Huawei Matebook D 14 Review (Ryzen 7): Power and Practicality

Here comes the "new normal" and most of us will still be stuck in our houses for homeschooling and working-from-home. On that note, Huawei added another compelling device off their laptop line called the MateBook D 14. This computing machine is taking on the mid-range space and it's now getting an ample attention due to its premium looks and very capable internals.

Just like the previously released Huawei MateBook D 15, the MateBook D 14 is a very promising device. However, this 14-incher is set to offer more muscle with the addition of a Ryzen 7 variant.

Huawei MateBook D 14 Review

Review Summary: 

Pros

• Premium-looking metallic design
• Killer price point
• Generous selection of ports
• Slim bezels
• Lightweight

Cons

• Unusual placement of webcam
• Screen's color accuracy

There's no denying the fact that the Huawei Matebook D 14 looks and feels premium with its aluminum alloy construction. We've been impressed by the design philosophy of Huawei's laptops and the Matebook D 14 is not an exception. The Mystic Silver colorway is giving us classic vibes with its matte texture and thin profile. On that note, we could see some smudges piling up overtime but it's not hard to wipe off.

Read also: Huawei MateBook D 14 (Ryzen 7) Unboxing, First Impressions

Design

This 1.38-gram computing machine is one of the lightest laptops in this price range. Most of us would agree that the design language of the Matebook D 14 is highly inspired by Apple's Macbook line. But to be honest, I have no complaints about it. It's definitely an eye-catcher. On top of that, the 178-degree hinge on the display could turn some heads.

Ports and power button

There's a generous inclusion of ports in this laptop. For one, the left side comes with a full-size USB 3.0 alongside the HDMI and USB Type C ports. The right side is a home to the USB 2.0 port and headphone jack. You can charge the laptop thru the USB-C port. However, this means that you can't use the port while charging.

There's also an interesting placement of a power button on the right of the Delete key. Furthermore, the integration of a fingerprint sensor makes this button special. When you press the button to turn on the laptop, the Huawei MateBook D 14 stores your identification so that you don't need to enter the same credentials everytime you access your laptop.

The chiclet keyboard is also very handy to use. This backlit keyboard is not crammed in a small area which makes it ideal for typing documents and essays. However, there's a limited key travel which might hamper typing efficiency. But when you get the hang of it, you won't mind this at all. The trackpad is also very responsive but could not replace your mouse.

There's a recessed camera situated in the middle of F6 and F7 buttons. This means that you can physically close the camera when it's not in use - adding another layer of security to the users. This relocation of the webcam also gives way for a smaller bezel on the top of the display. The camera is a 1MP HD sensor which is good enough for video calls.

Display

The Huawei Matebook D 14's matte display is also a unique take on the panel. This could also mean that this is the part where Huawei made some cuts. However, that doesn't mean that the display won't keep up with your tasks. In fact, the display is very capable. It has the right amount of brightness. Also using a matte finish could block some reflections when you're in a brightly-lit room or outdoors.

The screen is a 14-inch IPS LCD panel with Full HD resolution. It's perfect for student workloads like creating documents, web browsing, etc. Professional jobs which include color accuracy may pose a challenge in the display.

Performance

The Huawei Matebook D 14 is powered by a Ryzen 7 3700U. It is paired with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of PCIe SSD storage. This combination of specs is more than enough if you plan to use this laptop for academic purposes. This also pushes the Huawei Matebook D 14 to be one of the value-for-money laptops in its price range.

Navigating the whole interface is also buttery smooth. I'm such a hoarder of tabs, and having tens of them on my browser does not even affect the laptop's performance. Another nifty feature is the Huawei Share which seamlessly transfer files from your smartphone to your laptop. Though this is a very ideal feature, it would only work when you're using a Huawei smartphone.

The Ryzen 7 variant of the Huawei Matebook D 14 is also cruising in our Geekbench benchmark test. It tallies a 588 single-core score, and 2440 multi-core score.

Battery

The Huawei Matebook D 14 is powered by a 56Whr battery life. In our day of use, we used the laptop for 9 hours before the computing device died on us. It is supported by the popular Huawei Supercharge. In our charging test, we charged the laptop to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Related Video: Huawei MatePad Review + Unboxing

Verdict: Should You Buy The Huawei Matebook D 14 Review (Ryzen 7)?

The Huawei Matebook D 14 is definitely a good looking laptop with a very capable performance. This is an ideal device for students as well as professionals who are working from home. It's enticing price point of Php 42,990 makes this laptop a steal buy if you're looking for something that could give most value to your cash.

Moreover, if you're a user of a Huawei smartphone or tablet, its seamless sharing technology is definitely an added bonus.

Huawei Matebook D 14 Specs

Dimensions
Width:322.5 mm
Depth:15.9 mm
Height:214.8 mm
Weight:Approx. 1.38 kg
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Display
Screen Size: 14 inches
Screen Type: IPS
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen-To-Body Ratio: 84%
Contrast Ratio: 800:1
Brightness: 250 nits
Viewing Angle: 178° degrees
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Processor
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U / AMD Ryzen 7 3700U
Memory
8GB RAM
Storage
512 GB PCIe SSD
Battery
56 Wh (Rating Capacity)
Wireless
Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, 2 x 2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0, compatible with Bluetooth 4.2, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Camera
Recessed camera
Camera Pixels: 1 MP (720p HD)
Audio
Speaker Power: 2 W each x 2
Number Of Microphone: 2
Sensors
Hall Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor
Featured Applications
HUAWEI PC Manager, Monitor Manager (Eye comfort mode), factory reset
Ports
USB-A 3.0 x 1
USB-A 2.0 x 1
USB-C x 1
HDMI x 1
3.5 mm headset and microphone 2-in-1 jack x 1
Material
A / C / D Aluminum alloy, B Mylar
Touchpad and Keypad
Chiclet keyboard, Full-size keyboard
Support touchpad
Buttons
Two-in-one power button and touch fingerprint sensor
Color
Mystic Silver
Price
PHP 39,990 (AMD Ryzen 5 3500U)
PHP 42,990 (AMD Ryzen 7 3700U)