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Huawei MateBook X Pro (i7-8550U, MX150) Laptop Review

Performance increased by X. About half a year ago, the Pro version of the MateBook X gave us a good impression with its Intel Core i5-8250U. Today's review update will take a look at the Core i7-8550U version, which also features a GeForce MX150. Find out what buyers can expect from this model in our review.
MateBook X Pro

Huawei has directed its good-looking MateBook X Pro at buyers who are searching for attractive alternatives to all the Surfaces and MacBooks of this world. We already tested the MateBook X Pro in its configuration with a Core i5-8250U CPU about half a year ago and were very happy with it. However, the intense display and stable case as well as its near silent operation were tainted by insufficient performance under continuous load, missing maintenance options and a webcam that was below average.

Our current configuration of the MateBook X Pro is available for about $1700 and offers an Intel Core i7-8550U processor, an Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card, 8 GB of RAM and a 512-GB SSD. However, other manufacturers also have several well-designed business notebooks with a very similar price-to-performance ratio available. We have chosen the HP EliteBook 745 G5Dell's XPS 13 9370, the Asus ZenBook UX3430UN and the slightly cheaper MateBook X Pro with an Intel Core i5-8250U as our comparison devices for today's review.

Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7 (MateBook X Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8550U 4 x 1.8 - 4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, dual-channel
Display
13.90 inch 3:2, 3000 x 2000 pixel 259 PPI, capacitive, JDI LPM139M422A, LTPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U + iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G, 512 GB 
, 420 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, Audio Connections: combined audio jack, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 14.6 x 304 x 217 ( = 0.57 x 11.97 x 8.54 in)
Battery
57 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 MP, 16:9, 720p
Additional features
Speakers: quad-speakers, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, USB Type C power supply, USB Type C cable, Huawei MateDock 2, HUAWEI PC Manager, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.33 kg ( = 46.91 oz / 2.93 pounds), Power Supply: 142 g ( = 5.01 oz / 0.31 pounds)
Price
1800 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - a well-designed Huawei

No changes have been made to the case of the Huawei MateBook X Pro. Huawei now offers two colors for its device: SpaceGray and Silver. Please take a look at our review of the Core i5-8250U MateBook X Pro for a detailed description of the case. 

MateBook X Pro
MateBook X Pro
MateBook X Pro
MateBook X Pro
MateBook X Pro
MateBook X Pro
MateBook X Pro

The dimensions of the Huawei MateBook X Pro are comparable to those of its competition, although the 3:2 display format requires the device to be deeper than usual for 14-inch devices.

Size Comparison

326 mm / 12.8 inch 234 mm / 9.21 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 1.5 kg3.4 lbs324 mm / 12.8 inch 225 mm / 8.86 inch 16 mm / 0.63 inch 1.3 kg2.87 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 217 mm / 8.54 inch 14.6 mm / 0.575 inch 1.3 kg2.93 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 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - Thunderbolt 3

Huawei has skimped on the port selection but does offer a fully-fledged Thunderbolt 3 port. Our test unit also comes with a MateDock 2, which connects to our device via the USB Type C or Thunderbolt ports and offers VGA, HDMI and a further USB Type C and Type A port. The device still lacks an SD card reader.

left side: 3.5-mm audio jack, USB Type C, Thunderbolt 3
left side: 3.5-mm audio jack, USB Type C, Thunderbolt 3
right side: 1x USB 3.0
right side: 1x USB 3.0

Communication

Users of the Huawei MateBook X Pro can only connect to local networks via Wi-Fi, including the faster ac standard. Our test unit reached very good data transfer rates of 630 MBit/s. The data reception speeds are also good at up to 525 MBit/s. This puts the Huawei on par with comparable devices and our test unit does not stand out in our comparison field.

