Huawei MateBook D 16 (2024) review

Huawei’s ongoing US commerce ban has badly affected its Android smartphones and tablets within the UK and Europe. Nonetheless, an settlement with Microsoft means there aren’t any such issues for its laptops, which run on full Home windows 11.  

What’s extra, MateBook units are famend for his or her glorious worth for cash, particularly when in comparison with the likes of Dell’s XPS vary and Apple’s MacBook Professionals.  

So, in case you’re in search of a 16-inch laptop computer and don’t want top-tier efficiency, why wouldn’t you go for the 2024 version of the MateBook D 16?  

It begins at simply £699.99 for starters however there are a couple of the explanation why it may not be best for you. 

Design & Construct

• Traditional gray aluminium design
• Comparatively light-weight
• Just one USB-C port

If you happen to’ve used any current Huawei laptop computer, the design of the MateBook D 16 can be acquainted to you. The aluminium chassis is useful if a bit of boring, particularly within the House Gray end which is your solely color choice. 

Nonetheless, I can’t deny that it’s very effectively constructed, and feels sturdy sufficient to resist years of use. A extra eye-catching design would’ve been good, however the minimalist look makes it appropriate for just about any situation. 

Regardless of the selection of premium supplies, the MateBook D 16 weighs simply 1.68kg. That’s comparatively gentle for a 16-inch laptop computer and means it gained’t crush your bag an excessive amount of when travelling.  

At 17mm when closed, it’s under no circumstances the thinnest laptop computer on the market however that helps it to keep away from feeling flimsy with out including pointless bulk. There’s additionally room for an honest vary of ports, although Huawei might’ve executed extra with the area out there.  

My largest criticism is that there’s just one USB-C port. It signifies that whilst you’re charging, you possibly can’t join many fashionable equipment with no separate hub. The port additionally doesn’t help the newest Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 requirements for quick information switch. 

It’s higher information elsewhere, with two USB-A ports (albeit the older 2.0 commonplace), full-size HDMI and three.5mm audio jack. I’ve usually complained in regards to the lack of USB-A on fashionable laptops, however simply want it hadn’t come at the price of USB-C performance right here. 

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Display & Audio system

• 16-inch, 1920×1200 IPS show
• Spectacular, however not essentially the most color correct
• Stable twin stereo audio system

Because the identify suggests, the MateBook D 16 is provided with a 16-inch show – particularly, a 1920×1200 IPS LCD. The display screen gained’t blow you away, but it surely persistently impresses throughout virtually all on a regular basis duties. 

Throughout my two weeks utilizing it as my predominant laptop computer, there have been no apparent weaknesses. Every part from net searching and Phrase paperwork to picture modifying and YouTube movies seemed nice. I by no means felt like I used to be lacking out by not having an OLED. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

That could be completely different if you wish to use a laptop computer for severe picture modifying or watching motion pictures and TV reveals, although. Its 98% protection of the sRGB color gamut is stable, however 76% of AdobeRGB and P3 reveals there’s room for enchancment close to color accuracy. 

Nonetheless, I discovered it to be greater than acceptable for informal use, particularly with good element and viewing angles. The dearth of a excessive refresh fee is a disgrace, however the usual 60Hz is much much less noticeable right here than on a smartphone or pill. 

The show shouldn’t be contact delicate, however I didn’t miss having this. It’s not a vital characteristic, however one which I’ve loved utilizing on some earlier Huawei laptops.  

Elsewhere, I recorded a most show brightness of 315 nits. That’s completely wonderful for nearly all indoor environments, however you possibly can just about overlook about good visibility open air. 

By way of audio, the MateBook D 16 boasts twin stereo audio system. Regardless of their place on the underside of the system, audio high quality is spectacular. There’s a heat and depth to the sound that isn’t at all times out there on laptops, plus a pleasant hit of bass. 

At max quantity, it could ship close to room-filling sound with none audible distortion.  

