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Huawei MateBook 14 (i7-8565U, GeForce MX250) Laptop Review

3:2 Ultrabook. The MateBook 14 is faster than the 2018 MateBook X Pro while offering an uncommon 3:2 display in contrast to the ubiquitous 16:9 form factor. Though powerful for the size, CPU Turbo Boost could be better and the lack of Thunderbolt 3 is glaring considering the >$1000 asking price.

The mid-range MateBook 14 is designed to sit in between the budget MateBook D 14 and flagship MateBook X Pro in terms of features and price. In reality, however, it actually looks and performs much closer to the higher-end MateBook X Pro. Users who want a larger display than the 13-inch MateBook 13 without paying more for the X Pro model will find the 14-inch MateBook 14 to be worth a look.

Unlike other popular Ultrabooks in the market, the MateBook 14 is unique because of its 3:2 aspect ratio. It's also one of the few sporting a GeForce MX250 GPU option instead of the older GeForce MX150 to be more graphically capable than many competitors. Nonetheless, it still competes directly with models like the Dell XPS 13 9380, HP Spectre 13, Lenovo Yoga C930, Asus ZenBook S13 UX392, LG Gram 14, Acer Swift 7, Razer Blade Stealth, Microsoft Surface Laptop, and even Huawei's own 13.9-inch MateBook X Pro. We'll be comparing the MateBook 14 to all these alternatives to see what it can bring to the table.

The MateBook 14 will range from 1200 to 1500 Euros when it launches later this Summer depending on the CPU (i5-8265U or i7-8565U), GPU (UHD Graphics 620 or GeForce MX250 w/ 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM), storage (256 GB or 512 GB), or RAM (8 GB or 16 GB LPDDR3-2166) selection. The IPS touchscreen display is fixed at 2160 x 1440 across all SKUs in the United States.

We want to preface that our MateBook 14 test unit is an international retail SKU and not a native North American SKU. Buyers may find differences in the keyboard layout depending on region.

More Huawei reviews:

(Source: Huawei)
(Source: Huawei)
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29 (MateBook Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8565U 4 x 1.8 - 4.6 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce MX250 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1518 MHz, Memory: 1752 MHz, GDDR5, 430.39, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, LPDDR3, 1200 MHz, 10-10-10-28, Dual-Channel
Display
14.00 inch 3:2, 2160 x 1440 pixel 185 PPI, 10-point capacitive, Chi Mei CMN8C02, IPS, P140KZA-BZ1, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Cannon Lake-U PCH-LP Premium
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, 512 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S - cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech)
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 1, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Intel Wireless-AC 9560 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 15.9 x 307.5 x 223.8 ( = 0.63 x 12.11 x 8.81 in)
Battery
57.4 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Primary Camera: 1 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo Dolby Atmos, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, PC Manager, Huawei Connect, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.53 kg ( = 53.97 oz / 3.37 pounds), Power Supply: 197 g ( = 6.95 oz / 0.43 pounds)
Price
1500 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The MateBook X Pro is arguably the most "MacBook-like" Windows laptop from a visual standpoint and the MateBook 14 continues this tradition. Even though Huawei is advertising the system as a step down from the MateBook X Pro, the MateBook 14 uses the same chassis materials with a very similar design language to be nearly indistinguishable from the MateBook X Pro in terms of texture and quality. The base, lid, and keyboard center are just slightly more susceptible to warping or creaking when applying moderate pressure or twists for an overall positive first impression. Lighter alternatives like the LG Gram 14 or Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N are noticeably more flexible and not as sound.

A few Ultrabooks are even tougher and more rigid than the MateBook 14. The HP Spectre 13, Yoga C930, and Razer Blade Stealth feel more unyielding than the Huawei. In turn, these alternatives have thicker bezels or smaller screens.

Overall dimensions and weight are slightly larger and heavier, respectively, than many other 14-inch Ultrabooks including the MateBook D 14 partly due to the fact that the 3:2 screen is physically larger than the common 16:9. Even the Lenovo Yoga C930 convertible manages to be thinner and lighter. The MateBook X Pro continues to be the slimmer and sleeker Huawei notebook.

Note that the SKU with only integrated graphics is slightly lighter than the SKU with the GeForce MX250 GPU (1.49 kg vs. 1.53 kg).

