is Huawei? Just a Chinese company that could become the No. 1 phone maker in the world. Did you know the Google Nexus 6P is a Huawei? You do now. But the company's latest device isn't a phone -- it's a 12-inch Windows tablet that's as slim as an iPad Pro. It's just a shame Huawei couldn't match it by every other metric.
Why to buy
Starting at $699 in the US (roughly £524 or AU$949, though UK and Australian availability is TBD), the Huawei Matebook is one of the first full Windows 10 computers to fit inside an iPad-sized chassis. (Not the 9.7-inch iPad, mind you -- it's closer to the size of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.) The secret sauce is Intel's new Core M processors, which don't require any noisy fans or other ornate, girthy mechanisms to keep cool.
Yes, it's sleek -- and like an iPad Pro (or Microsoft's bulkier Surface Pro), you can attach a wrap-around keyboard folio to turn this tablet into a far more productive machine. I'm typing this entire review on the Matebook's leather-bound backlit keyboard right now, and while I wouldn't want to type a novel on these fairly stiff keys, they get the job done. The built-in touchpad is impressive too, with an extremely fine surface that makes for accurate mousing.
Meanwhile, the Matebook's ridiculously fast fingerprint sensor logs me into Windows with a snap -- seriously, watch our video above. And the Matebook's screen and speakers are among the best compared to other tablets on the market. I actually enjoy listening to music on these speakers, which CNET tablet expert and resident audiophile Xiomara Blanco assures me is a mighty fine compliment. Just don't expect any bass.
Why to avoid
Now that I've made the Huawei Matebook sound like a dream computer, it's time to bring that dream crashing down.
Caveat No. 1: Intel Core M-powered computers aren't all the same. A Core M in a thin tablet like this one is notably weaker than one in a laptop-sized chassis. I was able to get all my work done on the Matebook, but sometimes it would bog down. There'd be a huge pause before applications would launch or web pages would load. Thicker Core M machines haven't given us as much trouble.
