With the impending launch of the Huawei Matebook X Pro just round the corner, Malaysian consumers are now able to pre-order Huawei’s flagship laptop. The laptop boasts impressive performance packed into a remarkably lightweight design, making it ideal for on-the-go professionals and those who prioritize portability.
Ahead of the launch, Huawei is opening pre-orders for the laptop. The blind pre-orders kick off on May 8th and runs until May 12th, 2024. To secure a unit, you can place a deposit of just RM70. When you do, you will also be eligible for a whole bunch of freebies valued at up to RM4,582 with each early booking.
Marrying Cutting Edge Technology with Minimalist Durability
The MateBook X Pro is one of Huawei’s best looking laptops yet. It come with a sleek chassis, constructed from a lightweight yet durable magnesium. Huawei isn’t holding back when it comes to the display either, the MateBook X Pro comes with a stunning, near-borderless Flexible OLED display. It’s also a mere 13.5mm thin.
Despite its deceptively slim design, the MateBook X Pro packs a serious punch. It comes with the Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor ensures smooth operation and responsiveness. It has up to 32GB RAM and 2TB storage provide ample resources for demanding tasks. Also coming along for the ride is a whole bevvy of AI features including AI noise cancellation, AI camera enhancements, and AI search. The MateBook X Pro also comes with effortless connectivity with other Huawei devices. Huawei is also touting hours of battery life and fast charging with 90W Huawei SuperCharge technology. The Dual Shark Fin fan system ensures efficient heat dissipation for optimal performance.
Early booking can be done through the Huawei Official Website, Huawei Official Store on Shopee, or the Huawei Flagship Store on Lazada. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the Huawei Official Website, Facebook page, or Instagram.
Huawei is set to expand its technological offerings in Malaysia with the upcoming launch of two innovative products – the Huawei MateBook X Pro laptop and the Huawei Watch Fit 3 smartwatch – scheduled for May 13th, 2024. This launch underscores Huawei’s focus on integrating advanced technology with user-centric design, catering specifically to the Malaysian market.
Sleek Performance Coming Soon with the MateBook X Pro
First unveiled at a global event in Dubai, the Huawei MateBook X Pro pushes the boundaries of laptop design. The ultra-lightweight magnesium alloy chassis, measuring only 13.5mm thin and weighing under 1kg, prioritizes portability with little compromise on durability. The near-borderless Flexible OLED display boasts exceptional visuals with vivid colours and brightness for better immersion.
Powering this sleek device is the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor, complemented by up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. This combination promises smooth operation and responsiveness, even for demanding tasks. The MateBook X Pro further enhances user experience with its Super Device capabilities, allowing for seamless integration and collaboration with other Huawei devices. Additionally, the 90W Huawei SuperCharge technology facilitates rapid charging to keep users productive throughout the day.
Stylish Fitness Coming with the Huawei Watch Fit 3
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is the latest wearable from Huawei that looks to strike a balance between stylish aesthetics and comprehensive health and fitness tracking features. It comes with a sleek, elegant square design and some of the most advanced health monitoring technology promising to keep health-conscious users fashion-forward.
Like other Huawei fitness devices, the Watch Fit 3 comes with over 100 workout modes, menstrual cycle tracking for women, and comprehensive sleep monitoring. It is geared to be a go-to device for fitness enthusiasts and lifestyle-focused individuals alike. The device features next-generation Huawei health monitoring technology, delivering precise heart rate and SpO2 tracking. This robust functionality is backed by a long-lasting battery that promises up to 10 days of use on a single charge.
Early Bird Offers Ahead of the Grand Launch on May 13 2024
Huawei is offering attractive early-bird promotions for Malaysian consumers. Customers who place a deposit of just RM70 for the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro between May 8th and 12th will receive freebies valued at up to RM4,582.
Similarly, early adopters of the Watch Fit 3 can benefit from an exclusive RM30 early bird voucher valid from today until May 17th, 2024. Additionally, they will receive a gift package worth RM89.
Lenovo is showing off its latest line up of laptops at MWC 2024! The new laptops come equipped with Intel’s latest generation Core Ultra processors which not only promise top notch performance but also long battery life. The newly refreshed Lenovo ThinkPad T Series, the Think Pad X12 and the ThinkBook 14 are bringing more than just a hardware refresh this year. Together with an updated CPUs, it’s going to be coming with a whole slew of AI-powered features that will utilise the dedicated NPU in Intel’s new Core Ultra processors.