Same aluminum metal body as the MateBook 13 and MateBook X Pro
Same aluminum metal body as the MateBook 13 and MateBook X Pro
One-touch fingerprint power button returns
One-touch fingerprint power button returns
Hinges are uniformly firm up to the maximum of ~160 degrees
Hinges are uniformly firm up to the maximum of ~160 degrees
Smooth matte texture hides fingerprints well. Space Gray and Mystic Silver colors are available
Smooth matte texture hides fingerprints well. Space Gray and Mystic Silver colors are available
322.6 mm / 12.7 inch 210.8 mm / 8.3 inch 15.2 mm / 0.598 inch 994 g2.19 lbs322 mm / 12.7 inch 227 mm / 8.94 inch 14.9 mm / 0.587 inch 1.4 kg3.1 lbs316 mm / 12.4 inch 195 mm / 7.68 inch 12.9 mm / 0.508 inch 1.1 kg2.43 lbs307.5 mm / 12.1 inch 223.8 mm / 8.81 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.5 kg3.37 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 kg2.7 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Huawei keeps switching up the port options between its MateBook systems. The MateBook 14 includes a full-size HDMI port unlike on the MateBook 13 or X Pro, but it in turn lacks Thunderbolt 3 support. Thus, its single USB Type-C port is used for charging, data, and DisplayPort which means that users may not be able to recharge the laptop if they want to connect another USB Type-C device. A second USB Type-C port would have helped in this regard. 

Port positioning is excellent as the ports are easy to reach and evenly distributed towards the rear edges.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Left: USB Type-C (DisplayPort and Charging), 3.5 mm combo audio, HDMI
Left: USB Type-C (DisplayPort and Charging), 3.5 mm combo audio, HDMI
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Right: USB 2.0, USB 3.0
Right: USB 2.0, USB 3.0

Communication

WLAN is provided by an Intel 9560 capable of theoretical transfer rates of up to 1.73 Gbps not unlike on the MateBook 13. We did not experience any connectivity issues during our time with the test unit. Results are faster than what we've recorded below since our server is limited by a 1 Gbps line. 

Removable M.2 2230 WLAN and Bluetooth 5 module
Removable M.2 2230 WLAN and Bluetooth 5 module
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
659 MBit/s
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
530 MBit/s -20%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
513 MBit/s -22%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
505 MBit/s -23%
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
663 MBit/s 0%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
663 MBit/s
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
660 MBit/s 0%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
655 MBit/s -1%

Maintenance

The bottom panel is secured by ten T5 Torx screws. It pops off rather easily so long as users are careful around the sharp edges.

Despite looking very similar to the MateBook 13 and MateBook X Pro from the outside, the internals of the MateBook 14 are very different. Users can still swap out the WLAN and M.2 2280 storage modules as needed while system RAM remains soldered.

Accessible internals with a completely different internal design than the MateBook 13 or MateBook X Pro
Accessible internals with a completely different internal design than the MateBook 13 or MateBook X Pro

Accessories and Warranty

Huawei includes no extras in the retail box other than the usual manuals and the same USB Type-C AC adapter that also ships with the MateBook X Pro. The standard one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Key travel is noticeably shorter and slightly softer than on the MateBook X Pro and HP Spectre 13. Key clatter is quieter than most Ultrabooks including the XPS 13. It's clear that Huawei is targeting the feel of a MacBook Air keyboard.

While the very short travel works well enough for the main QWERTY keys, the smaller Arrow keys and larger Space and Enter keys feel spongier and not as firm as they could have been. Feedback is not uniform across all different key sizes. Users migrating from desktop keyboards will want some time to become accustomed to the MateBook 14 keyboard.

The MateBook D 14 shares the same keyboard as our MateBook 14.

Touchpad

The sizable clickpad (12.0 x 7.3 cm) is smaller than on the MateBook X Pro (12.0 x 7.8 cm) and larger than on the MateBook 13 (12.0 x 6.5 cm). Surface texture and glide are otherwise similar between all three laptops. We experienced no stickiness or erratic cursor jumping no matter the movement speed. On the other hand, the integrated mouse keys are spongy and shallow for an unsatisfying click when pressed. 

Layout is slightly different from the U.S. version of the MateBook X Pro
Layout is slightly different from the U.S. version of the MateBook X Pro
Shallow key travel and feel are reminiscent of the MacBook Air. Two-level white backlight comes standard
Shallow key travel and feel are reminiscent of the MacBook Air. Two-level white backlight comes standard

Display

The 14-inch touchscreen is larger than the 13.9-inch MateBook X Pro touchscreen but at a lower native resolution for a lower PPI. It's also slightly dimmer and with a lower contrast ratio as well. Even with these disadvantages in mind, the MateBook 14 display is still of high quality fit for any flagship Ultrabook. Brightness, contrast, and color space are comparable to the 4K UHD XPS 13 and the glossy glass overlay is sharper than a matte alternative. The Chi Mei P140KZA-BZ1 IPS panel can be found on no other laptop in our database since this is the only mass market 14-inch 3:2 2160 x 1440 resolution laptop we know of. The uncommon aspect ratio makes the Matebook 14 a better option for full-frame picture editing or professional presentations where the widescreen 16:9 may be undesirable.

Interestingly, Huawei advertises a backlight brightness of only 300 nits while our own independent measurements show an average brightness of 386 nits when set to maximum. Users who want an even brighter display can still go for the MateBook X Pro, MacBook Pro 15, or Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N. Black-white response times are average and comparable to the MateBook X Pro.

