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Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026)

The Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026) targets students and mobile workers with a rare matte anti-glare display, solid battery life, and strong optional accessories. Reviews praise its screen and value, but criticize middling performance for the price and the lack of Google Play services, which complicates app setup.

Pros

+ Matte anti-glare display
+ 144 Hz IPS panel
+ Strong battery life
+ Good keyboard accessories
+ M Pencil support

Cons

- No Google Play Store
- Setup requires workarounds
- Performance not best value
- Limited Vulkan support
- No hardware ray tracing

The Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026) is an 11.5-inch tablet built around a standout matte “Soft Light/PaperMatte” display aimed at reducing glare for outdoor use. It pairs a 2800 × 1840 IPS panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate, 12 GB of RAM, and 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage in a slim, fanless 515 g body. Reviews highlight strong portability, quad speakers, and optional keyboard and M Pencil support that make it appealing for note-taking, sketching, and light productivity. Battery capacity is 8700 mAh with 40 W fast charging and 5 W reverse wired charging. Performance is described as adequate for light tasks but not class-leading for the money. The biggest drawback remains Huawei’s software situation: HarmonyOS lacks native Google Play access, making mainstream app installation and setup more cumbersome for many users.

Specifications

Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026) (MatePad 11 Series)
Processor
HiSilicon Kirin T92C 9c/9t, 2 x 2.3 GHz, 4 x 2.0 GHz, 3 x 1.6 GHz, HiSilicon Main, Mid
Graphics adapter
Memory
12 GB 
Display
11.50 inch 14:9, 2800 x 1840 pixel 291 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes, 144 Hz
Storage
256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash, 256 GB 
, 201 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: audio via USB-C, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: gravity, gyroscope, hall
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 6.1 x 261 x 177.3 ( = 0.24 x 10.28 x 6.98 in)
Battery
8700 mAh Lithium-Ion, 40 Watt charging, 5 Watt wired reverse charging
Charging
fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Huawei HarmonyOS
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix f/​1.8, AF, LED flash
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix f/​2.0
Additional features
Speakers: quad speakers, USB cable, 24 Months Warranty, IP42 certified, fanless
Weight
515 g ( = 18.17 oz / 1.14 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
469 Euro

 

Price comparison

Average Score: 82.36% - good
Average of 10 scores (from 20 reviews)
price: - %, performance: 71%, features: 45%, display: 88% mobility: 89%, workmanship: 85%, ergonomy: 71%, emissions: 97%

Reviews for the Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026)

81.6% Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026) Tablet Review: A screen that we've long missed from Samsung and Apple | Notebookcheck
Those who often use their tablet outdoors will be delighted with the Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026) thanks to its matte display coating, which is rare on tablets. A few other aspects have also been improved compared to the predecessor, but there are still some limitations unfortunately.
80% Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026) review: A matte-finish marvel
Source: Expert Reviews English
For the money, if the software wasn’t an issue, I’d say you should put the MatePad 11.5 S (2026) on your short list. It’s a wonderful piece of hardware. The screen is bright and vivid, the stylus works well, and you can get the whole lot, with the keyboard case, for under £500. That makes the Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026) a veritable bargain – although it isn’t quite as cheap as the last-generation Honor Magic Pad 2. The trouble is, as with all Huawei mobile hardware, that finding and installing apps isn’t as straightforward as it would be with Google Play installed, and that makes this tablet tough to recommend wholeheartedly. If you’re willing to tinker with sideloading and third-party app stores, then have at it. For most folk, though, you’d probably be better off with a tablet that officially supports Google Play.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/22/2026
Rating: Total score: 80%
70% Huawei MatePad 11.5S (2026) Review
Source: Trusted Reviews English
The Huawei MatePad 11.5S (2026) gets one half of the tablet formula spot-on, with a crisp design and a phenomenal matte display available at a keen price. Huawei’s optional accessories are really good too, turning this into a potentially powerful artistic and productivity tool. Performance isn’t the best for the money, but it’s good enough for the light tasks that you might expect from such a cheap tablet. However, the glaring fault with every Huawei device renders a recommendation impossible once again. Without access to the Google Play Store, it’s simply too much like hard work getting the Huawei MatePad 11.5S (2026) up and running in a manner that most people would find acceptable. If you’re strictly after a tool for sketching and note-taking, perhaps with a little light web browsing and email checking on the side, it’s a compelling (and keenly priced) option. For the majority who demand much more of their tablets, however, it’s best left alone.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/19/2026
Rating: Total score: 70%
100% The Huawei MatePad 11.5 S is a small and beautiful tablet with possibly the best stylus we've ever tested
Source: It Pro English
How good is the MatePad 11.5 S? I could sketch and draw with the GoPaint app and the M-Pencil all day long; for me, the price is worth that alone. But for work purposes, I depend on Google and Android apps – not having Google Docs, regardless of APKs, is problematic. But it does get better every year. However, the PaperMatte display is gorgeous, the processor (whatever it really is) is fast enough for what you'll use it for, and the keyboard is actually quite good. All in all, at this price tag, the MatePad 11.5 S is a thoroughly good business tablet and or illustration tool.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/18/2026
Rating: Total score: 100%
Huawei MatePad 11.5S (2026) Review | Full Google & Stunning Soft Light Display
Source: Tech Spurt English
Reviewing the Huawei MatePad 11.5S, 2026 edition, with its fresh anti-glare Soft Light screen, making it one of the best tablets for outdoor use. Whether you're a student, editor or one of them creative types, the Huawei MatePad 11.5S boasts strong battery life and impressive portability. For this review I installed MicroG and the Aurora Store, which allows you to get Google apps up and running. The highlight of this 11-inch tablet is certainly that display, which cuts down reflections and glare a significant amount. This means you can use the Huawei MatePad 11.5 S 2026 outside quite comfortably, just like the PaperMatte tabs. You've also got M Pencil support and an optional keyboard cover too, so you can use it for sketching, editing docs, smashing out an essay, the works. Ideal for students, families and workers on the move.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/15/2026
Huawei MatePad 11.5 (2026) Specifications, Pros and Cons
Source: OI Spice Tech News English
The Huawei MatePad 11.5 (2026) was announced on December 22, 2025, and released a few days later on December 25. It is a Wi-Fi–only tablet aimed at students and everyday users. The tablet features a slim 6.1 mm body and weighs 515 g, making it comfortable to hold for long periods. Huawei uses a glass front with an aluminum frame and back, giving it a premium feel. Stylus support with magnetic attachment adds productivity value. Color options include Violet, Gray, Silver, and Blue, offering a good range of choices.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/02/2026