Lenovo ThinkPad T Series
The ThinkPad T series will be coming with new entries into the ThinkPad T14, T14s and T16 lineups. These laptops are built for business users who are looking for reliable, durable devices with some of the latest features for enhanced productivity. The new updates come with a Communications Bar which houses a 5-megapixel webcam and microphones. These laptops also adopt a simple one-handed lip for easy opening and closing of the device. The laptops will also make things a little more accessible with tactile markings making it easier for the visually impaired to navigate the keyboard. These markings were first introduced with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2-in-1 Gen 9 and the X1 Carbon Gen 12.
Repairability and sustainability have become core tenets of Lenovo’s product lineup. The new ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 and T16 Gen 3 have been designed to be repair-friendly. Lenovo did this with insights from iFixit Solutions team. These laptops feature a battery without cable connectors, a fully socketed DIMM design and replaceable SSD and WWAN cards. The laptops also have visual indicators to ease the repair process.
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 & ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4
The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 is designed to be a sleek productivity partner for life on the move. With a durable 3:2 display, powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra U series processors and an integrated AI engine, it effortlessly adapts to your needs. With up to 32GB Dual Channel LPDDR5x memory, multitasking becomes a breeze. The detachable folio keyboard, three-button TrackPad, and optional magnetic pen enhance versatility for professionals on the go. It comes with a 5-megapixel camera with an Infrared sensor that allows you to sign in to Windows with Windows Hello and an 8MP World-facing camera so you can capture and scan documents. It also comes with CAT16 4G WWAN support.
Lenovo’s ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 redefines portable computing with its sleek design and intelligent features. The innovative drop hinge design, measuring just 16.85mm in thickness and weighing 1.64kg, sets a new standard for portability. The 14-inch display, with a four-side narrow bezel, achieves an impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio, delivering an immersive visual experience. Enhancements like a 1.5mm key travel on the keyboard and a glass-like Mylar touchpad contribute to comfortable and precise user interaction. The Magnetic Slim Pen adds a touch of convenience, while security features like the Match-on-Chip fingerprint reader and optional Infrared camera ensure data safety. Intelligent computing is at the forefront with features like Smart Power for balanced performance and Smart Meeting for improved conferencing. Lenovo’s commitment to sustainability is evident through the use of recycled aluminium and Post Consumer Content plastic materials. The ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 seamlessly blends powerful performance with a thoughtful and eco-friendly design.
AI-Imbued for Maximum Battery Life and Productivity
Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and equipped with Windows 11, these laptops create an advanced AI ecosystem. They prioritize security, energy efficiency, and immersive user experiences, seamlessly integrating with a variety of software applications leveraging dedicated AI acceleration support. Notable features include Copilot in Windows and a physical Copilot key, optimizing daily tasks for unparalleled ease and speed.
This marks a significant step in the AI PC revolution, showcasing Lenovo’s commitment to delivering tailored AI solutions. The laptops redefine personalized PC experiences, elevating collaboration, customer interactions, and data analysis. With AI-enabled software tools, these ThinkPad and ThinkBook laptops set a new standard, enhancing creativity and efficiency across diverse workflows. Lenovo’s innovation reflects a transformative approach, ushering in a new era of intelligent and engaging computing solutions.
Pricing & Availability
The new slate of Lenovo laptops will be available starting from March 2024. The ThinkPad T14 will also be available with AMD’s Ryzen 8040 series processors with Ryzen AI.
Model
Availability
Starting Price (USD$)
Starting Price (RM)*
ThinkPad T14 i Gen 5
Starting April 2024
$1,199
RM5,727.51
ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 AMD
Starting May 2024
$949
RM4,533.28
ThinkPad T14s Gen 5
Starting April 2024
$1,399
RM6,683.13
ThinkPad T16 Gen 3
Starting April 2024
$1,219
RM5,823.25
ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2
Starting April 2024
$1,399
RM6,683.13
ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4
Starting March 2024
$1,169
RM5,584.40
*Pricing in Malaysian Ringgit (RM) isestimated based on conversion rates on XE.com on 26 February 2024 [USD$1 : RM4.7771]
Lenovo‘s innovation is taking centre stage as the company is showing off a proof of concept device at MWC 2024. The concept? A transparent display on a laptop; more specifically, the company calls it the “ThinkBook Transparent Display” Laptop.
