Huawei Updates the MateBook X Pro and Introduces the MateBook 14; 3:2 Aspect Ratio FTW!

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The new MateBook X Pro

If you read my Huawei MateBook 13 review, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of the 3:2 aspect ratio on a laptop’s screen. If you are, too (or even if you’re just curious about it), you’ll want to check out the updated MateBook X Pro and the brand new MateBook 14.

MateBook X Pro

We recently reviewed Huawei’s new MateBook 13, but the update many have been waiting for is the followup to last years MateBook X Pro. Described as Huawei’s answer the MacBook Pro, the MateBook X Pro has just received a major update that includes a faster processor, upgraded discrete graphics, and more.

If you liked the style of last years MateBook X Pro, you’ll appreciate that Huawei has stayed true to it. They’ve refined the design of the CNC cut and sandblasted aluminum unibody, however; the logo is sleeker  — the flower is gone, and it just says Huawei now. There is one big refinement that I’m excited about — the 13.9″ MateBook X Pro will now have the 3:2 aspect ratio that I liked so much on the MateBook 13. The FullView Display will offer a 91% screen-to-body ratio with 3000×2000 resolution at 260 ppi.

As you might expect, considering that the MateBook 13 has it, the MateBook X Pro has been upgraded with the latest 8th gen (Whiskey Lake) Intel i8565U processor; it also has an Nvidia GeForce MX250 discrete graphics card with 2GB, and you’ll be able to configure your laptop with up to 16GB RAM and up to a 1TB SSD.  The laptop also has an upgraded Huawei Shark Fin Fan 2.0 system, which they say is 20% more efficient than the one on last year’s model.

Last year’s MateBook X Pro featured the 2-in-1 power button that also served as a fingerprint scanner; we saw it again in the MateBook 13, and it is still present in the new MateBook X Pro. One thing that I wish they hadn’t kept from last year’s MateBook X Pro is the hidden keyboard webcam. While I loved that the popup cam was that it was a great privacy feature, but below-chin webcams are never flattering. I would have rather seen a slightly larger (by a couple of mm, anyway) top bezel with a webcam as we saw on the MateBook 13.

Huawei is saying that we can expect up to 13 hours battery life for video playback, up to 14 hours when using office apps, and up to 12 hours for surfing.

The MateBook X Pro now has Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi supporting speeds up to 1733Mbps. There are two USB Type-C ports and a USB Type-A (3.0). There is also a full-speed Thunderbolt 3.0 port for those of you who want to connect a 4K monitor or external graphics card. If you like waking your computer to ask Cortana something, you’ll appreciate the quad-mic, which can detect your voice from up to 13 feet away — without you having to yell.

If you are also using a Huawei mobile device, like their excellent Mate 20 Pro, you’ll appreciate that the MateBook X Pro has baked in some apps that will add value when you are using a Huawei mobile device.  Similar to the way a MacBook uses Airdrop to communicate with an iPhone, the MateBook X Pro will have OneHop, which will allow you to instantly transfer photos, videos, and documents between laptop and phone at speeds up to 30Mbps. There’s also a cool new Clipboard feature which allows you to copy text on one Huawei device which will then be available for pasting on other nearby Huawei devices, and the cherry on top is how you can swipe with three fingers and easily create a screen capture.

MateBook X Pro Specifications

Screen
Size: 13.9″
Type: LTPS
Screen-to-body ratio: 91% Resolution: 3000×2000, 260PPI Aspect ratio: 3:2
Viewing angle: 178 degrees
Color: sRGB 100% color gamut Contrast: 1500:1
Maximum Brightness: 450 nits Touchscreen: 10-point, anti-fingerprint

Appearance
Dimensions: 14.6mm x 304mm x 217mm
Weight: Approximately 1.33kg
Color: Mystic Silver, Space Gray

Processor
8th Generation Intel Core i7-8565U processor
8th Generation Intel Core i5-8265U processor

GPU
NVIDIA GeForce MX 250 with 2GB GDDR5 on the i7 version; Intel UHD Graphics 620 on the i5 version

Memory
8GB  or 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz

Hard Drive
512GB or 1TB SSD

Buttons and Ports
x1 Fingerprint Power Button 2.0
x1 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack
x1 Thunderbolt 3
x2 USB-C
x1 USB-A (USB 3.0, max output 5V/2A)

Wi-Fi
IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz 300Mbps, 5GHz 1733Mbps, 2×2 MIMO

Bluetooth
BT 5.0 (compatible with BT 4.2 and 2.1+EDR)

Camera
Front camera: 1MP

Audio Configuration
Quad Digital Microphones and Quad Speakers

Battery
Material: Lithium Polymer
57.4Wh (Typical Capacity)

