Huawei MateBook X Pro Laptop Review – Performance but High Price

In 2017, Huawei announced the release of its first commercially available laptops. This is how the MateBook series was launched. The series introduced an alternative option for potential buyers looking for professional laptops. The biggest feature was its integration with the Huawei ecosystem, which was expanded with the most recent release, the Huawei MateBook X Pro laptop.

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The MateBook range delivers the performance and quality the brand is synonymous with. However, while its smartphone line continues to struggle due to the limitations of the Google Suite for its Android build, its laptop line is doing quite well. Although it has not quite made up for lost gains, it is going a long way to restoring buyer confidence. Regardless of the brand's marketing issues, what does the Huawei MateBook X Pro laptop bring that its competitors don't?

Construction and design

The Huawei MateBook X Pro features a similar design to its predecessors. It has a distinct Huawei laptop aesthetic, which has become the standard over the past five years. This means it has a mostly square approach, with a slightly rounded bevel so it's not sharp at the edges.

In terms of measurements, it presents a chassis of 310x221x15.6 mm. Additionally, it weighs just under 1.3kg, which is also quite light. It is space gray in color with an aluminum finish on the lid. As for the lid, it is easier to open than previous units. Previously, users needed two hands to open it because it was quite securely locked. This time, the hinge is much lighter and can be opened with just a finger.

Another notable change on the MateBook X Pro is its oversized trackpad. Compared to more conventional units, it feels twice as big, taking up half the actual space under the keyboard.

The webcam has also received a slight adjustment. While it previously offered a pop-up approach, it now features a more standard finish, located above the edge of the screen in the middle of the frame. It may have offered a little more privacy overall in the previous iteration, but it's easier for users to use.

The fingerprint reader integrated into the power button is a nice addition to the laptop. The unit offers face unlock using Windows Hello, but it's not always ideal to use, especially in low light conditions. The fingerprint sensor is then very practical for unlocking without having to press the power button. Provided, of course, that you don't mind typing your pin code at each unlock screen.

Ports and Connectivity

One thing to note about the latest generation of Huawei MateBook laptops is its move to next-gen ports. That being said, the MateBook X Pro has ditched USB Type-A ports altogether. Instead, it's now a Type-C-only device.

This is both a good and a bad decision. For starters, drawing a line in the sand to only support new devices is a bold move. It indicates its intention to offer the latest and greatest options in terms of hardware, which we love to see. However, for the many users who still use portable drives or Type-A devices, it can be a bit frustrating to have to upgrade both their laptops and peripherals. However, it will inevitably be a necessity – it's just that the MateBook X Pro makes this necessity immediate. Huawei shows some sympathy towards users, by offering an adapter in the package contents.

In total, the laptop has four USB ports. This includes x2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, which double as charging ports where applicable, as well as x2 additional standard Type-C ports, which also support the use of DisplayPort. Additionally, there is also a 3.5mm auxiliary port for your headphones or audio device.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the laptop offers WiFi 6E, along with Bluetooth 5.2 options.

Although it is not a port, the laptop also has an audio system with six stereo speakers and a quad array microphone with noise cancellation for better results.

Screen and display

We already know that Huawei has a great offering when it comes to the screens of its smartphone range. Similarly, for its previous laptops, the line featured great visuals on its LCD screens. However, the new Huawei MateBook X Pro has further improved this quality. And this, despite its small 14.2-inch screen.

The screen is a FullView display with a resolution of 3.1K, measured at a resolution of 3,120×2,080px. This is larger than 1080p and 2K resolutions but not 4K standards. In addition, the screen uses an IPS panel, with a resolution of 264 DPI, a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a brightness of 500 nits. While these features don't really equate to ‘next gen', the screen gets the job done and the specs alone are above average.

There are, however, two aspects of the screen that really make it stand out. This is the multi-touch screen, which benefits from the protection of Corning Gorilla Glass, as well as 100% DCI-P3 color certification. This makes all the difference, especially if you are a designer or creator needing to get the most out of color reproduction.

Although it has a 10-point touchscreen, it is not a convertible device. This means you can't switch to tablet mode like we've seen on a few other laptops.

Overall, both in terms of specs and actual results, the MateBook X Pro delivers very good visuals. Yes, it's a little short compared to the major flagship laptops on the market, but with its portability and frame, it wasn't designed to challenge the high end.

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Specifications

When it comes to specs, the Huawei MateBook X Pro was always going to have the latest generation hardware. For starters, it has an Intel Core i7-1260P processor. This is coupled with an Intel Iris Xe GPU for all your graphics needs. You won't be playing the latest AAA titles, but this being a professional laptop, I wouldn't have thought that would be expected.

Additionally, it has 16GB of LPDDR5, which can be upgraded up to 1TB in total. It also has a 1TB NVMe PCIe 4 SSD, which provides extra performance when you're busy completing tasks.

It is equipped with a 720P webcam, which is just average. However, being a high-end laptop, we would have expected at least a 1080p camera for professional use. That being said, it has a hybrid IR camera, which makes it easier to detect your face in darker conditions. This camera is supported by Windows 11 home operating system.

Finally, it has a 60Wh battery, which is the industry standard. Generally, only gaming laptops offer higher capacity batteries starting at 90Wh.

Performance and battery

If we consider, straight away, that the Intel Core i7-1260P processor is ranked as the second fastest processor in this range of mobile processors, we are almost guaranteed to get quality performance for everyday tasks. And that’s what he does, with great ease.

The CPU configuration of the Huawei MateBook X Pro is that it was not designed for continuous high-load operations. Essentially, this means that it will perform a few quick tasks with ease, but when under load for extended periods of time, it will reduce overall output. This is done to save battery life and prevent it from overheating – most likely due to its size.

As in the previous case, the battery also follows a similar pattern for charging, which aims to reduce usage during this period. However, there is not much that can be done from this point of view. On top of that, screen brightness also consumes a bit more power on average compared to normal laptops. Overall battery performance leaves something to be desired. So battery life in the standard video test and navigation tests averages around the seven hour mark. Compared to other devices in this category, it is three to six hours less for high-end devices. Under load, performance is even lower, with an autonomy of 90 to 120 minutes.

To compensate, however, Huawei's fast charging technology will have you back up and running in no time. Total charge time from 0-100% is approximately 80 minutes, with 35 minutes needed for approximately 50% charge. This adds to the portability element of the laptop: being able to pick it up and go within 30 minutes is a great addition.

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Is it worth buying the Huawei MateBook X Pro laptop?

The Huawei MateBook X Pro is a solid laptop. It looks good and performs to match. It has a large screen while offering great integration with your smartphone, especially if you are using a Huawei device. It is very compact with its 14.2-inch screen and its weight of less than 1.3 kg. Its diminutive size also adds to the laptop's portability, making it a great option for those who are always on the go. However, if there is one aspect that is lacking, it is the battery life, which is far from ideal. Luckily, thanks to support for Type-C charging, it can be powered even from your portable charger.

If there is one obstacle to overcome, it is the price. At R35,999, it's not the most affordable laptop on the market. That being said, with the attributes and performance mentioned above, it doesn't qualify as a ridiculous price. The biggest challenge, however, is that there are gaming laptops in a similar price range, which adds an extra dimension to its feature list and makes you think about the best option. Huawei South Africa is offering a few extras to potential buyers, offering a 23.8-inch screen, backpack and mouse as part of the bundle.