Edge-to-edge glass touchscreen. Non-touch SKUs will be available in some regions
Edge-to-edge glass touchscreen. Non-touch SKUs will be available in some regions
Huawei advertises a narrow bezel of just 4.9 mm
Huawei advertises a narrow bezel of just 4.9 mm
Slight uneven backlight bleeding along the top and bottom corners
Slight uneven backlight bleeding along the top and bottom corners
Subpixel array (185 PPI)
Subpixel array (185 PPI)
393.5
cd/m²
385
cd/m²
384.7
cd/m²
383.9
cd/m²
401.7
cd/m²
379.8
cd/m²
380.9
cd/m²
384.4
cd/m²
382.5
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei CMN8C02 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 401.7 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 386.3 cd/m² Minimum: 4.71 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 95 %
Center on Battery: 401.7 cd/m²
Contrast: 956:1 (Black: 0.42 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.11 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.36
ΔE Greyscale 6.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
98.6% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
68.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
97.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.6% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.19
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
Chi Mei CMN8C02, IPS, 14.00, 2160x1440
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Tianma XM, IPS, 13.90, 3000x2000
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
LG Philips LP140WF7-SPG1, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
Tianma XM, IPS, 13.90, 1920x1080
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
ID: AUO 282B B133ZAN Dell: 90NTH, IPS, 13.30, 3840x2160
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
B139HAN03_0, IPS, 13.90, 1920x1080
Display
-2%
-3%
0%
-4%
-3%
Display P3 Coverage
66.6
65.9
-1%
64.7
-3%
67.5
1%
64.7
-3%
64.3
-3%
sRGB Coverage
97.8
95.2
-3%
94.3
-4%
95.8
-2%
93.1
-5%
94.6
-3%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
68.1
67.6
-1%
66
-3%
69
1%
65.3
-4%
66.2
-3%
Response Times
0%
-4%
-8%
-43%
-4%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
38 ?(19.6, 18.4)
40.4 ?(19.2, 21.2)
-6%
36.8 ?(19.6, 17.2)
3%
47.2 ?(23.6, 23.6)
-24%
58 ?(26, 32)
-53%
40.8 ?(20.4, 20.4)
-7%
Response Time Black / White *
27.2 ?(17.2, 10)
25.6 ?(11.6, 14)
6%
30 ?(18.4, 11.6)
-10%
24.8 ?(14, 10.8)
9%
36 ?(20, 16)
-32%
27.6 ?(15.6, 12)
-1%
PWM Frequency
Screen
9%
-6%
21%
1%
-17%
Brightness middle
401.7
442.7
10%
333.8
-17%
466
16%
404
1%
316
-21%
Brightness
386
428
11%
307
-20%
462
20%
389
1%
291
-25%
Brightness Distribution
95
84
-12%
83
-13%
90
-5%
85
-11%
83
-13%
Black Level *
0.42
0.31
26%
0.4
5%
0.33
21%
0.37
12%
0.36
14%
Contrast
956
1428
49%
835
-13%
1412
48%
1092
14%
878
-8%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.11
2.24
45%
3.54
14%
1.93
53%
3.72
9%
5.9
-44%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.93
7.19
19%
5.8
35%
4.26
52%
7.38
17%
12.9
-44%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.36
1.11
18%
2.36
-74%
1.99
-46%
2.06
-51%
1.3
4%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.1
9.7
-59%
4.7
23%
1.7
72%
4.44
27%
8.6
-41%
Gamma
2.19 100%
1.42 155%
2.14 103%
2.15 102%
2.34 94%
2.1 105%
CCT
7222 90%
6227 104%
6261 104%
6382 102%
7095 92%
6854 95%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
62.7
61.6
-2%
61.2
-2%
62.2
-1%
60
-4%
60.7
-3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
98.6
95
-4%
94.7
-4%
95.7
-3%
93
-6%
94.5
-4%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
2% / 6%
-4% / -5%
4% / 13%
-15% / -6%
-8% / -13%

* ... smaller is better

Huawei advertises full sRGB coverage and we can confirm this with our own independent measurements. The wide gamut is typical of flagship ultrabooks and it should appeal to most digital artists where accurate sRGB reproduction is usually enough. Users aiming for full AdobeRGB coverage may want to consider the Dell XPS 15 4K UHD instead.

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

Further measurements with an X-Rite colorimeter reveal an overly cool color temperature of 7222 out of the box. After calibration, both grayscale and colors improve noticeably across the board on all tested saturation levels as shown by our CalMAN results below. We recommend an end-user calibration if possible to get the most out of the display.

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
27.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 17.2 ms rise
↘ 10 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 64 % 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
38 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19.6 ms rise
↘ 18.4 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. » 49 % 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 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is poorer than on the MateBook X Pro since the MateBook 14 is not as bright. Glare from the super-glossy screen is noticeable and bothersome even if working under shade. A special "Outdoor mode" brightness feature like on the Samsung Notebook 9 would have been great to have. Viewing angles are excellent to help reduce glare with only minor shifts in brightness and contrast if viewing from obtuse angles.

Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

The Whiskey Lake-U Core i5-8265U/i7-8565U CPU options are an upgrade from the last generation Kaby Lake-R Core i5-8250U/i7-8550U as found on last year's MateBook X Pro which was notorious for its limited Turbo Boost and below-average CPU performance.

The GeForce MX250 GPU is a rebadged GeForce MX150 rather than a true successor. As our benchmarks below will show, the performance differences between these two GPUs can be very narrow in some circumstances. Huawei is promising a faster 25 W GPU this time whereas last year's MateBook X Pro shipped with a slower 10 W GPU.

 

Processor

CineBench R15
CineBench R15

According to CineBench R15, CPU performance is 6 to 10 percent faster than the average Core i7-8565U in our database taken from 24 other laptops. Its multi-thread performance score is 27 percent higher than the last generation Core i5-8250U or i7-8550U as found on the 2018 MateBook X Pro.

Performance sustainability, however, paints a different picture because the MateBook 14 is unable to maintain fast Turbo Boost clock rates indefinitely. By running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop, we can observe a performance drop from 659 points to 517 points as shown by our graph below. This 21 percent dip is much steeper than what we recorded on the Razer Blade Stealth equipped with the exact same CPU. Thus, while the CPU in the MateBook 14 starts out strong, it unfortunately stumbles rather quickly when subjected to high processing stress.

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

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29 GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø522 (514.22-659.49)
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7 GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø485 (464.55-537.4)
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø627 (623.29-676.66)
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019 UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø614 (574.66-670.36)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
Intel Core i7-8565U
177 Points
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
Intel Core i7-8565U
174 Points -2%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (138.3 - 193, n=51)
172.5 Points -3%
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
Intel Core i5-8300H
166 Points -6%
HP EliteBook 735 G5 3UN62EA
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
147 Points -17%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13 20J1005TPB
Intel Core i7-7500U
146 Points -18%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Core i5-8250U
146 Points -18%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Intel Core i7-8550U
141 Points -20%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
Intel Core i5-8300H
821 Points +25%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
Intel Core i7-8565U
677 Points +3%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
Intel Core i7-8565U
659 Points
Huawei MateBook D 14, AMD Edition
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
642 (589.88min - 641.56max) Points -3%
HP EliteBook 735 G5 3UN62EA
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
640 Points -3%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (452 - 815, n=52)
612 Points -7%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Core i5-8250U
538 Points -18%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Intel Core i7-8550U
537 Points -19%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13 20J1005TPB
Intel Core i7-7500U
338 Points -49%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
177 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
659 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
105.2 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks are consistently higher than last year's MateBook X Pro by about 20 percent. Even so, final results are essentially on par with last year's Blade Stealth equipped with the older GeForce MX150.

Though we didn't experience any hardware issues on our test unit, we ran into some software issues related to the graphics drivers. Certain titles like Bioshock Infinite or Rocket League would refuse to launch or give an 'XINPUT1_3.DLL' error. Our attempts at reinstalling DirectX drivers, DirectX Runtime June 2010 drivers, Nvidia GeForce drivers, and Windows Updates proved futile and Huawei itself has no official drivers page for the MateBook 14 at the time of writing.

PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4384 - 7428, n=56, last 2 years)
5810 Points +38%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
4219 Points 0%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4205 Points
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
3835 Points -9%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3546 Points -16%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF
3463 Points -18%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3445 Points -18%
Essentials
Average of class Subnotebook
  (8890 - 11168, n=56, last 2 years)
10202 Points +22%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
8373 Points 0%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
8367 Points
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
8033 Points -4%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
7165 Points -14%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF
7132 Points -15%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7083 Points -15%
Productivity
Average of class Subnotebook
  (6213 - 10279, n=56, last 2 years)
7803 Points +13%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
6916 Points
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
6575 Points -5%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
6101 Points -12%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
5886 Points -15%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF
5749 Points -17%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5727 Points -17%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4093 - 9749, n=56, last 2 years)
6758 Points +94%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
3704 Points +6%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3488 Points
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
3125 Points -10%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
2872 Points -18%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF
2751 Points -21%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
2735 Points -22%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4730 - 5285, n=3, last 2 years)
5030 Points +39%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
3873 Points +7%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3612 Points
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
3519 Points -3%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3478 Points -4%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF
3218 Points -11%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3183 Points -12%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
5065 Points +6%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4796 Points
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF
4520 Points -6%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
4417 Points -8%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4339 Points -10%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
4302 Points -10%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2972 - 5271, n=3, last 2 years)
3805 Points -21%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3612 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4796 points
PCMark 10 Score
4205 points
Help

Storage Devices

Internal storage is limited to a single M.2 2280 PCIe x4 slot. Unfortunately, there is a white sticker over the SSD screw that may impact the manufacturer warranty if tampered with.

