Huawei MatePad 12 X (2025): A powerful tablet even without Google services

The Huawei MatePad 12 X (2025) scores highly in our review with its modern, slim design, high-quality aluminium casing and an excellent 12-inch PaperMatte display that is low-reflection, flicker-free and very bright. The new Kirin T92B with 12 GB RAM delivers noticeably better performance than its predecessor.

Support for the new M-Pencil Pro, including three tips, NearLink and low latency, is a real plus for creative users and fans of note-taking. The build quality is really good, but there are some shortcomings when it comes to the camera: despite its high resolution, the 50 MP main camera only delivers average image quality, and videos are limited to Full HD. The battery lasts a long time in practical use and fast charging at 66 watts is included. This is a compelling tablet for productivity and creative work with few weaknesses.

On the software side, HarmonyOS 4.3 guarantees six years of updates, but without Google services ex works. The missing services are quite noticeable, especially the lack of the Pay interface. However, if you only want to use apps from the Play Store, this can be quickly and easily retrofitted. We describe this in detail in this separate article. In a nutshell: all you need to do is install the Aurora Store from the AppGallery, which uses the same app library as the Play Store, then log in with your Google account and you're ready to go. Automatic app updates are now also possible without having to confirm each one individually.