Agreed, pairing a quad core i7 with 8GB of RAM is ridiculous. Why spend the money on the processor, when you’re going to kill it with an anemic memory config?
The 2017 was a great device, this is: - 200 gr heavier with the same battery - quad core CPU but no longer fanless (2017 was one on the rare fanless U series) - 300 nits instead of 350 - still no more than 8GB RAM and non upgradable (as others said, it makes no sense to have a MX150 option and offer no 16GB RAM option)
Basically this is worse than the 2017 model. Good job Huawei!
Seems like an odd choice by Ian to compare the new entry to the 2017 model, when on the spec sheet there's very little difference between the 3 years. The only thing that stands out to me is that the new model weighs as much as the 2018 model that was "larger" (+~20mm in width, +6mm in height) and "heavier" (2017 was ~1kg, 2018 was 1.33kg, 2019 is 1.3kg), but you give up almost 1/3rd of the battery capacity from 2018, and seemingly the better screen with a better bezel ratio. The i7 config came with 16GB RAM in 2018, now peaks at 8. A few peripheral downgrades as well from 2018 to 2019: quad speakers/mics down to dual, USB charging on both sides down to one, possibly more. The clear benefits of the new one is the CPU update and BT 5 from 4.1.
All-in-all, looks to me like they peaked in 2018, and this year cheaped out on some components to bump up margins after getting such glowing reviews last year. If the price is the same, I'd pick the 2018 model... Don't want to sound like a downer- I think it's still one of the most attractive laptops available- but a mixed bag as to whether it's a net improvement from 2018.
Lenovo is a better example than Apple. For $800, you could buy the Ideapad 720s 14, a similar ultrabook with MX150 that has 55 Wh battery, upgradable RAM, and much better I/O including a TB3 port. That was 2 years ago.
With $1,300, I'd rather get Lenovo's Thinkpad X1 Extreme (8750H, 1050 Ti) on a discount. I believe Huawei's own MateBook X Pro (8550U, MX150) was also $1,300 during its launch.
Huawei is becoming a bigger joke than Apple from what I can tell from this specs sheet. At least Apple tries to entice you first with their software and ecosystem. Charging $1,300 for a laptop with 41 Wh battery is robbery.
Those product shots taken on a phone and teasing a bit of the Vegas skyline (i.e. AC units and asphalt roofing) almost do enough on their own to transport me to that uniquely strange, frenetic and new-carpet-smelling Los Vegas CES experience. Thank you. 😊
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A5 - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
Wish it had 16GB of RAM in the $1300 config at least. Would be more useful than the MX150 for most scenarios.MarcusMo - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
Agreed, pairing a quad core i7 with 8GB of RAM is ridiculous. Why spend the money on the processor, when you’re going to kill it with an anemic memory config?digiguy - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
The 2017 was a great device, this is:- 200 gr heavier with the same battery
- quad core CPU but no longer fanless (2017 was one on the rare fanless U series)
- 300 nits instead of 350
- still no more than 8GB RAM and non upgradable (as others said, it makes no sense to have a MX150 option and offer no 16GB RAM option)
Basically this is worse than the 2017 model. Good job Huawei!
wr3zzz - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
Trading fanless for MX150 on a 13" device basically reverts the Mate X back to the crowd like every other laptop on the market.wiak - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
no ryzen, no fun :/hybrid2d4x4 - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
Seems like an odd choice by Ian to compare the new entry to the 2017 model, when on the spec sheet there's very little difference between the 3 years. The only thing that stands out to me is that the new model weighs as much as the 2018 model that was "larger" (+~20mm in width, +6mm in height) and "heavier" (2017 was ~1kg, 2018 was 1.33kg, 2019 is 1.3kg), but you give up almost 1/3rd of the battery capacity from 2018, and seemingly the better screen with a better bezel ratio. The i7 config came with 16GB RAM in 2018, now peaks at 8. A few peripheral downgrades as well from 2018 to 2019: quad speakers/mics down to dual, USB charging on both sides down to one, possibly more. The clear benefits of the new one is the CPU update and BT 5 from 4.1.All-in-all, looks to me like they peaked in 2018, and this year cheaped out on some components to bump up margins after getting such glowing reviews last year. If the price is the same, I'd pick the 2018 model... Don't want to sound like a downer- I think it's still one of the most attractive laptops available- but a mixed bag as to whether it's a net improvement from 2018.
Prestissimo - Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - link
Extremely expensive, terrible value.LarryTempleton - Thursday, January 10, 2019 - link
Have you seen what Apple hands you for $1,300? XDPrestissimo - Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - link
Lenovo is a better example than Apple.For $800, you could buy the Ideapad 720s 14, a similar ultrabook with MX150 that has 55 Wh battery, upgradable RAM, and much better I/O including a TB3 port. That was 2 years ago.
With $1,300, I'd rather get Lenovo's Thinkpad X1 Extreme (8750H, 1050 Ti) on a discount.
I believe Huawei's own MateBook X Pro (8550U, MX150) was also $1,300 during its launch.
Huawei is becoming a bigger joke than Apple from what I can tell from this specs sheet. At least Apple tries to entice you first with their software and ecosystem.
Charging $1,300 for a laptop with 41 Wh battery is robbery.
LarryTempleton - Thursday, January 10, 2019 - link
Those product shots taken on a phone and teasing a bit of the Vegas skyline (i.e. AC units and asphalt roofing) almost do enough on their own to transport me to that uniquely strange, frenetic and new-carpet-smelling Los Vegas CES experience. Thank you. 😊KathyMilligan - Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - link
Nice matebook.xaviaalida - Thursday, February 25, 2021 - link
With this amazing machine I guess I can play asphalt 8 games really well at https://techtodown.com/asphalt-8-mod-apk/