Our test unit is equipped with a 512 GB Samsung PM981 SSD which is the same model as found on the MateBook 13. However, Huawei also uses a slower 512 GB Toshiba XG5 SSD like we found on last year's MateBook X Pro and there's no easy way to know which drive you're going to get prior to purchasing. We suspect that the type of drive included will depend on the region. The Toshiba drive returns a sequential write rate of just 288 MB/s compared to 1300+ MB/s on the Samsung drive.

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

Accessible M.2 SSD sits towards the rear of the unit
Accessible M.2 SSD sits towards the rear of the unit
AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5.5
CDM 5.5
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
AS SSD
-25%
-70%
-45%
-15%
-55%
Seq Read
1225
2416
97%
476.1
-61%
2035
66%
1224
0%
1850
51%
Seq Write
1386
1170
-16%
487.4
-65%
658
-53%
907
-35%
661
-52%
4K Read
56.4
48.33
-14%
30.57
-46%
39.74
-30%
41.46
-26%
38.04
-33%
4K Write
137.6
103.1
-25%
66.1
-52%
105.7
-23%
126.2
-8%
95
-31%
4K-64 Read
1190
1039
-13%
352.9
-70%
461
-61%
1021
-14%
434.3
-64%
4K-64 Write
1377
399.6
-71%
263.1
-81%
300.1
-78%
1251
-9%
266.3
-81%
Access Time Read *
0.046
0.058
-26%
0.092
-100%
0.061
-33%
0.053
-15%
0.069
-50%
Access Time Write *
0.026
0.036
-38%
0.055
-112%
0.051
-96%
0.027
-4%
0.056
-115%
Score Read
1369
1329
-3%
431
-69%
704
-49%
1185
-13%
657
-52%
Score Write
1653
620
-62%
378
-77%
471
-72%
1468
-11%
427
-74%
Score Total
3743
2575
-31%
1040
-72%
1479
-60%
3250
-13%
1373
-63%
Copy ISO MB/s
1837
739
-60%
514
-72%
893
-51%
1404
-24%
539
-71%
Copy Program MB/s
473.6
312.3
-34%
259.3
-45%
287.9
-39%
402.4
-15%
209.7
-56%
Copy Game MB/s
1216
486.3
-60%
521
-57%
618
-49%
902
-26%
340
-72%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 1775 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1720 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 611 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 572 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 962 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1009 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 28.04 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 165.9 MB/s

GPU Performance

3DMark benchmarks rank our GeForce MX250 very similarly to the Kepler-based GeForce GTX 950M found on budget circa-2015 gaming laptops. More impressively, the GPU offers a noticeable 30 percent boost over the 10 W MX150 in the MateBook X Pro.

When looking at the bigger picture, however, the MX250 is only marginally faster than laptops equipped with the last generation 25 W GeForce MX150. The Blade Stealth, for example, is essentially on par with the MateBook 14 and even the MateBook 13 comes very close by just a few percentage points. Huawei could have probably just used the same 25 W MX150 as found on the MateBook 13 and then offer the MateBook 14 for a cheaper price without impacting overall GPU performance.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Time Spy
Time Spy
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
MSI GF63 8RC-040XPL
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
39072 Points +73%
MSI GL62-6QFi781H11
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
29742 Points +32%
MSI PX60 6QD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ
25900 Points +15%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i7-8565U
22615 Points
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
21755 Points -4%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (13805 - 23863, n=25)
21491 Points -5%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
21260 Points -6%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
17345 Points -23%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i5-8550U
10816 Points -52%
HP EliteBook 735 G5 3UN62EA
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, R7 2700U
9904 Points -56%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
9643 Points -57%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
MSI GF63 8RC-040XPL
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
6112 Points +67%
MSI GL62-6QFi781H11
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
4239 Points +16%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
3726 Points +2%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i7-8565U
3664 Points
MSI PX60 6QD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ
3638 Points -1%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
3586 Points -2%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (2939 - 3885, n=29)
3531 Points -4%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
2793 Points -24%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i5-8550U
2069 Points -44%
HP EliteBook 735 G5 3UN62EA
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, R7 2700U
1740 Points -53%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1194 Points -67%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
MSI GL62-6QFi781H11
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
4938 Points +11%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
4905 Points +10%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
4514 Points +1%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i7-8565U
4459 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (3585 - 4942, n=29)
4404 Points -1%
MSI PX60 6QD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ
4384 Points -2%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3450 Points -23%
HP EliteBook 735 G5 3UN62EA
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, R7 2700U
2907 Points -35%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i5-8550U
2613 Points -41%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1757 Points -61%
1280x720 Performance Combined
MSI GL62-6QFi781H11
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
5417 Points +19%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i7-8565U
4552 Points
MSI PX60 6QD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ
4501 Points -1%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
4394 Points -3%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (3532 - 4638, n=29)
4250 Points -7%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
4163 Points -9%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3567 Points -22%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i5-8550U
2395 Points -47%
HP EliteBook 735 G5 3UN62EA
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, R7 2700U
1872 Points -59%
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1548 Points -66%
3DMark 11 Performance
4681 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
13455 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3350 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
1240 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Gaming performance is most similar to a GTX 950M as predicted by the 3DMark benchmarks above. This is enough horsepower to play popular and undemanding titles like Rocket League or DOTA 2 at 1080p60 on Low to Medium settings. Even so, the MateBook 14 is only good for the occasional casual game due to its 3:2 aspect ratio and high native resolution. A more standard 16:9 1080p Ultrabook like the Blade Stealth would be more appropriate if gaming is of higher priority.

