Huawei MateBook X Pro (2022) Review: Practically Perfect

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Huawei’s flagship computer is again for some other pop on the high-end marketplace and the MateBook X Pro for 2022 is healthier than ever due to a raft of upgrades.

Headline options come with a larger display screen with a 90Hz refresh price, a bigger trackpad with new gestures, fast 90W charging and, look forward to it, the webcam is not in that awkward pop-up key within the keyboard.

After years of being just about very best, the X Pro continues to be now not relatively there however in large part in several techniques to earlier than. Battery lifestyles continues to be a topic, as an example, and we will have to now mourn the lack of the trusty USB-A port.

Design & Build

  • Slightly larger however nonetheless sumptuous
  • Webcam again within the bezel
  • Exclusively USB-C

On the entire, the MateBook X Pro is similar computer it’s at all times been. However, there are a selection of tweaks to the design that lead to some giant variations to the revel in.

With a bigger display screen, it’s most likely no surprise that the computer is a little bit heavier than earlier than – however most effective fairly at 1.38kg. It’s additionally a marginally thicker at 15.5mm however this isn’t noticeable.

The most blatant exchange while you open the lid – which can also be accomplished with one finger, providing an exceptionally easy and fulfilling revel in – is the bigger trackpad that is going all of the method to the entrance fringe of the chassis.

If a trackpad was once a swimming pool, then this may be an infinity pool and I somewhat love it. More on what the trackpad can do within the subsequent segment.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 trackpad

More delicate adjustments come with the reality the webcam not hides in a pop-up key within the keyboard and thank goodness. Yes, the previous design was once to hand for privateness and it doesn’t really feel like that way back that webcams had been dull and useless, however that’s not the case now.

Huawei has, like with closing 12 months’s MateBook 14s, put the webcam above the display screen the place it will have to be. And, in spite of a small bezel, it helps Windows Hello log in. It works neatly even supposing some infrared sensors each side of it flash to lend a hand it see your face.

If that fails (which it does now and again), then you’ll at all times use the trusty fingerprint scanner that’s embedded within the energy button.

Back to the webcam and even supposing it’s moved to a much more smart place, it stays at 720p answer. This is a disgrace taking into account the top rate nature of the computer so Full HD could be a long way preferable. As it’s, the standard is fundamental even in just right gentle.

You have to appear to the X Pro 2022’s ports to search out the opposite adjustments. You’ll first realize that except a headphone jack, there are most effective USB-C ports right here. There are 4 – double the 2021 fashion – however it’s a disgrace that the ever helpful USB-A port has been dropped, particularly taking into account the chassis is large sufficient to carry it.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 ports

Luckily, Huawei does supply an adapter within the field, however I’d luckily switch two USB-C ports for a unmarried A-type. I’d most effective had the evaluation pattern a few days earlier than I controlled to go away the home with out the adapter.

Investigate additional beneath and also you’ll see huge vents at the facets and rear of the computer – extra in this new cooling device within the efficiency segment under.

As you’ll see, I’ve examined the Space Grey color which appears to be like completely advantageous. Last 12 months we examined the beautiful Emerald Green colourway and Huawei has showed this may once more be an choice.

Keyboard & Trackpad

  • Larger Free Touch trackpad with new gestures
  • Same superb keyboard, minus the webcam

As discussed previous, the trackpad now stretches to the brink of the computer wrapping across the notch for opening the lid – as according to the MateBook X. Not most effective does this provide you with extra genuine property to paintings with, however it additionally simply appears to be like actually sumptuous.

As prior to now, it provides Free Touch haptic comments and this 12 months it’s maximum obvious when the usage of the brand new ingenious gestures. If you swipe vertically on the excessive edges of the trackpad on each side, you’ll modify the display screen brightness and quantity point.

It takes a couple of is going to get used to however works relatively neatly. It’s most likely a tad useless taking into account those controls also are at the keyboard however you could in finding them more uncomplicated to make use of. You too can use the end edge to scroll via video (even on YouTube) and there are different such things as a double knuckle faucet to take a screenshot.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 keyboard and trackpad

You can regulate which of them you need switched on or off however now not within the Windows settings. You’ll have to make use of the Huawei Control Panel as an alternative.

The keyboard necessarily stays the similar – a full-size chiclet keyboard with a two-level backlight. The major exchange is that the important thing that used to accommodate the webcam is now a shortcut to Microsoft Speech Services for such things as real-time speech-to-text.

Typing is a easy and crisp revel in with most effective Dell status out as a more sensible choice, even supposing that’s a marginal distinction. Apart from the half-size up and down arrows – which is basically the similar on all laptops – I simply want the backlight may well be set to at all times on.

