Huawei MateBook X Pro (i5-8250U, 8 GB) in review: The 3K ultrabook with fold-out camera

Almost two years ago, Huawei launched its first MateBook as a thin ultrabook. With the second generation, one thing is clear: Huawei wants to be present in the laptop market in the future. A good reason to put the Chinese to the test with the MateBook X Pro.

There are really a lot of notebooks on the market. Apple produces the thinnest and most practical models. This year, I became aware of Huawei's ultrabooks with the new MateBook X Pro. Now I was able to get my hands on a test device with the cheapest features, an i5-8250U processor from Intel with 8 GB RAM, and I have tested it for you.probeers.

Image: © 2018 TechnikNews

First things first: it's in the box

When you open the small box of the MateBook X Pro, the ultrabook itself appears. Underneath there are small boxes with the power supply and cable, and there is also the Huawei MateDock, which serves as an extension for the few connections. But more on that later. Otherwise there is nothing more than a few pieces of paper - with a quick start guide and a warranty certificate.

There's not much in the box - but enough. (Image: © 2018 TechnikNews)

Processing and housing

When you first pick up the MateBook X Pro, you'll immediately notice how light it is. At 1,33 kg, it's pretty light compared to the competition (Apple MacBook Air (2018): 1,25 kg). Otherwise, with dimensions of 14,6 x 304 x 217 mm, it's also pretty thin and practical. In addition to the hard facts, Huawei's ultrabook is very well made and makes a high-quality impression from front to back. The aluminum casing has no sharp edges or other unevenness. The display doesn't wobble either and is relatively stable - so it's almost impossible to open with one hand.

Huawei's ultrabook is insanely thin. (Image: © 2018 TechnikNews)

Borderless on the front: display

The Huawei MateBook X Pro's almost borderless 13,9-inch display in 3:2 format has a resolution of 3.000 x 2.000 pixels. The content is displayed in a very colorful and high-contrast manner - the pre-installed Windows 10 Home can also be operated via the display using the touchscreen. However, the touchscreen does not make the display reflective.

This aspect is particularly noticeable in the sun - here the MateBook X Pro is not really suitable for working, although I was very impressed with the display brightness overall. There is also the option of automatic brightness, but this was always off and too dark. In general, the display always responded very accurately during the test and also tends to collect fingerprints.

Unfortunately, due to its 3: 2 format together with the 3K resolution, this display has some disadvantages, especially when connecting to a screen or projector. Due to the lack of support with these formats, the icons often enlarge and it is no longer possible to work properly on the external screen due to the distorted resolution. If you set the resolution back, the display on the MateBook itself no longer fits. Annoying.

Equipment

My test device has an i5-8250U processor from Intel, along with 8 GB of RAM. There is also the MX150 graphics unit with 2 GB DDR5 from Nvidia on board. I had a fast 256 GB NVMe SSD available for storing personal data on my test device. This is partitioned with C: (for Windows) and D: (Data) as standard when delivered. For just under 200 euros more, you get an i1649-7U, 8550 GB RAM and 16 GB SSD for a RRP of 512 euros. So if you regularly use Photoshop or want to edit videos on your laptop while on the go, you should definitely invest the extra 200 euros because of the larger RAM. On top of that, there is also WLAN 802.11a/​b/​g/​n/​ac and Bluetooth 4.2.

Externally, the MateBook X Pro is equipped with two USB-C ports (one of which is Thunderbolt 3.0) and one USB-A 3.0 ("normal" USB) port. In addition to the USB-C port on the left side, there is also a 3,5mm jack plug and a small status LED to display the charging status. There are 4 speakers on the bottom, which are all equipped with Dolby Atmos. Not much bass, but rich and clear sounds. The microphone was comparatively quiet, but could be heard clearly by the person you were talking to.

A little word about the expandability of the MateBook: Unfortunately, the RAM is firmly soldered on - a shame. The built-in M2 SSD can, however, simply be pulled out and expanded as required.

Workflow

Since the MateBook X Pro even accompanied me to the IFA 2018 in Berlin, I had enough time to test the keyboard extensively - especially since you have to write quite a few articles on the go at the IFA. I also noticed a few other points during the test - which are simply relevant for the workflow with a notebook.

