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Huawei MateBook 13 (i7-8565U, GeForce MX150) Laptop Review

A GPU beast. Don't let its diminutive size fool you — this 3:2 13.0-inch laptop is equipped with a much faster GPU than your typical Ultrabook. Huawei's latest offering is supposed to be a mid-range product, but its unique build and specifications are anything but.

The MateBook 13 launched in late 2018 for Asian territories before finally landing in North America on January 2019. Prior to its launch, Huawei had the entry-level MateBook D and flagship MateBook X Pro with no middle-ground option in between. The mid-tier MateBook 13 was thus introduced to fill in the gap.

The laptop starts at $999 USD with a Core i5-8265U CPU and 256 GB PCIe SSD up to the $1299 SKU with a Core i7-8565U CPU, 512 GB PCIe SSD, and a dedicated 25 W GeForce MX150 GPU. All other core specifications remain identical between the SKUs including the unique 13.0-inch 3:2 2160 x 1440 IPS touchscreen and 8 GB of LPDDR3 RAM.

Direct competitors in this space are the same as the MateBook X Pro including the Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre 13, Apple MacBook Pro 13, Acer Swift 7, Asus ZenBook 13 UX333, Microsoft Surface Laptop 2, and even the new Razer Blade Stealth. For this review, we'll be seeing how the MateBook 13 compares to the competition as well as its pricier MateBook X Pro sibling.

More Huawei MateBook reviews:

Specifications rundown (Source: Huawei)
Specifications rundown (Source: Huawei)
Huawei MateBook 13 i7 (MateBook Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8565U 4 x 1.8 - 4.6 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce MX150 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1469 MHz, Memory: 1502 MHz, GDDR5, 399.07
Memory
8 GB 
, 1200 MHz, 10-10-10-28, Dual-Channel
Display
13.00 inch 3:2, 2160 x 1440 pixel 200 PPI, 10-point capacitive, Chi Mei CMN8201, IPS, P130ZFA-BA1, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Cannon Lake-U PCH-LP Premium
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, 512 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Cannon Lake-LP - cAVS
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Intel Wireless-AC 9560 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 15 x 286 x 211.1 ( = 0.59 x 11.26 x 8.31 in)
Battery
41.7 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Primary Camera: 1 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, MateDock 2, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.3 kg ( = 45.86 oz / 2.87 pounds), Power Supply: 195 g ( = 6.88 oz / 0.43 pounds)
Price
1300 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The case is best described as a 13-inch version of the 13.9-inch MateBook X Pro. The aluminum build, smooth matte surfaces, rounded edges and corners, and visual style are all quite similar between the two laptops. The most notable differences are the narrower edges to the sides of the keyboard and the re-positioned webcam. The silly pop-up webcam on the Pro model has been dropped in favor of a traditional approach.

Chassis rigidity is excellent even if it's not the best in class. We can notice slightly more warping than on the XPS 13, Spectre 13, and Blade Stealth when attempting to twist the base. The centers of the keyboard and outer lid will warp slightly as well when applying pressure with a finger. The overall build falls just short of the aforementioned alternatives, but it's still significantly stronger than what LG and Samsung have to offer in this category.

Construction quality is perfect on our specific test unit as we can notice no uneven gaps or defects. Perhaps a slightly stiffer hinge would have made the lid feel stronger and reduce any weakening over time.

Dimensions are noticeably shorter and squarer than many competitors because of the laptop's unique 3:2 aspect ratio. The MacBook Pro 13, for example, is almost 20 mm longer even though their widths and thicknesses are nearly identical. Weight is about where we expect a 13-inch subnotebook to be at around 1.3 kg. Users who want an even lighter subnotebook should consider the LG Gram 13.

Same metal unibody material and texture as the pricier MateBook X Pro
Same metal unibody material and texture as the pricier MateBook X Pro
Lid opened to maximum angle of 150 degrees. There is no teetering when typing
Lid opened to maximum angle of 150 degrees. There is no teetering when typing
The Core i5 SKU comes in a lighter Mystic Silver color option while our i7 SKU is a darker Space Gray
The Core i5 SKU comes in a lighter Mystic Silver color option while our i7 SKU is a darker Space Gray
Glossy touchscreen and fingerprint-enabled Power button by default
Glossy touchscreen and fingerprint-enabled Power button by default
308 mm / 12.1 inch 223.2 mm / 8.79 inch 14.5 mm / 0.571 inch 1.3 kg2.76 lbs307 mm / 12.1 inch 218 mm / 8.58 inch 13.8 mm / 0.543 inch 1.3 kg2.76 lbs304.1 mm / 12 inch 212.4 mm / 8.36 inch 14.9 mm / 0.587 inch 1.4 kg3.02 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 217 mm / 8.54 inch 14.6 mm / 0.575 inch 1.3 kg2.93 lbs302 mm / 11.9 inch 199 mm / 7.83 inch 11.6 mm / 0.4567 inch 1.2 kg2.68 lbs286 mm / 11.3 inch 211.1 mm / 8.31 inch 15 mm / 0.591 inch 1.3 kg2.87 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Available ports are limited to just two USB Type-C ports. Furthermore, only the left port is capable of recharging the laptop as a pop-up warning message will occur if attempting to charge through the right port. Either port can still be used to charge external devices such as smartphones. In contrast, the Razer Blade Stealth can be charged from any of its multiple USB Type-C ports.

