Huawei Matebook 16

About

Multimedia is that this is. The new Huawei MateBook 16 is a stylish multimedia laptop that stands out thanks to that fast AMD Ryzen processor and high-resolution display. This device offers more CPU power than the majority of mobile workstations.

The situation surrounding Huawei is still current. Without Google services, the laptop in the Netherlands did not meet the minimum wage requirements, giving the brand the upper hand in the smartphone market. As a result, the brand concentrates on other product categories for consumers, such as in-ear headphones, monitors (such as the Huawei Mateview), smartwatches (such as the Huawei GT3 Pro), and in this case laptops.

Not that these are Huawei's new product lines. And it was explicitly stated that Huawei would not be able to deliver Android devices with Google services, but would be able to introduce Windows-based products to the market. Currently, there is no need for concern: when purchasing a Huawei Windows laptop, Windows will continue to function normally and receive updates, just as it does with other laptop manufacturers who do not use American standards.

Specs

Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
Graphics	Radeon Graphics
Memory	16GB DDR4 3200 MHz RAM (2x 8 GB)
Display	16 inch 60Hz
Resolution	2560 x 1600
Storage	512GB SSD
Battery	84 Wh
Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 1x AUX input 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 1x HDMI 2.0
Connectivity	WIFI 6 (802.11AX)
OS	Microsfot Windows 11 Home
Weight	c. 4.38 pounds (c. 2 Kg)

Ports

1: USB 3.2 Gen 1

2: USB 3.2 Gen 1

3: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2(Laptop charger)

4: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2

5: HDMI 2.0

6: AUX input

Peformance

Our review model is the more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800H version of the Huawei MateBook 16. This is one of the few AMD laptops within the Huawei family, so the benchmark results are pretty scattered compared to other products.

You're getting 16GB of DDR4 RAM which is plenty to run several apps at once without complaint, and the 512GB of speedy SSD storage is sizable enough to save your files. We are a tad disappointed that there's no option for a 1TB SSD (at least in the small handful of online listings we could find), but if you have access to a Google Drive or Cloud storage then the 512GB available to you should be plenty.

That lack of GPU also means the MateBook 16 isn't well suited to gaming. We were able to run Minecraft at around 43 FPS at 1080p, so you can crack open some low demand titles in a pinch, but it's not going to cope with any recent AAA releases.

If you like to use your laptop to watch online content then you'll likely be as impressed by its speakers as we were. These are large, front-facing stereo speakers, which sit on either side of the keyboard, capable of kicking out some loud and well-balanced audio. High-quality headphones or even a good Blueooth speaker offer greater clarity for the audiophiles among you, but as far as built-in speakers go, we really can't fault them.

This Image shows a benchmark from some games on medium settings.

Pros

My conclusion

Well made, with long battery life and an excellent 16-inch screen, Huawei's MateBook 16 ticks a lot of boxes. The speakers impress and the keyboard is easy to work with, making this a good all-rounder for both work and after-hours duties. The price is attractive too, especially with Huawei's giveaways.

But even with all these positive points, the position of the 720p webcam is a huge issue. If Huawei were to reposition this, and also upgrade the resolution, it could have a real winner on its hands. As it is, anyone who needs to do regular video calling for work or for leisure should probably look elsewhere, or rely on an external camera.