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Huawei's iPad Pro Rival Looks Amazing, but You Might Not Be Able to Get It

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Why This Matters

Huawei's MatePad Pro Max stands out as the world's thinnest tablet, offering cutting-edge design and high-end features that could challenge established brands like Apple and Samsung. However, US consumers face restrictions that limit its availability, highlighting ongoing geopolitical impacts on tech innovation and market access. This device exemplifies how global politics can influence consumer choice and industry competition.

Key Takeaways

We have a thinner winner in the world of tablets. Huawei's new MatePad Pro Max checks in at 4.7mm thick, making it the world's thinnest tablet. The bad news for US shoppers? You might not be able to buy it.

The Chinese company launched the device on Thursday at its Now Is Your Spark product launch event in Bangkok, but it did not announce where it would be available. Fine print on the product web page reads, "Available only in certain countries or regions."

A representative for Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The US government severely limits Huawei's ability to sell its products in the US due to cybersecurity concerns. Still, some products are available through third-party sellers on marketplaces like Amazon.

Read more: Best Tablets in 2026: Top Picks from Apple, Samsung and Amazon

US market restrictions don't seem to have hurt Huawei, however. The company reported a 28% increase in shipments from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026, outpacing Lenovo (20%) and Apple (8%). That's despite tablets having been "relegated in importance for vendors across margins, volume, and overall value," according to Himani Mukka, Omdia research manager.

If US consumers can somehow get their hands on the MatePad Pro Max, they'll be holding a tablet that is thinner than the Honor MagicPad 4 (4.8mm), the 13-inch iPad Pro (5.1mm), and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (5.1mm). The MatePad Pro Max weighs 499 grams, slightly more than the Honor MagicPad 4 (450g), but less than the iPad Pro (579g) and Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (692g).

As for the screen, Huawei's new tablet has a 13.2-inch OLED display with 60% bending resistance. The screen has a resolution of 3,000 by 2,000 pixels and a refresh rate of 44Hz. The screen-to-body ratio is 94%. The bezel is 3.55mm wide, nearly half of the 7mm for the iPad Pro.

The MatePad Pro Max also has a PaperMatte edition, which Huawei says "uses high-precision nano-level etching to minimize glare and sparkle." That version weighs 509g.

The MatePad Pro Max comes in blue and space gray.

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