The latest HUAWEI MateBook D15 laptop is here, and it promises some great features for those already embedded in the HUAWEI ecosystem. So if you’re already rocking the HUAWEI Watch and carrying the HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro as your daily driver, then you might want to consider the HUAWEI MateBook D15 (2022).
To note, this won’t be an in-depth review of the 2022 HUAWEI MateBook D15, as there isn’t a lot of difference from the previous model, but if you’re curious, a link to our full-scale review for the 2021 HUAWEI MateBook D15 can be found in our video here.
But still, let’s go over the bare specs of the machine first. It’s got a 15.6-inch FHD display and a metallic body that’s slim enough to fit in your bag and lightweight enough that it won’t strain your shoulders carrying it.
There are also HUAWEI Smart Design features like the integrated fingerprint reader in the power button and the pop-up webcam on the keyboard.
The HUAWEI MateBook D15 isn’t a slouch when it comes to specs either, as it’s rocking an 11th gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, which is equipped with the Intel Iris Xe graphics. There's also Wifi 6 for lightning-fast connectivity.
But the most stand out feature of the laptop is the MultiScreen Collaboration with different HUAWEI devices, whether that be your smartphone, smartwatch, or even your tablet.
Display & Design
There isn’t a whole lot to complain about when it comes to the HUAWEI MateBook D15’s display. Its FHD resolution can seem a bit blown out on its 15.6-inch screen but that’s normal for all 15-inch screens. The bezels of the screen are slim, with the chin being a bit thicker than the other three sides, giving it an 87% screen-to-body ratio.
The 250 nits max brightness isn’t exactly the best thing, and neither is its viewing angles from the side. Still, it does come with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification & Flicker Free Certification, which makes long periods of screen time a little easier on the eyes.
We wouldn’t use this laptop specifically for tasks that need color accurate displays like video and photo editing, but for your latest Netflix binge, YouTube videos, and web browsing, its natural and pleasant colours make the experience pretty enjoyable.
The build quality of the laptop is pretty commendable, as it has a thickness of only 16.9mm and only weighs around 1.5kg. You can easily throw this laptop into your bag without worrying whether it’ll fit, and the sturdy construction makes us confident it can take a bit of light tumble.
In terms of ports, the HUAWEI MateBook D15 actually offers a respectable array. You get one USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 USB-A 2.0, 1 USB-C port that can be used for charging, 1 HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Smart Features work great, like the fingerprint reader which is fast and snappy, and the camera built into the keyboard is great for privacy reasons but the angle can be a bit unflattering. Also, the 720p video you get it from is decent, but nothing extraordinary.
The keyboard and touchpad are virtually identical to last year’s model, which isn’t exactly a bad thing. They’re pretty standard as a whole and definitely usable.
Processor
Our HUAWEI MateBook D15 model came equipped with the Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor with Intel Iris Xe Graphics. It comes with up to 16GB of RAM, but ours was the 8GB variant.
When it comes to productivity tasks, the processor is more than capable. Whether it’s document writing, excel spreadsheets, or browsing, it’s a smooth buttery process throughout. So for the office workers and teachers who aren’t looking for a lot of power, this is a great option.
But if you’re looking for a bit more firepower, you can press Fn+P to activate performance mode, which cranks up your processor’s power. We tested this mode with a bit of Valorant and found some great results. On High graphics, we were getting 90-plus fps, 120fps on Medium settings, and 160fps on its lowest graphics.
While we wouldn’t consider this a gaming laptop, it’s certainly capable of running certain titles.
HUAWEI Ecosystem
Now, onto the main reason we wrote this article: the HUAWEI MultiScreen/ Multi Device Collaboration and HUAWEI Ecosystem. For people already deep in the Huawei ecosystem, this laptop is a no brainer.
We tested the laptop with a HUAWEI P50 Pro, the Matepad 11, and Freebud 4 to see what you can actually achieve with the HUAWEI MateBook D15. HarmonyOS is better than ever before, offering a smooth, seamless experience between your devices that allows them all to stay interconnected at all times.
Tapping your HUAWEI P50 Pocket on the laptop’s touchpad allows you to instantly connect to your phone and laptop. From here, you can display your phone’s screen right on the laptop and even use it to navigate your phone. So with this, you can put your phone aside and do everything you need from your laptop, even clicking and dragging files from your phone to your laptop and vice-versa.
Again, all of this works seamlessly and smoothly.
You can get even more options with the HUAWEI MatePAD, which allows you to do three things.
The Mirror mode literally mirrors the display on your laptop whereas the Extend mode can convert your tablet screen into an external monitor for your laptop. Not forgetting, the Collaborate mode allows you to still use your tablet as a tablet, but it can now share keyboard and mouse functions with your laptop, as well as the ability to drag and drop files between devices.
This makes for a pretty great system where you never feel like you’re neglecting some of your devices. All of your devices feel like they have some greater purpose than just being a smartphone or a tablet, but rather an interconnected part of an intricate ecosystem designed to make your life easier.
Although we’ve seen this concept before, this is definitely the most well-executed of them all.
Battery
You might be wondering how all of this interconnectivity affects the laptop’s battery life. The 42Wh battery is actually pretty decent, and it’s only made better by the 65W USB-C SuperCharge brick, which can give 2 hours of use from a quick 15-minute charge. The power brick isn’t massive, easily fitting in the palm of your hands.
But that’s not all, as even the charger itself follows HUAWEI’s interconnected ecosystem philosophy, supporting SuperCharge for your Huawei smartphones and tablets.
Conclusion
- Our rating: 7/10
- Pros: Great build quality and design; decent performance; Interconnectivity with other HUAWEI devices
- Cons: Expensive; Not for gaming
- Who is it for? The HUAWEI MateBook D15 is great for anyone who already has another HUAWEI device and wants to work seamlessly between the two!
Even though we’ve sung high praises for HUAWEI’s effort in trying to connect each of their devices with each other seamlessly, we wouldn’t recommend this laptop if you’re not already deep in the HUAWEI ecosystem.
There are similar or even better options that exist within the HUAWEI MateBook D15’s price range, but certainly, most still do not offer the same level of interconnectivity within their respective ecosystems.
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