The MateBook 13 is the latest Windows laptop by Huawei and a fine addition in the Huawei Matebook series. The Chinese tech giant had been planning to launch the MateBook 13 since May 2019. However, the launch was cancelled after trade sanctions by the US government which has been lifted for now. And the latest MateBook 13 is here at last after a year-long delay.
This is another high-end business-class laptop from Huawei with premium looks and features. Although Huawei has not released it across the globe yet, you can pre-order the MateBook 13 online. Not only you can get your hands on this striking Windows laptop, but you can also get a special Matebook offer.
Huawei MateBook 13 is the most value-packed flagship laptop around just like the previous Huawei Mate book model, Huawei MateBook X Pro. However, the MateBook 13 follows Apple MacBook’s design and mirrors MacBook Air’s scheme of ports. On the contrary, it features the elegance of a MateBook and runs on the Windows operating system.
For those who are more curious about its strengths and weaknesses, we have written a detailed review. Let’s see what Huawei Mate book has to offer and what specs it hides inside.
Specs sheet
Processor: Intel Quad-Core i5-8265U / 1.6GHz Max. Turbo Speed 3.9GHz
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 13-inch Quad HD (2160 x 1440) Resolution
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX250 Dedicated (GDDR5, 2GB)
Battery: Weight: around 2.87 lbs (1.3 kg)
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
SKU: 53010UGD
Huawei Matebook 13 looks good on paper, but does it carry the mantle in terms of performance as well? We have evaluated its design, specs and functionality to assess its overall performance.
Design
At a glance, the MateBook 13 appears identical to the X Pro in design, only with a smaller body. Huawei has gone with the same aluminium body and two colour choices. You can get it either in Space Grey or Mystic Silver colour. The main difference that we noticed upon opening the laptop was its webcam.
In the MateBook X pro, the webcam was hidden beneath the keyboard, which many users found irritating. However, Huawei had made up for the mistake and has restored the webcam above the display. The company has kept the integrated fingerprint sensor which it first introduced in the previous models.
Huawei MateBook 13 weighs around 2.87 lbs (1.3 kg) with a thin profile of 14.9mm. This is impressive considering the fact that it contains a dedicated graphics chip as well as a full-fat Intel mobile processor.
Display
Huawei MateBook 13 has a more square display than the typical 16:9 models. Its 13-inch Quad HD screen comes with an aspect ratio of 3:2. It offers more vertical screen real estate and you will find this aspect ratio ideal for office productivity work. If you have the chance to use the MateBook X Pro’s touchscreen display, you’ll love the MateBook 13 too.
The screen itself is bright and deliver crispy visuals with 1,440p resolution. The MateBook has an auto-brightness feature which is good but dimmed the display a bit aggressively. However, you can disable this feature if you find it non-productive. With a brightness of 300 nits, the MateBook 13 offers a contrast ratio of 1,000:1.
Keyboard
The keyboard of Huawei MateBook 13 extends from one edge to the other. This is a good thing as it minimizes the footprint. We felt the keyboard shallow with large keys and little key travel, but it offers a decent tactile feel. The key travel is about 1.2mm if you are a writer, you would find its feedback punchy and a bit forceful.
The touchpad is equally as impressive as its keyboard and also offer a clicky feedback. It is a Microsoft Precision touchpad and nothing but a delight to use. Although it does not have a glass coating, it is smoothly accurate.
Connectivity
Huawei MateBook 13 features two Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 1, one on each side. In addition, it houses a 3.5mm audio jack for audio support.
Performance
Huawei has equipped the MateBook 13 with a Core i5 CPU that offers a base clock speed of 1.6GHz. This is a quad-core processor that runs on the Windows 10 Home OS and could deliver a maximum turbo boost speed of 3.9GHz. Moreover, there is an 8GB RAM paired with 512GB SSD storage to ensure smooth performance.
We found the MateBook 13 highly responsive and easy to use. It opens apps promptly and while browsing the internet, we were able to surf smoothly between tabs. The MateBook can handle office programs and heavy software without showing any lags. You can work on media editing tools and can enjoy casual gaming as well.
Battery Life
The MateBook features a 41.7Wh battery and Huawei claims it can run up to 9.5 hours on a single charge. Of course, the laptop did not meet the expectation when we tested it for 1080p video playback. However, we were able to extract more than 8 hours of battery life which is still impressive.
Verdict
All in all, the MateBook 13 appears to be an impressive device as a flagship laptop. It has all the good features that you would want to have in a modern laptop. A sleek, stylish design, compact body, responsive display, high-end specs along with a good battery life. If you are looking for an affordable flagship laptop, Huawei MateBook 13 is the one.
