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MWC19 | Huawei MateBook X Pro is finally getting the Whiskey Lake-U treatment

Huawei MateBook X Pro is finally getting the Whiskey Lake-U treatment
Huawei MateBook X Pro is finally getting the Whiskey Lake-U treatment
After a full year with the MateBook X Pro, it's about time we get a small refresh. Huawei has unveiled the third generation MateBook X laptop that fixes almost everything we didn't like about the 2018 model including the Thunderbolt 3 port and weaker MX150 GPU. We'll just have to see how its temperatures will fare when it launches this April.

The original flagship MateBook X Pro launched in Q1 2018 to rave reviews from press. By Q4 2018, Huawei launched the cheaper mainstream MateBook 13 designed to be a step below the MateBook X Pro. The problem, however, was that the MateBook 13 was equipped with newer and faster processors to outperform even the pricier MateBook X Pro.

Huawei will finally remedy this with the MateBook X Pro 2019 refresh. The new model will carry the same chassis as the existing MateBook X Pro and so the changes are largely internal. Yes, this also means that the pop-up keyboard webcam will be returning for better or worse.

The table below summarizes the major updates.

MateBook X Pro 2018MateBook X Pro 2019
CPUIntel Kaby Lake-R Core i5-8250U, i7-8550UIntel Whiskey Lake-U Core i5-8265U, i7-8565U
GPUUp to GeForce MX150 w/ 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM (10 W TDP)Up to GeForce MX250 w/ 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM (25 W TDP)
Thunderbolt 32-lane, 20 Gbps4-lane, 40 Gbps
WiFi, BluetoothIntel 8265 + Bluetooth 4.2

Intel 9260 or 9560, Bluetooth 5, NFC

Although the list of changes is small, they are rather important for enthusiasts. Hardcore users (including ourselves) have criticized the original MateBook X Pro for having a gimped half-speed Thunderbolt 3 port and a weaker 10 W GeForce MX150 GPU — attributes that Huawei didn't explicitly mention in its advertisements. The 2019 model addresses these issues directly for significantly faster GPU performance and better compatibility with external GPU (eGPU) docking stations. In fact, Huawei says its new laptop can work with GeForce RTX 2080 eGPUs.

The easiest way to distinguish the 2018 model from the upcoming 2019 model is the logo on the outer lid. Whereas last year's model has the signature Huawei flower, the 2019 model spells out "HUAWEI" instead. Huawei says the change is merely skin deep and that there are no plans to abandon the recognizable flower logo.

On the software side, Huawei will launch Share OneHop on the new MateBook X Pro 2019 that functions similarly to Dell Mobile Connect. Users can wirelessly pair their smartphones to the MateBook X Pro with transfer rates of up to 30 Mbps (based on Wi-Fi Direct) to swiftly transfer videos, images, and files between the two devices. The downside, however, is that the software works only with Huawei smartphones running specific versions of EMUI. The older MateBook X Pro 2018 will not be updated with Share OneHop as Huawei says it is incompatible.

The 2019 MateBook X Pro is launching this April in the United States alongside the new MateBook 14. We will update this page with the official starting price once we have the info.

The 2019 MateBook X Pro will have the exact same chassis as the 2018 MateBook X Pro. The biggest external change is the different back logo
The 2019 MateBook X Pro will have the exact same chassis as the 2018 MateBook X Pro. The biggest external change is the different back logo
2019 Huawei MateBook X Pro specifications (Source: Huawei)
2019 Huawei MateBook X Pro specifications (Source: Huawei)

Source(s)

Huawei

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2019 02 > Huawei MateBook X Pro is finally getting the Whiskey Lake-U treatment
Allen Ngo, 2019-02-24 (Update: 2019-02-19)