Huawei’s MatePad Air pairs matte OLED with 144Hz to outpace iPad Air display

Notebookcheck testing found Huawei’s 2026 tablet substantially brighter than Apple’s iPad Air 11 M4, while its matte OLED panel and 144Hz refresh rate add further advantages.

Huawei’s MatePad Air 2026 appears to set a higher display standard than Apple’s iPad Air 11 M4 2026, with Notebookcheck’s comparison pointing to a clear advantage in both panel technology and surface treatment. The Huawei tablet combines OLED with a matte PaperMatte finish, a pairing that cuts reflections and largely removes the weak black levels associated with earlier LCD-based PaperMatte models. According to Huawei’s product information, the panel is a 12-inch OLED display with a 2,800 x 1,840 resolution, a 144 Hz refresh rate and a claimed 1,200 nits of peak brightness.

Independent testing cited by Notebookcheck indicates that the MatePad Air 2026 goes beyond the marketing figures in practical use. The review recorded a peak brightness of 1,203 cd/m² in its APL18 measurement and 1,152 cd/m² for HDR, compared with 526 cd/m² and 508 cd/m² respectively for the iPad Air 11 M4. That difference should be visible in bright interiors and outdoor use, where glare control, stronger highlights and deeper contrast make the Huawei screen more versatile for video, photography and general work.

The gap is not limited to brightness. Apple’s current iPad Air remains on a 60 Hz panel, while Huawei offers up to 144 Hz, a difference that affects scrolling, stylus input and motion smoothness. Notebookcheck and T3 both note that Apple’s screen still lacks ProMotion, so rapid movement can feel less fluid than on competing tablets. In contrast, Huawei’s higher refresh rate, together with the matte OLED finish, is designed to give the MatePad Air a more premium visual experience, particularly for users who spend time reading, writing or consuming media on the move.