You can also purchase an optional USB-3.0-to-LAN adapter from Huawei.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Subnotebook
  (606 - 1339, n=3, last 2 years)
1056 MBit/s +68%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
664 MBit/s +5%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter
630 MBit/s
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
593 MBit/s -6%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
513 MBit/s -19%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
504 MBit/s -20%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Subnotebook
  (623 - 1690, n=3, last 2 years)
1258 MBit/s +140%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
665 MBit/s +27%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
660 MBit/s +26%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
530 MBit/s +1%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter
525 MBit/s
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
409 MBit/s -22%

Security

The MateBook X Pro has a fingerprint reader that is integrated into the power button. This unlocks the system a lot faster than a password.

Accessories

The scope of delivery of the Huawei MateBook X Pro includes a USB Type C power supply plus a suitable USB cable and the Huawei MateDock 2. The latter offers ports for VGA and HDMI as well as two more USB connectors.

The manufacturer also offers a suitable leather case, a Huawei backpack, Bluetooth mice, an anti-glare screen protector and a USB-to-LAN adapter for separate purchase.

Maintenance

You can access the insides of the Huawei MateBook X Pro via the bottom plate. The maintenance options are rather limited, however, as almost all hardware components are covered by a heat sink. The RAM is also firmly soldered on and cannot be removed or expanded. A corner of the SSD is visible on the left side, but this can only be accessed by removing the heat sink.

maintenance options
maintenance options

Warranty

Huawei offers a 24-month warranty on its MateBook X Pro. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices - a retractable webcam

Please take a look at our previous review of the MateBook X Pro for detailed information on input devices.

the input devices of the Huawei MateBook X Pro
the input devices of the Huawei MateBook X Pro
the input devices of the Huawei MateBook X Pro
the input devices of the Huawei MateBook X Pro

Display - 100% sRGB coverage

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

The screen of the Huawei MateBook X Pro is a 13.9-inch LTPS panel with a resolution of 3000x2000 pixels. Compared to the MateBook X Pro i5, the display quality has improved even more. The average brightness is now 512 cd/m² and the brightness distribution is more balanced at 88%. The touchscreen responds quickly to inputs and does not show fingerprints immediately thanks to its oil-resistant surface.

485
cd/m²
492
cd/m²
483
cd/m²
530
cd/m²
550
cd/m²
517
cd/m²
532
cd/m²
526
cd/m²
496
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
JDI LPM139M422A tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 550 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 512.3 cd/m² Minimum: 6.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 550 cd/m²
Contrast: 1719:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.28 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 0.8
ΔE Greyscale 3.27 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
98% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
67.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
97.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
65.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.35
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
JDI LPM139M422A, , 3000x2000, 13.90
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
AUO383D, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
ID: Sharp SHP148B, Name: LQ133D1, Dell P/N: 8XDHY, , 3840x2160, 13.30
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
Chi Mei CMN14D2 / N140HCE-EN1, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Tianma XM, , 3000x2000, 13.90
Display
-8%
3%
0%
-1%
Display P3 Coverage
65.8
61.3
-7%
68.9
5%
65.6
0%
65.9
0%
sRGB Coverage
97.7
87.6
-10%
98.4
1%
97.4
0%
95.2
-3%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
67.5
62.3
-8%
69.5
3%
67.8
0%
67.6
0%
Response Times
9%
-71%
15%
1%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
42 ?(20, 22)
35 ?(17, 18)
17%
69.6 ?(32.4, 37.2)
-66%
30 ?(14, 16)
29%
40.4 ?(19.2, 21.2)
4%
Response Time Black / White *
25 ?(12, 13)
25 ?(15, 10)
-0%
44 ?(24.4, 19.6)
-76%
25 ?(14, 11)
-0%
25.6 ?(11.6, 14)
-2%
PWM Frequency
3759 ?(20)
Screen
-20%
-26%
-61%
-33%
Brightness middle
550
421
-23%
478.5
-13%
377
-31%
442.7
-20%
Brightness
512
398
-22%
466
-9%
339
-34%
428
-16%
Brightness Distribution
88
86
-2%
86
-2%
76
-14%
84
-5%
Black Level *
0.32
0.27
16%
0.43
-34%
0.4
-25%
0.31
3%
Contrast
1719
1559
-9%
1113
-35%
943
-45%
1428
-17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.28
4.08
-79%
3.09
-36%
3.33
-46%
2.24
2%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4.36
7.48
-72%
5.94
-36%
8.02
-84%
7.19
-65%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
0.8
2.06
-158%
3.5
-338%
1.11
-39%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.27
2.92
11%
2.4
27%
4.89
-50%
9.7
-197%
Gamma
2.35 94%
2.32 95%
2.063 107%
2.37 93%
1.42 155%
CCT
6819 95%
7043 92%
6883 94%
7620 85%
6227 104%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
62
57
-8%
69.47
12%
62
0%
61.6
-1%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
98
87
-11%
98.36
0%
98
0%
95
-3%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-6% / -14%
-31% / -26%
-15% / -40%
-11% / -22%

