MWC 2016: Huawei announces MateBook, the Surface alternative we've all been waiting for

At first glance, Huawei’s MateBook seems to be an iPad Pro running Windows 10. The rounded edges and slim bezel are reminiscent of the iPad Pro, as are the keyboard cover and Mate Pen, but the device is running Windows 10.

The device is quite well-equipped, boasting of a 12-inch IPS display at 2160x1440 and 400 nits of brightness and a design that keeps it just 6.9mm thick. It weighs a measly 640g (less than the iPad Pro and Surface Pro 4) but packs in a 33.7Wh battery that is claimed to give the device a 10 hour battery life. In terms of processing power, the device will pack in an Intel Core M3 CPU and at least 4GB of RAM. You also get a fingerprint scanner on the side. Storage options will vary but will start from around $699 (Rs.49,000), and herein lies the true appeal of the device. Not a bad deal we say.

Oh, and the device charges via USB Type-C.

While we haven’t tested the device, we can already appreciate its appeal, considering that our biggest complaint with the Surface Pro 4 is that while it’s a lovely device, it’s simply too expensive. There are a bunch of other accessories bundled with the device as well, including a dock, a stylus and a keyboard cover.

Keyboard Cover

The keyboard will retail for $129 (Rs.8,900) and is water resistant. The case itself doubles as a sort of folio cover, a mechanism similar to the one used by the iPad Air. This also means that the device isn’t as flexible (or lappable, as Microsoft puts it) as the Surface Pro 4. The design of the cover restricts the device to two angles of tilt, 54 and 67 degrees). The keyboard case also includes a rather large trackpad.

MatePen and MateDock

The MatePen is a stylus akin to Apple’s Pencil. The device will retail for $59 (Rs.4,100) and will support 2048 pressure levels. The MatePen integrates a laser pointer into the rear of the device and the clicker can also be used to advance slides in presentations.

Yet another accessory for the MateBook is the MateDock, a $89 (Rs.6,100) that gives you access to HDMI, VGA, Ethernet and two USB ports. This is a much needed addition indeed because the MateBook only features one USB Type-C port, just like the current Macbook Air.