Thunderbolt 3 is absent likely to further differentiate the laptop from the higher-end MateBook X Pro. There is no SD card reader as well unlike on the competing XPS 13 or ZenBook UX333. DisplayPort can be connected via the right USB Type-C port.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Left: USB Type-C + AC adapter charging, 3.5 mm combo audio
Left: USB Type-C + AC adapter charging, 3.5 mm combo audio
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Right: USB Type-C )()(()()
Right: USB Type-C )()(()()

Communication

Removable M.2 2230 WLAN module
Removable M.2 2230 WLAN module

WLAN is provided by an Intel 9560 with integrated Bluetooth 5. Theoretical transfer rates are up to 1.73 Gbps if the connected network supports it. Our numbers below are significantly slower since our server setup is limited by a 1 Gbps line.

We didn't experience any connectivity issues during our time with the unit. It's worth pointing out that the MateBook X Pro uses the older and slower Intel 8265 with Bluetooth 4.2.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
657 (602min - 709max) MBit/s
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
598 (271min - 625max) MBit/s
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
513 MBit/s
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
504 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
752 (651min - 774max) MBit/s
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
665 MBit/s
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
660 MBit/s
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
638 (401min - 679max) MBit/s

Maintenance

Serviceability is possible even though Huawei does not recommend it. The bottom panel is secured by six Torx screws in addition to four Philips screws hidden underneath the glued rubber feet. Internal layout and design are completely different from the MateBook X Pro despite the fact that both laptops share similar chassis characteristics.

Unique positioning of the fans and heat pipes
Unique positioning of the fans and heat pipes

Accessories and Warranty

Huawei throws in a free MateDock 2 USB Type-C dock in the box to make up for the limited integrated ports. The portable dock adds USB 3.0 Type-A, USB 3.0 Type-C, VGA, and full-size HDMI with support for up to 2160p30. An Ethernet port would have been appreciated.

The standard one-year limited warranty applies if purchased in the US. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties article for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The laptop offers the same size keyboard (~27.6 x 10.5 cm) as on the larger MateBook X Pro. Despite this, feedback and travel seem spongier with quieter-than-average clatter. Firmer feedback and perhaps a deeper travel of 1.5 mm like on the Spectre x360 15 would have avoided the typically shallow typing experience commonly associated with mainstream Ultrabooks.

A two-level white backlight is included by default and we appreciate that both the FN and Caps Lock keys have individual LEDs when toggled. The Up and Down arrow keys are unfortunately halved in size with weak feedback.

Touchpad

The extra-wide (12 x 6.5 cm) Precision clickpad is larger than the clickpad on the XPS 13 (10.5 x 6 cm) while being smaller than the one on the MateBook X Pro (12 x 7.8 cm). It offers a smooth and uniform glide no matter the cursor speed with no responsiveness issues around corners and edges.

The integrated mouse keys are shallow and somewhat soft relative to the loud audible click when pressed. Drag and drop actions are still relatively easy nonetheless due to the ample surface area available.

Unlike the aluminum surfaces surrounding it, the trackpad collects and accumulates fingerprints very quickly. We suspect that its surface will become glossy with unsightly grease over time.

Key feedback is light with a very short 1.2 mm travel distance
Key feedback is light with a very short 1.2 mm travel distance
Keys and trackpad are large and roomy for a subnotebook
Keys and trackpad are large and roomy for a subnotebook

Display

Instead of being a "me too" Ultrabook, Huawei decided to forego the common 16:9 aspect ratio for 3:2. Even so, this is where the MateBook 13 differentiates itself the most from the MateBook X Pro as core characteristics like size, resolution, response times, PPI, brightness, and contrast are all a step down from the pricier Pro version. It's still a very high quality glossy touchscreen regardless with a similar color gamut to the Pro model for positive first impressions all around. The 13.9-inch Yoga C930, for example, is comparatively dimmer and with less accurate colors out of the box.

The Chi Mei CMN8201 panel in use here is not unlike the Chi Mei panel on the original 2017 MateBook X albeit just slightly smaller.

Our test unit exhibits heavy uneven backlight bleeding as shown by the image below. This is unexpected considering the four-digit price range of the system and we can only hope that it isn't widespread on consumer units. The light bleed is generally unnoticeable during day-to-day use, but it will be visible during video playback or the system boot up sequence.

