Tech review: Huawei Matebook X is a solid, good-looking laptop that sounds great, but the price is high
The Matebook X also has a one-step start-up, and Dolby Atmos-ready speaker; on the downside, there are only two USB ports and you need a charge - though thankfully only from a power bank - to get through a full day’s work
Huawei’s first foray into the laptop market, the MateBook X, is an attempt to take over your life. Richard Yu, the Chinese telecommunication giant’s mobile chief, says the company already produces smartphones, smartwatches and tablets, “the laptop is Huawei’s next step to be in every single aspect of your digital life.”
Does the MateBook X deliver that vision?
Design and hardware
The first thing anyone will notice about the MateBook X is how sleek it is. Weighing only 1.05kg; with measurements of 286mm x 211mm x 12.5mm (it’s just a tad larger than a piece of A4 paper, and little bit thicker than a smartphone); and with slim bezels surrounding the 13-inch display; this is one of the lightest and thinnest laptops on the market.
And much like Apple’s line of MacBooks, Huawei didn’t sacrifice sturdiness for portability. The all-metal MateBook X screams premium from every angle: the clamshell hinge is stiff and doesn’t give the display room to wobble even when typing on a moving train; the trackpad has a smooth metal surface that’s also extremely accurate; and the keys are evenly spaced and provide enough tactile feedback for all but the most pickiest of typers.