Review of the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S (2026 Version)
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The year 2026 has arrived, and it's time for another review of a Huawei tablet. Especially since a highly demanding game, Arknights Endfield, has recently been released, and I will be testing how suitable the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S (specifically the model with the code SLG-W09 that I will review) is for gaming.

Design

But first, let's go through the design of the new tablet. The MatePad 11.5 S is one of those models that has a screen covered with PaperMatte, significantly reducing glare, being non-slip, and leaving fewer fingerprints. However, this screen has relatively large bezels which reduces its usable area as a percentage compared to larger tablets.

Otherwise, the display meets all the latest standards. It even has a professional-level SGS 2.0 eye fatigue protection certification and three TÜV Rheinland certificates for blue light protection (at the hardware level), glare protection, and flicker protection. The IPS matrix with a resolution of 2800 × 1840 supports an adaptive refresh rate from 30 Hz to 144 Hz.

Like most models, the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S has a magnetic back cover and an attachable keyboard.

The keyboard works both when attached and detached. However, it's worth noting that the hub (which allows the cover to bend and prop the tablet up in front of you like a screen) protrudes slightly. The protrusion is relatively small, less than that of the models I’ve tried before. If the keyboard is connected, it is even unnoticeable. But if you place the tablet without the keyboard on a flat table, it will wobble a bit, which might not be too convenient when drawing.

Overall, the tablet is convenient for watching videos, gaming, and other activities, especially those requiring you to hold it in your hands or on your lap. If you set the MatePad 11.5 S vertically (as the bending part of the cover allows), there will be no problems either. I remind you that the keyboard works in both magnetically attached state (in which case it charges) and separately (the charge will last for several hours).

As with most Huawei mobile devices, the MatePad 11.5 S has only one USB Type-C port, which is used for both wired data transfer and charging.

The camera looks standard — it has a single round lens and a flash (which also acts as a flashlight) on the side. Overall, it's quite a standard design for Huawei tablets.

Functionality

Two of the most sought-after features of the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S are drawing and photography. The camera, by the way, is better than those of previous models, although there is still significant image blur at high zoom levels and/or when photographing distant subjects.

In terms of functionality, the camera is quite standard — photos, videos, panorama shots, and time-lapse (the final video looks like a fast-forward). There are a total of fifteen filters, as well as a