Huawei has been churning out one awesome laptop after another in quick succession. We recently reviewed the company’s brilliant MateBook 14 which offered a 2K eye-comfort full-view display and metal unibody, 11th Gen Intel Processor, super device features, up to 16GB RAM+512GB SSD ROM, long battery life, and 65W SuperCharge and Shark-fin cooling fan tech. And today, we are reviewing the new 14s, which was launched a couple of weeks ago, and comes in at a price point starting at AED 5,299.

Huawei has used aluminium-alloy to construct the MateBook 14s and it comes in two colour variants – Space Gray and Spruce Green. The MateBook 14s packs in lots of features – it offers a 2.5K HD Huawei Fullview touch Display that offers a 90hz refresh rate and a 90% screen-to-body ratio. It also offers a 100% sRGB (typical) colour gamut.

The display of the MateBook 14s can also render 1.07 billion colours to show vibrant colours and smooth transition, and the aspect ratio is rated at 3:2. The display is also certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue light for improved eye protection with zero colour cast. It is also TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified. The display can also automatically adjust the brightness to fit every situation.

The MateBook 14 also offers a new keyboard layout. And unlike the MateBook 14, where the web camera was built into the keyboard as a popup camera, this time around, the web camera has moved to the top center of the display. The overall footprint of the laptop is quite compact.

Huawei packs in a 14-inch display into a slim bezel with the overall weight of the laptop tipping the scales at 1.43-kgs. In terms of connectivity, you get plenty!

On the left edge, you will find two USB-C ports that support data, charging, and DisplayPort. In addition, you also get one HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the right edge, you get one USB3.2 Gen 1 port.

As mentioned earlier, the web camera, which offers a resolution of 720p, is now built into the top center area above the display. Under the hood, the MateBook 14s variant we received was powered by Intel’s Core i7-11370H processor. There is also a variant that runs on Intel’s Core i5-11300H processor. You also get Intel Iris Xe Graphics.

In terms of memory, you get to choose between 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x Dual Channel, while storage options include either 512GB or 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD. The battery is rated at 60Wh and Huawei packs in a 90W supercharger, too. When it comes to wireless connectivity, the Huawei MateBook 14s supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, and Bluetooth 5.1.

The full-size keyboard is quite nice to use – it offers a 1.5mm key travel and it is backlit, too. The touchpad support multi-touch and you also get Huawei Share built-in. The power button also comes with a built-in fingerprint reader for added security. The laptop is equipped with four speakers and four microphones.

The Huawei MateBook 14s runs on Windows 10 operating system and you will be able to upgrade to Windows 11.

Since the Huawei MateBook 14s is part of the company’s Super Device, multi-screen collaboration between your laptop and smartphone is seamless. Just tap your phone on the touch board, and your Huawei smartphone and the MateBook will transform into one super device even without an internet connection. By this, you will be able to transfer to and from your smartphone to your MateBook with ease.

You can also take advantage of the PC and tablet multi-screen collaboration feature. If you own a Huawei MatePad 11 or a MatePad Pro, you can use the multi-screen collaboration feature in three different scenarios. In Mirror Mode, you can mirror the Huawei MateBook 14s screen to a tablet’s display, thus allowing you to directly work on files and annotate documents, or draw/sketch with the Huawei M Pencil of the tablet.

In Extend Mode, you can transform your Huawei MatePad Pro into a second screen, providing extra screen space to display more content. This can be very useful for online shopping or when you are browsing the internet and there are so many items to explore. The Collaborate Mode enables cross-platform interactions, allowing you to transfer content such as text, images, and documents between connected devices with a simple drag and drop.

The laptop also supports Pop Up Pairing which can be used for seamless pairing between your Huawei MateBook 14s and your Huawei wireless earbuds such as Freebuds 4, Freebuds 4i, and Freebuds Pro. As mentioned earlier, the MateBook 14s comes with a high capacity 60Wh battery. According to Huawei, you get around 13 hours of continuous 1080p video playback on a single charge.

And since the MateBook 14s also comes with a nifty 90W power adapter, you can get up to 3 hours of battery life with just a 15-minute charge. During our review, we clocked almost 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is excellent. Another stand-out feature of the MateBook 14s is the “Personal Voice Enhancement” function. This feature filters out your surrounding ambient noises and other people’s voices during meetings and calls, to ensure you’re always crystal clear.

The Huawei MateBook 14s is a very powerful device considering it packs in an H-series i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. Even though it offers a tiny footprint, it can easily handle graphics-heavy workloads such as rendering videos on applications such as DaVinci Resolve, and even the occasional gaming sessions.

If you are one of those who want stellar performance but don’t want to lug around a heavy laptop, then the Huawei MateBook 14s is just for you.

Price: AED 5299 onwards

Acer Middle East today announced the arrival of its much-sought after Aspire 7 Notebook in the UAE, powered by the latest Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor, hitting the shelves this week, followed by the Aspire 7 with the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 Processor arriving later this year.
Powered by up to a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics the new Acer Aspire 7 will inspire those who are looking for a powerful device, capable of withstanding the most challenging of tasks, and will be available at all major retail outlets across the UAE.

