Laptop Lookout: Huawei Matebook X Pro

HUAWEI MateBook X Pro is a ultra-slim notebook with FullView display of 91% screen-to-body ratio. The 3K touchscreen, powerful Intel processor and discrete graphics ensure this is a perfect companion for entertainment and work. With a 3K LTPS display comes with a remarkable 3000 x 2000 resolution, 260 PPI, 100% sRGB color gamut, 450 nits maximum brightness and 1500:1 contrast ratio. Immerse yourself in vivid details when viewing high definition pictures or watching 4K videos.

The Great

• Fast performance
• Exquisite screen
• Comfortable keyboard
• Long battery life
• Both USB Type-C and Type-A ports

The Not

• Very limited availability
• High price
• No SD card slot
• Clever webcam is still flawed
• Mystic Silver is Core i7 only

The Conclusion

The Huawei MateBook X Pro is a speedy, long-lasting premium notebook that’s hard to get.

Chinese tech giant Huawei is not known for making laptops, but its 14-inch MateBook X Pro (tested at $2,350; starting at around $1,855) could change all that. Not only does it pack a gorgeous, high-res display and speedy performance, its battery lasts all day. And while its name and design beg for comparisons to Apple’s MacBook Pro, the MateBook X Pro’s keyboard is far more comfortable. The only things standing between you and its glory are its high price and severely limited availability.

The Design

The aluminum Huawei MateBook X Pro reminds me a lot of Apple’s MacBooks, and that’s a good thing. Not only is it a slim, silver wedge (also made in Space Gray), it’s easy to open its lid with a single hand, a hallmark of Apple’s notebooks. It also sports a shiny beveled edge around its keyboard deck, which the MacBooks do not.

I still prefer the Apple’s designs in two slight ways: the Huawei logo — which looks like you chopped an Apple into a bunch of wedges — isn’t as elegant. Also, the MateBook X Pro’s lid and edges are flatter, lacking the tapered curves of the MacBook Air.

The 14-inch MateBook X Pro weighs 2.9 pounds and measures 0.6 inches thick, making it similar in size and heft to the 3-pound, 0.6-inch thick Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, Touch Bar). The Dell XPS 13 (2.65 pounds, 0.5 inches) is lighter, while the HP Spectre 13 (2.4 pounds, 0.4 inches) is both thinner and lighter.

The Display

The MateBook X Pro’s screen produces 124 percent of the sRGB spectrum, which exceeds the 113 percent premium laptop average. The MacBook Pro earned a similar 123 percent and the Spectre 13 measured a lower 111 percent, while the XPS 13’s 1080p screen (117 percent) and its 4K screen (130 percent) straddled the MateBook X Pro’s rates.

Quick Spec Look

• CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8550U (quad-core, 8MB cache, up to 4.0GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics (2GB GDDR5)
• RAM: 16GB LPDDR3 (2,133 MHz)
• Screen: 13.9-inch 3K (3,000 x 2,000) LED with touch panel (3:2 aspect; 450 nits; 1,500:1 contrast; 100% sRGB)
• Storage: 512GB SSD (NVMe PCIe)
• Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 3 USB-C, 1 x USB-C 3.1, 1 x USB 3.0, 3.5mm audio jack
• Connectivity: 802.11ac (2 x 2 MIMO) Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1
• Camera: 720p webcam with far field microphones
• Weight: 2.93 pounds (1.33kg)
• Size: 11.97 x 8.54 x 0.57 inches (304 x 217 x 14.6mm; W x H x D)

The Final Thought

This may just be the Tech device that adds Huawei to the major players of Apple, Dell and Samsung to the minds of the american consumer. Welcome to the big leauges boys, we wear caps and sleeves at this level. Frankly, we’re stunned by Huawei’s sophomore effort in the laptop category. In one fell swoop, the MateBook X Pro presents an overwhelming alternative to my favorite laptop, the Dell XPS 13, and the MacBook Pro.