Huawei MateBook vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 4: The hybrid battle
With Huawei's recent release of its premium MateBook tablet during the Mobile World Congress 2016, it is expected that many will compare it directly with Microsoft's Surface Pro 4.
Both are designed for the business class and both run the latest Windows 10 operating system. Their manufacturers are also claiming that their hybrids can replace the laptop.
The MateBook offers a 12-inch viewing display that is made of IPS TFT LCD with a 2160 x 1440 pixel resolution. It offers 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity. In comparison, the Surface Pro 4 has a slightly bigger 12.3-inch low glare screen with PixelSense technology, a 2736 x 1824 pixel resolution and 1,024 levels of pressure.
With regard to the size, the MateBook measures 278.8 mm x 194.1 mm x 6.9 mm (WxDxH) and weighs 640 grams. The Microsoft slate, on the other hand, comes in at 292.10 mm x 201.42 mm x 8.4 mm and weighs 786 grams.
Under the sleek body of the Huawei MateBook is the 6th Gen Intel Core m processor that clocks at up to 3.1 Ghz. Buyers can then select from three options: the lowest model starts with 4GB memory and 128GB SSD. The RAM can be upgraded to 8GB while a 256 GB or a 512GB SSD is available for the storage. A Home and Pro version of Windows 10 are also available. Price starts at $699.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has a setup similar to the starting model of the MateBook, but there are more options available. The processor can be upgraded to i5 or i7, memory is up to 16GB, and the SSD storage is up to 1TB. All Surface Pro models come with Windows 10 Pro and with a starting price of $799.
Battery for the MateBook is rated at 33.7Wh (4430mAh) while the Surface Pro 4's battery is 39Wh (5087mAh).
Out of the box, the Microsoft hybrid comes with the Surface pen. Other accessories need to be purchased separately like the Type Cover for $129.99, Type Cover with Fingerprint ID for $159.99, and the Surface Dock for $199.99.
Huawei's tablet comes only with several data cables and its own charger. The water-resistant, back-lit keyboard is $129; the Mate-pen, equipped with a laser pointer and can act as a remote controller for PowerPoint presentation, is $59; and MateDock costs $89.
