Huawei announces MateBook E convertible notebook

Huawei’s original MateBook was an ambitious device that brought the smartphone manufacturer into the world of Windows notebooks. Today, the Chinese telecom giant announced the next evolution in the MateBook lineup: the MateBook E.

The MateBook E is an improvement on the original MateBook. It takes design cues from its predecessor, which was similar to a Surface Pro device. The device consists of a 12-inch 2160x1440 touchscreen tablet that connects to a keyboard “folio” via magnetic pins. The MateBook E also brings Kaby Lake to the fold with either an Intel Core m3-7Y30 or Core i5-7Y54 CPU. Other options for the internals include:

• Intel HD Graphics 615
• Up to 8 GB of LPDDR3 RAM
• Up to 512 GB PCIe SSD
• 802.11ac WiFi (2x2 MIMO)
• Bluetooth 4.1
• USB 3.0 Type-C
• Combo mic/audio jack
• Fingerprint scanner

The new folio keyboard now includes a variable hinge that allows users to position the screen at different angles with increased stability compared to the original MateBook. In addition, Huawei says the keyboard is now spill-resistant. Huawei also states that the 33.7 Wh battery is rated at 9 hours of video playback with the screen set to 50% brightness.

Pricing starts at €999 for a model with a Core m3, 4 GB of RAM, and a 128 GB SSD. A fully loaded device (Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 SSD) will run €1299. Huawei expects to start shipping the device this summer.

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