As a laptop computer vendor, Huawei is coming into its fourth 12 months. Relying on x86 silicon and a GPU right here and there, one factor Huawei does properly is the standard of the design. The firm has transferred the knowhow developed over a decade of smartphones into one thing larger, with a keyboard, working Windows. The newest MateBook X Pro 2021 version we’re testing in the present day equips an Intel 11th Gen Core i7 with one of many bodily largest shows you’ll be able to match right into a 14-inch system, and a brushed aluminium chassis that’s very clean to the contact and an Emerald Green end that basically stands out.
Huawei Makes Laptops? Really?
Over the years that we have now coated Huawei merchandise, via the nice and the dangerous, via the primary makes an attempt and halo gadgets, a predominant function that’s laborious to disregard is the design. After a decade of Huawei smartphones, we had been launched to the primary 2-in-1 laptop computer merchandise in 2017, and though properly designed and comforting to deal with, the consumer expertise wanted some work. But it wasn’t lengthy earlier than we obtained a Windows system that appeared nice with an expertise to rival market veterans.
Enter the primary era MateBook 13, and it’s simply top-of-the-line laptops I’ve used as a 6-month journey work machine so far. Unfortunately resulting from some enhancements Huawei wished to introduce (just like the recessed webcam, extra on that later), the corporate rapidly changed it with a much less inspiring configuration that wasn’t as properly acquired. Huawei has historically gone with Intel in its methods, however was one of many first to companion with AMD when the AMD Mobile Ryzen grew to become out there – we noticed Ryzen variations of its training mannequin, albeit for China solely.
Huawei’s laptop computer ambitions proper now are in three predominant classes
- Education with the MateBook D 14, MateBook D 15, and MateBook D 16
- Portable with the MateBook 13, MateBook 14, and MateBook 16
- Professional with the MateBook X (13-inch) and MateBook X Pro (13.9-inch).
Those final two classes being aimed squarely on the conventional MacBook markets.
Today we’re testing the Huawei MateBook X Pro 2021 mannequin, which options an Intel 11th Generation Tiger Lake Core i7 processor and makes use of built-in graphics, paired with 16 GB of LPDDR4X reminiscence and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. Normally individuals may affiliate a Pro laptop computer with a discrete GPU included – within the 2020 mannequin, Huawei used a 10th Gen processor with an NVIDIA MX250 discrete GPU, however that has been dropped in favour of Intel’s built-in Xe Graphics.
Huawei MateBook X Pro 2021: Hands On
When you first take a brand new laptop computer out of the field, after choosing it other than the Styrofoam and eradicating the protecting plastic wrapping, you contact the chassis. For most gadgets, this can be a mundane affair, as you’re touching plastic or one thing equally utilitarian. Higher value gadgets may have an aluminium unibody, saving weight, or in case you’re going for one thing even lighter, an costly lithium-magnesium alloy may be an possibility. However, even with a metallic unibody design, not all are equal, and it comes right down to how that chassis is handled, etched or completed, and handled as a part of the design. With this MateBook, it has that contact that may be very clean however in case you softly transfer your hand over it, you get a small vibration sensation. In my thoughts, it’s nice. I’ve requested individuals in the event that they really feel the identical factor. They do not know what I’m occurring about.
Opening the lid, we see a chiclet-style keyboard with an enormous touchpad and a separate energy button within the prime proper nook. In its MateBook designs, Huawei integrates the identical high-speed Goodix fingerprint recognition sensor into the ability button because it does with its smartphones, which has grown to be one of many best to make use of available in the market with a quick response and…
