PRICE £833 (£1,000 inc VAT) from consumer.huawei.com/uk
In our iconic PCs feature this month we give praise to Microsoft for its Surface design. It’s no coincidence that every other major laptop maker has since copied its design in one form or other, with Huawei the latest to join in the fun.
One area where Huawei differs from Microsoft is that it doesn’t charge extra for the keyboard. This attaches magnetically to the rear of the MateBook E, with a fold-down rear to lend support. It isn’t as elegant as Microsoft’s kickstand, but you can still choose pretty much any angle of repose. The keys have a pleasant 1.3mm of travel and are well spaced, but don’t expect luxuries such as backlighting. The trackpad is narrow and wide, and it took me some time to get used to it, but that width provides ample space for gestures.
Officially the £100 M-Pencil stylus isn’t included in the price, but there’s a good chance you’ll find it bundled if you buy direct from Huawei. The M-Pencil clings to the top of the chassis via a strong magnet, which is great when you get the position right, but there’s no marking to show the correct position so trial and error is your friend. It’s a nicely sized pen that draws well – it’s a hard plastic nib with good pressure sensitivity – but lacks buttons. You can double-tap on the side to take a screenshot, but that’s it.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is it time to upgrade your business Wi-Fi?
Do you need to invest in a faster, more reliable wireless network? Steve Cassidy asks the key questions
On-premises business backup
Put your data at risk and you're putting your business at risk. Dave Mitchell explains how to put safeguards in place and what backup products can help
Claude 3.5 Sonnet
An excellent AI model for a wide variety of tasks: it's fast, versatile and the current leader for coding
SMART SPEAKERS
Whether your priority is audio quality, smart home control or always-on AI assistance, this group test holds the answer
Udio
A stunningly sophisticated service for creating just about any form of audio artistry from a text prompt
Runway
A powerful tool for video creators, but you'll need to invest time and money to take advantage
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
A distinctive phone for those who want great battery life and a stunning screen without paying a fortune
CUKTECH 20
Good battery life, sleek design and a built-in display lift this power bank from the crowd
Sony Xperia 1 VI
A microSD card slot and 3.5mm jack mark this flagship out, but the price is too high
ReMarkable Paper Pro
Still troubled by lag, but this is a premium ePaper tablet that benefits from both a backlight and colours