Huawei’s Newest MateBook D 16 Makes its Debut

It’s been a while since Huawei’s presence in Western Markets has somewhat diminished due to a falling out of sorts with Google, and while it might be rare to see a Huawei handset in most regions outside of Asia, that hasn’t stopped the manufacturer from capitalizing on other non-Android industry segments. For example, Huawei’s wireless audio products as well as wearables continue to be among its most popular products outside of Asia, as well as its Windows laptops.

With that in mind, Huawei fans and laptop buyers on the lookout for a new and powerful machine finally have something to look forward to thanks to the arrival of the MateBook D 16 2024, a Windows-powered device which runs on a 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor. Ideal for most productivity tasks needed by users in classrooms, workspaces and such, Huawei describes the D 16 2024 as “the ideal compact and portable companion that doesn’t compromise on performance.”

Design and Display

As you can probably tell from the name, the laptop is equipped with a 16-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels in a 16:10 aspect ratio, as well as a screen-to-body ratio of up to 90%, made possible by slim bezels which surround the display. Unlike other laptop models which come with a notch, the D 16 features more “standard” looking borders on the screen.

This is wrapped in a slim aluminium body that weighs at just 1.68kg, and comes in a thin 17mm profile. The D 16 will be available in Space Grey and Mystic Silver variants, although regional availability might vary. The laptop’s hinge also features a 180-degree range of motion, allowing it to be unfolded fully flat on a surface. There’s a number of ports on the sides of the laptop, including USB Type C, Type A, HDMI, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Thanks to its large size, there’s enough space on the D 16 for an individual numeric keypad for better flexibility when working. It also incorporates a a 1.5mm key travel and soft-landing design, which Huawei says isn’t commonly found on lightweight laptops. Overall, the laptop has a rather clean look and handling, somewhat akin to how Apple designs its MacBooks.

Performance and Internal Specs

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the MateBook D 16 is its processor – as mentioned earlier, inside the laptop is the 13th Gen Intel Core i9 chip which Huawei claims can be further boosted with features such as Performance Mode and Super Turbo. However, there’s also an option to go for a base model which features a Core i5-13420H processor – not exactly the highest-end configuration, but capable nonetheless. It should be noted that this option might not be available in certain regions, however.

The HUAWEI MateBook D 16 also comes with an upgrade in terms of battery – as such, the laptop is equipped with up to 70 Wh of battery life, which is a considerable upgrade from its predecessor’s 60 Wh battery capacity.

Other Features

Huawei adds that the MateBook D 16 is equipped with strong antenna performance, and is the world’s first notebook to pass the SGS 5-Star Wi-Fi Signal Capability Certification, which consists of numerous speed and uplink/downlink rate tests. There’s also Huawei Metaline onboard, which allows it to establish ultra-long-distance connection of up to 270 metres.

Also included with the D 16’s set of features is Huawei’s Super Device feature, which allows users to pair their laptop with other devices via simple drag-and-drop actions. For example, users can connect their Huawei tablet to their MateBook to serve as an extra monitor, or easily link a Huawei audio product to their laptop.

For video conferencing needs, Huawei has included features such as AI background, FollowCam and Sight Correction, as well as AI Sound and AI Camera which add privacy protection features and noise cancellation during meetings and video calls. Also present is Huawei’s AI-powered Personal Voice Enhancement feature, which reduces ambient noise and enhances a speaker’s voice during calls.

Price and Availability

Buyers in the UK and Europe will be able to get their hands on the MateBook D 16 2024 via pre-orders starting from 8^th Jan, and on sale from 22^nd Jan 2024. The laptop comes in the following configurations:

• Intel Core i5 12^th Gen, 8GB RAM, 512GB Storage: RRP €799 
• Intel Core i5 12^th Gen, 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage: RRP €899
• Intel Core i5 13^th Gen, 16GB RAM, 1TB Storage: RRP €999
• Intel Core i7 13^th Gen, 16GB RAM, 1TB Storage: RRP €1299 
• Intel Core i9 13^th Gen, 16GB RAM, 1TB Storage: RRP €1399