* ... smaller is better

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.

Our measurements confirm that the Huawei MateBook X Pro has a very good contrast ratio of 1719:1 and a slightly elevated black value of 0.32 cd/m². Colors appear strong and very distinct from one another. Blacks are intense and deep. We did not notice a blue cast ex-works, but calibrated the screen anyway, which further improved the display quality. Users can expect a color space coverage of 98% of the sRGB and 62% of the AdobeRGB color space.

CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - color accuracy (after calibration)
CalMAN - color accuracy (after calibration)
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation (after calibration)
CalMAN - saturation (after calibration)
CalMAN - grayscales
CalMAN - grayscales
CalMAN - grayscales (after calibration)
CalMAN - grayscales (after calibration)
sRGB color space coverage - 98%
sRGB color space coverage - 98%
AdobeRGB color space coverage - 62%
AdobeRGB color space coverage - 62%

The MateBook X Pro cannot really be used outdoors despite its good brightness. Even on cloudy days the screen is very reflective and difficult to read comfortably. You can see slight backlight bleeding in the corners in dark surroundings, but this does not have a noticeable influence on everyday use.

MateBook X Pro outdoors
MateBook X Pro outdoors
MateBook X Pro outdoors
MateBook X Pro outdoors
Backlight bleeding
Backlight bleeding

The Huawei notebook's LDPS panel has very stable viewing angles. Content can be read from almost every angle - as long as there are no reflections. The MateBook X can therefore also be used in unusual positions.

viewing angle stability
viewing angle stability

Performance - the performance level is quite good

Our test unit is equipped with an Intel Core i7-8550U processor, an Nvidia GeForce MX150, 8 GB of RAM and a 512-GB SSD. Alternatively, the Huawei MateBook X Pro is also available with a Core i5-8250U and 16 instead of 8 GB of RAM. This configuration is also suitable for more demanding applications and even allows for light gaming.

Processor

Intel's Core i7-8550U is a quad-core processor that can be considered a direct successor of the Core i7-7500U. This model is more energy efficient and offers higher clock rates that can theoretically reach up to 4 GHz. In our test unit, the maximum clock rate was 3.4 GHz with a TDP of 13 watts. 

In addition, we noticed consistent throttling throughout our Cinebench loop, which limited the performance of the MateBook X Pro significantly and placed it on the same level as that of the MateBook X Pro equipped with the Core i5-8250U. 

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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

Compared to our device's competition, the performance of the Core i7-8550U in the MateBook X Pro is significantly below its potential. The results of the Cinebench R15 benchmarks put our Huawei on the level of the Core i5-8250U.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (91.8 - 280, n=62, last 2 years)
234 Points +66%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel Core i7-8550U
165 Points +17%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U
  (108 - 172, n=76)
159.6 Points +13%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Core i5-8250U
146 Points +4%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
Intel Core i5-8250U
143 Points +1%
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
143 Points +1%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Intel Core i7-8550U
141 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (514 - 2581, n=70, last 2 years)
1705 Points +218%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel Core i7-8550U
639 Points +19%
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
630 Points +17%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
Intel Core i5-8250U
596 Points +11%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U
  (301 - 761, n=78)
576 Points +7%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
Intel Core i5-8250U
538 Points 0%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Intel Core i7-8550U
537 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
141 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
537 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
95.1 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

The PCMark benchmarks also indicate that there is very little difference between the two processor options. In the PCMark 8 Work test, our current test unit is only 2% ahead of the Core i5-8250U version and it actually lags behind by 8% in the Home test.

