Huawei is committed to being a world leader in the PC and wearable segments. The change in strategy is due to the sanctions that have been imposed on him and that have already been reflected in his position and relevance in the smartphone segment, in which he was “very happy” at the time.
But currently the brand has focused its strategy on other segments and the brand’s latest launches already reflect this commitment, as is the case of the new Matebook D16 laptop, launched at the end of June.
But after entering the PC segment just six years ago, does Huawei already have models capable of being market leaders? For the past few weeks, I have been working and having fun with the Matebook D16. It was my company during working hours, it worked as my main work tool and it was my “screen” to occupy my free time with my favorite series. Now I share with you the time we spent together and all the experiences that, together, we have outside.
Unboxing and first impressions
As soon as we open the box, we are in for a pleasant surprise. The 65-watt charger built into the Matebook D16 is small, light and similar in design to a smartphone charger; it can even charge a Huawei smartphone, if needed.
Then it’s time to get the laptop out and it almost fell out of my hand as it’s pleasingly light and compact for a laptop with a 16-inch screen. The “look” is characterized by being elegant and quite discreet. In addition to the not too ornate gray chassis, it only has the brand name engraved on the dashboard.
Initial setting
Then we move on to the exciting moment of turning on a laptop for the first time and preparing it to be our company in the days to come. In my opinion, the initial setup was simple, easy, and quick. In less than five minutes I had the language configured, the fingerprint unlock system activated and the screen with the most comfortable settings for my eyes.
Credit is not mine alone, the instructions are clear and follow every step the user takes in this initial setup. From now on it will work and have some entertainment for testing purposes only of course.
Fingerprint unlock system
The Huawei Matebook D16 has a fingerprint scanner built into the power button. This same scanner can be configured to unlock the computer using its user’s unique fingerprint.
And the method works quite effectively. In my experience, it always recognized my fingerprint, rejecting other people’s fingers. Obviously, this is not a crucial feature, but it is very practical in everyday life and very responsive, bringing the user, immediately and with minimal effort, to his desktop. It may be an accessory feature on a laptop, but it has an unexpectedly addictive and practical character.
comfort in use
If we work on a laptop, we are (at least) eight hours confined to a computer that, over time, can become uncomfortable. This is not the case with the Huawei Matebook D16. The keyboard is comfortable in daily and extended use, with reasonably sized keys that don’t make a deafening typewriter-style noise. The numeric keypad, despite having smaller keys, is comfortable to use and being positioned to the right of the user, can be very helpful when entering data with numbers.
In turn, the trackpad is a good size and quite responsive. If users are used to working with a mouse (as is my case), a short adaptation time is necessary to create the routine for performing the gestures that are recognized by the machine.
Answer calls on Matebook D16
Now we go to something totally different. The Matebook D16 can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth and connecting the two is easy – again, with instructions for each step. As soon as they are connected, the icon referring to the connection to the cell phone appears in the bottom bar of the screen, which gives access to text messages (SMS), the photos saved in the gallery and the list of contacts, which can be selected for make calls.
Everything is synchronized and connected so that when the smartphone receives a call, we have a pop-up window that allows us to answer through the laptop or smartphone. And here we have a good and a bad experience.
On the positive side, as soon as the phone rings, the Matebook D16 notices it immediately and triggers the pop-up to answer it. On the negative side, none of my interlocutors could hear me well, which means that in this case the microphone was not made for this function, which has the potential to be very useful and appreciated by users.
performance and connectivity
I tested the MateBook D16 version equipped with the Intel i7-12700H processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. As expected (and desired) it offers fast and fluid performance, even with multiple windows and applications open at the same time.
For this reason, it is a good companion during working hours, since it does not “gag”, nor does it take an unmotivating eternity to complete any task. He doesn’t suffer from overheating issues either. After several hours of operation, both for work and leisure, the lower area was cool. The Matebook D16 passed the “lap test” with distinction, not burning its legs, even after four hours of running on this unavoidable platform (yes, our legs; laptops always end up there somehow).
