Huawei MateBook D16 (2024) in the test: The MacBook alternative has improved in this point

The Chinese manufacturer Huawei now offers a wide portfolio of laptops in Germany. The latest model is the MateBook D16 (2024). With a recommended retail price of 999 to 1,399 euros (depending on equipment), it is in the upper midfield of the manufacturer’s portfolio. Huawei sees students and young employees as its target group.

Design and workmanship

Visually, the notebook is very reminiscent of Apple’s MacBook series. We don’t think that’s a tragedy, after all, the MacBook design is rightly considered chic and you won’t stand out with your Huawei notebook in the lecture hall. Nice: For a 16-inch model, the dimensions are comparatively compact at 35.7 x 24.9 centimeters and a depth of 1.7 centimeters at the thinnest point. We were able to easily work on the folding table at our desk on a train ride from Hamburg to Cologne with the laptop. Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro is a little slimmer, but also significantly more expensive.

Huawei has an advantage in terms of weight compared to the MacBook. However, the notebook is not lightweight. If you carry it to university in your backpack every day, you will clearly feel the 1.7 kilogram laptop on your back.

Overall, the processing can be described as successful. Corners and edges are pleasantly rounded and the laptop lid can be easily opened with one hand. However, there are still minor defects. This means that the lid can be dented in some places when closed. A circumstance that we already criticized in the previous version.

The MateBook D16 is available in the colors “Space Gray” and “Mystic Silver”.

display

Like its predecessors, the Huawei MateBook D16 offers an anti-reflective screen in 16:10 format. This has a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels (Full HD+). In our opinion, the display is sufficiently sharp and the screen offers wide viewing angles.

Unfortunately, the maximum brightness of 300 nits is comparatively low. This can cause problems reading the screen on sunny days when you work outdoors. What’s new compared to its predecessor is that you can fold the display up to 180 degrees.

connections

On the left side of the Huawei MateBook D16 you will find a USB C port, which is also used to charge the notebook. There is also a USB A socket that supports USB 3.2, but only in the 1st generation and not in the current 2nd generation. This limits the performance of external SSDs such as the Kioxia Exceria Plus Portable SSD. An HDMI port and a jack socket are also installed here.

There is a USB A port on the right side that only supports the older standard 2.0. A microSD card reader and an Ethernet port are missing, but can of course be retrofitted via a USB adapter.

Huawei MateBook D16 (2024) in pictures

This is what the MateBook D16 from Huawei looks like in the 2024 version.

The choice of ports already shows that the notebook is primarily designed for office work. At least in the top version we tested, it offers enough power for more.

performance

There’s an Intel Core i9 processor working under the hood – but this is from the 13th generation and not from the current Raptor Lake Refresh class.

You can also purchase the MateBook D16 with Intel Core i5. The main memory (RAM) here is 8 or 16 gigabytes, and the built-in SSD can hold 512 gigabytes of data. The i9 model we tested, however, comes with 16 gigabytes of RAM and 1 terabyte of SSD storage.

Nice: While the loud fan bothered us in earlier models in the series, it only rarely started in the 2024 version in the test. This is probably due to the good heat dissipation; the case hardly gets warm even under load.

Keyboard

The Matebook D16 works whisper-quietly. This also applies to the keyboard. It is so quiet that you can work with the Huawei laptop in the quiet compartment of the Deutsche Bahn without getting any nasty looks.

However, the low volume does not come at the expense of comfort. All keys on the five-line keyboard offer sufficient travel (1.5 mm) and a clean pressure point. It’s almost like writing on a desktop PC in the office. The keyboard of the MateBook D16 not only offers a number pad, but also function keys that you can use to quickly adjust the device settings. You can adjust the volume or turn off the microphone at the touch of a button.

There are also four quick start buttons on the number pad, but unfortunately they cannot be assigned individually. You can use them to open the calculator, start a search, deactivate the camera or minimize the current window. Small LEDs inside the Fn and Num Lock keys indicate whether the respective keys are currently activated. A backlight completes the features.

software

The operating system used on the MateBook D16 is Windows 11 in the home version. The Huawei PC Manager is also preinstalled. It allows quick access to the clipboard and recently used documents, and the tool also manages connected devices such as tablets, monitors, headphones or cell phones.

In theory, Huawei offers the tool the ability to search and move files across devices, etc. The company calls the function Huawei Share. Unfortunately, all of this only works if the cell phone or tablet is a newer Huawei device. Given the US embargo, you currently have to accept many restrictions when buying one. Cell phones from other providers are not compatible with Huawei Share.

Camera and speakers

Huawei has now moved away from the idea of ​​hiding the front camera in the keyboard of its laptops. You will find the front camera on the MateBook D16 in the classic middle above the display in the frame. There is also a microphone right next to it. Unfortunately, the front camera only has an HD resolution. Of course, it’s completely sufficient for video chats, but we would have liked a full HD camera in this price range.

The Huawei notebook does not have a mechanical camera shutter. However, you will find a shortcut on the keyboard above the number pad to quickly deactivate or activate the front camera. Unfortunately, Huawei does install an LED that informs you as soon as the camera is activated. In the test, it continued to light up even though we deactivated the camera using the number pad but left the camera app open. So it is not a reliable indicator. If you want to be on the safe side, you have to cover the front camera.

The MateBook D16 offers two speakers that radiate downwards but offer decent sound. You can also watch a few Netflix episodes on your laptop while you’re in your hotel room.

battery pack

In our opinion, the battery life of the laptop is mediocre. Although Huawei has increased the capacity of the built-in battery compared to its predecessor by 10 watt hours (Wh) to 70 Wh, in everyday life even light office work often ends after 5 to 6 hours and the laptop calls for the socket.

You might be able to use energy-saving tricks to get through the rest of your working day. However, the MateBook D16 is not a battery miracle like the MacBook Pro with M3 chip. At least the notebook is quickly recharged. The charging process takes just under an hour.

Huawei MateBook D16 (2024)

Editorial rating 7.8 Reader Rating

1 review

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Transparency note: The test device was loaned to Netzwelt by the manufacturer for four weeks and then returned.

Don’t agree? Are you looking for suitable alternatives? We have an extensive list of Huawei MateBook D16 (2024) alternatives ready for you in our notebook overview.

Huawei MateBook D16 (2024): data sheet

Here you can find the technical data for Huawei MateBook D16 (2024). You can easily compare size, weight and other properties with other products.

classification	Notebook
graphic card	UHD Graphics
processor	Intel Core i5 or i9 (13th generation)
Weight	1.72 kg
Display size	16 inches
Refresh rate	not specified
random access memory	up to 16GB
Mass storage	up to 1 terabyte
connections	HDMI, 2x USB, 1 USB C, headphone jack
Dimensions	356.7 x 18.4 x 248.7mm
battery pack	70 watt hours

View all technical data❯