We rounded out the first day at CES 2019 with a trip to Huawei’s booth. The Chinese company had announced the new MateBook 13 less than 24 hours earlier, and we wanted to check it out.
The first thing struck us was how gorgeous the device looked. With a sleek and stylish sandblasted cover, the laptop won’t look out of place in offices, dorms, or in your own living room.
It’s also small. With its tiny bezels, the rep we chatted to said that the company had tried to fit a 13-inch screen into a 12-inch body. It’s fair to say it was successful.
Two Models, Two Spec Sheets
Two models are available. They are broadly the same, though there are a few key differences.
The most significant difference is the processor. The cheaper $ 999 product comes with an Intel i5 processor. If you’re prepared to shell out $ 1,199, you can get the more powerful i7 processor. Both price points are significantly cheaper than the MateBook X Pro which will set you back $ 1,499.
Secondly, the i5 model has a 256 GB SSD hard drive while the i7 has a 512 GB hard drive.
The only other difference is the color. The i5 version is available in “mystic silver” whereas the i7 model comes in “space gray.”
And the Similarities?
Despite the differences, there are some similarities between the two versions.
Both ship with 8 GB of RAM, both have a power button which doubles as a fingerprint reader, and both offer a 3:2 aspect ratio.
We also loved the giant trackpad that’s available on both models. We didn’t measure it, but it looked to be at least five inches wide.
The MateBook 13’s battery life is also impressive. Supposedly, it will last for 12 hours of continuous video.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning the laptop’s weight—it’s just 2.82 pounds (1.2 kgs). As such, it’s a perfect choice for people who spend a lot of time on the road.
The MateBook 13 is available for pre-order now. It will ship on January 29.
Read the full article: Huawei MateBook 13: A Sleek 13-Inch Ultrabook in a 12-Inch Body
