In a nutshell, the Huawei MateBook D 16 is a commendable laptop. It’s targeted at professionals, aiming to compete with Dell’s XPS series, but at a more budget-friendly price. It excels in certain areas, especially performance. However, it falls short in refinement and simplicity compared to its rivals. This is evident in its build quality and software. Despite these shortcomings, it’s a suitable laptop for professionals.
Pros
- Appealing design
- Good specs for the price
- Excellent color accuracy on the IPS screen
Cons
- Unavailable in the US
- Absence of dedicated graphics affects gaming
- Average battery life
Huawei MateBook D 16 Quick Overview
The Huawei MateBook D 16 is a noteworthy laptop. It’s been a popular choice for those seeking a sleek, reliable laptop with a solid spec list. The 2024 model doesn’t disappoint.
This laptop stands out with its wide range of specifications. It offers five different models, from the Core i5-12450H with 8GB of DRAM and 512GB of storage, to the top-tier model with the Core i9-13900H, 16GB of DDR5, and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.
The build quality is quite good for its price. It features a sleek aluminum finish, a full-size keyboard, a large trackpad, and a bezel-less screen. It has numerous ports and subtle branding, making it a cost-effective alternative to the XPS series.
However, the keyboard falls short. It feels soft and lacks the satisfying tactile feedback found in other laptops in this price range. Its quietness is its only redeeming quality. The trackpad, while large, is nothing extraordinary.
In terms of performance, the Huawei MateBook shines in everyday tasks and light office work. It’s fast and smooth, and the IPS panel enhances the user experience. However, tasks requiring GPU power may disappoint due to the limitations of the Intel Iris, compared to dedicated GPUs from Nvidia or AMD.
Despite these drawbacks, and its awkward software, the Huawei MateBook D 16 2024 is a compelling choice, especially considering its £1200 / €1300 price point.
Huawei MateBook D 16 Review: Price
The Huawei MateBook D 16 is priced from £500 / €600 and is currently available in the UK and the EU. This price gets you a 16-inch screen with a 1920×1200 IPS display, a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H CPU, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
The model I’m reviewing is priced at £1200 / €1300. It offers an upgrade to 16GB of LPDDR4X memory, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and a CPU upgrade to the Intel Core i9-13900H, increasing from 8 cores and 12 threads to 14 cores and 20 threads.
Please note, that due to the US government’s ban on Huawei products, this laptop isn’t available at US retailers. However, importing is an option, and considering the low starting price, it could be a worthwhile investment for US customers.
Huawei MateBook D 16 Review: specifications
| Base Model | Mid-Range Model | Top-Tier Model | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £500 / €600 | £700 / €800 | £1200 / €1300 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-12450H | Intel Core i5-13420H | Intel Core i9-13900H |
| Graphics | 12th-gen Intel UHD Graphics | 13th-gen Intel UHD Graphics | Intel Iris XE Graphics |
| Memory | 8GB LPDDR4x | 16GB LPDDR4x | 16GB LPDDR4x |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD | 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD | 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| Display | 16-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) IPS, 300-nits | 16-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) IPS, 300-nits | 16-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) IPS, 300-nits |
Huawei MateBook D 16 Design Review
The Huawei MateBook D 16 is a well-crafted laptop with a sleek design and robust I/O options. Huawei is targeting the XPS market with this model. The MateBook’s slim profile, measuring only 17mm in height and weighing a mere 1.72 kg, is strikingly similar to the XPS. Its smooth aluminum finish gives it a sophisticated look.
The branding is subtle, with a Huawei logo on the back and a smaller one on the bottom screen bezel. The MateBook D 16 boasts a 16-inch 1920×1200 FHD+ IPS display with a peak brightness of 300 nits. The display is sharp and vibrant, thanks to its 142 pixel density, 1200:1 contrast ratio, and 100% sRGB compatibility.
During my testing, the color accuracy remained consistent. The slim bezel and unobtrusive webcam enhance the overall screen experience.
