HUAWEI GoPaint

To be honest, I don’t usually use drawing apps, but after trying GoPaint for a week, I’m totally hooked! 

So this app is a lot like Procreate, but here’s the best part – it is FREE and it also offers left-handed mode, which is something that Procreate does not offer.

GoPaint also supports different realistic textures for the look and feel of a canvas. It has this cool digital paper simulation that lets you apply multiple paper textures to match your art style. 

You can adjust the textures and shadows to create a realistic painting experience on the tablet. Plus, it also gives you preloaded textures for styles like oil painting and ink, so you don’t have to hunt for textures online.

And for you Pros out there, it even gives you Pro-Level Editing, since it has over 100 customizable brushes where, HUAWEI has teamed up with the China Academy of Art (CAA) to create professional brushes, giving you options like ink wash, oil painting, and watercolor brushes.

The layer capacity has also been increased, as you can work with up to 320 layers, which is about 15% more than other brands and WAY MORE than Procreate’s 208 layers. This allows for more complex and detailed artwork when using this particular app.

Next, there is a lot of cool Gesture Control Technology, with a total of 8+ gestures and shortcuts like undo, redo, and touch-and-hold color capture.

All of this experience is enhanced with the new 3rd generation HUAWEI M-Pencil, which uses the NearLink Technology. With this, it gives you a very ultra-smooth drawing experience, ultra-low latency, and 10K pressure sensing levels.

 

 

WPS Office 2.0

Next up, let’s talk about using WPS Office and using it together with the HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard because this combo is really amazing!

Before that, firstly, just so you know the WPS Office 2.0 is FREE and it is all preinstalled on this tablet, other than the fact that it is free to use, here are 5 top features of the app.

Firstly, the UI is like you are using it on a PC, because you know how app versions are compared to desktop versions, where it is usually different, well, that’s not the case over here, as you will have an easier way to do your work coming from a desktop to this particular tablet.

On top of that, since it gives you that PC-like experience, both the keyboard and mouse interactions are also available on the app as well.

Then there is also the PivotTable supported in the app compared to Microsoft Office Mobile, which does not support that. Then the formula insertion can go up to advanced formula editing, something that I don’t personally use but worth mentioning.

Then finally, there are even Gridlines and ruler visuals, something that is not supported for the mobile version of WPS.

We’ve done an in-depth review of WPS Office as software, so you can check out that video.

Now, with the HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard, also powered by the NearLink technology, you get different experiences in three forms: Laptop Form, Split Form, and Studio Form. This makes it super versatile compared to just using a regular laptop.

So for example, the laptop form would come in handy when you are doing spreadsheets or typical office work.

Then the Split Form gives you a more versatile experience of both touching the screen and with having the keyboard separate from the tablet, so you have an easier experience on both.

Then, finally, the Studio Form is for situations where you just sit back, relax, and enjoy a nice viewing content experience.

The keyboard is also really thin, at 6.2mm, and it weighs only 210 grams, so it’s super easy to carry around. This whole setup is way lighter than carrying a laptop. 

 

HUAWEI Notes

But what if you want to take plain and simple notes then? Well, that’s why I decided to try HUAWEI Notes.

Because not only can you write notes, but you can also record audio clips that sync with your typed or handwritten notes, so you never miss a thing. 

So imagine how handy it is, especially when you are taking notes during a lecture or having a round-table session together with your colleagues. 

Then as mentioned earlier, the quick features like tapping the screen with two fingers to undo and tapping with three fingers to redo come in clutch when you need to take notes super fast.

Plus, the 3:2 aspect ratio screen is really nice for taking notes on the go. So yes, it was an overall great experience using this particular app!

 

Entertainment

How about pure entertainment? Well, I tested both music and video playback, and it sounds amazing, thanks to Histen version 9.0.

The tablet also has a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, so you get a super smooth navigating experience.

The screen also has a P3 Color Gamut and a 2.8K resolution, and something that I couldn’t do or use with previous HUAWEI tablets was to be able to play YouTube videos beyond 1080p, and it is finally great to know now that I can play YouTube videos to the highest 4K resolution.

And with 8800 mAh battery capacity, you can enjoy endless entertainment with it.

 

Other Apps

Now, there were some people saying about how certain apps like Netflix are not directly available in the HUAWEI AppGallery, so here is how you can get it.

First, search for Netflix in the HUAWEI AppGallery, and then you will be prompted to open the Google Play Store. Simply type “Netflix” again and click “Install”. Yep, it’s super simple!

And thanks to the HUAWEI Kirin 9000 Chip, you can not only download all the games you want, but you can play the games on the tablet to your heart’s content! And the gaming performance on the tablet was really good as well, making it an all-around great tablet to use.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, after using this HUAWEI MatePad 11.5”S PaperMatte Edition, I can confidently say this tablet is a total game-changer. 

From reducing glare with the PaperMatte technology, to offering a true-to-life reading experience, it is perfect for both work and play with more than a PC experience all in all.

So whether you’re an artist using GoPaint, a professional relying on WPS Office 2.0, or just someone who just loves to binge-watching shows and playing games, this tablet has got you covered..

But, the best part is that all of these features come together in a sleek, lightweight design that is easy to carry anywhere.

The official Malaysian price of this HUAWEI MatePad 11.5”S has not been announced yet, but based on my online research, with some online conversion, it may cost about RM2,400+/-

If this is true, then it will be mind-blowing because, based on further research, there is apparently a sales promotion of getting back free gifts and rebates worth up to RM2,046!