Early Verdict
The new MateBook X Pro keeps that same alluringly minimalist design and pitch-perfect ergonomics, while seriously upgrading the display and internals. Outside of this laptop yearning for Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite.
Huawei’s laptops have always been known for being sleek, but the newest one, the 2024 MateBook X Pro, really takes it up a notch. This Intel Core 9 Ultra-powered, 14.2-inch screen laptop weighs only 980g and measures only 13.5mm.
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Pros
- +Visually alluring, durable design
- +OLED display is mesmerizing
- +Touchpad and keyboard are best in class
- +Speakers are surprisingly great
- +Powerful Intel Core Ultra performance…
Cons
- -but please, give me Qualcomm
- -Expensive at (potentially) £1,799
- -No 3.5mm headphone jack
The Huawei MateBook X Pro has been an underrated ultraportable over the past couple of years. In fact, last year’s model is my favorite laptop of the year .
We also talk about how the display on the super thin MacBook is “bright and colorful,” but the 14.2-inch flexible OLED panel here is simply jaw-dropping from every angle. Chalk that down as another check in Huawei’s column.
The keyboard feels better to type on, the trackpad is arguably the best I’ve ever used with its elegant surface and software trickery. The Morandi Blue magnesium alloy is head and shoulders above the MacBook Air — both in terms of eye-catching color and its resistance to fingerprints.
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| Huawei MateBook X Pro (2024) | M3 MacBook Air (13-inch) | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 12.2 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches | 12 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches |
| Weight | 2.2 pounds | 2.7 pounds |
Plus, we can’t go any further without talking about that weight. I expected a little heft — like the 2.7-pound MacBook Air is by no means heavy, but you can feel its weight. At 2.2 pounds, this CNC Unibody is lightweight unlike anything I’ve felt before.
Huawei MateBook X Pro (2024): Cheat sheet
- What is it?A powerful, thin and light Windows notebook
- Who is it for?For the hard workers on the go — needing something ultraportable to get intense creative work done, while needing a good screen for watching videos during long trips.
- What do we like?At 2.2 pounds, it’s the lightest laptop I’ve ever used — but it doesn’t skip on the power with an Intel Core Ultra 9 and 32GB DDR5 RAM. This all keeps images superfluid on that drop-dead gorgeous OLED touchscreen display, and the attention paid to the delicate keyboard and gigantic touchpad is unmatched.
- What don’t we like?Expect this to be expensive. On top of that, the 40W TDP of the Intel chip (while good for performance) does mean the battery takes a little bit of a hit.
Huawei MateBook X Pro (2024): Specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Huawei MateBook X Pro |
|---|---|
| Display | 14.2-inch (3120 x 2080) touchscreen OLED, 3:2, 120Hz refresh rate |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H |
| GPU | Intel Arc integrated graphics |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 RAM |
| Storage | 2TB SSD |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-C |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E |
| Battery | 70 Wh |
| Size | 12.2 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches |
| Weight | 2.2 pounds |
Ridiculously good looking
The same magnesium alloy shell returns (something that Huawei calls the “skin-soothing metallic body”) — carved into this curved, utilitarian shape that looks unmistakably luxurious from every angle. And this new lighter blue finish adds an alluring dash of personality to the otherwise minimalist elegance.
On top of that, this thing is durable. I’m not saying it’s like those ultra-rugged systems that you see people drop from great heights (please don’t do that), but the rough-yet-smooth surface covering the laptop has undergone a Micro-arc oxidation process to improve water resistance. What this translates into is a laptop that’s impressively resistant to fingerprints and stains.
Funny story: the reviewer’s guide every journalist received with a new product they’re testing suggested that I spill coffee on the surface, which immediately terrified me. But the photos you are looking at here were taken after I did indeed spill some prime Costa Rican dark coffee on the lid and wiped it off. Not a single bit of staining, and no fingerprints even when I was eating some Monster Munch
Unmatched ergonomics
It’s not just about the tools. It’s about how you use them, and the Huawei MateBook X Pro is a key example of that — offering arguably the best typing and clicking experience I’ve ever used on a Windows laptop.
The subtle dish of every key paired with 1.5mm of travel and a soft-yet-tactile landing of each key leads to a delightful typing experience, which matches the ergonomic greatness of the MacBook Air/Pro.
But let’s talk about the massive touchpad that goes all the way up to the bottom edge like an infinity pool. Following in Apple’s footsteps, there’s no actual mechanical click, as it’s all a solid-state construction. The haptic motor mimics clicks with a strong crispness, which gives you a gorgeous response to every interaction.
Instead, it’s edge controls! The left edge controls screen brightness, the right changes the volume, and moving across the top will scrub back and forth through videos. Once you experience it, you’ll find it hard to go back to any other laptop — it’s kind of a “why doesn’t everybody do this” kind of innovation that I love.
You’ve also got other gesture controls, such as knocking to take a screenshot or start a recording, but I’ll cut to the chase. This continues to be the best touchpad/keyboard combination I’ve ever used on a laptop.
A true feast for the eyes and ears
The older X Pro models were already a joy to watch movies and listen to songs on, but Huawei has gone a step further with four simple letters: OLED. Put simply, this 14.2-inch display is a masterpiece to the eyes.
Pairing a super sharp 3.1K resolution with a 3:2 aspect ratio and 120Hz refresh rate, this tall, crispy screen is a color-accurate joy to work on with up to a 1000-nit peak brightness. In all the lighting conditions I threw at this.
And my word what a sight it is. The vibrant colors melt off the screen and the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio adds real depth to my time watching 3 Body Problem. But probably most surprising is the six-speaker setup here.
Whenever I see a laptop this skinny, tinny audio is sort of assumed of it. However, with impressive bass and a great, surrounding soundstage of well-balanced highs and mids, these speakers can overwhelm any time the fans kick up nicely.
Huawei MateBook X Pro (2024): Verdict
If you come at the king, you best not miss, and Huawei has come correct with the MateBook X Pro — putting the M3 MacBook Air on notice. Matching its performance, while being lighter, packing a gorgeous OLED panel, and the best keyboard/touchpad combo I’ve used on a Windows laptop, Apple is clearly in its sights and the shot’s been taken.