The Matebook X Pro from the Chinese manufacturer Huawei is a beautiful Windows laptop. No wonder – because the device could come from Apple. Despite the obvious copy, a second look is worthwhile.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel when the supposed optimum has already been achieved. That’s the motto the engineers at Huawei must have followed when they designed the Matebook X Pro. Because if you taped off the subtle manufacturer logos, the device would pass as a colored MacBook in every street survey. Nevertheless, the manufacturer has managed to create a really good Windows notebook – as the star test shows.
The similarity to the Apple model is immediately apparent when looking at the case. The Matebook X Pro comes with a chic magnesium case and a matt blue tone, is skilfully rounded off and weighs around 1.3 kilograms. On the underside it really looks exactly like an Apple computer, the display cover is adorned with a subtle “Huawei” lettering. There are a total of four USB-C ports (two of which support Thunderbolt 4) and a headphone jack on the sides.
Learned from Apple and skillfully implemented
If you open the device, you immediately notice the huge touchpad, which Huawei has even extended to the lower edge of the case and thus offers a lot of space for the fingers. The keyboard is also reminiscent of Apple, Huawei relies on huge black keys with a comparatively large drop, which enable a pleasant typing experience. Six speakers have been placed on the side, which sound really great when watching movies or games.
When you turn it on, the elementary difference to a MacBook finally becomes clear: the Matebook X Pro is of course a computer with Microsoft Windows. In terms of screen, the device uses a 14.2-inch display with a high-quality IPS panel. The resolution is 3120 x 2080, the pixel density is 264 PPI. Huawei specifies the maximum brightness as 500 nits, the refresh rate is a maximum of 90 Hertz. As far as image quality is concerned, the Matebook X Pro can easily compete with an Apple computer, especially since Huawei even uses a touch surface and the device can be operated with the fingers.
Unlike Apple, Huawei does not build on its own hardware solutions, but uses a twelfth generation Intel Core i7 processor (1260P) and an Intel Iris Xe graphics card. The available RAM is 16 gigabytes, the fast SSD offers one terabyte.
A real office guy – who doesn’t like to play
Despite the really up-to-date equipment, Huawei does not achieve a performance miracle with the Matebook X Pro – at least when it comes to graphically complex applications or games. The device is well equipped for everyday tasks, office work or the occasional game night with medium graphic details.
In the “PC Mark 10” performance test, the Matebook X Pro achieved a score of 5617 points. According to the test provider’s comparison table, the device is thus far above a conventional office laptop and slightly below an older gaming PC. Translated: When it comes to labour-intensive software, the Matebook X Pro doesn’t give up that easily.
If the reserves do run out, the device can even be switched to a performance mode – a kind of “turbo button”. However, this does not result in a bonus in the everyday benchmark “PC Mark 10”. The performance boost is more noticeable in games and corresponding tests. The device gets 1733 points in the 3DMark test “Time Spy” in balanced mode, with extra boost 1911. If you compare that with the database of the provider, that translates to significantly more performance than a conventional office laptop, but also only about a third of what gaming notebooks offer. For the sake of completeness, it should be said that the usually very quiet fans are a bit annoying at high performance and the computer audibly feels most comfortable in “balanced mode”.
Runs out quickly – but regains strength quickly
Turbo mode is only available when the cable is connected. Otherwise, the device withholds some performance for the sake of the runtime. The battery measures 60 watt hours, which is quite tight in combination with an Intel processor. With full display brightness under load, i.e. in games, it is over after almost two hours, the device lasts about five hours in everyday office use. That’s about half compared to an Apple machine – not good.
After all: Huawei includes a charger with 90 watts with the Matebook X Pro. This means that the battery is completely full in one and a half hours, and the device can be charged to 80 percent in less than an hour thanks to the quick charge function.
The rest of the equipment is really round: The Huawei Matebook X Pro offers a fingerprint sensor, a biometric scanner for the face, a webcam of sufficient quality and four USB-C ports, some with a fast Thunderbolt 4 connection. When it comes to wireless Internet, the Huawei is even ahead of Apple and installs a current Wi-Fi 6E module from Intel.
Conclusion: You have to want to afford the Huawei MateBook X Pro
The Huawei MateBook X Pro is first and foremost a pretty design notebook that doesn’t mind everyday tasks and office work. Video editing or photo editing are also easy with the Apple clone, while the screen is beyond doubt. The MateBook X Pro also has exemplary solutions for the keyboard and trackpad that even Apple can hardly do better.
The device is less suitable for games due to the weak graphics card. The fans are a bit annoying with high power consumption. The battery life is quite short, the device will only manage a full working day in exceptional cases and with a dimmed screen. With a power outlet within reach, that’s no problem, because the Huawei MateBook X Pro charges extremely quickly.
The price is still getting hairy, at least for now. Because Huawei charges 2200 euros for the MateBook X Pro. At least with extras. If you order directly from the manufacturer, you will currently receive a monitor and an adapter with a total value of 500 euros (as of November 25th, 2022). Attention: This does not apply to resellers such as Amazon or Media Markt!
The price makes it difficult to give the device a general recommendation. Even a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro processor costs less, not to mention the 13-inch devices with an M2 CPU. If it absolutely has to be Windows, great devices like the Lenovo Yoga 9i (reviewed here) or the Microsoft Surface Studio (reviewed here) can be found on the price scale long before the 2200 euros for the Huawei device are reached.
This article contains so-called affiliate links. There is more information here.
