Watch: HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) clearly outsmarts the iPad Air! Here's why: (Taglish)

We put the HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) and iPad Air M3 side by side and see which one offers the bang for the buck.

HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026)  and iPad Air M3

To recap, the HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) offers a FREE PC-level WPS Office 3.0. It offers a different experience compared to the iPad's WPS, with a desktop-like toolbar, advanced math functions, templates, and even cross-platform compatibility.

The tablet also has multitasking features enabling us to work using the WPS app and Zoom side by side. 

The iPad Air M3 and HUAWEI Matepad 12 X (2026) display

The device also features a one-month professional access plan with support for the M-Pencil Pro drawing feature, keyboard shortcuts, and several AI features: AI remove video, AI remove photo, and several image-to-video AI tricks for efficient productivity.

For iPad Air, the Apple apps have Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, which offer decent productivity but are limited.

You would have to pay for the office app for PHP 489 per month, and a one-time payment to Procreate at PHP 799. Whereas HUAWEI can offer similar function apps for FREE.

HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) clearly outsmarts the iPad Air! Here's why: (Taglish)

Another advantage of HUAWEI is its free accessories, too. Buyers get to have an M-Pencil Pro for notetaking or drawing, a keyboard for easier typing on the go, mouse with Nearlink fast feature for efficiency.

With iPad Air M3, you'd have to spend a fortune to get accessories. The official Magic Keyboard and Pencil Pro costs PHP 27K. While 3rd party accessories have a significantly lower price, they still cost users thousands to experience these.

Also, to highlight, the M-Pencil Pro has superior features to the Pencil Pro, according to HUAWEI. This offers 16,383 pressure levels for precise writing, FREE 3 pen tips with pinch gesture controls, and FREE GoPaint app with Procreate-level features.

The iPad Air M3 and HUAWEI Matepad 12 X (2026) display

These two devices have arguably equal build quality, but the MatePad  12 X (2026) brings a superior screen in most aspects. It has a 12-inch 3rd Gen Ultra Clear PaperMatte panel with a 144Hz display and 1,000 nits brightness. 

Superior display with thin bezels

Additionally, it has a TÜV-certified eye comfort compared to the glossy 60Hz and smaller screen of the iPad Air.

You can also spot a difference in bezels; the MatePad 12 X (2026) brings a way thinner bezel for immersive viewing.

Design and cameras

The MatePad offers a quad speaker setup, while the iPad Air only has 2 speakers. 

In terms of battery, the MatePad has a larger 10,100mAh offering up to 14 hours of usage + 66W fast charging capability.

On the other hand, the iPad Air M3 has a lower battery and slower charging.

Overall, there is a reason why HUAWEI is the number 1 tablet brand in the Philippines. It simply offers more for less.

What do you guys think?