At Huawei’s spring product launch event on Thursday, Consumer BG CEO Yu Chengdong introduced the MateBook X Pro, a slim lightweight laptop featuring cutting-edge technology such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and Pangu AI integration. Huawei did not disclose any information about its next-generation Huawei P70 flagship smartphone at the event however, despite it becoming a trending topic on Chinese social media in recent days.
Why it matters: The MateBook X Pro stands out from other laptops produced by the Chinese tech giant as the first PC to integrate its Pangu large language model. Huawei has collaborated with AI-model partners such as Baidu’s ERNIE Bot, WPS AI, and iFLYTEK’s Spark on the new computer.
Details: The MateBook X Pro is currently the sole laptop weighing less than one kilogram to be equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, according to Yu.
- The 2024 slimline model has a thickness of 13.4mm and weight of 980g. An image shown at the event indicated that the 14.2-inch design is lighter than the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (1.24kg).
- The new model comes in two chip variants: the first generation Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and the Ultra 7 155H processor. These variants are paired with an Intel Sharp Graphics card, with options for 16GB or 32GB of RAM, and either 1TB or 2TB of NVMe PCI storage. Notably, the latest Intel Ultra 9 processor can enhance the device’s performance with up to 40W of power.
- The device supports the latest Pangu AI model, which provides artificial intelligence features including AI Minutes, AI Subtitles, and AI Eyes. AI Minutes can make rapid recordings, while AI Subtitles translates texts in real-time. AI Eyes is a photo enhancement software that can analyze and adjust images.
- The 2024 Huawei MateBook X Pro introduces a 14.2-inch OLED screen with a 3:2 ratio and a 3,120 x 2,080 pixel resolution. It boasts a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 1.07 billion color display.
- The MateBook X Pro is equipped with a 70Wh lithium polymer battery and supports fast charging at 140W. A 10-minute charge powers the device for up to three hours, the company claimed.
- It is available in China in three configurations: the Ultra7 model with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage priced at RMB 11,199 ($1,658), the Ultra7 model with 32GB RAM and 1TB storage priced at RMB 12,499 ($1,727), and the Ultra9 model with 32GB RAM and 2TB storage priced at RMB 14,999 ($2,072).
Context: During the nearly two-hour launch event on Thursday, Yu did not once mention “far ahead,” a phrase that he had consistently used at previous product launches and which had gone viral on Chinese social media. Huawei has allegedly stopped him from using this term to describe products, according to local media outlet IThome.
- Huawei President Ren Zhengfei has allegedly imposed a fine of RMB 10,000 for anyone from the company using the phrase “far ahead,” IThome reported. However, Yu previously denied the existence of such an order.