Screen & Speakers

  • Bigger display screen with 90Hz refresh price
  • Excellent color efficiency
  • One of the most productive sound techniques in any computer

The display screen at the new X Pro could be higher than earlier than however the 0.3in additional making it 14.2in isn’t anything else lifestyles converting. It’s welcome, however that is nonetheless very a lot a 14in computer and if you want extra genuine property then a fifteen, 16, or 17in computer is also essential.

Much of the spec remains the similar so that is an LTPS contact show with a 3K answer, now 3120 x 2080 to stay the three:2 side ratio at the higher length. It’s a little bit brighter than earlier than at a quoted 450 nits however I measured it at an outstanding 602 nits the usage of a Spyder X colorimeter.

This additionally printed superb color efficiency with 100% sRGB, 97% P3, and 92% Adobe RGB protection, making this appropriate for a spread of ingenious paintings. The reasonable Delta E could also be very good at 0.83 (the place anything else not up to one is thought of as superb).

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 screen

The headline exchange here’s that Huawei has upped the refresh price from the usual 60Hz as much as 90Hz. This is extra commonplace in smartphones and gaming laptops, which will ceaselessly be in way over 144Hz.

Note that you want to delve into the settings to change 90Hz on and it’s a little bit hidden within the complicated show segment. Huawei additionally says within the details that it “adapts to other utility interfaces” so that you gained’t be experiencing it at all times.

Without figuring out precisely what’s excluded, it’s exhausting to evaluate how a lot it’s going to impact you. What I will be able to say is that it doesn’t make the similar distinction because it does on a phone. Scrolling via Twitter and in a similar fashion lengthy webpages on Chrome is so much smoother so it is rather welcome.

It too can lend a hand get you some additional frames in video games like Fortnite as you gained’t be capped at 60fps. However, you gained’t be working at 90fps at all times and will likely be restricted to medium high quality settings, too.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 speakers

The X Pro has by means of a long way some of the absolute best sound techniques I’ve examined on a computer. There are actually six drivers (up from 4) they usually’re smartly positioned each side of the keyboard the place they will have to be as an alternative, like maximum laptops, beneath the chassis.

Sound high quality is superb in a ‘how have they accomplished it’ roughly method the place the X Pro sounds higher than many Bluetooth audio system I’ve used over time. The sound is apparent, expansive and there’s a lot of pace on be offering so sitting at my table paying attention to tunes hardly wanted greater than 30% quantity.

Specs & Performance

  • Only one fashion
  • Still no devoted GPU
  • Decent efficiency total

In an international the place laptops can are available numerous other SKUs – see the Dell XPS 15 9510 as an example – the MateBook X Pro is refreshingly easy. Although most likely too easy, with only one fashion to be had at release, so if you need a unique chip or garage capability then difficult.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 specs

You get an Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor in conjunction with 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and a 1TB SSD. Yes, we’re nonetheless on an Eleventh-generation Intel chip in 2022 however that is extra tough than the closing X Pro at 30W TDP (thermal design energy) – that is double.

To take care of this additional warmth, Huawei has hired a triple air consumption and twin shark fin fan device supposedly making improvements to the airflow by means of 60% and warmth dissipation by means of 100%. This will have to have accomplished the trick as I didn’t in finding the computer to get scorching even all the way through intense benchmarks – nor had been the fanatics a nuisance.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 cooling

This is also partially as a result of Huawei continues to be shunning discrete graphics playing cards, even supposing early fashions of the MateBook 14 got here with Nvidia MX GPUs. You’ll be depending at the built-in Iris Xe Graphics at the Core i7 as an alternative.

In benchmarks, the MateBook X Pro (2022) plays neatly. It improves on closing 12 months’s fashion and beats competitors such because the Surface Laptop 4. However, it may well’t stay alongside of the XPS 15, MacBook Air M1 or Huawei’s personal MateBook 16 which has an AMD Ryzen chip.

I may just nitpick over ratings for some time however the computer, again within the non-synthetic global, is lots rapid sufficient for normal utilization. However, I don’t wish to do such things as edit video so in case you do, or you need to run AAA video games, then you definately will have to more than likely search for a computer with a devoted GPU.

In phrases of alternative specifications, you continue to get the likes of Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6. Back to the ports and even supposing Huawei doesn’t put it on the market it, they’re in a position to 40Gbps knowledge switch – the similar as Thunderbolt 4.

Battery Life & Charging

  • Bigger 60Wh battery
  • Longevity nonetheless a topic
  • Speedy 90W charging

A key drawback of the X Pro closing 12 months was once the subpar battery lifestyles and it sort of feels the primary factor Huawei has accomplished to deal with that is supply a sooner charger – some other transfer, in conjunction with the excessive refresh price display screen, that mirrors the smartphone global.

