Two of the most recent tablets released in the Philippines are the budget-conscious POCO Pad and the feature-packed mid-range HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S PaperMatte Edition. While their price points land them on opposite ends of the spectrum, both tablets clearly have a target audience in mind.
In this comparison review, we’re going to find out what are the pros and cons between these two contenders. You might be surprised at what both have to offer within their distinct price points.
Table of Contents
Design and Construction
Without their price tags, it would likely be impossible to tell which one is the budget-oriented or the premium tablet. Putting them side by side, both tablets boast a sleek unibody metal chassis, exuding a minimalist look.
The POCO Pad (left) comes in Grey and the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S (right) is in the Violet colorway.
Both even have the same placements for their rear cameras. When held horizontally, there are two large circles on the POCO Pad located on the upper right. The MatePad 11.5 S retains the camera island design seen in previous iterations that’s also located on the upper right corner.
The POCO Pad gets a flat sides aesthetic while the MatePad 11.5 S has slightly curved sides — which I honestly prefer as it brings a more comfortable grip. That won’t matter as much though, since I mostly used these tablets with their protective cases slapped on.
Both tablets are fairly light, with the POCO Pad weighing at 571 grams and the MatePad 11.5 S at 510 grams. The latter is much thinner though, measuring only 6.2 millimeters in thickness as compared to the former’s 7.52 millimeters.
Having a bit bulkier build makes sense for the POCO Pad since it features a larger screen and a bigger battery capacity. Unfortunately, none of these tablets have any IP ratings, so it’s better to use them away from any hazards like sand, dust or water.
In the design department, I think we can all agree that both tablets did a great job in presenting themselves as premium-looking tablets. While the MatePad 11.5 S offers a more ergonomic feel, I think it’s not enough to earn it a point. So, I’ll give it a tie this round.
Display and Multimedia
Now onto the display, this is where the MatePad surely lands a punch. As the name suggests, it’s got an 11.5-inch IPS LCD panel with a crisp 2.8K resolution. It runs at a super smooth 144Hz refresh rate and boasts a tad bit higher pixel density at 291 pixels per inch (or ppi).
Furthermore, the tablet utilizes what Huawei calls the PaperMatte Display 2.0 technology — a fancy name for an anti-glare coating and it works like a charm. Not only does it repel reflective light, but it also offers a paper-like texture as if you’re writing or drawing on an actual piece of paper (or at least close to it).
On the other hand, the POCO Pad sports a 12.1-inch display that’s also IPS LCD and has a 2.5K resolution. It runs at 120Hz refresh rate and gets 249 ppi.
I must say, using the MatePad is definitely more satisfying to the touch thanks to that so-called PaperMatte finish. The anti-glare coating is a nice addition as well making media consumption less of a hassle outdoors or in bright environments.
Speaking of media consumption, despite both tablets using IPS LCD, viewing angles are still good. The only downside is, no deep blacks here and colors won’t be as vibrant as with OLED panels.
Anyways, for a more immersive viewing experience, both tablets have stereo speakers with the MatePad having dual speaker setup, and the POCO Pad with a quad speaker setup.
Naturally, I expected the POCO Pad to output louder and a crisper sound stage. To my surprise, the MatePad outputs better sound quality with punchier bass and overall louder audio — which makes sense for its price point.
MatePad 11.5S (on the left); POCO Pad (on the right).
Not to mention, the MatePad also has relatively thinner bezels which adds more to its appeal. Interestingly, only the POCO Pad supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for that extra oomph when watching content. The MatePad is left with only Dolby Atmos support.
For the most part, the MatePad 11.5 S offers more to the table with its PaperMatte display technology and a better sound quality. So, it takes this round easily.
Performance and Benchmarks
Performance-wise, it’s quite surprising how the POCO Pad kept up the pace with the MatePad 11.5 S considering the massive price gap. Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset with an octa-core architecture and clock speeds reaching up to 2.4GHz, the POCO Pad puts up a good fight.
