I have used many laptops. Among the many that I have personally tested are laptops from Huawei such as MateBook, MateBook D series and MateBook X Pro series. Among my favorites is definitely the X Pro model, as it has a premium build, great performance and even a haptic touch pad.
But what excites me the most is the MateBook 14s model. It doesn't have the premium design of the X Pro, but the screen is HDR with a 90Hz refresh rate, has a quality bezel-less camera with Windows Hello support and no hidden keyboard and fast performance that I haven't experienced in the majority of laptops I've tested .
Recently, Huawei has come with a new model which is MateBook 16s. Although in the same series with a larger screen, it only upgrades the processing chip. The cool features and functions I loved on the MateBook 14s have been ditched on this model. So is it an interesting laptop worth owning?
Specifications & Design
Huawei Matebook 16s
16″ IPS LCD screen, 3:2
2520 x 1680 pixels, touch
Intel Core i7-12700H processor
Intel Iris Xe graphics
RAM 16 GB LPDDR5
Internal Load 1TB GB NVMe SSD
1080p camera
I/O 1x USB-C
1x USB-C Thunderbolt 4
2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
1x HDMI 2.0
1x 3.5mm audio jack
HDMI Yes
Card Reader None
Fingerprint Scanner Security
No SIM
84Wh battery
90W USB-C fast charger
Selling Price RM6,799
As I said earlier, the MateBook X Pro has a beautiful and premium design – but other than that it's not. For this MateBook 16s, it uses a design that is more or less the same as other MateBooks. Although the design is more or less the same, the construction is stronger and does not have a bend on the screen or on the keyboard. This is a bonus, to give the laptop durability. Most interesting for me is that the screen can be opened with one hand, which many laptops still do not support.
The MateBook 14s is the first to use a webcam on the screen bezel and no longer hidden in the keys on the keyboard. This continues in the MateBook 16s, which I really like. It makes more sense with the camera point of view instead of pointing at the nostrils. The screen also comes with a thin bezel that gives a wider view and with a 3:2 ratio display, it's comfortable to use especially for me who works as a writer.
MateBook 16s as its name suggests, uses a 16-inch screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1680 pixels, powered by an Intel Core i7 -12700H chip, Intel Iris Xe GPU and 16GB RAM LPDDR5 memory and 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD internal storage.
When the bottom panel is opened, only the SSD can be replaced by the user while the RAM is soldered to the motherboard. To open this panel is also a bit difficult as it requires a torx screwdriver. A little disappointing but what Huawei has done is better than Apple which does not allow self-upgrade after purchase because everything is soldered to the motherboard.
It doesn't support Windows Hello face unlock, but there is a fingerprint scanner built directly into the circular power button. I/O options are quite luxurious with 1x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connection ports, 1x USB-C for charging/video output, 1x full-size HDMI 2.0, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Huawei MateBook 16s also supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. The only drawback here is that there is no built-in memory card reader.
Usage Experience
Not many laptops out there use screens with a 3:2 ratio, Huawei and Microsoft are among the two brands that do. This 3:2 ratio is suitable for reading and writing, but less attractive for enjoying entertainment when the screen is not OLED. Huawei also no longer includes the 90Hz and HDR support previously provided on the MateBook 14s.
Even so, the color display of the screen is still beautiful and bright and feels smooth even though it is only 60Hz. On laptops the lack of 90Hz or 120Hz support is not really felt because the user does not do fast scrolling on the screen as is done on the smartphone screen for example. Its absence can only be felt on a gaming laptop or if you've used a laptop with a high refresh rate like me.
Touchscreen support is not a must for me, and I rarely use it. But it's a bonus for the extra controls that are easier and faster. The 16-inch screen size is also large and allows me to open two software simultaneously in two windows side by side. It's too big for me who's used to 14-inches and under, but for other users I'm sure it's a good thing to take advantage of.
This laptop must run the Windows 11 operating system. It is also powered by an Intel Core i7-12700H chip designed specifically for use on intensive work computers. I am very satisfied with the capabilities of this laptop at the beginning of use.
With 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, many applications can be opened simultaneously without causing issues. Up to 20 tabs in Chrome can be open at the same time Photoshop and Premiere Pro in the background. Multitasking enthusiasts won't complain when using the 16s.
I didn't experience any lag and performance issues during several hours of use. Not only that, the fan is also not noisy and the device is only warm and does not suffer from overheating.
Hot air is blown to the back with cold air sucked in through the mesh in the sole. Therefore there is no issue of feeling hot while doing work. But users need to be careful where the computer is placed. If it is on the thigh for example, you should always be aware that the air hole below is not closed.
Although still not able to compete with the Apple M1 or Apple M2 chips, this 12th generation Intel Core i7 chip is clearly powerful enough and great in memory management and very good at handling concurrently running software. Intel Iris Xe GPU assistance is also undeniably among the best built GPUs since the days of Intel UHD.
Performance And Benchmarks
The Huawei MateBook 16s laptop can run several games with graphics settings that are not too high. If you want to get rid of boredom by playing such games on medium graphics 1080p settings it can be played at 30FPS just fine. Even in benchmark tests, this laptop didn't heat up to extreme levels either.
I tested a lot like Geekbench 5, PCMark 10, Night Raid, CPU Profile, Time Spy Extreme and Fire Strike Ultra continuously – the fan was only a little noisy and that too for a short time. The temperature of the device is also still warm and typing on it is still comfortable and doesn't feel weird. The test was performed in a normal room with no air conditioning, no cooling accessories and some software still running in the background. However, for all these tests to be completed, the device took about an hour more to complete.
