Huawei has unveiled the MatePad Paper, its first-ever e-reader. However, this isn’t your typical Kindle. For starters, it works with Huawei’s M-Pencil stylus, allowing it to be used for more than simply reading, similar to the reMarkable 2 or Onyx Boox Note Air 2, and it has a built-in microphone for voice recording. It also boasts a larger 10.3-inch E Ink display than most Kindles, which are around 7 inches wide.
Because of these specifications, the MatePad Paper has the potential to be both a productivity and a consumption gadget. It’s nearly like an Android tablet with an E Ink screen, right down to the fact that it runs Huawei’s HarmonyOS software and includes the company’s App Gallery pre-installed.
See Also: Tag Heuer Reinvents Its Luxury Smartwatch With 2 Stunning Models
If you only want to use the gadget as an e-reader, Huawei claims that it comes with access to the company’s own Huawei Books store, which has over 2 million titles. It’s also compatible with PDF files and other common e-reader formats, according to Huawei. However, famous ebook marketplaces such as Amazon’s Kindle app and Google Play Books aren’t currently included on Huawei’s App Gallery, which means your existing library of e-books might not transfer over effortlessly.
The MatePad Paper, according to Huawei, has a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, a USB-C port for charging and data transmission, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, and a backlight with 32 brightness levels. Huawei claims that its battery can last four weeks in standby mode. The business hasn’t said which technology it’s utilizing to let the M-Pencil write on the screen, but given that the pen requires a charger, we’re guessing it’s using an AES-style drawing layer like an iPad, rather than EMR like its E-Ink competitors.
All of these features come at a cost, with the Huawei MatePad Paper retailing for €499 (about $558). That’s a lot more than Amazon’s Kindles, which start at roughly €90, but it’s more in line with a comparable Android tablet like the Onyx Boox Note Air 2, which costs €499 in Europe. At the very least, Huawei includes an M-Pencil and a cover with the MatePad Paper. Huawei has yet to reveal a release date or market for its first e-reader, but a release in the United States appears improbable.