High 88 percent screen-to-body ratio. Top edge is slightly thicker to fit the webcam
High 88 percent screen-to-body ratio. Top edge is slightly thicker to fit the webcam
Huawei advertises 4.4 mm thick bezels. The sleeker edge-to-edge glass design makes the thicker Surface Laptop 2 look outdated
Huawei advertises 4.4 mm thick bezels. The sleeker edge-to-edge glass design makes the thicker Surface Laptop 2 look outdated
Subpixel array (200 PPI)
Subpixel array (200 PPI)
Moderate-heavy uneven backlight bleeding
Moderate-heavy uneven backlight bleeding
363.2
cd/m²
369.8
cd/m²
345
cd/m²
358.9
cd/m²
366.6
cd/m²
355
cd/m²
354.7
cd/m²
363.9
cd/m²
359.9
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei CMN8201 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 369.8 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 359.7 cd/m² Minimum: 4.34 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 366.7 cd/m²
Contrast: 940:1 (Black: 0.39 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.76 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.53
ΔE Greyscale 4.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
97.6% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
69.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
97.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
68.1% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.22
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
Chi Mei CMN8201, IPS, 13.00, 2160x1440
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
ID: Sharp SHP148B, Name: LQ133D1, Dell P/N: 8XDHY, IPS, 13.30, 3840x2160
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
APPA03E, IPS, 13.30, 2560x1600
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
LGD0588, IPS, 13.30, 3840x2160
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
B139HAN03_0, IPS, 13.90, 1920x1080
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Tianma XM, IPS, 13.90, 3000x2000
Display
1%
24%
4%
-4%
-3%
Display P3 Coverage
68.1
68.9
1%
98.5
45%
71.9
6%
64.3
-6%
65.9
-3%
sRGB Coverage
97.7
98.4
1%
99.9
2%
98.1
0%
94.6
-3%
95.2
-3%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
69.2
69.5
0%
87.3
26%
73.1
6%
66.2
-4%
67.6
-2%
Response Times
-50%
-3%
-10%
10%
13%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
43.2 ?(22, 21.2)
69.6 ?(32.4, 37.2)
-61%
46 ?(21, 25)
-6%
51.6 ?(25.6, 26)
-19%
40.8 ?(20.4, 20.4)
6%
40.4 ?(19.2, 21.2)
6%
Response Time Black / White *
32 ?(18, 14)
44 ?(24.4, 19.6)
-38%
32 ?(17, 15)
-0%
32.4 ?(16.4, 16)
-1%
27.6 ?(15.6, 12)
14%
25.6 ?(11.6, 14)
20%
PWM Frequency
3759 ?(20)
118000 ?(75, 150)
Screen
6%
34%
12%
-33%
-0%
Brightness middle
366.6
478.5
31%
519
42%
329.8
-10%
316
-14%
442.7
21%
Brightness
360
466
29%
504
40%
318
-12%
291
-19%
428
19%
Brightness Distribution
93
86
-8%
95
2%
74
-20%
83
-11%
84
-10%
Black Level *
0.39
0.43
-10%
0.33
15%
0.25
36%
0.36
8%
0.31
21%
Contrast
940
1113
18%
1573
67%
1319
40%
878
-7%
1428
52%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.76
3.09
-12%
1.4
49%
2.37
14%
5.9
-114%
2.24
19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
6.19
5.94
4%
2.8
55%
4.08
34%
12.9
-108%
7.19
-16%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.53
2.06
-35%
1.3
15%
1.11
27%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.2
2.4
43%
2.2
48%
2.8
33%
8.6
-105%
9.7
-131%
Gamma
2.22 99%
2.063 107%
2.22 99%
2.145 103%
2.1 105%
1.42 155%
CCT
6271 104%
6883 94%
6908 94%
6441 101%
6854 95%
6227 104%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
63.2
69.47
10%
77.3
22%
67
6%
60.7
-4%
61.6
-3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
97.6
98.36
1%
99.99
2%
98
0%
94.5
-3%
95
-3%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-14% / -2%
18% / 27%
2% / 8%
-9% / -22%
3% / 1%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is wide at approximately 98 percent and 63 percent of the sRGB and AdobeRGB standards, respectively. To Huawei's credit, it does advertise full sRGB coverage for the MateBook 13. Artists who need even wider color coverage may want to consider the MacBook Pro 13 or ZenBook Pro UX580.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB

Further measurements with a X-Rite colorimeter reveal good RGB Balance but with a color temperature slightly on the warmer side. Our calibration addresses this to improve colors across the board at all tested saturation levels. We've discovered that Blue is represented slightly less accurately compared to other colors on this particular panel. Even so, this is a very accurate display overall with average deltaE values of less than 1.5 after calibration.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
32 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 84 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
43.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 21.2 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 68 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is poorer than the MateBook X Pro since the backlight is not as bright. Direct sunlight will overwhelm onscreen content and glare is ever present. If outdoor visibility is paramount, then users may want to consider the Samsung Notebook 9 or HP EliteBook 1020 G2 whose displays can be almost twice as bright as our Huawei. Viewing angles are otherwise excellent with just minor shifts in color and contrast from extreme angles.

Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

The Core i5-8265U and i7-8565U Whiskey Lake-U CPU options are set to be standard on Ultrabooks until the arrival of Ice Lake in late 2019. Whiskey Lake-U offers just minimal raw performance boosts over the last generation Kaby Lake-R, however, so don't expect any significant performance gains like the jump from Kaby Lake to Kaby Lake-R.

The more notable specification is the 25 W '1D10' GeForce MX150 GPU in the MateBook 13. Most Ultrabooks are limited to just Intel integrated graphics and even if a dedicated GPU is available, only the slower 10 W '1D12' GeForce MX150 is used. This exact scenario was seen on last year's MateBook X Pro. Razer leveraged this fact in its marketing for the recent Blade Stealth as it also ships with the faster 25 W GeForce MX150 instead of the 10 W variant.

System RAM is non-removable and limited to just 8 GB across all SKUs as of this writing. We're hopeful for a 16 GB option at some point in the future. Nvidia Optimus is supported for switching to the integrated UHD Graphics 620.

Interestingly, attempting to download the latest graphics drivers from the official Nvidia website does not work. Instead, the software says owners must download the graphics driver from the manufacturer website.

 

Processor

CineBench R15
CineBench R15

CineBench results are within single-digit percentages of the last generation Core i7-8550U as found on the XPS 13. Nonetheless, raw CPU performance is 26 percent faster than the i7-8550U in the MateBook X Pro due to more intense throttling on the flagship Huawei. Surprisingly, the Ryzen 5 2500U in the less expensive Honor MagicBook comes quite close to the CPU performance of the new MateBook 13.

We are able to observe processor performance over time by running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop. As shown by the graph below, its initial score of 697 points drops to about 586 points by the third loop to represent a performance dip of 16 percent. While still better than the MateBook X Pro, the laptop is unable to maintain maximum Turbo Boost for extended periods. Dell's implementation of the i7-8550U is superior and more consistent overall.

See our dedicated page on the Core i7-8565U for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Huawei MateBook 13 i7 GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø581 (538.98-696.8)
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7 GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø485 (464.55-537.4)
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø512 (506.95-595.21)
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5 UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø593 (543-676.82)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
Intel Core i9-8950HK
190 Points +9%
Lenovo Legion Y530-15ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H
175 Points 0%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
Intel Core i7-8565U
175 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (138.3 - 193, n=51)
172.5 Points -1%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel Core i7-8550U
165 Points -6%
Microsoft Surface Laptop i7
Intel Core i7-7660U
154 Points -12%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-8259U
154 Points -12%
Huawei MateBook D 15, i7-7500U 940MX
Intel Core i7-7500U
149 Points -15%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
141 Points -19%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Intel Core i7-8550U
141 Points -19%
Honor Magicbook
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
138 Points -21%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
65 Points -63%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1230 Points +76%
Lenovo Legion Y530-15ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H
1219 Points +75%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
Intel Core i7-8565U
697 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-8259U
687 Points -1%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-8259U
608 Points -13%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel Core i7-8550U
639 Points -8%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (452 - 815, n=52)
612 Points -12%
Honor Magicbook
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
576 Points -17%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
566 Points -19%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Intel Core i7-8550U
537 Points -23%
Microsoft Surface Laptop i7
Intel Core i7-7660U
397 (337min - 397max) Points -43%
Huawei MateBook D 15, i7-7500U 940MX
Intel Core i7-7500U
343 Points -51%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
164 Points -76%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
175 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
697 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
103.4 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks rank the MateBook 13 higher than many of its competitors including the HP Spectre x360 13 likely due to its dedicated graphics. We didn't experience any software or hardware issues during our time with the test unit.

PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10
Score
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4344 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3704 - 4344, n=6)
4022 Points -7%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3728 Points -14%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3445 Points -21%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP
3313 Points -24%
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
2603 Points -40%
Essentials
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
8382 Points
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
8355 Points 0%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (6763 - 8382, n=6)
7798 Points -7%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
7410 Points -12%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP
7376 Points -12%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7083 Points -15%
Productivity
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7281 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (5994 - 7281, n=6)
6467 Points -11%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5727 Points -21%
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
5715 Points -22%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
5475 Points -25%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP
5253 Points -28%
Digital Content Creation
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3645 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3194 - 3722, n=6)
3508 Points -4%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
2994 Points -18%
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
2795 Points -23%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
2735 Points -25%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP
2548 Points -30%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
3774 Points +4%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3141 - 4092, n=6)
3688 Points +2%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3616 Points
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3478 Points -4%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3371 Points -7%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP
3306 Points -9%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (4240 - 5254, n=6)
4897 Points +4%
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
4854 Points +3%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4709 Points
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4339 Points -8%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP
4149 Points -12%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
4125 Points -12%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (4805 - 5840, n=2)
5323 Points
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP
4885 Points
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
4865 Points
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4747 Points
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
4742 Points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3616 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4709 points
PCMark 10 Score
4344 points
Help

