Gadget Review: MateBook 13

When you hear about Huawei, the first thing that probably comes to mind is smartphones. But those really in the know won't be surprised that they go beyond mobile phones, wearables and smart devices. The Chinese giant also makes laptops. They've been a rather quiet player on that front, but they've just busted out a new campaign to let you know they want to move into your computing consciousness.
At long last, the Huawei MateBook 13 is finally here. The original MateBook, for those who aren't familiar with it, was unveiled at the 2016 edition of the Mobile World Congress and was a 2-in-1 laptop-tablet hybrid.
Huawei's newest machine has a 13-inch FullView touchscreen display, and what I like about it is that, even at its brightest setting, it doesn't strain your eyes. While it does have an 88 per cent screen-to-body ratio, the bezels - particularly those on top and below - could've used more trimming (understandable above, since there's a tiny front camera to house). The display tilts only up to about (an estimated) 45-50 degrees.
The keyboard is glorious to type on, popping out at just the right low-rise height to allow your fingers to glide smoothly. There are two configurations for this machine; we have the higher-end of the lot.
By now, you may have realised that this is a shaved-down version of the MateBook X Pro from last year. And - thankfully - the webcam on the MateBook 13 is now on top, compared to the former's annoying pop-up 'sunken camera' on the keyboard.
There are only three ports located towards the rear of the base: a 3.5mm audio jack and two USB-C ports on both sides, with the one on the left also serving as the charging port and the one on the right supporting DisplayPort. Could've used a couple more of these, and the lack of a traditional USB-B and memory card reader could be an issue for some.
The ditching of the USB-B, however, can be attributed to the fact that Huawei was going for a really slim form factor: at 14.9mm, it's one of the thinnest out there. But I believe there's still room for the elements I've mentioned above. But scratch that: right out of the box is the Huawei MateDock 2, which adds additional slots for HDMI, VGA and - yes - USB-B. Case closed.
On to our standard one-hour YouTube-at-full-brightness battery test. Again, we've done it in two levels: one on battery saver mode and the other at best performance. The results: 14 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively. Hmm. that's a bit too much for the latter, so unless you don't need any apps syncing or running in the background, just switch to lower tiers of battery modes.
AND SO.
It's a fact that Huawei isn't really a major player in the laptop game, but if the MateBook 13 is any indication - building from the momentum of the Pro X - this could be the start of the company launching a platform to compete with rivals. There are a few edges to polish though, as it stands, they're not terribly alarming so to speak. It does provide interesting value for money.
alvin@khaleejtimes.com