The comparison with potential competitors shows that the performance is average, which our experience during the test period confirms. The system runs smoothly, starts up quickly and performs well in general. We did not notice any judders or similar hiccups during testing.

You can find out about the performance of other notebooks equipped with the Intel Core i7-8550U in our CPU benchmark list.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4730 - 5285, n=3, last 2 years)
5030 Points +58%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3672 Points +15%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3145 - 4130, n=21)
3656 Points +15%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3478 Points +9%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3371 Points +6%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3183 Points
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Vega 10, R7 2700U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
3155 Points -1%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (4063 - 5228, n=20)
4771 Points +8%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4613 Points +4%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
4417 Points
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Vega 10, R7 2700U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
4403 Points 0%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4339 Points -2%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
4125 Points -7%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2972 - 5271, n=3, last 2 years)
3805 Points -14%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3183 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4417 points
PCMark 10 Score
3546 points
Help

Storage Devices

The Huawei MateBook X Pro is equipped with a fast Toshiba SSD that has a capacity of 512 GB. This is divided into two partitions ex-works. One 80-GB partition contains the operating system, the other offers 381 GB and is available for free use. The write and read rates, measured with our storage benchmark, are good (typical for an SSD) and slightly above those of the competition. 

You can compare the performance of other storage devices with our Toshiba SSD on our HDD-/SSD benchmark page.

Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Average Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
 
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-14%
-35%
17%
Read Seq
1317
1549
18%
480.3
-64%
1641 ?(984 - 2137, n=11)
25%
Write Seq
459.9
269.7
-41%
263.9
-43%
591 ?(460 - 1390, n=11)
29%
Read 512
628
823
31%
266.9
-57%
779 ?(551 - 969, n=10)
24%
Write 512
461.4
298.1
-35%
263.2
-43%
558 ?(461 - 835, n=10)
21%
Read 4k
33.79
24.9
-26%
29.58
-12%
29.9 ?(13.6 - 40.7, n=10)
-12%
Write 4k
117.5
97.1
-17%
68.4
-42%
106.6 ?(63.2 - 168.9, n=10)
-9%
Read 4k QD32
360
310.6
-14%
322.2
-10%
402 ?(253 - 640, n=10)
12%
Write 4k QD32
273.6
208.4
-24%
243.3
-11%
401 ?(220 - 548, n=10)
47%
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
Sequential Read: 1317 MB/s
Sequential Write: 459.9 MB/s
512K Read: 628 MB/s
512K Write: 461.4 MB/s
4K Read: 33.79 MB/s
4K Write: 117.5 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 360 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 273.6 MB/s

Graphics

Huawei has equipped the MateBook X Pro with a GeForce MX150 from Nvidia. It is the more energy-efficient version, N17S-LG-A1, and has a clock rate of 936 MHz and a TDP of 10 watts. Although it can reach a higher performance than notebooks that are only equipped with an Intel UHD Graphics 620 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, it cannot reach the performance that a dedicated GeForce MX150 should offer. 

Look up the performance of the Nvidia GeForce MX150 in other devices in our GPU benchmark list.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2979 - 16904, n=55, last 2 years)
8016 Points +132%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
4191 Points +21%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2796 - 4905, n=47)
4191 Points +21%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
3483 Points +1%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
3450 Points
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
2885 Points -16%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1915 Points -44%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (13768 - 65911, n=40, last 2 years)
29002 Points +67%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (16227 - 22183, n=43)
19512 Points +12%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
18513 Points +7%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
17345 Points
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
16553 Points -5%
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
10604 Points -39%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
9533 Points -45%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2837 - 12349, n=59, last 2 years)
5881 Points +111%
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
3389 Points +21%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2323 - 3739, n=44)
3310 Points +19%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
2793 Points
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
2740 Points -2%
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
1738 Points -38%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1283 Points -54%
3DMark 11 Performance
3783 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
12193 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
2568 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX150 means that the Huawei MateBook X Pro is also suitable for gaming. We would suggest playing older games as these can be displayed smoothly at higher resolutions and over longer periods of time.