Here are the scores obtained;
PCMark 10 – 5,599 points
Geekbench 5 – 829/7551 score
Fire Strike Ultra – 1,356 points
CrystalDisk Mark – 3468.29 MB/s read, 2879.83 MB/s write
In comparison, the Geekbench 5 score recorded by the Apple M2 is 1891/8736 and the Apple M1 is 1730/7656. The 12th generation Intel Core i7 chips are not yet able to compete with Apple Silicon at this time.
Keyboard
I feel comfortable with the keyboard of the MateBook 16s because it is very similar to the MateBook 14s. The design is of the square chicklet type with a good space between the keys. Huawei did a great thing to ensure my typing experience was smooth, fast and efficient. The most important thing is that the keys are not so hard that it hurts the fingertips, resulting in mistakes when typing. The vertical movement distance is also quite good, making the process of typing a long article like this article quite comfortable.
I had a brief experience using the MacBook Air M2 with the Magic keyboard and the typing experience on the MateBook 16s felt the same. The only difference is that the larger body provides more comfortable and spacious palm rest when compared to the 13.6″ MacBook Air M2.
There is light support to help typing in the dark. There are two levels of evidence to choose from
Touch Pad
Laptops from Huawei often have a good touchpad for gesture control in Windows. But on the previous X Pro model, they started using a MacBook-like haptic system. The touch pad on the MateBook 16s also provides a good experience. It is smooth, easy to press and there is no problem even if the fingers are sweaty or have a little dirt.
It's also quite large in size when compared to the touchpad on a typical Windows laptop. This makes it easier to control the cursor more precisely when using applications such as Photoshop. The touchpad is good enough for photo editing in Photoshop without me connecting a mouse.
Only, for right and left click it is less satisfactory because it is not sensitive enough. Several times when I want to press the right, I will press the left side so that it interferes a little with daily use. It was only after a few weeks of use that I was able to get used to this touch pad.
The touch pad of this device also has NFC for the use of Huawei Share, which is file sharing between Huawei smartphones directly to the device easily. It is an interesting method, in addition to sharing wirelessly.
Camera
The best change is in the position of the camera which is now on the top bezel of the screen instead of hidden in the keyboard. The design of the camera in the keyboard is interesting and increases privacy, but the fact is that it is less practical. The camera always looks up from the bottom causing the user's chin to appear large when attending a teleconference session. Fortunately this error was fixed in 16s.
The camera is equipped with a 1080p sensor that produces bright and adequate images for various situations. The viewing angle of the camera is easier to change by simply changing the opening angle of the computer cover. The only downside is that there is no more Windows Hello that was mentioned a few paragraphs above because it is a feature that is often used on the 14s that are used now. I also went back to having to buy a sticker for the webcam since it can no longer be physically hidden for privacy.
Speaker
The stereo speaker offered is a stereo type that points upwards and is placed on the left and right side of the keyboard. This location allows audio to be directly transmitted to the user's ears. Clear and loud audio can be heard without having to be placed on a hard surface which is an issue with speakers placed on the bottom of laptops.
Audio is not only loud but with clear instrument separation. I tested by listening to Glimpse of Us by Joji and Soledad y El Mar by Natalia Lafourcade. The position of the instruments in the soundstage and the separation of the piano/guitar is very good.
Not only that, the audio stage feels more open when compared to a MacBook Air M2 that received a lot of praise. The audio system on the 16s does not disappoint and is perhaps one of its most notable strengths.
Battery
The 84Wh battery can last around 6-7 hours in my moderately heavy daily use. It is for browsing the web, playing music, streaming videos, writing articles, doing basic photo and video editing. But in my experience, if the usage is lighter I'm sure it won't be a problem to reach up to 9-10 hours a day.
Recharging is done with the 90W charger that comes with every purchase. The battery can be recharged to half in 30 minutes and fully in around 80 minutes which is very fast for a laptop
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Huawei Matebook 16s.
1x 90W Charger.
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x warranty card.
Conclusion
The MateBook 16s is a laptop for users who want a portable computer with a large screen. It offers a good package in terms of amazing performance, long battery life, and a solid build that comes at a premium value. But it's not for me, as I prefer the MateBook 14s which has a face-based unlock system with very fast Windows Hello and a 90Hz screen with HDR display that the MateBook 16s doesn't have.
But it's a pity that this laptop is sold at a relatively high price of RM6,799. This may be due to the use of the Intel Core i7 -12700H chip which is widely used in gaming laptops. For productivity purposes, the U-series is actually sufficient. If you look at competitors, many are offered at prices around RM5000.
But the MateBook 16s competes in the same category with the 16-inch MacBook Pro 16GB/1TB and the M1 Pro chip. This model is offered at a price of RM 11,599 in Malaysia which makes the price of the MateBook 16s not seem excessive.
For the price of almost RM7000, Huawei will provide you with a premium usage experience together with their ecosystem such as Super Device which is friendly with all their devices as well as Huawei Share. Not only that, every purchase they will also give users a gift worth RM1700 such as a premium bag, Huawei Joy speaker and Microsoft Office.
Pro
The touch screen can be opened with one hand.
Beautiful display quality, bright, vivid and sharp.
Powerful chip with large RAM size.
SSD can be upgraded.
The keyboard is comfortable to use.
Long lasting battery with fast charging support
Excellent audio system.
Cons
There are no physical privacy features on the camera.
No more Windows Hello face-based unlocking.
No more 90Hz screens.
Relatively high selling price compared to Windows competitors.a