Huawei has formally launched the 2022 MateBook 14s in Europe, however you possibly can be forgiven for pondering it’s the identical machine as final yr. The corporate has taken a cautious strategy to updating one in all its greatest laptops, with a brand new processor and up to date model of Bluetooth the one upgrades.
The laptop computer first went on sale in China in August, and has Intel’s Core i7-12700H from the newest 12th-gen vary. It’s nice to see Huawei go for one in all Intel’s strongest laptop computer CPUs, though there’s nonetheless no choice for a discrete GPU. Iris Xe built-in graphics and 16GB of RAM imply this could nonetheless be an important on a regular basis laptop computer, albeit not appropriate for probably the most demanding workloads.
Given its £1,299 price ticket, you might need been anticipating one thing extra highly effective. That’s £100 dearer than the final model, however solely because of the Core i5 model not being accessible this yr – it’s the identical worth as final yr’s i7 mannequin. As standard, the machine isn’t accessible within the US.
The one different change on the 2022 MateBook 14s is a transfer from Bluetooth 5.1 to five.2. It’s a extra vitality environment friendly model of Bluetooth, however you nearly definitely received’t have the ability to inform the distinction.
Every little thing else is precisely the identical because it was on final yr’s MateBook 14s, however that’s no unhealthy factor – that machine stays probably the greatest laptops you should purchase.
All of issues we beloved in regards to the 2021 mannequin are nonetheless current right here. That features a 14.2in, 2520×1680 touchscreen, full with 90Hz refresh charge for clean visuals.
You continue to get probably the greatest keyboards you’ll discover on any laptop computer, plus a surprisingly nice port choice: 2x USB-C (one Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB-A, full-size HDMI and three.5mm headphone jack. Each the USB-C ports assist 90W quick charging, though you need to nonetheless get all-day battery life from the 60Wh cell.
And don’t fear, Huawei has stopped hiding its webcam inside a pretend key on the keyboard. It’s within the conventional place on the display’s high bezel, though the underwhelming 720p decision stays.
Regardless of this being a European launch, we solely have that £1,299 UK worth for now. It’s accessible from the Huawei Retailer now, the place orders by 17 November get you a free pair of FreeBuds Professional 2 (price £169.99) and elective half-price backpack. After that date, Huawei says the machine might be accessible at ‘chosen retailers’.
Additionally accessible now’s the £159.99/€179 Watch GT 3 SE, which acts as an reasonably priced various to the common Watch GT 3 that launched final yr. It consists of the identical 1.43in (466×466) OLED show as its common sibling, plus sensors to measure coronary heart charge, sleep, blood oxygen, stress ranges, and monitor menstrual cycles.
Orders by 29 November embody a free set of Huawei’s Scale 3 good scales, plus elective reductions on a finances health tracker and good speaker. Once more, you’ll have to attend till after that date to purchase one from different retailers.
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