Compared to other notebooks of this price range, the MateBook X Pro can impress with its good gaming performance. Current blockbusters might not be the ideal choice, but older or less demanding games can be displayed easily.

Find out which games run smoothly on the Nvidia GeForce MX150 in our GPU gaming list.

BioShock Infinite
1280x720 Very Low Preset
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (98.1 - 203, n=33)
163.3 fps +1%
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
162 fps +1%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
161 fps
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Vega 10, R7 2700U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
84.7 fps -47%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
71.2 fps -56%
1366x768 Medium Preset
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (60 - 115, n=33)
98.1 fps +7%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
92 fps
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
86.2 fps -6%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
34.6 fps -62%
1366x768 High Preset
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (59.7 - 98, n=33)
83.5 fps +10%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
76 fps
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
74.2 fps -2%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
30.2 fps -60%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (27.8 - 35.2, n=33)
31.8 fps +14%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
28 fps
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
27.9 fps 0%
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Vega 10, R7 2700U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
14.2 fps -49%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
10 fps -64%
Rise of the Tomb Raider
1024x768 Lowest Preset
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
86 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (41.6 - 86, n=28)
64.6 fps -25%
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Vega 10, R7 2700U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
33.5 fps -61%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
22 fps -74%
1366x768 Medium Preset AF:2x
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
60 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (28.2 - 60, n=29)
38.7 fps -35%
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
12.2 fps -80%
1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX AF:4x
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
27 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (14.8 - 27, n=28)
20.9 fps -23%
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
Vega 10, R7 2700U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
10.9 fps -60%
1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
26 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (14.8 - 26, n=23)
18 fps -31%
Thief
1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (16 - 23.2, n=6)
18.5 fps +9%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
17 fps
1366x768 High Preset AA:FXAA & Low SS AF:4x
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (30.2 - 44.1, n=6)
33.8 fps +6%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
32 fps
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (32.5 - 51.9, n=6)
39.5 fps +10%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
36 fps
1024x768 Very Low Preset
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (41.5 - 79.2, n=6)
59.5 fps +27%
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
47 fps
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 161 92 76 28
Thief (2014) 47 36 32 17
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 86 60 27 26

Emissions - good speakers

System Noise

Huawei MateBook X Pro - noise level
Huawei MateBook X Pro - noise level

The MateBook X Pro is silent while idling or running under moderate load. When the load increases, the cooling fans slowly turn on and cool the device at a consistent noise level. While the notebook is audible, the noise remains at an acceptable level.

Noise Level

Idle
30.3 / 30.3 / 31.3 dB(A)
Load
39.3 / 41.2 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: 30.3 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2045.933.132.930.731.745.92543.933.633.129.529.543.93141.136.434.832.330.241.14032.532.332.129.129.332.55031.130.33129.629.831.16328.628.927.926.727.728.68027.127.927.426.726.127.110025.926.725.525.125.925.912525.126.624.324.324.625.11602425.123.624.123.82420023.824.823.2232223.825024.625.12321.620.924.631527.628.724.621.121.327.640025.52723.621.222.125.550030.331.425.719.418.930.363029.831.225.21918.329.880028.729.622.418.518.228.7100031.132.522.517.91831.11250293120.717.417.429160027.630.219.617.517.427.6200026.828.919.917.417.426.8250026.529.119.617.517.426.5315025.82819.11817.525.8400024.226.718.918.117.924.2500028.330.919.318.41828.3630023.626.818.918.918.423.6800022.224.41918.818.722.21000020.321.81919.118.920.31250019.720.419.319.21919.71600019.919.819.519.819.419.9SPL39.341.33330.630.439.3N33.51.71.31.33median 25.8median 27median 20.7median 19median 18.7median 25.8Delta2.62.621.51.62.6hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseHuawei MateBook X Pro, i7

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

The Huawei MateBook X Pro remains cool while idling. We measured a surface temperature of about 26 °C (78.8 °F) when the device was running without load. More demanding applications do cause the hardware to heat up with a hotspot near 50 °C (122 °F).