Storage Devices

A single M.2 2280 slot is available. Our specific test unit houses a 512 GB Samsung SSD PM981 NVMe compared to the PM961 in last year's MateBook X Pro. Note that there is tape over the screw holding the SSD in place and so any tampering may affect the warranty.

Performance is superior than the Toshiba XG5, Lite-on CA1, and SK Hynix PC401 SSDs found on competing laptops as shown by our table below. In particular, read and write rates of smaller blocks are faster across the board on the MateBook 13.

See our table of HDDs and SSDs for more benchmark comparisons.

M.2 slot between the Speaker and battery. Note the tape over the M.2 screw
M.2 slot between the Speaker and battery. Note the tape over the M.2 screw
CDM 5.5
CDM 5.5
AS SSD
AS SSD
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
AS SSD
-41%
-67%
-56%
-30%
Seq Read
1889
2205
17%
2133
13%
1850
-2%
2416
28%
Seq Write
1812
435.8
-76%
945
-48%
661
-64%
1170
-35%
4K Read
55.5
29.36
-47%
29.84
-46%
38.04
-31%
48.33
-13%
4K Write
118.4
107.4
-9%
91.4
-23%
95
-20%
103.1
-13%
4K-64 Read
1257
678
-46%
725
-42%
434.3
-65%
1039
-17%
4K-64 Write
1571
444.8
-72%
404.1
-74%
266.3
-83%
399.6
-75%
Access Time Read *
0.041
0.059
-44%
0.121
-195%
0.069
-68%
0.058
-41%
Access Time Write *
0.032
0.055
-72%
0.13
-306%
0.056
-75%
0.036
-13%
Score Read
1502
926
-38%
968
-36%
657
-56%
1329
-12%
Score Write
1871
596
-68%
590
-68%
427
-77%
620
-67%
Score Total
4147
1911
-54%
1998
-52%
1373
-67%
2575
-38%
Copy ISO MB/s
1800
585
-67%
1492
-17%
539
-70%
739
-59%
Copy Program MB/s
385.6
570
48%
300.9
-22%
209.7
-46%
312.3
-19%
Copy Game MB/s
982
503
-49%
839
-15%
340
-65%
486.3
-50%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3487 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1914 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 526 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 368.1 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2173 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1899 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 47.31 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 159.4 MB/s

GPU Performance

3DMark benchmarks are over 30 percent higher than the costlier MateBook X Pro to show just how large of a performance boost the 25 W GeForce MX150 can offer over the 10 W GeForce MX150. Overall results are about 5 percent slower than the Blade Stealth likely due to the higher system RAM capacity and VRAM capacity of the Razer. Users upgrading from the UHD Graphics 620 as found on most other Ultrabooks will have an immense jump in GPU power greater than any Intel Iris GPU available at the time of writing.

The high GPU power available makes the MateBook 13 a good system for popular titles like Fortnite, LoL, Rocket League, or Overwatch. Frame rates greater than 30 FPS at the native resolution of 2160 x 1440 are achievable on these undemanding titles when graphical embellishments are set to low. Otherwise, be prepared for scaling and black borders for most titles due to the uncommon 3:2 aspect ratio.

We can observe no recurring frame drops when running Witcher 3 to suggest no interfering background activity whilst gaming.