Keyboard, Trackpad & Webcam

• Respectable, massive keyboard and trackpad
• Nice fingerprint sensor in energy button
• Disappointing 720p webcam

The dimensions of the MateBook D 16 means there’s loads of room for each a full-size keyboard and separate quantity pad. I largely ignore the latter, but it surely could be essential to you as, for instance, an accountant. 

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Both means, it doesn’t take lengthy to regulate to the position of the keys. Inside a couple of minutes, I used to be again typing near my common velocity – regardless of the mannequin I examined utilizing the German keyboard structure. 

Every key affords 1.5mm of journey, making it satisfyingly clicky with out getting too loud. And there are two completely different ranges of backlighting, so it’s simple to see what you’re typing from a darkish room. 

Huawei has added a couple of additional controls to the row of operate keys, together with shortcuts to the calendar and PC Supervisor app, plus toggles for Wi-Fi, the webcam and extra. 

Speaking of the webcam, the MateBook D 16 is provided with a 720p lens. It’s naturally positioned above the show, moderately than constructed into the keyboard like some earlier fashions. It instances out earlier than lengthy which is presumably to avoid wasting battery however annoying, nonetheless. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Nonetheless, there’s no bodily privateness shutter, and picture high quality isn’t nice. I usually seemed boring and grainy on video calls, and it struggles to regulate to shiny or dim environments. 

If you happen to want a high-quality webcam, you’ll need to get an exterior one. 

With no IR sensor for Home windows Howdy face unlock, the fingerprint sensor constructed into the facility button is your solely various to manually getting into a pin or password. Fortunately, the fingerprint sensor is without doubt one of the greatest I’ve tried on any laptop computer, persistently unlocking the system with a fast faucet. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Specs & Efficiency

• Sturdy Core i9-13900H efficiency
• Least expensive mannequin makes use of i5-12450H as an alternative
• 512GB or 1TB SSD

Efficiency on the MateBook D 16 will differ vastly relying on the mannequin you get.  

The model I examined is powered by the Core i9-13900H, some of the succesful processors in Intel’s 13t-gen vary. Alongside a bumper 16GB of RAM, efficiency is predictably glorious. 

My day by day workflow contains dozens of Chrome tabs, Phrase paperwork, Slack messaging, loads of emails, plus common video calls and a few picture modifying. Even with all these open on the identical time, there was no slowdown in anyway. I couldn’t even hear the followers kicking in. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

The massive show makes it well-suited to multitasking, and I’m assured the high-end mannequin can deal with just about all office-related duties with out breaking a sweat. 

Sadly, I can’t be so positive in regards to the entry-level model. Not solely is the i5-12450H a a lot much less highly effective chipset, it’s from the older Twelfth-gen vary which was launched again in early 2022.  

I can’t touch upon its efficiency, although different laptops with related specs have been good on a regular basis units however in case you’re planning to make use of the MateBook D 16 for a number of years, I’d have considerations over the way it would possibly maintain up over time, particularly with solely 8GB of RAM right here. 

On each fashions, you’ll get Iris Xe built-in graphics moderately than a discrete GPU. It means the system is unsuitable for the likes {of professional} graphic design and demanding video games, however that’s most likely not what you’re shopping for it for. 

Storage additionally varies between fashions, although I’m positive most individuals can be pleased with both a 512GB or 1TB SSD. Each are beneficiant for his or her respective worth factors. 

Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 aren’t fairly the newest requirements, however this isn’t a problem until you may have a really fashionable router or audio gear. 

Huawei MateBook D 16 (2024) benchmarks

Right here’s how the laptop computer compares to different big-screened laptops, although most of those are dearer:

Battery & Charging

• 56Wh battery on most cost-effective mannequin
• Stable battery life from high-end 70Wh cell
• 65W USB-C charging

Battery capability is one other factor that varies relying on the mannequin you select. The most affordable model will get a 56Wh cell, whereas the pricier mannequin advantages from a beefier 70Wh. 

