We answer your questions by explaining what each model offers and helping you decide if one of them is right for you. Best in Show – See our MWC 2019 Award Winners!
MateBook 13 vs 14 vs X Pro: Price & Availability
The MateBook 13, at least one version of it, was shown off at CES 2019 and goes on sale at the end of February. You can read our review here. The model we’re comparing here, though, is the one that will be available in the UK and Europe and is slightly different because it includes Huawei Share 3.0, a handy feature which we’ll explain below. Huawei says it will be on sale by the end of February. The 14 is brand new, and the X Pro is an updated version of the 2018 model, reviewed here. These two will be available in April. UK pricing hasn’t been confirmed, but Huawei has now confirmed the following models and prices:
MateBook 13
€999: i5 + 8GB + 256GB + Intel 620€1099: i5 + 8GB + 256GB + MX150€1199: i7 + 8GB + 512GB + Intel 620€1399: i7 + 8GB + 512GB + MX150 + touchscreen
MateBook 14
€1199: i5 + 8GB + 512GB + MX250€1499: i7 + 16GB + 512GB + MX250 + touchscreen
MateBook X Pro 2019
€1599: i5 + 8GB + 512GB + MX250 + touchscreen€1999: i7 + 16GB + 1TB + MX250 + touchscreen
MateBook 13 vs 14 vs X Pro: Specifications
The easiest way to see how these three compare is to watch the video at the top of this page, but we’ve also put together this helpful table of the key specs as well.
MateBook 13
This is the ‘entry-level’ model but all three are high-end ultraportables. It should be fairly obvious – if you know your MacBooks – that the range is designed to offer a Windows alternative to each of Apple’s current range. The 13 in the name relates to the screen: it’s a 13in touchscreen with a resolution of 2160×1440. That’s just about enough, we think, for the size to avoid criticism and it’s certainly great quality. Bezels are a bit thicker than on the MateBook X Pro, but the 88 percent screen-to-body ratio is more than respectable. Plus, it allows the webcam to go at the top where it belongs, rather than in the keyboard where you end up with unflattering views on Skype. Specs are a little cut down to meet the price point: you can’t have more than 8GB of RAM and you can’t have the faster Nvidia MX250 graphics chip that you’ll find in higher models of the 14 and X Pro. To clarify, the base model has the Core i5, Intel graphics and 256GB of storage, but there’s a step-up option with the MX150, a Core i7 and 512GB of storage. Oddly, Huawei decided not to put a traditional USB port on the MateBook 13 which we think is a mistake: you’ll have to use an adaptor if you want to attach a USB flash drive. The aluminium body and keyboard layout is similar to the other models, and it both looks and feels good. It’s also the lightest of the bunch – because it’s the smallest – and Huawei says you’ll still get 10 hours of battery life despite the 42Wh cell. Huawei Share 3.0 is built-in, which means there’s an NFC chip which works with Huawei phones that are running EMUI 9.1 or later. Tap your phone on the chip and it launches the app which lets you transfer photos and other files via a direct Wi-Fi connection. Among other features, Share 3.0 also gives you universal copy and paste, so you can copy some text on your phone and then paste it on your MateBook.
MateBook 14
For many people this will be the pick of the bunch. It has most of the features of the X Pro, but will cost less. It has – you guessed it – a 14in screen, but it shares the lower resolution of the 13in model, so has a pixel density of 185ppi. However, it’s still a great touchscreen with 100% sRGB coverage (so colours are vibrant) and wide viewing angles. There are two standard USB ports, convenient for attaching a wired mouse or external hard drive, as well as the modern USB-C. Usefully for some, there’s a full-size HDMI port which neither of the other two models possess. You have a choice, again, of a Core i5 or Core i7 and if you opt for the latter you get 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and the MX250 GPU. Performance, then, is just as good as the MateBook X Pro. The 14’s battery capacity is the same, too, so you’re only really sacrificing the higher resolution screen and a few other luxuries. As with the other models, it has NFC for Huawei Share 3.0.
MateBook X Pro
Externally, the 2019 X Pro is identical to the 2018 model. Upgrades are internal with 8th-gen Intel chips and the MX250 graphics chip rather than the MX150. If you own the 2018 version, it isn’t going to be worth upgrading unless that 10-15 percent performance jump is really important. But, for the other 99 percent of people who don’t already have the pleasure of owning one, the MateBook X Pro is a superb laptop which has gorgeous looks and great performance. It’s only slightly smaller and thinner than the MateBook 14, but the slimmer screen bezels and higher resolution display elevate it to premium status – and a premium price. Fortunately, there’s still a USB-A port along with the pair of USB-Cs, and as this is the updated 2019 model, you also get Huawei Share 3.0. The Thunderbolt 3 port now runs at ‘full speed’ which means it’s twice as fast as the 2018 model and can now support 4K displays. We’ll bring you reviews of all three shortly, but you can read our full review of the 2018 MateBook X Pro for more details about this model. Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