Built for both serious work and amazing play, the Aspire 7 is aimed at those who want a take-anywhere Notebook with more bite, able to keep-up with difficult operations — from prosumers, designers, hobbyists, gamers and content creators. The new Acer Aspire 7 is not only beautifully designed with its understated dark chassis and backlit keyboard, but also packs in powerful performance with its stunning narrow border visuals, a supercharged processor, and superior audio quality. Featuring up to 16GB DDR4 memory, the new Acer Aspire 7 series has the muscle to multitask and keep up with the creativity of its user.

The new Acer Aspire 7 series gives innovators an edge as it blisters through rich content creation, and lag-free editing. Opening and editing large files is zero-sum issue with up to 16GB of rapid DDR4 memory and up to 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD. Users can also work comfortably in any environment with the convenience of its backlit keyboard, even in dimly lit environment.

It delivers unmatched visual clarity for its 15.6-inch narrow border IPS Full HD display which expands the display to an astonishing 81.61% screen-to-body ratio, combined with Acer Color Intelligence™ and Acer ExaColor brings more intense shades and finer details. Featuring Acer TrueHarmony™ technology, the Aspire 7 delivers deeper bass and powerful volume for all encompassing sounds. It also offers an incredible gaming experience making it a real crowd-pleaser.

Users get easy updates to the latest information with a full range of connectivity options. Dual band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) improves the average network throughput by up to 3 times and reduces latency by up to 75% compared to Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and nearly 6x faster than baseline 1x1ac (433Mbps) Wi-Fi.

Moreover, the Precision TouchPad helps users work more efficiently, to freely and effortlessly continue the creation process that will matched by the speed of Acer Aspire 7 processors. In addition, Acer has created the new Aspire 7 series with 180 degrees Lay Flat mechanism, which will enable users to fiercely showcase their innovation.

The strong computing performance, display quality, light weight, and long-lasting battery life are all key factors that make the Aspire 7 series ideal for the on-the-go user. The Acer Aspire 7 Notebook with up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor is now available across retail outlets in the UAE, starting at AED 2,899. The Acer Aspire 7 Notebook with up to AMD Ryzen 7 Processor will be available in the UAE in December, starting at AED 3,999.

Dynabook Europe GmbH has announced the Satellite Pro C40-J and Satellite C50-J, an extension to the range designed to combine performance, productivity, and contemporary design features at an affordable price point. To offer additional choice, the new C40-J and C50-J feature the latest 11th Gen Intel Core and Celeron processors, and will be available in Light Gold and Dark Blue – meeting a broader range of specifications and price points, making them ideal for the budget-conscious professional or student.

Dynabook have carefully engineered the C40-J and C50-J to balance performance and functionality with design and mobility. With a Dark Blue, or Light Gold, sleek exterior, the devices present a modern aesthetic that will appeal to today’s professional or student at home, in the office or on the move. What’s more, the devices go beyond a contemporary-looking design, having been treated with an anti-bacterial coating to limit the growth of potentially harmful bacteria by up to 99.9%.

Under the hood, the Intel processors coupled with DDR4 memory up to 32GB and fast PCIe SSD storage options up to 512GB deliver high levels of performance. The laptops are easy to transport, and boast a robust chassis designed with the most demanding worker and student in mind. With a slender 18.9mm form factor, the 14” C40-J provides over 9.5 hours2 of use at just 1.55kg, while the 15” C50-J boasts a 19.7mm form factor, weighing in at under 1.9kg, and provides over 8 hours2 of battery life – easily enough power for a full working day between charges.

Their anti-glare HD or FHD screens bring a big-screen experience while the large keyboard, numeric keyboard on the C50-J, and ClickPad provide comfort all day for improved user workflows. “Our goal is to use the latest and most appropriate technology to empower our wide spectrum of customers in their daily work – from students to professionals,” said Damian Jaume, President, Dynabook Europe GmbH. “Having access to the essentials for a productive work or study day no longer needs to drain the budget. The new Satellite Pro C40-J and C50-J models deliver a solid toolkit for everyday computing, all in a compact and attractive form factor, without the premium price tag.”

The C40-J and C50-J benefit from an extensive range of connectivity capabilities, enabling users to stay connected and productive wherever they may be. For wireless connectivity, the devices are equipped with WiFi 802.11 AC and Bluetooth capabilities. Despite their thin form factor, the devices have been built with a range of ports and connectivity options so users maintain productivity, at any location. A multi-functional USB Type-C port allows charge, display, connectivity and data transfer, in addition to two further USB 3.1 Type A ports, a full-size HDMI port, and Gigabit-LAN port. Furthermore, a Micro SD card slot accommodates additional storage needs.

With the current trend towards hybrid working, the laptops deliver all the tools for staying connected with colleagues, customers and peers. The devices feature an HD Webcam, stereo speakers and in-built Cortana-enabled microphone. A mic/headphone slot or Bluetooth connectivity gives users the option to plug in or pair headphones.

With data security a major concern for many businesses and education establishments today, the C40-J and C50-J feature firmware-based Trusted Platform Module (fTPM) 2.0 so information is encrypted on the device and reduces the risk of data tampering. In conjunction with user and admin password capabilities which inhibit unauthorised access, as well as sign-in via an optional fingerprint scanner (SecurePad), the device acts as the first line of defence against increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals. A Kensington lock slot gives users the peace of mind that the device will be exactly where they have left it.