On the same day that Microsoft announced the next generation of the Surface Pro, and a day after HP announced several lightweight 2-in-1 and clamshell laptops, Huawei, too, announced its entry into the lightweight laptop conversation with the Huawei MateBook X. It’s a 13-inch clamshell running Windows 10 and decked out with many of the premium specs that the original 2016 Huawei MateBook forewent.
The new MateBook X isn’t a 2-in-1 and doesn’t have a touchscreen like its predecessor. Instead, it’s more powerful, coming with an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, and it’s thinner (12.5mm) and lighter (2.31 pounds). It also boasts a beautiful 2K 2160 × 1440 display, a Dolby Atmos sound system and a nearly bezel-less design.
All told, the MateBook X looks and feels more like a MacBook Air; considering the better sound system and the likelihood of a lower going rate than the MacBook Air, you can add Huawei to the growing list of manufacturers that Apple should take seriously.
The MateBook X charges via USB-C, yet it’s equipped with all the other ports you could need: USB Type-A, DVI and HDMI, plus an additional USB-C port for charging other USB-C devices. The MateBook X will come with the choice of 256GB or 512GB SSD of storage, and either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. Pricing has yet to be announced; expect the MateBook X to ship this summer.
