The Huawei Matebook D 16 2024 is a good-looking laptop powered by Intel Core-i9 - 13900H processor. It's a large computing machine that frames a 16-inch display; yet Huawei is making innovative moves to make this device as light as possible. Cased in a smaller footprint than its peers, the Matebook D 16 2024 promises a premium-class design and big hardware upgrades. In fact, the Php 69,990 top-of-the-line variant packs a solid 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM, which makes it a promising option if you're in the market for a new device.
I have used the laptop for a month now, and I'm surprised how it fares well in my workflow as a professional CAD designer and a content creator. In this review, I'll be sharing what I love about this laptop, and who I think should be getting it.
Pros
- Lightweight for a 16-inch laptop
- Fast and efficient processor
- Useful proprietary software
- Value-For-Money Pricing
Cons
- No color options
- Lid is hard to open using one hand
Unboxing
There's nothing special about the Huawei Matebook D14 2024's packaging. Apart from the main unit, you'll get the standard 65-watt charger and some documentations. You can check out our quick unboxing experience below.
Pricing and Availability
The Huawei Matebook D 16 2024 is now available to purchase in multiple variants. It starts at Php 38,999, and goes all the way up to Php 69,999. Here are the prices and bundles:
- HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 13th Gen
- Intel Core-i9-13900H processor
- 16GB RAM + 1TB storage
- Php 69,999
- Intel Core-i5-13420H processor
- 16GB RAM + 1TB storage
- Php 48,999
- HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 12th Gen
- Intel Core-i5-12450H processor
- 16GB RAM + 512GB storage
- Php 41,999
- Intel Core-i5-12450H processor
- 8GB RAM + 512GB storage
- Php 38,999
Huawei also posted gift bundle for every purchase of the laptop. This includes a gift box worth Php 1,999, Huawei Freebuds SE worth Php 2,499, Microsoft Office 365 personal 2021 worth Php 3,499, and a backpack worth PHP 1,890.
Design: Same Old Design with few improvements
The Huawei Matebook D16 is surprisingly thin despite it being a 16-inch laptop. The laptop's display is cleverly fitted in a 17-mm thin body which is commonly found on a 15.6-inch laptop; this strikes a balance between portability and productivity.
It's fair to say that the device falls on the bigger side. However, being a big laptop does not necessary mean it's heavy; in fact, the Matebook D 16 only weighs 1.68 kg. It's very light for a 16-inch computing machine, and I observed that I could easily slide this device on my backpack without adding significant extra bulk.
Our review unit comes exclusively in the Mystic Silver color. The Huawei Matebook D 16 also offers a generous set of ports and buttons. There's an integrated fingerprint reader in the power button which easily gives me quick access and security on my device. Likewise, there's a USB-C port for data transfer, charging, and support for external monitors. You can also find an HDMI port on the left together with one USB-A port, and 3.5-mm audio jack. Lastly, the right side houses another USB-A port.
It's also worth noting that the laptop still has the 180-degree hinge capability. This makes the Matebook D 16 a flexible laptop that could support a large angle opening of up to 180 degrees. The feature allows easier sharing of presentations in your display by just extending it to a full 180 degree. Also if you're working with an external keyboard, you can save up space by just placing the laptop in a stand while engaging the full-angle hinge.
The overall design of the laptop is quite practical and efficient. However, I would like to easily open the lid with just one hand; as it seems like a chore opening the laptop on the get go. The Matebook D 16 could also benefit from additional color options to draw in more users who appreciate a touch of color in their devices.
Display
The Matebook D16 employs a FullView Display design with two narrow 4.6-mm bezels. This results in a 90% screen-to-body ratio. It's very evident that the laptop houses a bigger display with its compact body. In turn, it delivers wider viewing experience for users.
Furthermore, the display also settles with the golden 16:10 aspect ratio which gives a wider display perspective compared to the commonly used 16:9. The panel is also certified with TUV Rheinland Low Blue Light, and treated with DC Dimming, all of which is to protect the eyes while doing productivity tasks or having casual gaming.
To be clear, the display only employs LCD technology with 1920 x 1200 pixels and 141 ppi density. This set is good enough for an average consumer; in fact the panel is bright enough (300 nits) to be used outdoors; and it also registers a good contrast ratio of 1200:1. Colors are accurate and the screen's dynamic range is also on point.
Performance
Our Huawei Matebook D 16 unit is powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H coupled with Iris Xe Graphics. In my time using the laptop, it can handle multitasking very well. You can also fire up the device's capability by turning on the Performance Mode by just pressing the Fn + P hotkeys. With this, the laptop optimizes its resources to keep up to my tasks, may it be with basic tools like Microsoft Office applications or medium to heavy load with professional software tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Da Vinci Resolve.
I'd say that its power is just enough for my productivity needs like editing short videos or playing with gaming titles like Legends of Runeterra. The Matebook D 16 2024 also takes advantage of its Metaline Antenna to have a wide range of coverage and uninterrupted internet connectivity even in enclosed environments or interior structures. Huawei claims a remarkable 51% increase in signal conversion efficiency.
In real-time use, this means that you can do resource-intensive tasks at the same time without having to worry about dropping signal strength. For instance, you can download large files and engage in a video conference call simultaneously without compromising signal quality. The laptop also demonstrates swift rendering capabilities for simple video projects using the Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. Notably, it does not get warm fast; this is due to the Dual Shark Fin Fan technology that's been popular with the Matebook line.