As mentioned in our full review of the MatePad 11.5 S, Huawei remained tight-lipped about the tablet’s processor. However, it appears to be the company’s in-house Kirin 9000 WL, boasting a 12-core architecture and clock speeds reaching up to 2.49GHz.
In our benchmark tests, the MatePad 11.5 S surpassed the POCO Pad in most apps, except for AnTuTu and PCMark. Interestingly, the margins were narrow, particularly in Geekbench CPU scores. However, the MatePad demonstrated superior graphical muscle with significantly higher scores on 3DMark and GeekBench GPU tests.
| Benchmark | POCO Pad | HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S |
| AnTuTu V10 | 601,757 | 597,811 |
| AnTuTu Storage | 53,243 | 78,255 |
| S.Read Speed | 903.7 MB/s | 1945.0 MB/s |
| S.Write Speed | 846.7 MB/s | 1628.7 MB/s |
| 3DMark Wild Life | 2,944 | 3,961 |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 1027 | 1173 |
| Geekbench 6 CPU Multi-Core | 3006 | 3400 |
| Geekbench 6 GPU OpenCL | 1800 | 2602 |
| Geekbench 6 GPU Vulkan | 2312 | 2582 |
| PC Mark Work 3.0 performance | 11,618 | 9493 |
One area where the POCO Pad falls behind is storage speed. Despite both tablets having 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the POCO Pad exhibits slower sequential read and write speeds according to AnTuTu Storage benchmarks.
Putting numbers aside, you can expect both the POCO Pad and MatePad 11.5 S to deliver an above-average performance for everyday use. I did multi-tasking just fine on both tablets and my gaming sessions on Pokémon Unite and Asphalt 9 were lag-free.
Asphalt 9 being played on the POCO Pad.
For more graphically demanding titles, while high graphics settings are playable, opting for medium graphics will ensure better stability.
In this round, the POCO Pad deserves credit for its impressive raw performance. However, the MatePad 11.5 S takes the lead in graphics processing giving it a slight edge in graphically intensive tasks such as gaming. Thus, the MatePad takes a two-point lead in this matchup.
Cameras
Moving on, let’s talk about cameras. Neither the POCO Pad nor the MatePad will win any photography awards. Both pack fairly basic camera setups.
The POCO Pad rocks an 8-megapixel rear shooter and a matching 8-megapixel selfie camera. The MatePad counters with a slightly higher-resolution 13-megapixel rear camera but sticks with an 8-megapixel selfie shooter.
Despite the megapixel bump, the MatePad’s rear camera whiffs on image quality. Don’t expect ‘instagrammable’ shots here. The POCO Pad does decent in bright light, but low-light performance suffers, with colors looking washed out.
On the bright side, the POCO Pad’s selfie camera sports a wider field of view. This comes in handy for video calls and capturing some group selfies.
On the video front, both tablets are capped at 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second which is still pretty decent.
Truth be told, tablets aren’t exactly the most convenient way to capture photos or videos. They’re bulky, and their cameras typically lag behind dedicated smartphones.
So, the underwhelming performance isn’t exactly a surprise. But hey, they can still handle the occasional document snaps or keep you visible during online meetings.
With that said, both tablets won’t get any points this round.
Battery Life
In terms of battery, the POCO Pad gets a higher capacity 10,000 mAh battery pack paired with 33W fast charging. The MatePad is left with an 8,800 mAh battery with 25W fast charging. However, while the POCO Pad has a larger battery capacity, the MatePad outlasted it with a longer battery life.
In our PCMark test, the latter was able to last 13 hours and 43 minutes as compared to the former’s 12 hours and 49 minutes.
At the end of the day, battery life depends on the user’s activity. If you’re like me who’s always using the device for binge-watching content and playing mobile games, expect these tablets to last half a day until 20% battery.
Connectivity and Other Features
For connectivity, both the MatePad 11.5 S and the POCO Pad stick to the essentials, except cellular data and NFC capabilities.
The MatePad 11.5 S, with its higher price tag, boasts a more streamlined experience. It utilizes magnetic connections for its accessories, allowing for a sleek and hassle-free pairing.
