Review
Roderick Scott 0

The 2-in-1 computer: a lightweight tablet that doubles as a laptop.   Ever since Microsoft finally nailed their version of one w/ the Surface Pro 3, companies have been coming out of the woodwork w/ their version of it.  From Lenovo to Samsung to Apple and now Huawei has their version of one.  

Last week, Huawei made their announcement of their US launch for the 2-in-1 MateBook.  We left the event w/ one and all of its accessories.  Our model was 2nd from the top tier w/ the 8GB of RAM & 256GB SSD in the lovely Golden color + Tan keyboard cover.  And the new tech smell still w/ it.  We already know they can make a great smartphone w/ the Nexus 6P.  Time to see if they can do a 2-in-1.



The MateBook sports a super-thin tablet that can be wielded easily w/ the keyboard case or the tablet by itself, unlike other heavier 2-in-1 ones.  It only a USB-C port along w/ dual speakers, a fingerprint scanner in-between the volume rocker, and a 3.5mm audio jack.  Definitely, won't be enough ports for those who plan on doing some photo/video editing but that's where the MateDock comes into play.  More on it and the other accessories shortly.   

The 12inch IPS LCD panel on the MateBook is a complete joy to view all the visuals on.  The display isn't quite the QHD resolution as it is 2160 x 1440 instead of the 2560 x 1440 resolution you might be used to.  Bright colors, crisp imagery, and everything you could want in regards to beautiful display.  Making this ideal for productivity as well as entertainment.  

Many of you may be turned off by the MateBook being powered by a dual-core Core M chipset but it doesn't mean it lacks power.  Several YouTubers have proven the fact by editing 4K video on a Core M machine.  BTW, our review unit had a Core M5 to be exact.  We've come across zero performance issues w/ several Chrome tabs running as well as some batch photo editing on this machine.   This chipset working hand-in-hand w/ 8GB of RAM results in absolutely zero qualms about it.

Battery life could be better but charges fast, though.  

The 4430 mAh battery inside of the MateBook is quoted to offer up 9 hours of video & 10 hours of work.  During my time w/ it, I was able to pull 6-8 hours w/ a combined use of browsing, YouTube viewing, SoundCloud streaming, light gaming, etc.  All of this w/ the screen brightness at around 50, 60%. Good enough for a full day or work or decent flight.  It can also charge fully in just over an hour which is pretty impressive.  Glad to see devices other than smartphones utilize USB-C.

Now onto the accessories, Huawei made sure to live up to the Mate line by making the MateBook accessories fashionable & luxurious.  The keyboard case & MateDock cover are made of premium leather to help enhance the ambiance of the device.  I hope its quality can stand the test of time.  

Typing on the keyboard case is a lot better than it looks in photos as the keys have a nice clicky response rather than the shallow experience you might expect.  Moving onto the MateDock, it will be a necessity for those of you panning you moving media/files via SD card or standard USB.  Sucks that the had to sacrifice additional ports but at least they thought of this as a work-around.  And lastly, the MatePen is pretty accurate w/ 2048 sensitivity points.  The laser light is an interesting touch as it sits where the eraser would.  I, myself, am not much of a styus person but out of the ones that I have used, this sits among the top tier.  Job well done Huawei design team. 

TG 2 Cents

MateBook review-grade

MateBook: fashionable & powerful enough 2-in-1 w/ less than desirable battery life compared to the competition.  

Think of the MateBook as a more powerful & fashionable version of Galaxy Tab Pro S.  But this time around, you access to additional ports w/ the MateDock accessory.  So this is definitely a better-looking value for the other 2-in-1s on the market.  Making this the best-looking alternative to the Surface.  Now the only question you have to ask is: do you buy this of the Surface Pro 4?  Either way you choose, you can't lose as the MateBook starting point is a little cheaper for a Core M CPU. 

The MateBook starts at $699, the keyboard cover will cost you $129, the MatePen is $59, and the MateDock will cost you $89.  

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Author: Roderick Scott

Father. Husband. Creative. Mild foodie. Batman in my dreams.