Running Witcher 3 shows no recurring dips in frame rates over time to suggest no throttling issues over time when gaming.

See our dedicated page on the GeForce MX250 for more technical information and gaming benchmarks.

The Witcher 3 - 1366x768 Medium Graphics & Postprocessing
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
91.5 fps +151%
MSI GF63 8RC-040XPL
Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
72.5 fps +99%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
38.2 fps +5%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
36.5 fps
Asus GL552JX-CN154H
Intel Core i7-4720HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
35.6 fps -2%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (30 - 40, n=27)
35.3 fps -3%
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
32.5 fps -11%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
23 fps -37%
Rise of the Tomb Raider - 1366x768 Medium Preset AF:2x
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H
Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
95 fps +117%
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
44.6 fps +2%
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
43.7 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (39 - 46.2, n=5)
41.8 fps -4%
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
36.9 fps -16%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
26.5 fps -39%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
17.4 fps -60%
05101520253035Tooltip
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29 GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ: Ø37.2 (35-39)
low med. high ultra
The Witcher 3 (2015) 64.5 36.5 21 11.9
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 74.9 43.7 24.1 19.4
Overwatch (2016) 171.7 122.5 58 35

Emissions

System Noise

Whereas the 2018 MateBook X Pro has a single 30 mm fan with three heat pipes, the MateBook 14 has a single 50 mm fan with two heat pipes. The larger fan allows for a lower frequency to be generally less noticeable when active. Some competing Ultrabooks with dedicated GPUs like the Blade Stealth, ZenBook S13 UX392, and even Huawei's own MateBook 13 have a dual-fan approach to cooling.

The fan will idle during low loads like browsing or word processing for a silent experience. It may become active after some time, but fan noise remains quiet and almost inaudible at under 31 dB(A). Fan pulsing never occurs and any changes in RPM are steady.

When gaming, fan noise will be very close to what we recorded on last year's MateBook X Pro. Thus, the MateBook 14 is able to offer 30 percent faster GPU performance without necessarily increasing fan noise. Even so, 44.5 dB(A) is as loud as some gaming laptops and louder than many other Ultrabooks including the Blade Stealth. This is certainly the price to pay for having a relatively powerful GPU in a slim chassis design.

We can notice no coil whine on our test unit.

Very different cooling solution than the MateBook X Pro even though both laptops share very similar chassis designs
Very different cooling solution than the MateBook X Pro even though both laptops share very similar chassis designs
Larger ~50 mm fan compared to the smaller ~30 mm fan on the MateBook X Pro
Larger ~50 mm fan compared to the smaller ~30 mm fan on the MateBook X Pro
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
GeForce MX250, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
Noise
-0%
3%
-1%
3%
-3%
off / environment *
28.1
27.9
1%
28.2
-0%
28.1
-0%
29.3
-4%
28.4
-1%
Idle Minimum *
28.1
27.9
1%
28.4
-1%
28.1
-0%
29.3
-4%
28.5
-1%
Idle Average *
28.1
27.9
1%
28.4
-1%
28.1
-0%
29.3
-4%
29
-3%
Idle Maximum *
29.7
27.9
6%
28.4
4%
29
2%
29.7
-0%
29.1
2%
Load Average *
31.2
36.2
-16%
35.7
-14%
41.1
-32%
31.8
-2%
42.8
-37%
Witcher 3 ultra *
44.5
45
-1%
41.1
8%
41.4
7%
Load Maximum *
47.5
45.2
5%
34.2
28%
41.1
13%
32.7
31%
41.6
12%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
28.1 / 28.1 / 29.7 dB(A)
Load
31.2 / 47.5 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: 28.1 dB(A)

Temperature

Rear exhaust (Witcher 3 stress)
Rear exhaust (Witcher 3 stress)

Surface temperature behavior is different than both the MateBook 13 and X Pro since they all have different cooling solutions. On the MateBook 14, the left half of the notebook will always be warmer than the right because both the CPU and GPU are positioned on one side of the motherboard. The temperature difference of about 2 degrees between the left and right sides when idling on desktop is noticeable but not distracting.

When under higher loads like gaming, the temperature delta increases significantly. The hot spot of about 46 C near the WASD keys is significantly warmer than the 30 C Enter key. Even the left palm rest can be warmer than the right by about 7 C. The wide temperature difference is less than ideal when gaming or typing under high processing loads. In contrast, the Blade Stealth has a more symmetrical temperature development for more comfortable palms and fingers.

