If you ever need a real-life example of the saying “adversity breeds strength”, look at Huawei. With all the nonsensical sanctions born out of paranoia and trust issues, the so-called sanctions placed on them spurred phenomenal growth. It has resulted in home-grown chips and an OS that I bet Steve Jobs would dream of. Speaking of which, Harmony has extended its reach beyond automobiles, smartwatches, smartphones, tablets, laptop computers, and now the bridge between the latter two: the 2-in-1 tablet computer. Folks, meet the first-ever Harmony-powered 2-in-1 tablet computer, the Huawei MatePad Edge.
Obviously, 2-in-1 is not new. It is an evolution of a computer tablet that normally runs a full-fledged OS, commonly Windows. However, what makes HarmonyOS stand out is the idea of a single OS for all types of devices, also known as a cross-device operating system—a concept which I believe Steve Jobs would have embraced. It is more cost-efficient and easier to manage from a development perspective, and for users, it guarantees a seamless ecosystem and interface familiarity.
Like any 2-in-1, you can use the Huawei MatePad Edge as a tablet with multi-touch capability and M-Pencil Pro support, or as a laptop computer with the optional so-called “floating keyboard” accessory. When the latter is attached, you can easily switch the interface to the HarmonyOS laptop interface for full laptop functionality. The keyboard does not play by the rulebook, either. It is not the usual keyboard cover. It has multiple adjustments, allowing it to be used like a regular laptop with adjustable angles or with the screen floating, if so desired.
Anyone who has used a 2-in-1 will know heat is a major issue. It gets pretty darn hot sometimes, but with the Huawei MatePad Edge [CH], it keeps cool with—wait for it… micro-pump liquid cooling. That’s right. Liquid cooling on a tablet. This has got to be the first, right? Anyhoo, an ultra-thin liquid cooling layer, equipped with an ultra-precise dual-core micro-pump and high thermal conductivity graphene, rapidly dissipates heat from the screen, supporting a maximum overall heat dissipation performance of 28 W15. Even under heavy loads, it remains cool and comfortable. Damn. I need to review this beast!
The new Huawei MatePad Edge is equipped with a 120 Hz 2K+ resolution (3120 × 2080 pixels, 264 ppi) 14.2-inch flexible OLED display featuring 1,000 nits brightness, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 1.07 billion colors. Under the hood, it is powered by the Kirin X90/Kirin X90A chip and has up to 32 GB RAM and up to 2 TB onboard storage—though the type of memory and storage aren’t mentioned.
It is equipped with a not-common-for-tablet dual-camera setup featuring a 50 MP main camera and an 8 MP wide-angle camera that is also macro-capable, accompanied by an LED flash module. At the front, it has a 32 MP front-facing camera. Other spec sheet details include dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.2, support for Bluetooth Low Energy, support for SBC and AAC, support for LDAC and L2HC hi-res audio, support for Huawei’s SparkLink NearLink (formerly known as NearLink SparkLink), USB 3.1 Gen1 with Type-C interface and DP1.2 support, fingerprint sensor, six built-in stereo speakers, a 12,900 mAh battery with Huawei Super Fast Charging support, and a bunch of sensors, including a gravity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a hall effect sensor, and a gyroscope.
The Huawei MatePad Edge 2-in-1 Tablet Computer has been launched in China with a starting price of 5,999 yuan [CH] (about 847 US dollars). Oh, right. It is worth noting that liquid cooling does not come standard. It is only available in the WiFi 32 GB+2 TB “soft light” display, liquid cooling edition, which also includes the said keyboard. That setup costs 12,999 yuan (about 1,836 USD). You can save 2,000 yuan if you don’t want the liquid cooling, but like the keyboard.
Images: Huawei [CH].