While Microsoft was launching its new Surface Pro, Chinese tech giant Huawei unveiled its new MateBook laptops. Leading the lineup is the MateBook X, a premium 13-incher in a sleek and ultraportable form factor.
While the first MateBook had 2-in-1 tablet/laptop functionality, the MateBook X has a classic aluminum clamshell body with slim measurements (286 x 211 x 12.5 mm, or 11.3 x 8.3 x 0.5 in). It's also lightweight, weighing in at 1.05 kg (2.31 lbs) and is available in gold, rose gold or space gray.
Huawei is one of the many electronics makers gunning for slim bezels – its 13-inch display is rimmed with bezels a mere 4.4 mm wide. The device also includes a Dolby Atmos Sound System, which means it could offer a more enjoyable listening experience than most garden-variety laptop speakers.
On the inside, the MateBook X contains a 7th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor – none of the lesser-powered m series chips often seen in other entry-level configurations. It has either 256 or 512 GB of built-in storage and 4 or 8 GB of RAM.
The laptop has two USB-C ports, and in some regions, it will ship with a Huawei MateDock 2 and a USB-C to USB-A dongle. Huawei claims that the 41.4W-h battery gets up to 10 hours of video per charge.
The MateBook X is shaping up to be a competitor to popular slim laptops like the MacBook Air, but since we are still waiting for Huawei to confirm US pricing (and we've yet to get our hands on a MateBook X) we can't speak to value at this point.
Apart from the top-of-the-line MateBook X, Huawei also announced the MateBook E and MateBook D. The 12-inch MateBook E is a 2-in-1 that's a more direct successor to the original MateBook. It has an updated hinge mechanism, for better viewing at different angles, as well at a 7th-generation core i7 processor. It also has improved battery life and a higher resolution 2K display.
The MateBook D is a larger, 15.6-inch clamshell-style laptop for those who value a larger screen over portability. It has a 7th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, up to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
Price and exact ship dates have yet to be confirmed, but we expect to that these devices will start shipping this summer (Northern hemisphere).
