Huawei's new MateBook 14s is the better MateBook X Pro

Huawei launches the MateBook 14s, a new subnotebook with a 14.2-icnh LTPS touchscreen. Like other MateBooks (MateBook 14 or MateBook X Pro), the device uses a 3:2 display, but this time with a higher 2.5k resolution (2520 x 1680 pixels). The new LTPS screen performs very well in our review: In addition to crisp and rich colors, the colors are also accurate and it covers the full sRGB gamut, so you can edit pictures/videos. The brightness is okay indoors, but we would have liked to see a brighter screen outdoors to compensate for reflections on the glossy screen.

Huawei uses the new 35W processor from Intel, the Core i7-11370H. Thanks to the powerful cooling solution with two fans, it can consume up to 45 Watts in the optional performance mode and this value can be maintained by the MateBook 14s. However, the CPU performance is still not that great, because it is basically a U-series processor with four cores and the faster Iris Xe Graphics G7. Intel's regular mobile CPUs with 45 Watts (like the i7-11800H) has more cores, but a slower integrated graphics unit since these CPUs are usually combined with dedicated graphics cards. The processor performance is only a bit faster than a regular i7-1165G7 or i7-1185G7 with the same cooling performance. Huawei does not offer a Thunderbolt certification officially, so we would have liked to see the MateBook 14s with a current AMD Ryzen processor like the Ryzen 7 5800H from the brand-new MateBook 16, which offers almost twice the multi-core performance.

The performance is obviously still more than sufficient for daily tasks and the MateBook 14s does not offer any severe issues during the review. The input devices also leave a good impression thanks to sufficient key travel, and the speakers are good as well. Huawei also manages to implement the webcam at the "regular" spot above the display, despite the slim bezels. Right now, the MateBook 14s is the best compact laptop from Huawei and also gets a better rating than the designated flagship laptop MateBook X Pro, which is shipped with a Tiger Lake-U processor. Please see our comprehensive review for more information on the MateBook 14s:

• Huawei MateBook 14s Review