See our dedicated page on the GeForce MX150 for more technical details and benchmark comparisons.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo Legion Y530-15ICH
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
14569 Points +223%
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, i9-8950HK
9032 Points +100%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
4514 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2796 - 4905, n=47)
4191 Points -7%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8250U
3483 Points -23%
Honor Magicbook
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), R5 2500U
3482 Points -23%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655, i5-8259U
3044 Points -33%
Huawei MateBook D 15, i7-7500U 940MX
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
2910 Points -36%
Microsoft Surface Laptop i7
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i7-7660U
2401 Points -47%
Microsoft Surface Laptop i7
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i7-7660U
1980 Points -56%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1577 Points -65%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Lenovo Legion Y530-15ICH
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
11099 Points +167%
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, i9-8950HK
8450 Points +103%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
4163 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2820 - 4421, n=46)
3957 Points -5%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8250U
3538 Points -15%
Huawei MateBook D 15, i7-7500U 940MX
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
2735 Points -34%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655, i5-8259U
2683 Points -36%
Honor Magicbook
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), R5 2500U
2597 Points -38%
Microsoft Surface Laptop i7
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i7-7660U
1968 Points -53%
Microsoft Surface Laptop i7
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i7-7660U
1800 Points -57%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1586 Points -62%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Lenovo Legion Y530-15ICH
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
83591 Points +293%
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, i9-8950HK
42202 Points +99%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
21260 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (16227 - 22183, n=43)
19512 Points -8%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8250U
16553 Points -22%
Honor Magicbook
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), R5 2500U
15109 Points -29%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655, i5-8259U
14343 Points -33%
Huawei MateBook D 15, i7-7500U 940MX
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
13199 Points -38%
Microsoft Surface Laptop i7
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i7-7660U
10486 Points -51%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
8112 Points -62%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo Legion Y530-15ICH
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
11640 Points +225%
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, i9-8950HK
7374 Points +106%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
3586 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2323 - 3739, n=44)
3310 Points -8%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8250U
2740 Points -24%
Huawei MateBook D 15, i7-7500U 940MX
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
2376 Points -34%
Honor Magicbook
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), R5 2500U
2328 Points -35%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655, i5-8259U
2070 Points -42%
Microsoft Surface Laptop i7
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i7-7660U
1315 Points -63%
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1064 Points -70%
3DMark 11 Performance
4796 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
14722 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3235 points
Help
05101520253035Tooltip
Huawei MateBook 13 i7 GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ: Ø37.8 (35-40)
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 195 110.3 93.4 34.3
The Witcher 3 (2015) 70.5 39.7 22.1 11.9
Rocket League (2017) 156 76.1 47.4

Emissions

System Noise

The cooling solution consists of twin fans and two heat pipes in a center-positioned arrangement that Huawei likes to call "Shark Fin Design 2.0". The approach is unique in that the processors are placed closer to the rear corners with the fans in center whereas the opposite is true on most other laptops.

Fans are idle during low loads for a silent browsing, typing, or streaming experience. Impressively, both fans remain idle throughout most of the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06 whereas the fans on other laptops begin revving much sooner. In other words, the MateBook 13 can remain quieter for longer during heavier loads. At worst, fan noise can hover in the 32 dB(A) if multi-tasking and browsing for long periods.

When gaming, however, fan noise becomes similar to the MateBook X Pro at the 43 to 47 dB(A) range to be louder than the XPS 13 and even Blade Stealth. Since the fans are small (<40 mm diameter), fan pitch is slightly higher and thus more noticeable as well.

We are able to hear some slight electronic noise when placing an ear near the right side of the keyboard. It's thankfully unnoticeable in practice.

Fans remain silent during low-medium loads
Fans remain silent during low-medium loads
Dual 35 to 40 mm system fans are high-pitched once they get going
Dual 35 to 40 mm system fans are high-pitched once they get going
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
Iris Plus Graphics 655, i5-8259U
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
Noise
0%
4%
1%
-2%
off / environment *
28.6
27.9
2%
28
2%
29.6
-3%
28.4
1%
Idle Minimum *
28.6
27.9
2%
28
2%
29.6
-3%
28.5
-0%
Idle Average *
28.6
27.9
2%
28
2%
29.6
-3%
29
-1%
Idle Maximum *
28.6
27.9
2%
28
2%
29.6
-3%
29.1
-2%
Load Average *
34.2
36.2
-6%
32.5
5%
36.7
-7%
42.8
-25%
Witcher 3 ultra *
43
45
-5%
32.5
24%
41.4
4%
Load Maximum *
47
45.2
4%
42.2
10%
46.7
1%
41.6
11%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
28.6 / 28.6 / 28.6 dB(A)
Load
34.2 / 47 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28.6 dB(A)

Temperature

Rear exhaust
Rear exhaust

Huawei's all-aluminum alloy approach means a more even heat distribution across both sides of the laptop. In contrast, the carbon fiber and magnesium chassis of the XPS 13 means the palm rests can remain much cooler while the rest of the notebook can grow warmer. Surface temperatures are thus more similar to the all-aluminum Razer Blade Stealth.

The bottom surface averages about 27 C when idling on desktop against a room temperature of 22 C. It becomes noticeably warmer during use, though never uncomfortably so. We recommend using a table if gaming since the bottom surface can be as warm as 46 C when under stress.

Commonly used keys for gaming like 'WASD' and '123' will be very warm when under high processing loads. It's not a huge issue for most users, but cooler key caps here would be preferable for gamers. This is a direct consequence of positioning the GPU so close to these keys underneath.