Good typing on the keyboard

The pressure point of the keyboard is very pleasant and it is also quite quiet. However, dust tends to collect under the individual keys, but this is relatively easy to remove. For most people, the camera on a notebook (for meetings, etc.) is simply part of the workflow, especially in the business sector. Others usually cover it with tape. The latter is not necessary, although the MateBook X Pro even has a webcam due to the narrow display edge.

The webcam with privacy

The webcam is integrated into the keyboard, which can be opened by clicking on the button. If you are used to the front camera on Huawei smartphones, the camera on the MateBook X Pro will disappoint you - as was the case for me. The image quality with a resolution of 1 MP leaves a lot to be desired - for example, the face looks retouched by the camera and is generally quite dark. Unfortunately, the viewing angle is not really optimal due to the installation in the keyboard. If you sit directly in front of the ultrabook, you are usually only visible up to your neck. Alternatively, you have to move back a little - only then are you completely visible, but then you can no longer type on the notebook. The idea of ​​the camera is not bad for protecting your privacy, but in practice - realistically speaking - it is rather useless.

The position of the webcam is a big advantage in terms of privacy, but realistically not necessarily practical. (Image: © 2018 TechnikNews)

Sign in with a fingerprint sensor

A cool extra is the existing fingerprint sensor on the MateBook X Pro. This also serves as an on/off switch, considering how practical that can be. If you click the button to start Windows, you will be shown the login screen with the correct finger instead of the password. proregistered without any problems. In general, the fingerprint sensor worked as well as ever during the test, sometimes a maximum of two more attempts were necessary. However, logging in via the webcam with Windows Hello is not possible.

The fingerprint sensor of the MateBook does a good and fast job and serves as an on and off switch at the same time. (Image: © 2018 TechnikNews)

Long battery life for long days

The decisive factor when choosing a notebook – especially when you are on the move – is the battery life. The MateBook surprised me very positively here. A whole day at the IFA with a few writing breaks without a single charge was no problem at all. In my runtime test, the MateBook X Pro lasted 9 hours on WLAN prowithout problems. The ultrabook was fully recharged in just under two hours using the assigned USB-C quick charger.

An ultrabook with a graphics card - also suitable for games?

With the MateBook X Pro, Huawei has installed a GeForce MX150 graphics card from Nvidia. Despite this, the ultrabook is simply not suitable for playing demanding games. In 3DMark 11, my test device achieved a score of around 3500 points. When playing Fortnite the laptop got quite warm and the fan turned up to full speed, which occasionally starts to squeak under load. So it can be said: despite the graphics card, nothing to gamble on, but Photoshop and Adobe Premiere run proflawless. It is precisely for these activities that the advantages of a graphics card are obvious.

Conclusion - copied the apple?

The MateBook X Pro looks really modern thanks to its edgeless display and at the same time is very similar to Apple's MacBooks. Specifically, the second generation of Huawei's Ultrabooks is particularly impressive in terms of battery life, performance and features. While the MateBook X Pro is quite practical and thin, it also lacks all the ports. Unfortunately, there is no SD card slot and no option to use it with a SIM card. The problem was quickly solved with the included Matedock 2, but the third version could also include an SD slot.

The camera is realistically unusable due to the strange viewing angle, but offers more privacy than other notebooks. Unfortunately, the display cannot be folded back more than 180 degrees and the 3K resolution in connection with the unusual 3:2 format leads to display together with projectors and external screensprotrouble. With the high-contrast and colorful display, together with the touchscreen, this disadvantage is forgiven over time.

Extras like the fingerprint sensor definitely make sense in a notebook, and you don't want to be without the decent speakers either. The integrated graphics card is also quite helpful for video editing or image processing.

In conclusion, the 2nd generation of Huawei's MateBook is definitely worth a look, but there are still a few things that could be improved in the next version. If you're looking for a compact, thin and durable device with a fast SSD, but don't necessarily need things like a decent webcam, you should definitely take a closer look at the Huawei MateBook X Pro.

Models and prices

The MateBook X Pro is currently available in three different model variants. The processor you can choose from is an i5-8250U with 8 GB RAM or the i7-8550U with 16 GB RAM. If you opt for a 512 GB SSD instead of a 256 GB SSD, you only have the i7-8550U with 16 GB RAM to choose from. cheapest option is currently on Amazon at a price of 1444 euros and the most expensive version available at a price of 1649 euros.

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