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If you covered up the logo of the HUAWEI Matebook 14 (2024) and asked me to identify the laptop based on its design, there’s a very high chance that I would mistake it for a Macbook Air—that’s how alike the two of them looks, at least from the outside.
But that’s where the similarities end. Huawei’s newest midrange laptop isn’t the most exciting laptop, but it certainly has some pretty interesting features all wrapped up in a sleek and ultraportable device.
I’ve been using the MateBook 14 pretty exclusively as a work laptop for the past few weeks—in fact, I’m writing this review on the laptop itself—so here’s how it held up.
HUAWEI MateBook 14 (2024) Specifications
- Display: 14.2-inch, 2880 x 1920, 3:2, 120Hz OLED touchscreen.
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5
- GPU: Intel Arc integrated graphics.
- RAM: 32GB DDR5.
- Storage: 1TB SSD.
- Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm audio jack.
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 6.
- Battery: 70 Wh.
- Size and Weight: 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches, 2.9 pounds.
Design & Build
All in all, there’s nothing much else to write home about the build of the keyboard. Our review unit sports a matte finish in Space Grey that isn’t the most striking, but the minimalist design is quite easy on the eyes, especially if you just want a low-key work machine that won’t single you out in a coffee shop. If you’re looking for something more unique, though, the MateBook 14 (2024) also comes in a light Green colourway.
It’s not the lightest—certainly not as light as the MateBook X Pro that was released earlier this year—but the 1.31kg still puts it in the segment of lightweight and portable. Despite that, it still has a generous amount of ports, including x1 HDMI port x2 USB-As (one on each side), and x1 USB-C charging port. Adding to that, it also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a rarity in newer laptop models nowadays.
The power button, which doubles as the fingerprint sensor, is situated on the top right of the keyboard, separate from the other keys.
I’ve never particularly liked the keyboard on the MacBooks. They’re too shallow and mushy and gives little to no feedback when typing. Given that HUAWEI has opted to follow Apple’s design language closely, this holds true for the keyboard of the MateBook 14 as well. The keys are also slightly wider than I’m used to on my Dell Inspiron 14, so mistypes are prone and frustrating.
Display
Now, the HUAWEI MateBook 14 (2024) has a brilliant OLED touchscreen that reproduces magnificent colours with excellent contrast and high colour accuracy. The 14.2” display has 2.8K resolution, so images are nice and crisp, which makes it great for watching movies.
The display is also pretty bright, going up to 450 nits as per the MateBook 14’s spec sheet. However, it's very reflective, so working under direct sunlight is difficult at the best of times. The display looks much better indoors and in shaded areas.
The bezels around the screen are also pretty slim, so there’s no waste of screen real estate here.
Like most other conventional laptops, including the MacBook Air M3, the HUAWEI MateBook 14’s display is 16:10. This aspect ratio is great for productivity, especially with apps that have a ton of toolbars like Photoshop, but it does take some getting used to.
Performance
Under the hood, the MateBook 14 is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 or the Ultra 7, with our review unit sporting the former. The 14-gen Intel processors are great for productivity and some reasonably heavy gaming. It also sports Intel Arc Graphics GPU, which is just powerful enough for regular graphics tasks.
Combined with the powerful processor is a whooping 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, so there’s no worry about running out of memory and storage.
The laptop also runs pretty silently, with no really discernible sound of fans whirring. It does, however, heat up a bit when running intensive tasks, though not to the point of discomfort.
Huawei has equipped the MateBook 14 with apps like AI Search and Huawei Mobile Cloud, which is only helpful if you’re using a HUAWEI smartphone or tablet. Notably, there is no third-party bloatware pre-installed, providing a clean and streamlined user experience.
Battery Life
The laptop features a 70Wh battery, with Huawei claiming up to 19 hours of continuous video playback. In real-world usage, it only managed to last around 12 hours with regular use. Still decent, though disappointing, and recharging is relatively quick, reaching full charge in about an hour.
