Fresh off HUAWEI‘s launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where we went to cover the Now Is Your Moment event, we got our hands on the company’s newest hardware lineup. The camera-first HUAWEI Pura 90s Series may have dominated the stage, but the technology giant also unveiled two other devices that demand attention: the 2026 refresh of the HUAWEI MatePad Air and the HUAWEI FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition.
Only the tablet is confirmed for a Philippine release. The earbuds, unfortunately, won’t be making the trip to our shores.
SEE ALSO: HUAWEI Pura 90s Series debuts globally with heavy-hitting cameras, 5G support
Over in Europe, the MatePad Air 2026 is priced at €849 (₱59,934 or $973) for the 8GB/256GB non-PaperMatte variant with a keyboard. Adding €50 (₱3,530 or $57) brings you to €899 (₱63,477 or $1,030) for the PaperMatte Edition with your choice of a keyboard or an M-Pencil Pro. And the top-tier 12GB RAM model costs €999 (₱70,540 or $1,145) with just a keyboard.
Meanwhile, the FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition earbuds launch at an early-bird price of £169 (₱14,053 or $228) until August 17, before settling at £199 (₱16,550 or $269). HUAWEI is also offering a limited-edition £199 bundle with clip-on accessories from French jewelry house Les Néréides.
HUAWEI MatePad Air 2026
The new MatePad Air isn’t a full overhaul, but HUAWEI tackled the one thing that matters most on a tablet: the display. The 2026 model drops the old LCD for a gorgeous OLED PaperMatte screen, previously reserved for the top-shelf MatePad Pro line. It’s a 12-inch panel running at a smooth 144Hz with a crisp 2,800 x 1,840 resolution.
The matte coating stands out because it cuts glare dramatically, making the tablet better suited for reading, sketching, and outdoor work. If you’re not sold on the matte finish — and some users aren’t — HUAWEI will also offer a standard OLED version at a lower price.
Under the hood, the MatePad Air 2026 powered by the Kirin T93C chipset, complete with “pro-level AI features” aimed at mobile productivity. The battery stays at 10,100mAh with 66-watt wired fast charging. The company also shaved down the bezels and slimmed the aluminum profile to just 5.3mm. Color options include Airy Blue, Sakura Pink, and White.
HUAWEI MatePad Air 2026 official product video
Specs
- 12-inch OLED PaperMatte display, 2800 × 1840 resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, 1200 nits peak brightness
- HiSilicon Kirin T93C (7nm) processor
- Maleoon 920A graphics
- 8GB or 12GB RAM
- 256GB internal storage (no card slot)
- 50-megapixel main rear camera
- 12-megapixel front camera
- 10,100mAh battery with 66-watt fast charging
- HarmonyOS 4.3
- Dimensions: 261.1 × 181.5 × 5.3 mm
- Weight: approx. 540 g (including battery)
- Color options: Sakura Pink, Airy Blue, White
HUAWEI FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition
While we aren’t getting them in the Philippines, the FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition earbuds are a minor refresh of HUAWEI’s open-ear audio lineup. Visually, they retain the unique earring-like C-bridge design, but this round of upgrades is entirely computational.
The wearable now features an updated Adaptive Volume algorithm driven by a dedicated NPU inside the brand’s third-generation audio chip. Because these are open earbuds without passive noise isolation, competing with environmental noise can be problematic. The new AI processing addresses this by dynamically adjusting playback volume and voice clarity in real time based on your surroundings.
The HUAWEI FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition earbuds still pack the same dual-diaphragm drivers, a three-mic noise cancellation system for calls, and nine hours of standalone playback per bud — stretching to a solid 38 hours with the charging case.
HUAWEI FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition official product video
Specs
- 10.8mm dual-diaphragm driver
- 20Hz–20kHz frequency response
- Infrared, Hall, gyroscope + accelerometer, bone acoustic, and touch sensors
- Adaptive volume, call noise cancellation, multi-EQ sound effects
- Double-tap (play/pause, answer/end call), triple-tap (next track), swipe (volume), press & hold (customizable)
- Bluetooth 6.0, dual-device connection, pop-up pair (Huawei devices EMUI 10.0+)
- 60mAh battery per earbud, 537mAh case
- 9 hours music per charge, 38 hours with case; 6 hours calls per charge, 25 hours with case
- USB-C wired charging (5V/1.5A), wireless charging up to 3W
- Case charging time: ~50 min wired; earbuds + case ~60 min wired; case charging earbuds ~40 min; wireless case ~150 min
- IP57 rating for earbuds, IP54 for case
- Earbud dimensions: 25.4 × 26.7 × 18.8 mm; Case dimensions: 37.4 × 48.6 × 48.9 mm
- Earbud weight ~5.1g; Case weight ~39.4g
- Colors: Deepsea Blue, Space Silver
- In the box: Earbuds (pair), charging case, Quick Start Guide, Safety info, Warranty card (no USB-C cable included)
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