In terms of connectivity, it has inputs for everything you need. Two USB-C ports with data, charging and one DisplayPort capability, one USB 3.2 port, one USB 2.0 port, one HDMI port, and the invaluable 3.5mm headphone jack. Plus IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1, of course. Therefore, it is ready to connect to all the other equipment necessary for a work or entertainment session, without having to carry adapters.
Screen and sound quality
Matebook D16 is equipped with a 16-inch screen that provides a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels, a maximum brightness of 300 nits, a contrast ratio of 1200:1 and a viewing angle of 178 degrees. These are the values announced by Huawei, which I found point by point and everything is confirmed.
The screen not only provides a good image, but thanks to the low blue light and the absence of flickering, it does not tire the eyes so much. Therefore, after several hours of work, it is still possible to continue looking at this screen and move on to the entertainment stage.
And how does the screen behave with a series that bets on dark environments and is being seen in streaming? He behaves really well. The contrast is ideal for quality images, no matter how dark the scene, and the colors are vibrant enough to keep us focused on the action on the screen.
Let’s move on to sound quality. The sound emitted by the Matebook D16 is quite reasonable, especially in movies and series with clear dialogue. But when we go to the live concert test, we have to turn up the sound to considerable decibels to have a more immersive experience. Still, the sound quality is quite satisfactory.
battery duration
Being a laptop, autonomy is crucial. On this particular point, the Matebook D16 has room for improvement. It can last up to six hours, away from the charger and power source, if used only for working with documents, applications, and browsing the Internet on web pages. If we add, for example, a selection of music to be uploaded by YouTube, the autonomy drops to three or four hours.
In entertainment, an hour-long episode of a series to be delivered in Full HD consumed around 30% of the battery when fully charged. It has capacity, roughly speaking, for three episodes of Game of Thrones, this measure is almost universal.
Therefore, the charger must always be with the user. The good news is that, in addition to the charger being small and fairly light, the laptop charges quickly, thanks to the 65-watt support printed on the charger itself.
Dimensions and weight
As I said at the beginning of this review, the laptop is quite light and compact. Its weight of 1.7 kg makes it very easy to transport, especially if it is accommodated in a backpack, designed for laptops, which distributes the weight.
In turn, the dimensions of 356.7×248.7×18.4 mm make this one of the most compact laptops in the 16-inch category.
Strengths
- comfort in use
- 16 inch screen
- Elegant and compact design
- Light weight
- connectivity
- Fingerprint Unlock
To improve
- battery duration
- Audio on phone calls
verdict
The Huawei Matebook D16 provides fast and efficient performance thanks to the specifications it integrates. The screen is one of the strengths of this equipment, being comfortable to use for eight hours (or more) of work. In entertainment, it delivers the quality we want with vibrant colors and contrast that deliver detailed images.
As for autonomy, this is where there is room for improvement. Currently, the demands and needs of the users exceed the battery life provided by the Matebook D16. Moreover, being a 16-inch laptop, but with the weight and compact dimensions of a 15-inch model, it is the ideal equipment to accompany us in our routine on the go. But the doorman will have to accompany you everywhere. On the plus side, the charger is equally compact and lightweight, which is no shame.
All users who need an efficient laptop for work and leisure have a good purchase option here. But remember: the charger will also have to go and no more than four to six hours from a socket.
specs
- 16 inch screen
- 1920×1200 pixel resolution
- 300 nits maximum brightness
- Intel i7-12700H
- Intel Iris X Graphics
- 16 GB of RAM
- 512GB SSD
- 2x USB-C
- 1 USB 3.2
- 1 USB2.0
- 1HDMI
- 1 3.5mm audio input
- WiFi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
- Bluetooth 5.1.
- Home Windows 11
- Weight: 1.7kg
- Dimensions: 356.7×248.7×18.4mm
Price and variants
Matebook D16 is available in two variants: one with Intel i7-12700H, 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD that costs 1,249 euros and another with Intel i5 with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD that is available for 949 euros Both offer six free months of Huawei Care – Screen protection against accidental damage.