Huawei today announced a new family of its flagship MateBook portable PCs, with new notebook and 2-in-1 designs that will begin shipping this summer. Each is stunning and, more interesting, each addresses concerns I have with Microsoft’s new Surface devices.

“The Huawei MateBook X, MateBook E, and MateBook D feature dynamic new advances, redefining the intersection of mobility and personal computing,” the company told me this morning. “For those constantly on the go between home and work, these devices deliver a refined mobile experience, allowing people to stay connected to everyone and everything that matters.”

The newly-announced devices include:

MateBook X. This gorgeous looking 13.3-inch notebook offers a silent and fanless design with Intel Core i5 or i7 chipsets, a near-bezeless 3:2 display, a Windows Hello-compatible fingerprint reader, and Dolby Atmos sound. It is available in three colors: Prestige Gold, Space Gray and Rose Gold.

MateBook E. Available in blue, brown and pink, this elegant Surface Pro-like 2-in-1 PC comes with a new Folio keyboard cover with up to 160 degrees of tilt, Intel Core m3, i5, and i7 choices, and a 2K multi-touch display.

MateBook D. This 15.6-inch notebook PC provides Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, optional NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics, and Dolby Atmos sound. It’s just 16.9 mm thin, is made from aluminum alloy, and is available in three colors: Space Gray, Champagne Gold and Aurora Blue.

Availability in the US is unclear at the moment, but I’ve reached out to Huawei for more information.

For now, let’s consider how these devices improve on what Microsoft is doing with Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, and Surface Book.

MateBook X is a clear Surface Laptop competitor. But it provides a sleeker design and modern USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 expansion. It’s also an all-metal design that won’t need the pampering that Surface Laptop’s Alcantara will.

MateBook E, meanwhile, takes on Surface Pro. But Huawei’s rendition of this type of device is much more elegant looking, has much smaller bezels, and features modern USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 expansion. (That said, there appears to be only port.)

The MateBook D isn’t a direct Surface Book competitor, as it comes with a bigger screen. The pricing is significantly lower than with Surface Book, and the screen goes back much further. But this device sticks with old-school USB 3 (three of them) and HDMI ports. It’s a more traditional laptop, but with very thin bezels.

These devices are very interesting, especially the MateBook X and MateBook E.

Tagged with Huawei MateBook