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

Stress Test

We stress the laptop with synthetic loads to identify for any potential throttling or stability issues. When subjected to Prime95, the CPU can be observed running at 3.7 GHz and at a core temperature of 92 C. After just a few seconds, however, clock rates steadily drop to the 2.0 to 2.1 GHz range in order to maintain a cooler (and safer) core temperature of 69 C. Since the base clock rate of the i7-8565U is 1.8 GHz, the MateBook 14 is only able to sustain a +200 to +300 MHz Turbo Boost for extended periods. This behavior mirrors our observations during the CineBench loop test above. We suspect that Huawei could have increased the stable core temperature ceiling to 75 C instead of 69 C for faster clock rates, but this would have led to unfavorably warm surface temperatures.

Running Witcher 3 is a better representation of real-world gaming stress. CPU and GPU temperatures each stabilize at the low 70 C range to be about 10 C warmer than on the Razer Blade Stealth when under similar testing conditions. GPU clock rate remains stable at 1531 MHz against its base of 1519 MHz.

Running on battery power will not impact performance. A 3DMark 11 run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of 7887 and 4358 points, respectively, compared to 6404 and 4459 points when on mains.

System idle
System idle
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
System Idle -- -- 53 47
Prime95 Stress 2.0 - 2.1 -- 69 54
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.8 1139 71 68
Witcher 3 Stress 2.3 1531 72 68
Max. Load
 48.2 °C
119 F
47 °C
117 F
35.4 °C
96 F
 
 45.4 °C
114 F
45.2 °C
113 F
31 °C
88 F
 
 36.8 °C
98 F
31.4 °C
89 F
29.6 °C
85 F
 
Maximum: 48.2 °C = 119 F
Average: 38.9 °C = 102 F
38.2 °C
101 F
53.6 °C
128 F
53.4 °C
128 F
34.6 °C
94 F
44.6 °C
112 F
48 °C
118 F
33.6 °C
92 F
39 °C
102 F
41.8 °C
107 F
Maximum: 53.6 °C = 128 F
Average: 43 °C = 109 F
Power Supply (max.)  48 °C = 118 F | Room Temperature 22.6 °C = 73 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 38.9 °C / 102 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 48.2 °C / 119 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 53.6 °C / 128 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.2 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 37.4 °C / 99 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 36.8 °C / 98.2 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-8.5 °C / -15.3 F).

Speakers

Audio quality is similar to the MateBook X Pro. Bass is average for a subnotebook and the speakers are loud and crisp enough for conferences. We can notice no chassis reverberations or static when set to maximum volume. Headphones are still recommended for a better multimedia playback experience.

Stereo speakers near front corners
Stereo speakers near front corners
Pink noise at maximum volume
Pink noise at maximum volume
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2041.541.42538.838.63137.837.14037.939.75035.138.46336.837.68035.635.910034.43712534.242.116033.650.420031.955.925031.363.231530.667.840029.971.250029.474.163029.373.580028.672.7100028.374.2125028.372160027.570.8200027.466.8250027.565.1315027.362.740002761.4500026.860.863002767.5800026.969.81000026.967.31250026.758.41600026.659.9SPL4081.5N3.854median 28.3median 66.8Delta1.36.835.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseHuawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (74.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.1% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 58% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 34% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 47% 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

Idling on desktop demands anywhere between 4 W and 13 W depending on the power profile and brightness setting to be nearly identical to the 2018 MateBook X Pro. When gaming, consumption becomes higher than the X Pro (56 W vs. 42 W) since the MateBook 14 houses a more demanding GeForce MX250 GPU. Thus, the faster GPU performance comes at the cost of higher consumption when under stress.

We're able to record a maximum draw of 65 W from the small (~6 x 6 x 3 cm) 65 W AC adapter when running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously. Since maximum Turbo Boost is unsustainable for thermal reasons, however, the high power draw is short-lived as shown by our graphs below.

Power consumption when running the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06
Power consumption when running the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06
Prime95 initiated at 20s mark. Consumption is highest only during the first few seconds when Turbo Boost is at its maximum
Prime95 initiated at 20s mark. Consumption is highest only during the first few seconds when Turbo Boost is at its maximum
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Consumption peaks at 64.99 W when the system is fully stressed
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Consumption peaks at 64.99 W when the system is fully stressed
Constant power consumption when running Witcher 3
Constant power consumption when running Witcher 3
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.39 / 0.79 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.7 / 9.3 / 12.8 Watt
Load midlight 58.8 / 65 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 14 KLV-W29
i7-8565U, GeForce MX250, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 2160x1440, 14.00
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.90
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, SK Hynix SC313 HFS256G39TNF, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
i7-8565U, GeForce MX150, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.90
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.90
Razer Blade Stealth i7-8565U
i7-8565U, GeForce MX150, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Power Consumption
11%
40%
18%
21%
-11%
Idle Minimum *
3.7
3.5
5%
2.7
27%
3.4
8%
3.3
11%
6.7
-81%
Idle Average *
9.3
8.9
4%
6
35%
6.3
32%
6.8
27%
8.6
8%
Idle Maximum *
12.8
12.3
4%
6.5
49%
10.4
19%
9.5
26%
9.4
27%
Load Average *
58.8
54.2
8%
32.5
45%
51
13%
40.8
31%
64.1
-9%
Witcher 3 ultra *
55.8
42.4
24%
39
30%
63.7
-14%
Load Maximum *
65
52.1
20%
35.5
45%
62.7
4%
57
12%
64.1
1%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Battery capacity remains identical to the MateBook X Pro and MateBook D 14 at 57 Wh. Runtimes, however, are shorter than both by about an hour each. Results are still about the same as the 4K UHD XPS 13 or Asus ZenBook S13 UX392 at almost 8.5 hours of real-world WLAN use.

