One of Huawei's MediaPad 10 tablets has gone missing from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, just two days after it was announced.

Now the manufacturer has been forced to protect its one remaining MediaPad by locking it away in a glass box, forbidding journalists from getting a close look at it. Even Huawei staff have been told that they cannot touch it, we have learned.

Huawei confirmed to the International Business Times UK that the 10-inch MediaPad has "gone missing" during the four-day event in Barcelona.

The company announced the MediaPad 10 FHD at the very end of its press conference on Sunday evening while most journalists were preparing to leave; the MediaPad 10 packs a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and is marginally thinner than the iPad 2.

Huawei MediaPad 10
Under lock and key: Huawei is protecting its one remaining MediaPad (IBTimes UK)

Having to lock up its only remaining demonstration unit will be a blow for Huawei, as journalists are no longer able to see the tablet in action. Up until this, Huawei was enjoy a successful MWC appearance, with the super-powerful Ascend D quad smartphone grabbing much of the media spotlight, along with the MediaPad.

The International Business Times UK got the chance to play with the Huawei Ascend D quad earlier in the week, and you can read our preview here.

Huawei will be hoping to rival the upcoming iPad 3 when the MediaPad 10 FHD goes on sale in the second quarter of this year. Apple is widely believed to be announcing the iPad 3 at a media event on 7 March, with the tablet going on sale soon after.

IPad