When buying a new laptop, you’d be doing yourself a massive disservice by not considering Huawei’s MateBook range of laptops. From the high-end, premium MateBook X Pro series to the company’s latest mid-range laptop offering, the 2024 MateBook D16, you’re getting elegant, refined design, impressive displays and great internals. The all-new, 2024 D16 has all of this and a compelling pricepoint for its i5 variant. But does this fleet-footed contender have the moves to outshine competitive offerings on the market?
Sleek and Sturdy Design
The D16 cuts a trim figure with its metal chassis and slim bezels, looking every bit the sturdy yet portable laptop. Tipping the scales at just 1.7kg, it proves pleasingly lightweight for a 16-inch device. The full-size keyboard allows for comfortable extended typing sessions, while the ample precision touchpad offers a smooth and responsive mousing experience. And for added convenience, Huawei has embedded a fingerprint reader into the power button.
Jaw-Dropping Display
The 16-inch IPS panel dazzles with its 1920 x 1200 resolution, delivering pin-sharp imagery and vibrant hues across its expansive screen real estate. With 300 nits maximum brightness, 178° viewing angles, 100% sRGB coverage and a screen-to-body ratio reaching 90%, it makes for splendid viewing whether hammering out documents or unwinding with Netflix. Though not touch-enabled, the near bezel-less display and 180° hinge allow flexibility in setups.
Potent Productivity Performance
Intel’s 12th Gen Core i5-12450H CPU joins forces with Intel UHD graphics, up to 16GB RAM, and speedy SSD storage of up to 1TB, allowing the D16 to breeze through everyday office tasks and lighter creative workloads. Gaming proved playable at modest settings despite some occasional frame rate dips, although that’s not what I’d be using this laptop for.
Huawei’s new Dual Shark Fin cooling system further bolsters sustainable performance, keeping temperatures in check even when pushing the hardware. Fan noise remains relatively muted as well.
Long-Lasting Battery Life
With average use, Huawei’s 65Wh battery keeps the D16 on its toes for a full day before requiring a recharge. Heavy workloads may necessitate a mid-day pit stop, however. The included 65W charger brings the battery back up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes – more than speedy enough for this class of laptop.
Connectivity and Added Extras
Physical connectivity covers the key bases with 1x USB-C, 2x USB-A, and a full-size HDMI port. The lack of Ethernet may frustrate some users with specific network requirements. Huawei’s Metaline antenna technology provides boosted Wi-Fi reception and range compared to previous generations.
On the software front, Windows 11 Home Edition comes pre-installed alongside some helpful Huawei utilities which is arguably my favourite thing about these laptops. Huawei Share enables convenient cross-device file transfers between Huawei devices in a way only ever previously seen between Apple devices.
The Final Flourish
With its roomy display, satisfactory computing muscle, premium-feeling build, and budget-friendly asking price, Huawei’s MateBook D16 2024 makes for an appealing proposition for students and productivity-focused professionals alike. Though not without some compromises, it brings plenty of value as a stylish mid-range performer and should be one of the top contenders when looking for your next laptop.
Buy the 2024 Huawei MateBook D16 here.