Power Adapter
HUAWEI USB-C Power Adapter 65W For devices with a PD protocol: output 20V/3.25A, 15V/3A, 12V/2A, 9V/2A, 5V/2A; Otherwise: output 5V/2A;
Supports multiple output mode, and quick charge for different devices

Audio
Dolby Atmos Sound System

Featured Applications

  • HUAWEI Share (not available on US models)
  • OneHop
  • HUAWEI PC Manager (not available on US models)
  • Microsoft Translator
  • Monitor Manager
  • Factory Reset
  • Eye Comfort Mode

In-Box Accessories
HUAWEI USB-C Power Adapter 65W

Optional Accessories
HUAWEI MateDock 2
HUAWEI Bluetooth Mouse HUAWEI Leather Case
HUAWEI Backpack
HUAWEI USB 3.0 A/M TO RJ45 Cable AG (Anti-Glare) Film

The MateBook X Pro will be available soon for €1599 (i5a, 8GB, & 512GB SSD) and€1999 (i7, 16GB, & 1TB SSD) and it will come in a choice of space gray or mystic silver.

MateBook 14

For those who think that a 15″ laptop is too big but a 13″ laptop is too small, Huawei has a Goldilocks device for you in their new MateBook 14. Priced to be more affordable than the MateBook X Pro starting at $1199, you’ll still get the aluminum CNC unibody design with the sandblasted finish and great performance, as well as a 14″ FullView display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a 90% screen-to-body ratio. The resolution isn’t quite as great as the X Pro’s, however, at 2169×1440 with 185 ppi. They removed the flower from the top of the Huawei logo on the MateBook 14, too, so that means last month’s MateBook 13 is now a collector’s item, right?] 😉

The MateBook 14 has the same 2-in-1 fingerprint reader and power button as the X Pro and the MateBook 13, but they opted to “go Pro X” by recessing the 1-megapixel webcam in the keyboard. You’ve probably guessed by now that I’m not a fan of oddly placed webcams that shoot from below your chin, but I do like the privacy aspect of it.

MateBook 14 Specifications

Display
Size: 14″
Screen-to-body ratio: 90% Resolution: 2160 x 1440, 185 PPI
Aspect ratio: 3:2
Viewing angle: 178 degrees
Color: sRGB 100% color gamut
Contrast: 1000:1
Maximum Brightness: 300 nits (Typical)

Appearance
Dimensions (H × W × D): 307.5mm×223.8mm×15.9mm
Weight: approximately 1.49 kg
Color: Space Gray, Mystic Sliver

Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit or Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (Available as one of the options)

Processor
8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U processor
8th Gen Intel Core i7-8565U processor

GPU
Intel UHD Graphics 620 on the i5 version; NVIDIA GeForce MX250 with 2GB GDDR5  on the i7 version

Memory
8GB  or 16GB LPDDR3 2133 MHz

Hard Drive
256GB  or 512GB PCI-e × 4 lane SSD

Buttons and Ports
x1 Fingerprint Power Button 2.0
x1 3.5 mm Headset and Microphone 2-in-1 Jack
x1 USB-C port (support data transfer, DisplayPort and Charging) x1 USB-A 3.0 port
x1 USB-A 2.0 port
x1 HDMI

WiFi
IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5 GHz 2×2 MIMO

Bluetooth
BT 5.0 (compatible with BT4.2, BT4.1, BT4.0, BT3.0, BT2.1+EDR)

Camera
Front camera: 1MP

Audio Configuration
Dolby Atmos

Battery
Material: Lithium polymer 57.4Wh (Typical Capacity)

Power Adapter
HUAWEI USB-C Power Adapter 65W
Input: 110 V 240 V AC, 50/60Hz
Output: 5V/2A, 9V/2A,12V/2A, 15V/3A, 20V/3.25A
Support multiple output modes and quick charge for different devices.

Featured Applications

  • HUAWEI Share 3.0 (not available on US models)
  • HUAWEI PC Manager (not available on US models)
  • Monitor Manager
  • HUAWEI Factory Reset
  • Eye Comfort Mode

In-Box Accessories
HUAWEI USB-C Power Adapter 65W

Optional Accessories
HUAWEI MateDock 2
HUAWEI Bluetooth Mouse
HUAWEI Backpack
HUAWEI USB-C TO USB-A Conversion Cable Laptop Sleeve

Lenovo is claiming a battery life of up to 15 hours for video, up to 14 hours for office apps, and up to 10.5 hours for web browsing.

The MateBook 14 will be available soon for €1199 (i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB user memory) and €1499 (i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB user memory) and it will come in a choice of space gray, mystic silver, or pink gold.

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She started in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie is best known for her device-agnostic approach, deep-dive reviews, and enjoyment of exploring the latest tech, gadgets, and gear.