The core temperatures reached up to 75 °C (167 °F) during our stress test and the clock rate dropped to 768 MHz, which is far lower than the basic clock rate. As this level of stress is basically impossible to reach in everyday use, you should not have to worry about limitations due to high temperatures.

Max. Load
 48.8 °C
120 F
48.4 °C
119 F
45.9 °C
115 F
 
 42.4 °C
108 F
49 °C
120 F
48 °C
118 F
 
 33.1 °C
92 F
32 °C
90 F
33.5 °C
92 F
 
Maximum: 49 °C = 120 F
Average: 42.3 °C = 108 F
43.6 °C
110 F
44.5 °C
112 F
44 °C
111 F
39.6 °C
103 F
42 °C
108 F
38.7 °C
102 F
34.4 °C
94 F
35.3 °C
96 F
34.6 °C
94 F
Maximum: 44.5 °C = 112 F
Average: 39.6 °C = 103 F
Power Supply (max.)  41.4 °C = 107 F | Room Temperature 22.1 °C = 72 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 42.3 °C / 108 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 49 °C / 120 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 44.5 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.1 °C / 79 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (33.5 °C / 92.3 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-5.2 °C / -9.4 F).
Heat map while idling - top
Heat map while idling - top
Heat map while idling - bottom
Heat map while idling - bottom
Heat map under load - top
Heat map under load - top
Heat map under load - bottom
Heat map under load - bottom

Speakers

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics

The speakers of the Huawei MateBook X Pro offer a balanced sound. They are suitable for the occasional film or music session and do not necessarily have to be connected to external speakers/headphones. If you do want an external connection, you can use the 3.5-mm audio jack.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.431.731.4253529.5353131.730.231.74029.829.329.85030.929.830.9632927.7298034.926.134.910041.925.941.912548.324.648.316048.723.848.720045.82245.825058.120.958.131564.721.364.740069.522.169.550070.218.970.263065.318.365.380063.118.263.1100067.71867.7125065.217.465.2160066.917.466.9200067.217.467.2250066.917.466.9315066.317.566.3400062.617.962.6500061.71861.763006218.462800062.818.762.81000056.218.956.21250058.31958.31600047.519.447.5SPL77.530.477.5N40.81.340.8median 62.8median 18.7median 62.8Delta6.91.66.935.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseHuawei MateBook X Pro, i7Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (70.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 12.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 34% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 21% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 74% 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 - energy-efficient and good battery runtimes

Power Consumption

The power consumption of the Huawei MateBook X Pro is on par with its comparison devices but is still slightly below the average of the competition. We measured a maximum power consumption of 40.2 watts under load, which means that the device reaches the limit of the included 40-watt power supply. The device only requires 4.7 watts while idling.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.7 / 0.7 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.7 / 8.7 / 9.8 Watt
Load midlight 39.4 / 40.4 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 X Pro, i7
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G, LTPS, 3000x2000, 13.90
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
R7 2700U, Vega 10, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 14.00
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G, IPS, 3840x2160, 13.30
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.90
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
 