Being a ThinkBook, the device is a larger form laptop with a 17.3-inch display. It really brings that cyberpunk or “Minority Report” aesthetic by going all in on the transparent aesthetic. The display is a completely transparent, borderless 17.3-inch Micro-LED. The transparent keyboard area also adopts this aesthetic.
Lenovo is touting that the ThinkBook Transparent Display Laptop is a glimpse of the future as companies continue to leverage micro-LED technology. The technology allows companies like Lenovo to create transparent displays thanks to the high colour saturation and contrast and its 1000-nit brightness. The combination provides good visibility in both indoor and outdoor environments.
That said, the laptop is also a proof of concept that integrates virtual and real environments. Lenovo believes that the transparent surface provides an excellent surface for AI-generated content and collaboration. The transparent surface allows users to overlay digital information naturally within its environment. You’ll even be able to switch between a keyboard and a drawing board that supports input from a stylus. You’ll even be able to interact with data and applications in new ways according to Lenovo.
The HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023) AMD 7840U is a noteworthy mid-range laptop with integrated 780M graphics. The laptop includes a gorgeous 14” OLED 2.8k 120hz HDR display. This means watching the latest shows, movies, and anime is a blast.
A light and thin laptop, portability is quite good and should last you most of the day. With a 68Wh battery pack paired with an efficient Ryzen 7 U-series chip, expect 6-8 hours of mixed usage.
Great for general work (typing and browsing), photo editing, casual video editing, light to moderate gaming, traveling, and watching videos, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U doesn’t breaking the bank. Perfect for those who move about a lot for work and students, especially when on sale.
Comes in multiples colours: EY0027AU moonlight blue, EY0028AU tranquil pink, and EY0029AU natural silver
2 USB Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB Type-A 10Gbps signaling rate; 1 USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate; 1 headphone/microphone combo; 1 HDMI 2.1
Operating System
Windows 11
Battery
68Wh cell with 65W Type-C power adapter
Dimensions
31.39 x 22.71 x 1.75 cm (front) – 1.88 cm (hinge back) / 12.36 x 8.94 x 0.69 in (front) – 0.74 in (hinge back)
Weight
1.4 kg (3.09lbs)
General Usage
HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U 65w power adaptor type-C
Coming in at 1.4kg and under 2cm thickness, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U, is a good thin and light laptop that fits the ultraportable category of laptops. The included 65W power adapter is relatively small and lightweight and is easy to carry. Though it should be noted that you could get away from leaving the power adaptor at home. Easily you should be getting a good 6-8 hours of general continuous usage with simple power management.
One thing to note about battery life, the OLED display is able to handle HDR content and has a refresh rate of 120Hz which can drain the battery when on full brightness of 400 nits. By default HDR doesn’t turn on if on the laptop battery and only turns on when plugged in. With HDR turned on, all screen settings on max, and while streaming hi-res video, battery life was about 5 hours. As for when trying to conserve power, we achieve 10+ hours. We are sure we can push more, but few want an overglorified type writer.
Design & Connectivity
HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U right side ports
HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U left side ports
Coming to charging the laptop, the laptop has two USB Type-C ports for charging on the right side. Now we believe it would have been nice if HP had design the laptop with a Type-C port on each side. This would have been easier and convenient charging, but it is a relatively small nitpick. Luckily there is support for battery fast charge. This means the laptop can charge 50% in 30 minutes when the laptop is completely shut down. So no tether unless you are doing long gaming or binge watching sessions. Generally it took 2 to 2 and a half hours to charge the laptop fully when in light use.
Coming to the all metal chassis design, it is pleasant and sleek. We do wish there was a slight recess for easier one handed lid opening. The overall build quality is pretty solid, with good hinges. There was noted ability to flex for the screen lid, but nothing drastic or out of the ordinary. Some minor flex on the base of the laptop while using the keyboard. Nothing most would generally notice in daily usage.