Huawei’s “NearLink” technology simplifies pairing between the tablet and compatible accessories, such as the third-generation M-Pencil stylus. An added bonus is that accessories can charge directly through these magnetic points.
On the other hand, the POCO Pad keeps things simple with traditional wired charging for its accessories, which is perfectly reasonable considering its budget-friendly price point. However, it counters with some unexpected features.
The POCO Pad offers a microSD card slot, a feature often absent in this category and price range. This is always a plus in my book and it’s especially useful in this case where neither of the two tablets offer a higher base storage option.
The POCO Pad also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, another rarity these days, which is surely a welcome addition for users who prefer wired headphones or earphones.
When it comes to software, the POCO Pad has the upper hand as it has core Google apps built-in.
Meanwhile, the MatePad relies on the AppGallery and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) Core. Like I mentioned in my full review of the tablet, I do commend the improvements made on the AppGallery. However, I’m gonna quote myself on this, “Patience is still a must when sideloading apps on this machine.”
Thus, the POCO Pad gets this round offering more features and hassle-free experience on the software side of things. The MatePad does deliver more convenient pairing with its accessories, but that’s not necessarily an advantage in my opinion.
Which one should you get?
Now, with all that said, which one should you get?
The POCO Pad and MatePad 11.5 S are worlds apart in price yet surprisingly close in performance.
Now priced at only PHP 14,999, the POCO Pad punches heavier than its weight, offering an above average performance and rare finds such as an expandable storage and a headphone jack. It may have a bigger screen, but it pales in comparison to the MatePad’s smoother and better PaperMatte display.
Coming in at a hefty PHP 24,999 (unit and stylus only) the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S boasts a gorgeous display, above average performance, and impressive sound quality. It edges out the POCO Pad in graphics processing and battery life. However, its lack of expandable storage might be a dealbreaker for some, considering there’s no higher storage option.
On paper, the MatePad is absolutely the clear winner in this matchup, offering a premium experience with features that justify its price tag. But the POCO Pad emerges as the unexpected value champ, delivering raw performance on par with the competition at a significantly lower cost.
Ultimately, the winner boils down to what matters most. The MatePad caters to artists and note-takers who want a premium experience. The POCO Pad shines for budget-conscious users who prioritize affordability.
POCO Pad vs HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S specs:
| POCO Pad | HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S PaperMatte Edition |
|---|---|
| 12.1-inch 2.5K IPS LCD | 11.5-inch 2.8K TFT LCD (IPS) |
| 2560 x 1600 pixels, 120Hz adaptive, 249 ppi | 2800 × 1840 pixels, 144Hz adaptive refresh, 291 ppi |
| 600 nits (HBM) | 3:2 aspect ratio, PaperMatte Display 2.0 |
| Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | N/A |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 | HUAWEI Kirin 9000 WL |
| 4nm, octa-core, up to 2.4GHz | 12-cores, up to 2.49GHz |
| 8GB LPDDR4x RAM | 8GB RAM |
| 256GB UFS 2.2 storage | 256GB storage |
| Expandable up to 1.5TB via microSD | N/A |
| 8MP f/2.0 rear camera | 13MP f/1.8 rear camera, autofocus |
| 8MP f/2.28 front camera | 8MP f/2.0 front camera |
| Wi-Fi 6, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Wi-Fi 6, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2, NearLink |
| USB Type-C | USB Type-C (USB 3.0) |
| 3.5mm audio jack | N/A |
| Face unlock | Face unlock |
| Quad speakers, Dolby Vision/ Atmos | Dual stereo speakers |
| Xiaomi HyperOS (Android 14) | HarmonyOS 4.2 (Android 12) |
| 10,000mAh battery | 8800mAh battery |
| 33W charging (wired) | 22.5W charging (wired) |
| 280 x 181.85 x 7.52 mm | 177.3 x 261 x 6.2 mm |
| 571g | ~510g |
| Grey, Blue | Space Grey, Violet |
The comparison is really weird as both are not on the same level.