Nonetheless, even on the latter, battery life is stable moderately than spectacular. I made a acutely aware effort to unplug it at 100% shortly after beginning work at 9.30am, and it was right down to single figures simply after 5pm. This was with brightness fairly excessive, however solely Wi-Fi utilization and common day by day workplace duties. 

Subsequently, the MateBook D 16 falls simply wanting what I’d describe as all-day battery life. You’ll wish to be close to an influence supply as the top of the day approaches.  

After all, you will get for much longer from a cost in case you’re simply watching a film or TV present. In our 720p video loop battery check, the MateBook D 16 lasted a decent 14 hours and quarter-hour. 

Whenever you do run out of battery, the 65W charger within the field is comparatively fast by laptop computer requirements. It went from 0-21% in quarter-hour, then 40% after half an hour. A full cost took simply over 90 minutes which isn’t dangerous in any respect. 

Software program

As I discussed in the beginning of this overview, the MateBook D 16 runs a full model of Home windows 11 Residence. 

There are only a few adjustments to the core Microsoft software program expertise. In truth, I might solely discover three: Huawei PC Supervisor (for connecting to Huawei units), Huawei Cellular Cloud (cloud storage) and Huawei Management Panel (for fast entry to fashionable instruments). 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

These can be genuinely helpful for some folks, however I used to be capable of ignore them with none problem from pop-ups or notifications. 

As of late, Home windows 11 is slick and effectively optimised for a conventional laptop computer like this. It affords tons of options, in depth customisation and the flexibility to obtain virtually any app through the net. It tends to battle extra with contact enter, however that’s not an issue right here.  

Even when a brand new main model of Home windows launches quickly, the MateBook D 16 could be very prone to be appropriate. 

Worth & Availability

The MateBook D 16 has a pricing construction that you simply don’t usually see on laptops beginning at £699 for an Intel i5-12450H mannequin with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.  

Nonetheless, the one various within the UK is a £1,199 model with a Core i9-13900H, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. That’s fairly the soar with nothing in between resembling a Core i7 choice. 

Each are available for purchase from the Huawei UK web site, the place the i9 mannequin features a free pair of Huawei’s FreeBuds 5 earbuds. Like all Huawei units, it’s not out there within the US, although you might be able to import one. 

One of the best options will differ relying on which mannequin you select, however the likes of the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16, Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 and even Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air supply higher worth for cash than the MateBook D 16. 

Do you have to purchase the Huawei MateBook D 16 (2024)?

It’s troublesome to sum up the MateBook D 16, with its dramatically completely different specs between fashions, so it depends upon which one you plump for.  

On one hand, it affords a compelling expertise for simply £699, with an satisfying show, spectacular keyboard and stable construct high quality. The fingerprint sensor is superb, too. 

All these issues are additionally true of the £1,199 mannequin, but it surely will get the good thing about a way more highly effective processor and bigger battery. 

Contemplating each fashions undergo from a poor webcam, just one USB-C port and no discrete graphics, neither is a straightforward advice. 

However when you think about the shortage of succesful sub-£700 laptops on the market, the MateBook D 16 continues to be probably the greatest choices on the market. The high-end model is a tricky promote, although.

Specs

• 248.7 x 356.7 x 17mm   
• 1.68kg 
• 16-inch 2.5K (1920×1200) IPS show, 60Hz 
• Full-size keyboard with backlighting 
• Giant trackpad   
• 720p webcam   
• Twin stereo audio system   
• Fingerprint energy button   
• Intel Core i5-12450H/Core i9-13900H 
• Intel Iris Xe graphics  
• 8/16GB RAM 
• 512GB/1TB SSD 
• 2x USB-A 3.2  
• 1x USB-C 3.2 
• 1x HDMI  
• 1x 3.5mm audio jack   
• 56/70Wh battery 
• 65W USB-C charging 
• Wi-Fi 6  
• Bluetooth 5.1 
• Home windows 11 Residence