MANILA -- Having cracked the premium market for smartphones, Huawei is hoping to translate the same status with its laptops, tablets and wearable devices, notwithstanding these challenging times.
Its top-tier laptop, the MateBook X Pro, packs a bright, 3K touchscreen with almost no bezels, a powerful processor, stereo speakers and a slim profile encased in a sleek metal case.
The MateBook X Pro has been my only work and entertainment machine for several weeks now during the lockdown and it excels on both fronts. It also connects instantly to Huawei phones via Huawei share, a preview of the company's vision for a future of intertwined devices.
For this review, I came from a 2019 MacBook Pro, another reliable and gorgeous slab of tech that connects effortlessly with my iPhone and Apple TV.
WORK FROM HOME
Two things stand out when working on the MateBook X Pro, the screen and the keyboard.
Before I was willingly chained to desk work, I used an iPad as a work machine. It's light, portable and the touch panel makes multitasking and copy-pasting text easier.
The MateBook X Pro offered a similar experience, though moving around in lockdown meant shuttling between bedside table and kitchen table instead of shuttling from Manila to Makati.
I worked faster since I can touch buttons on the screen and use finger gestures as I would on a smartphone screen. The drawback: the nearly 14-inch, 3K screen is almost too beautiful and bright to touch. Huawei said the panel is coated to prevent smudges.
The keyboard is firm with a satisfying click when I type on it. It's just the right size for my hands. One thing I didn't have on my iPad work machine was a keyboard, for which Apple charges a fortune.
My gripe about the design: the trackpad is too small for my taste. It could be a bit taller and wider, like on my MacBook Pro.
The placement of the recessed camera is also horrible for Zoom or Microsoft Teams, inflicting unflattering views of my nose and gut on my colleagues. For video calls, it was back to smartphone only.
PLAY FROM HOME
The bright and crisp display comes with a loud set of speakers, located on the left and right edges of the keyboard.
I burned through seasons of "Travels with my Father" and "Nadiya's Time to Cook" on Netflix during 1-hour lunch breaks on the MateBook X Pro.
The 3000 x 2000 is pin sharp, I marveled at how well Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell kept their 90s supermodel frames half a century past.
Streaming "Market Edge with Cathy Yang" wasn't bad either, the audio sharp enough to transcribe on the fly.
Transferring photos from the Mate 30 Pro and the P40 Pro was effortless thanks to Huawei Share.
As with other slim laptops, be careful when placing the device on uneven surfaces like a bed, pillow or couch. It will heat up. In such case, reboot and rest a few minutes.
I can't give a full verdict on battery life as I have this inexplicable compulsion to top up midday. On days I forget to plug in though, I went from 8 a.m. to mid afternoon on around 80 percent brightness. That's more than enough power for an afternoon of pretend working at a cafe.
IT WILL COST YOU
The MateBook X Pro retails for P119,990. That's asking a lot, but consider that it can replace my MacBook Pro at the same price point.
Get the MateBook X Pro if you want a premium, powerful laptop that can last a couple of years. It has a beautiful display, blistering performance and a firm keyboard. No one wants a limp set of buttons.
If you're budget conscious, the MateBook D 15 at P37,990 is a solid choice.
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