The battery itself is greater, however now not by means of a lot at 60Wh and in our same old video loop take a look at with the display screen at 120 nits it carried out worse than the 2021 fashion with 9 hours and 9 mins.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 charging

It’s now not what we wish to see after all, even supposing it may well get you via an afternoon of labor. Two hours of my standard paintings tired the battery 25% suggesting it’s going to closing for 8 hours overall and that was once the case. You can see my utilization over a 24 hour duration under.

The 90W rapid charging does make up for it quite, however it gained’t lend a hand if there’s no socket to peak up from. When there may be regardless that – most likely you have got a restricted period of time earlier than boarding a aircraft – the X Pro 2022 can cross from lifeless to 59% in simply half-hour. And you’ll use any of the USB-C ports to make use of this ‘tremendous charging’.

Software

  • Windows 11 pre-loaded
  • New Huawei Control Panel
  • Somewhat complicated ‘Super Device’ device

As you’d be expecting for a brand new computer in 2022, the X Pro comes with Windows 11 pre-loaded. However, there’s extra to mention about device as Huawei provides a number of issues on peak of Microsoft’s OS.

The regulate panel I discussed previous which helps you to get right of entry to Free Touch trackpad settings has a number of different shortcuts like Instant Hotspot, Smart Record, and the helpful Huawei Share characteristic.

Using an NFC chip hidden within the trackpad, this can be a neat method of connecting some other appropriate Huawei machine to the computer. You can pair a Huawei phone or tablet to take regulate of it from the X Pro, proportion recordsdata, and extra.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 software

Huawei is now advertising and marketing those options as a ‘Super Device’ device, however that’s most commonly a brand new method of branding the best way the Huawei ecosystem interconnects together with wi-fi connectivity to the MateView observe – one thing we already examined closing 12 months.

Whether this turns out to be useful to you will depend on your use case and whether or not you need to shop for or have already got a appropriate Huawei machine. Considering Huawei’s Google Mobile Services factor at the smartphone aspect in recent times it can be a moot level.

In the longer term, Huawei guarantees multi-device connectivity for collaboration – ie extra than simply two units attached in combination.

On the phone aspect, needless to say Microsoft already has an overly identical Your Phone app that does necessarily the similar factor with virtually any Android phone – albeit with out the NFC pairing.

Price

We don’t have complete pricing and free up knowledge for the MateBook X Pro 2022 but however we do know that it’s going to price €1,899. That’s the similar value as closing 12 months so we will be expecting the computer to return at £1,599 in the United Kingdom.

There’s just one fashion of the X Pro in order that helps to keep issues easy for pricing, even supposing we’d want some extra shopper selection on parts just like the reminiscence and garage.

It’s for sure a top rate asking value and you’ll get in a similar fashion tough laptops for much less cash. Whether they provide the revel in and lines you’re after is some other topic.

Huawei has accomplished an ideal process right here as soon as once more, however I wouldn’t be shocked in case you went for one thing less expensive akin to a Surface Laptop 4, Dell XPS 13, MacBook Air M1, and even Huawei’s personal laptops just like the MateBook 14s.

Check out our chart of the absolute best laptops to peer all of the peak choices at this time. If you want one thing less expensive then head to our absolute best funds computer chart.

Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 laptop

Verdict

With its aggregate of specifications, the X Pro has extra of a trade focal point and most likely save for the battery lifestyles will make a very good significant other for the workplace or travelling.

I’d nonetheless like a USB-A port, however the X Pro has an extended record of superb options virtually in all places you glance.

Whether it’s the bigger display screen with superb color efficiency and 90Hz refresh price, the top-notch keyboard and trackpad, repositioned webcam, nice core specifications, or the fast charging.

It’s a nearly very best stability for productiveness and it’s additionally nice for a spread of alternative duties together with leisure. The loss of a devoted graphics card would possibly put some customers off – however actually most effective the ones wanting huge quantities of grunt for paintings like video enhancing.

It can nonetheless maintain that, in addition to gaming, in case you curb your expectancies in comparison to extra tough competitors.

Specs

Huawei MateBook X Pro (2022): Specs

  • Windows 11 Home
  • 14.2in 3120×2080 LTPS touchscreen, 264ppi, 90Hz
  • Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor
  • Intel Iris Xe Graphics
  • 16GB LPDDR4x RAM
  • 1TB SSD garage
  • 720p internet cam with Windows Hello
  • 4x USB-C (knowledge, charging, DisplayPort)
  • Headphone jack
  • Fingerprint Power Button 2.0
  • Dual-band Wi-Fi 6
  • Bluetooth 5.1
  • Six audio system
  • Four microphones
  • Dual microphones
  • 60Wh battery
  • 90W charger
  • 310x221x15.5mm
  • 1.38kg
  • Space Gray or Emerald Green



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