The MWC 2016 has begun and many global technology giants are up with their upcoming gadgets in lieu to attract the consumers. Right now in the news is Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., a Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment manufacturer, for the launch of its highly anticipated Huawei Matebook, at the stage of the ongoing MWC (Mobile World Congress), that will commence till 25 February 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
Huawei has now forayed into the PC market with its first convertible, called Matebook. The new Huawei convertible is similar to Microsoft’s Surface series, featuring laptop-tablet design, stylus, and keyboard cases. The Huawei Matebook has a metal unibody design and comes with 12-inch 2160×1440 pixel display. The device has thin 10mm bezel and is 6.9mm thick, and weighs around 640 grams. It runs on Windows 10 and is powered by Intel Core m3, Core m5, and Core m7 processors.
The Matebook is available in 4GB or 8GB of RAM variants while storage options range from 128GB to 512GB SSDs. It has a 5-megapixel camera on the front. Connectivity options include USB Type C, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The MateBook is powered by a 33.7Wh battery. There’s also a fingerprint scanner, which is placed between the two volume buttons on the side of the device.
Huawei has taken design clues from Microsoft’s Surface series but has included a few variation. Unlike the Surface, the Matebook doesn’t have a kickstand, but relies on the keyboard accessory, like the iPad Pro. The keyboard has backlit keys and also has a glass trackpad. There is also a MatePen stylus that comes with 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity. It also has laser pointers and an elastomer tip. The company has also introduced a dock that allows the laptop’s single USB-C port to support two USB 3 ports, Ethernet, HDMI, and VGA and other connectivity options.
“With this landmark device, Huawei is demonstrating our industry-leading design and manufacturing expertise by bringing a beautifully crafted flagship product to market that is redefining the new style of business – connected computing across all devices in almost every scenario,” said Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group. “Huawei has successfully channeled its comprehensive experience and excellence in building premium mobile products into the needs of the modern business environment by introducing a highly efficient device, seamlessly capable of integrating work and entertainment functions.”
There’s no word on the availability of the Matebook, but the company has announced it will be launched in Asia, Europe, and North America in the coming months. As far as the pricing goes, the basic model starts at $699 (Rs 48,000 approximately) and goes up to $1,599 (Rs 110,000 approximately) for the top end variant. The basic model with keyboard and dock costs $917 (63,000 approximately). The keyboard costs $129 (Rs 9,000 approximately), the dock $89 (Rs 6,000 approximately), and the pen $59 (Rs 4,000 approximately).