Huawei MateBook D 16 – Review

While Huawei’s smartphones and tablets have suffered a bad impact due to its US trade ban, an agreement with Microsoft means that its laptops don’t have to deal with the same problem. In fact, MateBook devices have become popular for offering value for money. Anyone who wants a 16-inch laptop and does not require top-tier performance, the MateBook D 16’s 2024 edition is the perfect option.

Design and build

The aluminum chassis of the MateBook D 16 is functional, but can be a little boring, given that Space Grey is the only color choice you have. But, the laptop is well-built and can withstand years of use. The minimalist look means it can work for every scenario. Even though it uses premium materials, the laptop weighs only 1.68kg, which is quite light for the 16-inch laptop. When closed, it measures about 17mm, which means it is not slim.

This ensures that it does not feel flimsy, but is not bulky either. In addition, there is enough space for a decent range of ports. But, Huawei has only opted to add one USB-C port, which is disappointing. It also does not support the latest USB4, or Thunderbolt 4 standards for quick data transfer. Nonetheless, there are two USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio jack and a full-size HDMI.

Screen and speakers

As apparent from the name, there is a 16-inch display on the MateBook D 16, which is an LCD with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. While it will not blow you away, the display is quite consistent in everyday tasks. You will not feel like you are missing out on an OLED, whether you are watching YouTube videos, editing images, browsing the web or working on Word documents.

For casual use, the screen is more than acceptable, as it has good viewing angles and details. The 60Hz refresh rate is a bit disappointing, but it is not that noticeable. As for audio, the MateBook D 16 comes with dual stereo speakers. Even though they are on the underside, the audio quality is quite impressive because the sound has depth and warmth.

Specs and performance

The performance on the MateBook D 16 will depend on which model you buy. The best option is the one powered by the Core i9-13900H, which is Intel’s most capable processor in the 13t-gen range. It comes with 16GB of RAM, which enables it to deliver excellent performance. Even when you do multiple tasks simultaneously, the laptop does not slow down in any way.

Thanks to the large display, the device is more than suitable for multitasking and it can handle all office-related task without any lags. But, the entry-level version is powered by the i5-12450H, which is from the 12^th-gen range introduced in 2022 and comes with only 8GB of RAM. Both models do not have a discrete GPU; Iris Xe integrated graphics can be found. This means it is not suitable for demanding games and professional graphic design. Storage can either be 512GB of 1TB SSD.