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HUAWEI MateBook 14 (2024) Review—A Timely Offering

Just in time for the opening of the new academic year, HUAWEI is promoting its latest array of mobile innovations designed to increase creativity and productivity. Aiming to provide Filipino consumers with a stylish way to create and innovate, HUAWEI is adding to its growing laptop lineup the all-new HUAWEI MateBook 14 (2024).

Clad in a refreshing metallic green body, the HUAWEI MateBook 14 is an elegant laptop that can suit the preferences of various user types, such as students, content creators, and young professionals. As its name suggests, the MateBook 14 laptop sports a 14.2-inch OLED display. Given the screen size, one might think it is a heavy laptop, but it is not. With 14.5mm thickness and 1.31kg weight, the MateBook 14 is an ideal mobile solution for users who are always on the go.

Featuring ultrathin bezels, the touchscreen display of the HUAWEI MateBook 14 provides a pleasing view while doing various tasks and handling content materials not only because of the size but also because of its 2.8K (2880 × 1920p) resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio, and 91% screen-to-body ratio. With these characteristics, users can open, view, and work on multiple documents, spreadsheets, webpages, or applications simultaneously without frequently minimizing or closing any of them. For enhanced content manipulation, the MateBook 14 pairs well with the third-generation HUAWEI M-Pencil, allowing users to take notes or sketch more efficiently.

The OLED panel of the HUAWEI MateBook 14 delivers 450 nits of brightness and 1.07 billion color depth, making graphically rich videos and games more appealing when you watch them. Prolonged working or playing with the MateBook 14 should not be a big deal. The TUV Rheinland Eye Comfort 2.0-certified screen features hardware-level low blue light and 1920Hz high-frequency pulse-width modulation dimming to prevent eye strain.

Below the display, the HUAWEI MateBook 14 incorporates a frameless keyboard. Deviating from the traditional laptop keyboard design, the curved-edged keyboard design of the MateBook 14 eliminates the issue of dust accumulation and makes typing easier. Adjacent to the keyboard is a spacious trackpad for effortless maneuverability even without a mouse. The bottom cover of the MateBook 14 is perforated with dot-patterned air vents (5000 air holes, 0.4mm apart) for efficient cooling and heat dissipation with the help of dual shark fin fans. HUAWEI claims that this design is more durable than traditional rectangular air vents.

Within its slim body, the HUAWEI MateBook packs a powerful set of hardware components, consisting of an Intel Core Ultra processor, Intel Arc GPU, and up to 32GB RAM (the model in this review has an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU clocked at 3.80GHz, 16GB RAM, and Microsoft Windows 11 Home OS). The laptop also carries a 70Wh battery that can support up to 19 hours of local 1080p video playback. The battery supports fast charging through a USB-C port. The bundled charger is not cumbersome too. Other physical connectors present in the MateBook 14 include a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an HDMI port. Meanwhile, the wireless connectivity options available in the MateBook 14 include Bluetooth and HUAWEI Metaline Antenna that supports Wi-Fi 6.   

Maximizing its optimal software environment, the HUAWEI MateBook 14 features Super Device, which allows instant and effortless pairing with other wireless devices nearby. Huawei PC Manager, an additional feature available in the MateBook 14, seamlessly creates a collaborative ecosystem with a smartphone, tablet, or monitor for wireless data transfers and content casting. Bringing virtual conferencing to a more intelligent level, the AI Camera of the MateBook 14 has features such as Eye Contact and FollowCam for natural eye contact and facial focus during video calls and Virtual Background for more accurate edges to profiles. To complement visual enhancements, the MateBook 14 also enhances the audio aspect of video calls through AI Voice by filtering out ambient noise (Sound TrueVoice), creating the sense of an office environment (Sound TrueHD), and putting more focus on call participants' voices (Personal Voice Enhancement).

Combining elegant design with cutting-edge features, the HUAWEI MateBook 14 aims at users who want a stylish, reliable laptop equipped with tools to keep up with their game while on the go. The MateBook 14 has a remarkable touchscreen display, neat keyboard and trackpad layout, powerful hardware set, optimized software ecosystem, and essential connectivity options—all niceties a newbie or an advanced user is looking for in a laptop. In the Philippines, the HUAWEI MateBook 14 is available in two CPU variants: Intel Core Ultra 5 (₱59,999) and Intel Core Ultra 7 (₱69,999).