Average of class Subnotebook
 
Power Consumption
2%
-6%
-9%
-14%
-16%
-18%
Idle Minimum *
4.7
4.9
-4%
5
-6%
4.5
4%
3.5
26%
4.48 ?(2.2 - 11.6, n=45)
5%
4.9 ?(1.77 - 11.8, n=63, last 2 years)
-4%
Idle Average *
8.7
8.1
7%
8.3
5%
7.8
10%
8.9
-2%
7.88 ?(5 - 13.8, n=45)
9%
8.4 ?(4.6 - 17.4, n=63, last 2 years)
3%
Idle Maximum *
9.8
10.6
-8%
8.8
10%
8.1
17%
12.3
-26%
9.76 ?(6.2 - 14.7, n=45)
-0%
10.4 ?(5.1 - 22.4, n=63, last 2 years)
-6%
Load Average *
39.4
32.2
18%
46.4
-18%
52
-32%
54.2
-38%
54.7 ?(33 - 75, n=44)
-39%
46.1 ?(19.1 - 83.3, n=62, last 2 years)
-17%
Load Maximum *
40.4
42.3
-5%
48.6
-20%
59
-46%
52.1
-29%
63.5 ?(40.4 - 89.2, n=45)
-57%
66.2 ?(24.2 - 121.2, n=63, last 2 years)
-64%
Witcher 3 ultra *
42.4

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The MateBook X Pro reaches a battery runtime of 8.5 hours during our practical Wi-Fi test. This means that the Huawei can get through an average working day without having to be connected to the power supply. This result is slightly better than that of our comparison devices and is very pleasing.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
19h 20min
WiFi Websurfing
8h 26min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 37min
Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, 57 Wh
HP EliteBook 745 G5 3UN74EA
R7 2700U, Vega 10, 50 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 52 Wh
Asus Zenbook UX3430UN-GV174T
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 48 Wh
Huawei Matebook X Pro i5
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 57.4 Wh
Average of class Subnotebook
 
Battery Runtime
-35%
-23%
-6%
1%
0%
Reader / Idle
1160
639
-45%
819
-29%
1367
18%
1243
7%
1197 ?(581 - 2550, n=10, last 2 years)
3%
WiFi v1.3
506
394
-22%
465
-8%
485
-4%
557
10%
623 ?(303 - 1144, n=64, last 2 years)
23%
Load
157
95
-39%
109
-31%
108
-31%
133
-15%
115.4 ?(61 - 197, n=47, last 2 years)
-26%
H.264
426
505
778 ?(426 - 1153, n=30, last 2 years)

Verdict - the i7 is not worth the additional price

Pros

+ nice design
+ Thunderbolt 3
+ good battery runtimes
+ high-contrast display
+ MateDock 2 included

Cons

- CPU performance on par with the i5-8250U
- GPU performance below average for an MX150
- highly reflective screen
- meager port selection
- no maintenance options
Review: Huawei MateBook X Pro. Test unit provided by Huawei Germany.
Review: Huawei MateBook X Pro. Test unit provided by Huawei Germany.

The Huawei MateBook X Pro presents itself as a high-performance notebook with a smooth system and an intense color display. Compared to similarly equipped devices, we noticed that the CPU performance could not beat that of the cheaper Intel Core i5-8250U and that GPU performance is below average as well. Therefore, the higher price for the allegedly faster processor is not really justified.

The Huawei MateBook X Pro offers good system performance and a great design for a moderate price. But a better cooling system would have enabled even better performance.

Apart from this weakness, buyers can enjoy great battery runtimes and a notebook that is even suitable for moderate gaming. The Huawei device also deals well with more demanding office programs while the 512-GB SSD should offer sufficient space for your data.

Huawei MateBook X Pro, i7 - 08/20/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
92 /  98 → 93%
Keyboard
84%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
38 / 80 → 47%
Weight
71 / 35-78 → 84%
Battery
91%
Display
89%
Games Performance
78 / 68 → 100%
Application Performance
83 / 87 → 96%
Temperature
88 / 91 → 97%
Noise
89%
Audio
73 / 91 → 80%
Camera
56 / 85 → 66%
Average
78%
87%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Huawei MateBook X Pro (i7-8550U, MX150) Laptop Review
Mike Wobker, 2018-08-21 (Update: 2019-02-27)