The transition from desktop PCs to laptops has been a growing trend, driven by the need for portability without compromising productivity.
As a part of this transition, our team incorporated the Huawei Matebook D16 into our workflow several months ago. While this laptop may not be the newest release, we believe it’s never too late to provide an in-depth review of our experiences with this device.
While you might have been eyeing this laptop yourself, we’ve taken the liberty of thoroughly testing it in our day-to-day operations to provide you with an informed perspective.
With that being said, let’s start shall we?
Measuring at 356.7mm in width, 18mm in thickness, and weighing 1.68kg, the Matebook D16 boasts a robust build. Its brushed metal finish lends it a premium feel, albeit slightly on the heavier side. The prominent Huawei branding on the lid and the thoughtful addition of a rubber riser underneath for better heat dissipation and stability add to its appeal.
This rubber riser also gives you a better grip if you decide to carry the laptop around without a bag. However, we wouldn’t recommend it because the Matebook D16 is quite bulky and heavy. It’s manageable if you mostly stay put in one place, though.
Featuring a 16″ FHD+ IPS panel with slim bezels, the Matebook D16 offers an immersive viewing experience. The colors are sharp and vibrant, making it suitable for day-to-day tasks and entertainment. However, it may not meet the demands of professional video editing due to its limitations in rendering power.
Let’s talk about the ports on the Matebook D16.
The Matebook D16 offers a decent array of port, on the right side, you’ll find a USB-C port for charging, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. There’s another USB-A port on the left side. Unfortunately, there’s no SD card reader for easy file transfers.
Moving on to the keyboard, it has a Numpad on the right side. The keys are a bit different from standard sizes, which took some getting used to. So, you might find yourselves hitting 7 and 4 when you mean to press Enter. But, you can always connect a different keyboard if you prefer.
Despite the keyboard quirks, once we got used to it, typing was comfortable. The touchpad is also a decent size and responsive, making navigation easy without taking up too much space on the laptop.
The keyboard layout, with a Numpad on the right side, may take some time to get used to due to non-standard key sizes. Despite this initial adjustment period, the typing experience is comfortable once adapted. Additionally, the touchpad is adequately sized and responsive, facilitating smooth navigation.
Powered by a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13900h processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics, coupled with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD storage, the Matebook D16 delivers smooth performance for basic editing, light gaming, and everyday computing tasks.
It struggles with more graphics-intensive games like Valorant but handles titles like Honkai Star Rail admirably.
In terms of additional features, the Huawei Matebook D16 includes 1 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. Its USB-C port serves multiple purposes, allowing for data transfer, charging, and display port functions.
Furthermore, it features a fingerprint sensor integrated into its power button. This sensor is highly responsive, making device access quick and effortless. Additionally, the Matebook D16 is equipped with a 720P AI Camera, offering decent image quality for various purposes.
Below, you can find a sample shot captured with this camera.
Equipped with a 70Wh battery and a 65W USB-C power adapter, the Matebook D16 offers respectable battery life. We personally tested the Huawei Matebook D16 by using it for video editing, script writing, and a bit of gaming, and it lasted approximately 7 hours and 20 minutes.
In terms of pricing, the Huawei Matebook D16 offers flexibility with a choice between a 12th-gen chip or a 13th-gen chip.
For the 12th-gen chip, there are two configurations available:
On the other hand, the 13th-gen chip offers one variant:
Given the small price difference, opting for the highest configuration is recommended as it provides the ideal performance and storage capacity for your needs.
While it may not be the best choice for heavy tasks, it offers a compelling package with its large IPS display, solid build quality, and reasonable performance, making it a suitable option for day-to-day activities and light gaming.
In conclusion, the Huawei Matebook D16 presents a compelling proposition for users seeking a versatile laptop for everyday use. Its combination of a spacious display, decent performance, and thoughtful design elements make it a worthy consideration in its price range. However, for users with more demanding computing needs, exploring other options might be advisable.
What are your thoughts on the Huawei Matebook D16? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
ManilaShaker is a tech media producing insightful and helpful content for our local and growing international audience. Our goal is to create a premier Philippine digital consumer electronics resource that provides the most objective reviews and comparisons globally.