Foreign Reviews

Huawei Matepad 11.5 S 2026 im Test
Source: Hartware German DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/24/2026
60% Huawei MatePad 11.5 S 2026 Test: Samsung-Killer mit RIESEN Problem
Source: Tablet Blog German DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/20/2026
Rating: Total score: 60%
80% Huawei MatePad 11.5 S 2026, análisis: el secreto de su éxito está a la vista y se llama PaperMatte
Source: Xataka Spanish ES→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/03/2026
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 75% display: 85% mobility: 90% workmanship: 85%
100% Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (2026)
Source: Les Numeriques French FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/21/2026
Rating: Total score: 100% performance: 80% display: 100% mobility: 100% ergonomy: 60%
80% Huawei MatePad 11.5 S – matowy tablet do pracy i rozrywki (test)
Source: Telepolis Turkish PL→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/18/2026
Rating: Total score: 80%
MatePad 11,5 S. Tablet, który rzuca wyzwanie najlepszym
Source: Antyweb Turkish PL→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/15/2026
87% Test HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026. Czy ekran PaperMatte i NearLink to duet idealny do pracy?
Source: GSM Maniak Turkish PL→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/03/2026
Rating: Total score: 87% performance: 85% display: 88% mobility: 80%
HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 – recenzja. Udana, choć zachowawcza ewolucja
Source: Instalki Turkish PL→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/03/2026
HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026 już jest. Matowy ekran, rysik i ważne nowości, które Cie zachwycą – pierwsze wrażenia
Source: Dailyweb PL Turkish PL→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/03/2026
85% Recenzja Huawei MatePad 11.5 S 2026. Wszechstronny tablet z wyjątkowym ekranem
Source: Tabletowo Turkish PL→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/03/2026
Rating: Total score: 85%
Обзор планшета HUAWEI MatePad 11,5 S (2026): базовый вариант замены ноутбука
Source: 3DNews.ru RU→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/22/2026
Обзор Huawei MatePad 11,5 S 2026: доступная замена ноутбуку с антибликовым дисплеем
Source: Hi-Tech Mail RU→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/22/2026
Обзор планшета Huawei MatePad 11,5 S (2026)
Source: Ixbt RU→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/22/2026
Обзор планшета HUAWEI MatePad 11,5 S PaperMatte 2026: заряжен на креатив
Source: Zoom RU→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/21/2026
HUAWEI MatePad 11.5S – Redefinirea conceptului „paperless” între creativitate și performanță reală
Source: Go4it.ro →EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/15/2026

Comment

Qualcomm Maleoon 920A: Graphics chip for smartphones and tablets, integrated in the HiSilicon Kirin T92C. Unfortunately, Huawei has not provided any detailed information. What is certain is that it does not support hardware-based ray tracing and only the older Vulkan 1.0 standard.

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.


Kirin T92C: ARM-based SoC with 9 cores (2x HiSilicon Main up to 2.30 GHz, 4x HiSilicon Mid up to 2 GHz, 3x HiSilicon up to 1.6 GHz).» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.


 

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DeepL / Ninh Duy (Update: 2026-03- 1)