System idle (top)
System idle (top)
System idle (bottom)
System idle (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (bottom)

Stress Test

We stress the system to identify for any potential throttling or stability issues. When subjected to Prime95 load, the CPU would operate at 4 GHz for the first few seconds at a maximum core temperature of 92 C. Thereafter, clock rates steadily drop to 2.3 GHz in order to maintain a cooler core temperature of 73 C as shown by the screenshot below. This is still 500 MHz above the base clock rate of the i7-8565U for an acceptable level of sustainable Turbo Boost. The observed behavior matches our CineBench loop test above where CPU performance is fastest during the start of the test only. Clock rates never dip below 1.8 GHz even when running both Prime95 and FurMark.

When running Witcher 3, both the CPU and GPU are able to maintain a core temperature of 67 C each. In comparison, the processors in the Blade Stealth run cooler at just under 60 C when subjected to the same gaming loads.

Running on battery power will impact GPU performance while the CPU remains intact. A 3DMark 11 run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of 8868 and 3587 points, respectively, compared to 8191 and 4514 points when on mains.

System idle
System idle
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
System Idle -- -- 47 43
Prime95 Stress 2.4 -- 73 --
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.8 1240 63 68
Witcher 3 Stress 3.0 - 4.1 1658 67 67
Max. Load
 42.8 °C
109 F
44.2 °C
112 F
40.6 °C
105 F
 
 39.8 °C
104 F
35.8 °C
96 F
39 °C
102 F
 
 32.6 °C
91 F
30 °C
86 F
33.2 °C
92 F
 
Maximum: 44.2 °C = 112 F
Average: 37.6 °C = 100 F
48 °C
118 F
47 °C
117 F
48 °C
118 F
41.6 °C
107 F
41 °C
106 F
45.2 °C
113 F
38.2 °C
101 F
36.4 °C
98 F
37.4 °C
99 F
Maximum: 48 °C = 118 F
Average: 42.5 °C = 109 F
Power Supply (max.)  54 °C = 129 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37.6 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44.2 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 48 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 36 °C / 97 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (33.2 °C / 91.8 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-4.9 °C / -8.9 F).

Speakers

Audio quality is good for the size with the expected drawback of weak bass not unlike on the MateBook X Pro. The stereo speakers do the job for video conferencing or the occasional media playback with relatively good balance and minimal vibration at higher volume settings. Headphones are still recommended for a better audio experience.

Stereo speakers positioned toward the front corners
Stereo speakers positioned toward the front corners
Pink noise at maximum volume
Pink noise at maximum volume
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs204036.12535.334.43130.933.4403132.65030.830.46333.831.18030.731.310027.728.312527.531.216026.241.320025.848.725025.356.431524.760.840024.963.750023.964.163023.766.280023.670.7100023.369.9125023.264.8160023.263.3200023.158.625002357.4315023.257400023.158.7500023.156.263002363.980002366.3100002362.61250023.1611600023.156.4SPL35.476.3N2.438.6median 23.2median 60.8Delta0.95.935.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseHuawei MateBook 13 i7Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Huawei MateBook 13 i7 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (70.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 16.3% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (15.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.9% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 69% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 56% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 37% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

When idling on desktop, the MateBook 13 demands anywhere between 3 W and 12 W depending on the brightness level and power profile much like on the MateBook X Pro. More demanding loads like gaming may draw over 60 W to be measurably higher than competing Ultrabooks. This can be attributed to the GeForce MX150 which is significantly more demanding than the integrated Intel GPU found on most competitors.

We are able to record a maximum draw of almost 66 W from the small (~6 x 6 x 3 cm) 65 W AC adapter when running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously. Note that the MateBook 13 draws almost 15 W more power than the MateBook X Pro when running Witcher 3 to almost match the TDP difference of the 10 W '1D12' MX150 and the 25 W '1D10' MX150.

Playing games at lower settings and higher frame rates will demand almost the entire 65 W capacity of the AC adapter to impact charging. For example, the battery slowly drains when playing Rocket League even when connected to an outlet. If low on battery, it may be best to avoid gaming and let the system recharge at its normal rate.

When running Prime95, we can observe an initial power spike up to 65.5 W before quickly stabilizing at about 36 W as shown by our graph below. This behavior suggests that maximum Turbo Boost clock rates are unsustainable to reflect our CineBench loop test results from above.

The universal USB Type-C AC adapter can be used to charge other devices as well including the MateBook X Pro and most smartphones.