Recharging takes just over 1.5 hours with the included AC adapter. The AC adapter can be used to recharge other USB Type-C devices including smartphones and the MateBook X Pro.

It's worth noting that the laptop will not charge or will charge extremely slowly when gaming or running high loads. Battery capacity changes by only 1 percentage point every 10 minutes or so when running Witcher 3.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
23h 55min
WiFi Websurfing
8h 23min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 49min
Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29
i7-8565U, GeForce MX250, 57.4 Wh
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 57.4 Wh
LG Gram 14Z980-U.AAW5U1
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 72 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 52 Wh
Asus ZenBook S13 UX392FN
i7-8565U, GeForce MX150, 50 Wh
Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Battery Runtime
7%
48%
0%
4%
8%
Reader / Idle
1435
1243
-13%
2238
56%
1032
-28%
1710
19%
1432
0%
WiFi v1.3
503
557
11%
720
43%
498
-1%
506
1%
550
9%
Load
109
133
22%
159
46%
141
29%
99
-9%
124
14%

Pros

+ Huawei Share software for Huawei smartphones
+ full performance on battery power
+ full sRGB coverage, high contrast
+ upgradeable M.2 SSD and WLAN
+ 25 W GeForce MX250 GPU
+ quiet fan during low loads
+ USB Type-C charging
+ high quality chassis
+ sharp 3:2 display
+ large trackpad
+ HDMI port

Cons

- only one USB Type-C port for charging, data, and DisplayPort
- 25 W MX250 is nearly identical to the 25 W MX150
- display could be better calibrated out-of-the-box
- very slow recharge rate when gaming
- limited CPU Turbo Boost performance
- no Thunderbolt 3 or SD reader
- suboptimal webcam angle
- loud when gaming
- soft clickpad keys
- soldered RAM

Verdict

In review: MateBook 14 KLV-W29. Test unit provided by Huawei US
In review: MateBook 14 KLV-W29. Test unit provided by Huawei US

The MateBook 14 makes the Microsoft Surface Laptop look obsolete. It is indubitably the superior 3:2 laptop in terms of features, build quality, display, and especially graphics performance for around the same price. If the combination of a unique aspect ratio and relatively high-performance GPU is appealing, then the MateBook 14 will be for you.

If your intention is mostly multimedia playback or gaming instead of word processing or browsing, however, then a more traditional 16:9 Ultrabook with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity like the Asus ZenBook S13 UX392 or Razer Blade Stealth would be a better fit. The MX250 in the MateBook 14 is barely any better than the MX150 in the MateBook 13 and CPU Turbo Boost performance remains weak.

The upcoming 2019 MateBook X Pro will carry the exact same CPU and GPU options as the MateBook 14 but in an even slimmer chassis with more USB Type-C ports and a higher resolution touchscreen. The downside, of course, will be the higher 1600 to 2000 Euro price range compared to <1500 Euro for the MateBook 14. If you find the MateBook X Pro appealing but are turned off by its higher price point, then the MateBook 14 should be worth a look. We recommend the Core i5-8265U SKU over the i7-8565U SKU since CPU performance will be almost exactly the same between them.

The Core i7-8565U CPU and 25 W GeForce MX250 GPU offers very little over the Core i7-8550U and 25 W GeForce MX150 as found on the MateBook 13. While it's one of the best 3:2 Ultrabooks in the market, it could certainly do better in terms of port options, clickpad feedback, and webcam positioning.

Huawei MateBook 14 KLV-W29 - 05/06/2019 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
91 /  98 → 92%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
56 / 80 → 70%
Weight
69 / 35-78 → 78%
Battery
91%
Display
84%
Games Performance
77 / 68 → 100%
Application Performance
93 / 87 → 100%
Temperature
83 / 91 → 91%
Noise
90%
Audio
70 / 91 → 77%
Camera
61 / 85 → 71%
Average
79%
87%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Huawei MateBook 14 (i7-8565U, GeForce MX250) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2019-05- 7 (Update: 2019-05-10)