The Huawei MateBook 14s in a nutshell

The Huawei MateBook 14s has a name that doesn't sound very glamorous, but like the other devices in the Mate range, it has some incredible, even luxurious technical features. As a decent alternative to other portable workstations like the MacBook Air M1, the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 and the Dell XPS 15, the Chinese manufacturer still convinces here, especially if you count in your personal ecosystem of other Huawei devices.

This is unfortunately the biggest flaw of this MateBook 14s, which has to compose without access to essential services like the Google App store. However, it remains a high-class laptop, distributed in two premium-looking colors: Space Gray (gray) and Spruce Green (green).

If you already own a Huawei smartphone and/or tablet, the MateBook 14s is a great buy - nonetheless, with Apple and Microsoft offering cheaper solutions (like the MacBook Air M1 and Surface Laptop 4 ), he must contend with fierce competition.

Price and availability

Here is the configuration of the Huawei MateBook 14s (2021) evaluated by our editorial staff:

CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H (3.3 GHz, Boost 4.8 GHz) GPU: Intel Iris Xe RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4-4167 Screen: 14.2 inches (2520 x 1680), touch Storage: 1 TB (PCIe SSD M. 2 NVMe)Ports: 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x headphone/microphone combi jack, 1 x HDMIConnectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2x2), Bluetooth 5.1Camera: 720pWeight: 1.44 kgDimensions: 314 x 230 x 16.7 mm

The standard edition of the Huawei MateBook 14s retails for €1,349.99, entitling you to an 11th Gen Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There's a slightly beefier configuration that boosts storage to 1TB and includes Intel Evo technology for $1,549.99.

With Evo, you get a durable and practical everyday laptop, boasting a minimum battery life of nine hours, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and Thunderbolt 4 ports.

As we've mentioned, the asking price is a little higher than products like the MacBook Air M1 or Microsoft's Surface Laptop 4, but there are a few advantages to be had if you're based in France. In fact, if you pre-order directly from Huawei's local web store until November 18, you can not only get a 23.8-inch Huawei external display worth €159.99 for free, but also a Bluetooth mouse. Mouse II worth €59.99 and Huawei FreeBuds Studio wireless headphones worth €249.99. This allows you to create or consolidate the Huawei ecosystem that we told you about in the introduction.

Design

Design-wise, the Huawei MateBook 14s features a simple yet modern look, quite similar to other Huawei laptops like the MateBook 16 and MateBook X Pro. It sports a CNC machined aluminum chassis that is surprisingly light (1.4 kg). We had no problems transporting it in a backpack, on rather long journeys.

Robust, it proves difficult to scratch, so even with the wear of time, you will not have to worry about severe damage. On the other hand, it does attract fingerprints easily, so be sure to carry a few cleaning wipes with it if you want to keep it looking like new for a long time.

It runs on Windows 10, though it can support free upgrade to Windows 11, so you're not limited to sticking with Microsoft's now-dated operating system.

As with many recent laptops, port versatility remains an issue - with ports proving to be sacrificed in favor of a slimmer chassis. On the MateBook 14s, you get a USB-A 3.2 port, two USB-C ports, one of which is for charging the device, a standard audio jack, and an HDMI port for connecting to an external monitor.

It is strangely missing a Thunderbolt certification (given that Intel owns the rights to Thunderbolt). However, if you pay extra for the Evo bonus, you get those famous Thunderbolt ports back, providing faster data transfer speeds. This can be interesting if you share or receive a lot of large files to store on your laptop.

Ultimately, port count won't be an issue if you primarily use wireless accessories (like a graphics tablet if you're getting creative). The MateBook 14s provides enough connectivity for students, families, and even teleworkers. If you need additional ports or an SD card reader, you can purchase a separate dongle to meet your needs.

Typing on the Huawei MateBook 14s keyboard is very responsive, with tactile keys that emit a light, silent click. None feel slack, each appearing well laid out, including the power button at the top right of the laptop rather than integrated into the keyboard itself.

This location helps prevent accidental click errors when you put your laptop to sleep. This power button also acts as a fingerprint reader. This perfectly detects the administrator or the users of the laptop, and blocks the others without any hesitation.

The touchpad is large and gives a pleasant slight grain for better grip, although the lack of left/right buttons here can be frustrating if you're the clumsy type. You don't get a numeric keypad, but that's no shock considering this is a compact-sized laptop. The arrow keys also seem a little smaller than the classic models. However, we adapt very quickly.

The 14.2-inch screen sports a resolution of 2520 x 1680 pixels (sometimes referred to as 2.5K), which is a 16:10 aspect ratio. Dubbed "golden ratio" by brands like MSI, this screen size is starting to become mainstream, as the extra height comes in handy for office and business tasks.

This screen has a slightly matte coating that helps reduce glare in bright environments, although it does show up brighter than you might think. Peak brightness is a decent 400 nits (again, on par with the MacBook Air). You may find it difficult to attach the tile outdoors in direct sunlight. It also functions as a touchscreen - overall responsive, it makes scrolling through a web page a snap.