I'd also say that the laptop is great for consuming content with its large 16-inch display and a set of powerful stereo speakers. The camera is now conveniently relocated on the top bezel of the display, so you don't have to worry about odd angles when having a conference call. It's an HD camera that's, in my opinion, is good enough for video calls and online meetings.
In our benchmarking tests, the Matebook D 16 2024 posted good results. In our Geekbench 6.2.2 Benchmark test, it tallied 8223 points in multi-core test and 1324 in single core test. Additionally, the laptop scored 16812 in OpenCL and 18824 in Vulkan GPU benchmarks.
Keyboard, Trackpad
The Huawei MateBook D 16 2024 features a highly effective keyboard with tactile keys, which comes with a 1.5mm travel distance. The keys also have a soft landing pad, making the keyboard very comfortable to use. In my experience, the keys offer good feedback to my fingers, which somewhat makes the typing sessions more enjoyable and productive. The addition of full-sized numeric keys also makes working in spreadsheets easier.
When it comes to the trackpad, it still offers the standard gestures like two-finger scrolling, three-finger gesture for switching windows, and more. All in all, the keyboard and trackpad give users desktop-class working experience and easier workflows.
Software: Super Device
The Matebook D 16 2024 boots with Windows 11 Home and comes pre-installed with WPS AI apps. This suite of applications poses as a close alternative to MS Office. On top of that, the laptop comes with intelligent smart conferencing tools.
There's a handful of Huawei's proprietary software features which significantly improve user's workflow and online conferencing experience. I find the AI Sound feature useful, which ensures a quiet environment using three noise cancellation modes. My favorites were the Personal Voice Enhancement and Clean Voice modes, which filter out background noise whenever I'm taking calls in a coffeeshop or in other noisy settings.
The Huawei Super Device is one innovative feature that allows multiple Huawei devices seamlessly connect with each other. This means that the Matebook D 16 2024 is capable of discovering multiple Huawei devices when they are nearby; thus allowing users to optimize the usage of these devices wirelessly. I can open files and photos from my phone and directly edit them on my laptop.
You can also transfer files by simply dragging and dropping them once you have mirrored your phone or your tablet in your computer. In Extend Mode, your tablet can be used as a second monitor to your laptop; which simply boosts your productivity. On top of that, you can wirelessly connect your laptop to a compatible monitor. This is very useful in times that you are making a presentation to a group of people or your dedicated team.
Apart from that, it's always a joy to use the Huawei Superhub which is technically a file-centric content transfer method. The Superhub is a cross-device platform that temporarily stores and processes a wide range of file types in your Huawei devices. Thus, this eliminates the traditional copy-paste method of working thru file types.
Battery
The Huawei Matebook D 16 2024 packs a 70Whr battery capacity. It is worth-noting that we have a bigger capacity for the 13th Gen Core-i9 variant as both the 13th Gen and 12th Gen Core-i5 models only come with 56Whr battery. In my realtime usage, the laptop is giving me more or less 6 hours of usage before I get to plug the charger in the wall outlet. This is quite great considering the stretch of multimedia playback and casual gaming, as well as common productivity tasks I did during the testing.
The laptop draws a maximum of 65-watt input power when charging. This gives you slightly over a couple of hours of charging time. Other 65-watt chargers are compatible with this laptop so this would give users of multiple devices less stuff to worry about, however the charging speeds could vary.
Should You Buy the Huawei Matebook D 16 2024?
The Huawei Matebook D 16 2024 is a great choice if you're looking for large-screen laptop that could handle most of the mainstream tasks, all without the inconvenience of lugging around with a bulky and heavy device. I love how the capable 16-inch display is cleverly designed to fit in a 15-inch body; this makes a smaller footprint compared to its contemporaries.
With its powerful Intel Core-i9 processor, memory, beefy storage capacity, full-sized keyboard, and innovative hardware like the Metaline Antenna, everyday computing with this device is such a breeze. The lucrative software features like the Superhub, Super Device, and collaborative modes make the Matebook D16 2024 a standout due to its seamless integration and support to devices in the Huawei ecosystem.
The device is easy to recommend, especially the Intel Core-i9 variant. This computing machine is suited for users who want a single laptop they can use for work and at home. It's also for students who juggles schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and entertainment.
Huawei Matebook D 16 2024 Specs
- 16-inch IPS LCD Display, 1920 x 1200 pixels, 141 pixels per inch (PPI)
- Screen to body ratio: 90%
- Aspect ratio: 16:10
- 100% sRGB/45% NTSC
- Maximum Brightness: 300 nits (Typical)
- Up to 13th Gen Intel Core i9 13900H
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics(Core i9)/Intel UHD Graphics (Core i5)
- 16GB/8GB LPDDR4x
- 1TB/512GB PCIe SSD
- Fingerprint Power Button
- All purpose USB-C port x 1 (supporting data transmission, charging, and DisplayPort)
- USB-A (USB 2.0) port x 1
- USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1) port x 1
- HDMI 1.4 port x 1
- 2X2 MIMO, HUAWEI Metaline antenna
- Bluetooth 5.1
- 720P AI Camera
- Super Device
- HUAWEI PC Manager
- Display settings (Eye Comfort mode)
- Huawei one key recovery (F10)
- Stereo Surround Sound
- 70 Whr (Core i9) /56 Whr (Core i5)
- 65-watt Huawei Super Charge
- Windows 11 Home 64bit
- Dimensions: 356.7 mm × 248.7 mm × 18 mm at 1.68kg
- Starts at Php 38,999 (Base Core i5)
- Php 69,999 (Core i9)