Relatively constant power draw when running 3DMark 06. The system already draws 64 W from the 65 W AC adapter to leave almost no room for recharging
Relatively constant power draw when running 3DMark 06. The system already draws 64 W from the 65 W AC adapter to leave almost no room for recharging
Prime95 initiated at the 20s mark. Note the initial spike up to 65.5 W before quickly falling and stabilizing
Prime95 initiated at the 20s mark. Note the initial spike up to 65.5 W before quickly falling and stabilizing
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.34 / 0.55 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.5 / 7.5 / 12.4 Watt
Load midlight 64.2 / 65.7 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
i7-8565U, GeForce MX150, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 2160x1440, 13.00
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G, IPS, 3840x2160, 13.30
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
i5-8259U, Iris Plus Graphics 655, , IPS, 2560x1600, 13.30
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Lite-On CA1-8D256-HP, IPS, 3840x2160, 13.30
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.90
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.90
Power Consumption
6%
8%
1%
17%
6%
Idle Minimum *
3.5
5
-43%
2.3
34%
5.9
-69%
3.3
6%
3.5
-0%
Idle Average *
7.5
8.3
-11%
8.7
-16%
9.8
-31%
6.8
9%
8.9
-19%
Idle Maximum *
12.4
8.8
29%
12.2
2%
10.6
15%
9.5
23%
12.3
1%
Load Average *
64.2
46.4
28%
53.3
17%
36.6
43%
40.8
36%
54.2
16%
Witcher 3 ultra *
52.5
42.4
19%
Load Maximum *
65.7
48.6
26%
64
3%
34.3
48%
57
13%
52.1
21%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Battery capacity is 27 percent smaller than on the MateBook X Pro. Combine this with the more powerful GPU in the MateBook 13 and overall runtimes will indubitably be shorter. We are able to record a battery life of 7.5 hours during real-world WLAN conditions compared to over 9 hours on the MateBook X Pro when subjected to similar loads. Even so, results are comparable to the XPS 13 and Spectre x360 13.

Charging from empty to full capacity takes between 1.5 to 2 hours. If gaming or running very high loads, however, the battery may slowly discharge as noted in the above section.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 25min
WiFi Websurfing
7h 37min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 53min
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
i7-8565U, GeForce MX150, 41.7 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 52 Wh
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2018 Touchbar i5
i5-8259U, Iris Plus Graphics 655, 58 Wh
HP Spectre x360 13t-ae000
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 57.4 Wh
Battery Runtime
32%
27%
61%
70%
69%
Reader / Idle
925
819
-11%
1432
55%
1243
34%
WiFi v1.3
457
465
2%
581
27%
424
-7%
550
20%
557
22%
Load
53
109
106%
121
128%
124
134%
133
151%
Witcher 3 ultra
94

Verdict

Pros

+ MateDock 2 docking station included in box
+ impressive GPU performance for the size
+ large keyboard keys and trackpad
+ faster than the MateBook X Pro
+ silent during low-medium loads
+ high quality 3:2 touchscreen
+ normal webcam placement

Cons

- right USB-C port does not support AC adapter charging
- moderate-heavy uneven backlight bleeding
- cannot recharge and game simultaneously
- keys could be firmer; shallow travel
- high-pitched fans when gaming
- limited to 8 GB of soldered RAM
- extremely limited port selection
- no NFC
In review: Huawei MateBook 13. Test model provided by Huawei US
In review: Huawei MateBook 13. Test model provided by Huawei US

The MateBook 13 is priced slightly lower than the flagship MateBook X Pro because it's supposed to be a lower-tier option. In reality, it actually outperforms the X Pro while keeping the super-thin and attractive chassis design intact. We're not just talking about marginal benefits either as the MateBook 13 has superior throttling control and a more powerful GPU for 25 to 30 percent faster performance all around. It even has faster WiFi and a better webcam to boot.

The main aspect preventing the MateBook 13 from being wholly better than the MateBook X Pro is its display. While still excellent and color accurate, it's slightly smaller and dimmer with lower contrast and resolution. The Pro version still offers the superior display in this regard. Other disadvantages of the MateBook 13 when compared to its pricier alternative are its smaller battery, lack of Thunderbolt 3, and lack of USB Type-A.

The MateBook 13 is a sound option for users who are turned off by the weak graphics potential of popular 13-inch Ultrabooks like the XPS 13, Spectre 13, Gram 13, or ZenBook 13. If the powerful GPU is not alluring, then users would be better off with the XPS 13 or Spectre 13 as these models are more rigid with a wider selection of ports and arguably better keyboards.

The only Ultrabook so far with a 13-inch 3:2 display and a full-power 25 W GeForce MX150 for gaming-level performance. The MateBook 13 packs immense power for its size that both casual gamers and traditional Ultrabook users can appreciate.

Huawei MateBook 13 i7 - 01/19/2019 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
88 /  98 → 90%
Keyboard
84%
Pointing Device
84%
Connectivity
43 / 80 → 53%
Weight
71 / 35-78 → 85%
Battery
90%
Display
86%
Games Performance
78 / 68 → 100%
Application Performance
91 / 87 → 100%
Temperature
87 / 91 → 96%
Noise
90%
Audio
70 / 91 → 77%
Camera
55 / 85 → 65%
Average
78%
86%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Huawei MateBook 13 (i7-8565U, GeForce MX150) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2019-01-29 (Update: 2019-02-23)