It also guarantees other compelling benefits, such as a 90Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB color gamut. You certainly won't be playing demanding AAA titles on this device, but for indie or classic games you can at least clock in at 90fps, and those specs are meant to be just as decent for anyone looking to get into video editing. and photography.

If you have a Huawei smartphone, you can also use the touchpad as a built-in NFC (Near Field Communication), allowing you to pair the two devices by simply placing your phone on it like a card reader - then giving you access fast to Huawei Share. In fact, you're not just limited to Huawei phones, as you can pair tablets, monitors, and other Huawei products to easily send files from one to another or have a multi -screens.

Performance

As we mentioned above, our test unit is equipped with an 11th generation Intel i7-11370H processor. This one outperformed the CPU of the Huawei MateBook X Pro in our benchmarks, along with other recommended ultraportables like the Dell XPS 13. And while it's not quite a portable workstation, the MateBook 14s should be able to handle just about any task you ask of it, within reason.

You also get 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is more than enough to run apps like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro. while the 1TB of fast storage should come in handy for backing up your projects and downloading all the programs you need.

During our tests, the MateBook 14s ran large spreadsheets with many tabs and windows open in Chrome without any issues. Its extra power makes it a viable option for creatives or students who can't afford the typically high prices of a top-notch mobile workstation. The Intel Iris Xe graphics chip will keep you from using the most demanding applications and software, but the benchmarks are still very impressive for a device that is not dedicated to games.

Speaking of games, yes you can't launch a demanding title like Red Dead Redemption 2, nevertheless the Huawei MateBook 14s manages to spin several hits from Minecraft to League of Legends, with disconcerting ease. We experienced zero latency and were able to enjoy surprisingly high framerates.

Despite the extensive testing and rigorous software it has been subjected to, the Huawei's cooling system also shines with its ability to maintain sufficient ambient temperature to work with the laptop on your lap, if desired. The fans are surprisingly quiet, and only kicked in when running 3DMark benchmarks and apps like Blender.

If you plan to use your computer for creative work, the display can deliver 100% of the sRGB color gamut. It's also worth mentioning that the panel is actually set to 60Hz, but will switch to 90Hz depending on the app you're using.

If you plan on watching series or movies, you'll be happy to know that the Huawei Matebook 14s' four speakers deliver the most decent sound. The volume remains loud, the bass noticeable and the music has good depth.

Autonomy

The autonomy is more than enough to accompany you throughout a working day. It averaged 13 hours and 23 minutes on the PCMark 10 benchmarks and 12 hours 17 minutes when playing a video on a loop.

By comparison, the MacBook Air M1 delivers 11 hours and 15 minutes in the same PCMark test, and the HP Specter x360 goes up to 12 hours and 52 minutes.

This gives you plenty of time to complete your office tasks for the day, then watch an episode or two of your favorite series, before doing some online shopping and plugging it back into the mains.

We were able to fully charge the laptop in less than two hours, thanks to the incredibly fast 90W charger provided by Huawei. You can use any other USB-C laptop charger, but if you want a fast charging experience, keep the one included in the box.

webcam

The huge advantage of the Huawei MateBook 14s is that the webcam hidden in the keyboard has been removed and replaced by a discreet camera integrated into the upper bezel of the display. As a result, you lose the ability to manually cover the screen, but it does spare you the horrible viewing angle that made the most attractive people look ungainly. If you're concerned about your privacy, there are third-party caches easily found on Amazon.

Overall quality hasn't been improved, however, and you still get that grainy 720p resolution. It'll do for quick video calls, but if you need decent image quality to support a professional video conference or your Twitch channel, consider buying one of the best webcams around.

The MateBook 14s uses four microphones that can pick up your voice clearly from up to five meters away, and includes built-in AI noise cancellation to filter out any background noise. A particularly useful feature is personal voice enhancement, which can focus and improve your own timbre while suppressing other people talking in the background.

It works surprisingly well, better than the microphones in most laptops we've tested in recent years. But it still doesn't live up to the quality of a headset microphone or USB mic.

Buy it if...

Looking for a slim and powerful laptop The MateBook 14s shows that Huawei should be taken seriously when it comes to delivering great quality technology, so if you need a practical everyday Ultrabook with some extended premium features, Do not look any further.

You need a stylish computerWith a solid metal chassis and a modern, minimalist style, the MateBook 14s has all the charm of a Dell XPS or a MacBook Air. If the latter appeal to you less, the Huawei alternative comes across as a luxurious laptop.

You own a Huawei smartphone If you already have a Huawei ecosystem, you can really make the most of a few bonus features of the MateBook 14s, which will fully help you streamline your work.

Don't buy it if...

You don't want other Huawei productsYou don't have to, but you can only take full advantage of the Huawei ecosystem if you have other devices to pair with. If you can do without some functions, that's fine, but if not, you'll have to buy a Huawei smartphone or tablet additionally.

You have a limited budget Since it is a high-end product, its price turns out to be quite high. So there are other more affordable options if you want to save some money.