The keyboard, however, is a bit disappointing. It lacks tactile feedback and feels spongy, despite its well-lit white LED backlighting. The trackpad is large and functional, but not exceptional.
The laptop offers a decent selection of ports, including USB Type C, USB 3.2 Type A, USB 2.0 Type A, HDMI, and a 3.5mm 4 pole combi jack. While not extensive, it’s sufficient for most users.
The audio quality is a weak point. The down-firing speakers produce loud volume, but the sound is tinny due to a lack of bass and lower mids. This is noticeable when compared to more sophisticated audio systems like those in the Dell XPS or Asus ROG Zephyrus.
Huawei MateBook D 16 Performance Review
The Huawei MateBook D 16 offers satisfactory performance for productivity tasks but falls short for gaming. If you’re seeking a laptop for gaming or creative work, you might want to consider other options. The absence of a dedicated GPU, even with the support of Intel’s Iris graphics, doesn’t provide significant performance improvements compared to other devices in this price range.
The laptop’s CPU, the Intel Core i9-13900H, is quite capable of a lightweight mobile processor. It has 14 cores in total: six performance cores for high-load tasks like rendering and managing large data sets, and eight efficient cores for background tasks and low-power operations. This configuration provides 20 threads, which perform well in benchmark tests.
In the GeekBench 6.2.1 test, it scored a notable 12,568 points in the multi-core test, comparable to a Ryzen 5 7600X desktop processor. The single-core score was also impressive at 2,605, similar to an Intel Core i5-14600K desktop processor or AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Paired with 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM, it performs reasonably well in tasks like Photoshop.
The SSD is another area where the MateBook shines, especially considering its price. In the CrystalDiskMark test, it achieved sequential read speeds of 4,905 MB/s and write speeds of 3,952 MB/s, making it a fast drive.
However, gaming performance is a different story. In my tests, it scored just 10.27 fps in Borderlands 3 at 1920×1200 on the Ultra preset, which is far from playable. Total War: Warhammer III achieved a more acceptable 33.9 fps, but only on the “Low” graphical preset. Any higher setting caused the game to crash due to insufficient memory.
I also ran a couple of 3D Mark tests. The Wildlife Extreme score was 13,731, but the Solar Bay test for mobile ray tracing was not available due to the lack of a dedicated GPU.
Battery Review: Huawei MateBook D 16
The Huawei MateBook D 16 boasts impressive battery life, thanks to Intel Evo’s unmatched efficiency. During my testing, I found that it could last between seven to eight hours with mixed usage, including light gaming, watching YouTube, and handling work tasks.
However, the battery life may drop to around one to two hours if you plan to game. This is due to the absence of a dedicated graphics card, which means the CPU has to handle more tasks. You might want to keep it plugged in during gaming sessions for optimal performance.
On the bright side, the laptop charges quickly, courtesy of the included 65W adapter.
Considering the Huawei MateBook D 16? Here’s what you need to know:
Go for it if…
- You’re in the market for an affordable professional laptop. The MateBook D 16, with its sleek and clean design, is a great fit for office use and light Photoshop tasks.
- You’re after a quality screen without breaking the bank. The 1920×1200 IPS panel on the D 16 is quite impressive. It may not match an OLED panel, but it’s also not as pricey.
Think twice if…
- You plan to game during your downtime. While Intel’s Iris graphics are energy-efficient and fine for streaming Netflix, they fall short for more intensive gaming.
- You’re particular about keyboards. The keys on this model are somewhat spongy and may not appeal to those accustomed to premium chiclet or mechanical keyboards.
Huawei MateBook D 16: scores out of 100 for each aspect:
| Aspect | Score |
|---|---|
| Design | 85 |
| Performance | 70 |
| Battery Life | 80 |
| Screen Quality | 90 |
| Keyboard & Trackpad | 65 |
| Port Selection | 75 |
| Gaming Capability | 50 |
| Value for Money | 80 |