Huawei Matebook (8GB + 512GB) Review | 168 Data compared

The 2016 Huawei MateBook is a premium, ultra-thin 12-inch Windows 10 tablet praised for its 6.9mm design, 2,160 x 1,440 resolution display, and extremely fast side-mounted fingerprint sensor. However, its fanless Intel Core m-series processor causes performance bottlenecks, and the 33.7Wh battery offers only mediocre, "OK" life. Significant compromises include a reliance on a single USB-C port and the need to purchase essential accessories—such as the keyboard folio, stylus, and dock—separately, which significantly increases the total cost. While the keyboard folio features backlighting, it is criticized for a stiff typing experience and a weak, unstable stand design. Ultimately, while the MateBook offers high portability, CNET suggests competitors like the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S provide better value, better screens, and longer battery life.

The Huawei MateBook (2016) is a sleek, ultra-thin 12-inch 2-in-1 tablet featuring a premium aluminum body, a vibrant 2,160-by-1,440 IPS display, and a convenient fingerprint reader. Pros include its lightweight design and solid build quality, while cons focus on performance limitations from the fanless Intel Core m5 processor under heavy loads and underwhelming 6-hour-and-19-minute battery life. PCMag UK notes that the overall value is diminished by the need to purchase the keyboard, pen, and dock separately, making it a less practical choice compared to rivals.

The 2016 Huawei MateBook is a "gorgeous" 2-in-1 Windows tablet that excels as a sleek home entertainment and light productivity device, featuring a 6.9mm thin metal design and a sharp 2160x1440 display. Key pros include the high-resolution screen, a comfortable keyboard, and respectable battery life for basic, intermittent use. However, significant cons arise from its 12-inch size, which makes it cumbersome for on-the-go use and challenging to use in a lap, alongside a limited port selection requiring expensive adapters. While the tablet starts at $700, the total cost for a full PC experience approaches $1,000 when adding the $129 keyboard and $59 pen, leading to a recommendation to compare it with competitors like the Surface Pro 4.

In a 2016 Forbes review, the original Huawei MateBook is praised for its "master craftsmanship," featuring a sleek, lightweight 6.9mm metal body and a vibrant Quad HD display. The 2-in-1 device offers high portability and an excellent side-mounted fingerprint scanner, though the Intel Core M processor and 4GB of RAM can cause occasional, minor performance stutters during heavy multitasking. As a laptop replacement for professionals, the MateBook excels in portability, outmatching a MacBook Air in size, and provides roughly five hours of battery life. It bridges the gap between smartphone design and Windows 10 productivity, offering a more versatile, albeit sometimes less polished, experience than the 2016 iPad Pro. Conversely, the device faces significant drawbacks as a tablet, with a flimsy, optional keyboard accessory that hampers "lap-ability". While suitable for work, the Windows 10 tablet-mode software feels less refined than iOS, and the lack of a rear-facing camera may be a drawback for some users.

The 2016 Huawei MateBook is described as an ambitious 2-in-1 hybrid with a premium, slim aluminium build and a bright 12-inch display. Pros highlighted include an excellent fingerprint scanner and strong, full-day battery life. However, major cons include an unstable portfolio stand that causes wobbling and a spongy keyboard with an unresponsive trackpad. Furthermore, the device suffers from overheating while charging and a severe lack of ports, requiring an expensive adapter for standard connections. Daily Express

The Huawei MateBook is a visually striking, ultra-slim 12-inch hybrid that struggles to outperform the Surface Pro 4, despite a bright, color-accurate IPS display and a premium build. While the Intel Core m5 processor efficiently handles basic, everyday tasks, the device falters under heavy workloads and lacks adequate port connectivity, offering only a single USB-C port. Key drawbacks include a poor 6-hour battery life and an unstable, "bouncy" folio keyboard, making it less practical and more expensive than competitors when accessories are added.

Paste Magazine describes the 2016 Huawei MateBook as a visually striking 2-in-1 device featuring a premium 6.9mm aluminum chassis, a brilliant 12-inch IPS display, and a responsive side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Despite its aesthetic appeal and silent, fanless operation, the device is plagued by severe functional drawbacks, including a subpar battery lasting only 4–5 hours and a tendency to become "frighteningly warm" under load. The review strongly criticizes the unstable keyboard portfolio, which makes lap usage nearly impossible, and notes that the single USB-C port requires an expensive, mandatory accessory for basic connectivity. Ultimately, due to these execution flaws, the review concludes the MateBook is a pass compared to competitors like the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.

The Mirror UK review describes the original Huawei MateBook as a sleek, aluminium-built hybrid that prioritises aesthetic appeal, featuring a high-quality design, a crisp 12-inch IPS display, and a convenient fingerprint scanner. While suitable for light tasks like web browsing and media streaming, the device is limited by a single USB-C port, which restricts connectivity unless an optional £80 dock is purchased. Furthermore, with only five hours of battery life and a less stable folding keyboard stand, it is positioned more as a premium, everyday device rather than a high-performance laptop replacement.

The 2016 Huawei MateBook is a strikingly thin and lightweight 12-inch Windows 10 tablet featuring a premium aluminum design and a vibrant 1440p display. Key pros include a fast, well-placed fingerprint sensor and excellent portability, though the screen's glossy finish causes reflections. However, the device is severely limited by a cramped, expensive keyboard folio that features a laggy touchpad and an unstable stand. Performance, driven by a fanless Intel Core M processor, is suitable for light tasks but struggles with intensive work. Furthermore, the lack of ports—requiring a single USB-C for charging and data—and underwhelming five-and-a-half-hour battery life hinder its productivity potential. Ultimately, it is described as a flawed first effort.