Back in February at the Mobile World Congress, Huawei showed off something new, the Huawei MateBook.
The Huawei MateBook is a hybrid device i.e. it is a mix of a traditional tablet and an unconventional laptop when the detachable keyboard is put in its rightful place. According to the IDC, such devices are currently more popular than traditional tablets since they offer more than the tablets which have had their territory encroached by oversized smartphones.
The device, which started showing up in various Asian markets last month, is now available in the country after Huawei shipped in an initial batch of 100 units last week which have since gone on sale.
Powered by Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system, the MateBook is what some call a “laptop replacement” and will likely appeal to a certain consumer segment that wants the comfort of desktop-class computing without being bogged down by all the inconveniences that go with it or while still desiring the occasional chance to have a device that doubles up as a standard tablet that can do more.
Specifications of the Huawei MateBook are as follows, at a glance:
- Size and weight: 278.8mm x 194.1mm x 6.9mm; about 640g
- A 12-inch TFT LCD display with a Quad HD (2,160 x 1,440 pixels) resolution
- A dual-core Intel Core m7 processor
- A choice of 4GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB SSD
- Windows 10 Home or Pro OS
- A 4,430mAh battery
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO, Bluetooth 4.1
- A USB Type-C port for charging and other needs like pairing peripheral devices – one needs an accessory, the MateDock, to get USB 3.0, HDMI and ethernet ports and the like.
- Others: detachable keyboard, fingerprint scanner, stylus (MatePen)
The device goes for Kshs 75,000.
