The new MateBook X Pro is a real competitor in the ultrabook market since it is sleek, light, and has a brilliant display. The useful touchpad gesture controls are the icing on the cake, but we wish Huawei would do more to make it stand out from the competition.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
We still don’t know if this new model will be accessible in the US due to the 2019 trade restriction on the brand enforced by former President Donald Trump, even though Huawei laptops typically make their way to the UK and EU countries after introduction in the Asian market. Nonetheless, American consumers can still import Huawei products.
In any case, the price makes it more expensive than the M2 MacBook Air in Europe, which is undoubtedly its main rival (though being a Windows laptop means it also goes toe to toe with a wide range of the best ultrabooks).
DESIGN
The updated and enhanced display is one thing that stands out right away as a comparison to earlier Huawei MateBook X Pro iterations. Its screen is brilliant and nearly bezel-less, with a 3:2 aspect ratio that offers more vertical space for productivity and web scrolling (up from 450 nits in the previous edition). Its maximum brightness has been increased to 500 nits (from 450 in the previous model).
This 14.2-inch screen’s aspect ratio results in a somewhat obscure 3.1K resolution, yet it nevertheless looks brilliant when watching videos or simply working. It appears to be true that Huawei claims it is the greatest display company has ever utilized in one of its laptops. Of course, it also has a touchscreen, so you can use your fingertips to rapidly click, navigate, and zoom.
Although this ultrabook’s touchpad is quite fantastic, you might not want to utilize that touchscreen too much. The edge closest to the user extends all the way to the edge of the chassis without a bottom border, which makes downward swipes seem more smoother. It has been compared to an infinity pool, which is an accurate comparison.
The extended gesture controls are more intriguing than the touchpad, which is a respectable size and has a satisfying, firm click. The top edge of the pad can be used to control the playback of videos and music, while the bottom edge can be used to change the brightness and volume. There are even movements that don’t involve your fingertips; for example, double-tapping with a knuckle takes an instant screenshot. Mild haptic feedback makes this feel more responsive and natural.
The keyboard isn’t much different from the previous version; it has a respectable amount of travel and discreet, even backlighting. Although it is not groundbreaking, it feels nice to use. In fact, we wish the MateBook X Pro had a little more distinction.
Even though it’s excellent, Huawei seems to be taking the safe route. While other major laptop manufacturers are pushing the edge with novel innovations like touchpad-integrated panels and foldable displays, Huawei is content to produce machines that are reliable but uninventive. The touchpad gesture controls are great, but don’t exactly scream ‘cutting edge tech’. swipes downward now seem considerably smoother thanks to the boundary.
PERFORMANCE
The update to a 12th-gen Alder Lake Intel processor can only be a smart choice in terms of performance, even though we won’t have complete benchmark results until we can thoroughly test the Huawei MateBook X Pro ourselves. Depending on your needs for performance, either an i5 or an i7 processor will be offered with this model.
It’s Intel now.
This model actually comes with a somewhat more powerful battery, which should be excellent. SMALL core architecture offers higher performance in both single- and multi-core tasks, with (hopefully) decreased power demand that should help the new MateBook X Pro stretch its battery life a little further.
We instantly opened a ton of tabs during our little time with it to try and make the ultrabook sluggish, but we were unable, which was a relief. The MateBook X Pro launches programs swiftly and wakes up from sleep very quickly.
This is one of Huawei’s “Super Devices,” which is really just another way of expressing that it is a part of the company’s brand-new hardware and software ecosystem. A Huawei phone or tablet, for instance, may be placed on top of the palm rest and instantly connected thanks to an NFC chip within the laptop. Ecosystems for smart devices are rapidly taking over (with Apple and Samsung in the forefront), so it makes sense for Huawei to promote this now.
EARLY VERDICT
We had a great experience using the brand-new Huawei MateBook X Pro. We feel confident in recommending it to anyone seeking for a portable new laptop, supposing it doesn’t somehow malfunction during our testing – which we would be astonished to see.
The relative dearth of physical port alternatives is currently the biggest issue we have with ports. Without including the headphone connector, there are four ports in total, all of which are USB-C. There is no USB-A, no SD card reader, and no video output to be found. Although the ultra-thin form factor is probably to blame, it’s nevertheless unpleasant that a USB hub needs to be purchased in addition to the already expensive device.