The most notable thing about the connectivity is that the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U lacks thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps signaling rate) certification. This is something generally inherent of AMD laptops. The laptop comes with 2 USB Type-C 10Gbp (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge), 1 USB Type-A 10Gbps, 1 USB Type-A 5Gbps, 1 headphone/microphone combo, and 1 HDMI 2.1 port. If thunderbolt 4 is a must, do look at the Intel variants with i7-1355U or i5-1335U from HP.
Work Usage
With the Radeon 780M, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 can handle most general media creation and light editing tasks. It will also edges out the comparable Intel variants of the HP Pavilion Plus 14 models.
As for using the laptop included generously large touchpad and keyboard, we found it pleasant. Sadly there is special features and is pretty basic overall. There is no numpad for number entry but does come with dedicated page up and down buttons. The overall typing experience is nice but a bit basic, it gets the job done without any fuss.
Another huge plus point that makes the HP Pavilion Plus 14 a great laptop for work is its 5-megapixel 1440p video resolution webcam. It comes an with IR sensor (facial recognition login) and built-in physical privacy shutter. So not only will your web video calls/conferences be a better experience, but you can also ensure no one can see you when you don’t want them to. Additionally there are function keys on the keyboard to mute your microphone and sound. Both have a small led indicator light to easily see if they are on/off.
Multimedia Usage
For consuming media, this laptop does fantastically well with their gorgeous 2.8K 120HZ OLED display with HDR and 400 nits peak brightness. This basically translates to great vibrant colours, deep blacks and a pretty bright screen for your viewing pleasure. Clearly the star feature of this laptop, watching movies and tv shows is a super enjoyable experience. This does of course come at the expense of battery life. At full tilt streaming movies on max settings you should get about 5 hours out of the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U.
The only two real things that might mar your viewing experience are the reflective glossy screen and downward facing speakers. This is one laptop you can’t put on your lap or in bright lights. You will get muffled sounds and reflective glare easily. This is a laptop best used on a hard surface/table indoors.
Sound overall is good for a mid range laptop and has good volume but lacks bass. Another issue is that while using the laptops keyboard we were able to feel the speakers vibrate and dampen if we put any weight onto the laptop bottom chassis.
Gaming
As for gaming, the laptop will allow you to play most casual games and older titles without issues. I mean we don’t expect hardcore gamers to buy this laptop, but for integrated graphics, the Radeon 780M is probably the best at the moment. If you must, you can still play the newer graphically intensive games on the lowest settings at 1080P and get a respectful 20-30 fps.
Overall games like Hades will be a blast to play on the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U with a controller. With the OLED screen the colours really pop and the laptop has no problem playing the game smoothly. While playing Borderlands 3 we also noted that you definitely can’t use your native screen resolution.
As a side note on heat, we notice significant uncomfortable heating on the right side of the laptop keyboard when under high loads. Luckily for most gamers who need to use the laptop, the left side of the keyboard is unaffected. Using the WASD keys shouldn’t be a problem, just that it is still a laptop keyboard.
Benchmarks
*We are currently standardizing our benchmarking process into two parts. We test both in a controlled setting and via our hands-on experience through daily normal usage. For laptops, we use benchmarking software while plugged in and at max performance settings. We are currently using PCMark 10, PCMark 10 Extended, Time Spy, Wild Life Extreme, Cinebench 2024, and Borderlands 3.
In all the controlled testing, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U shows great performance as a laptop for general productivity, photo editing, video conference calls, and light video editing. With an average score of 6457 in PCMark10 and 5615 in PCMark10 Extended.
Now in the gaming department, it is totally understandable that the 780M performance is lacking for a laptop. Though as an integrated graphics processor, its performance is top tier. The 780M is essentially the Ryzen Z1 Extreme found in ROG Ally and Legion Go, gaming handhelds running Windows OS.
Note that the Borderlands 3 benchmarking was run at the laptops native screen resolution of 2.8K
Final Thoughts
Overall the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U is a great light and thin laptop that has great overall productivity performance. Not a feature rich or gimmicky laptops, but a solid one that gets the job done well. The great OLED screen add much to the experience of this laptop. A highly recommend laptop to keep an eye on, especially when it goes on sale.
Acer’s Swift Series is expanding yet again with a new generation of the ultra-portable Swift Go 14. The latest entry into the Swift series comes equipped with the latest generation of Intel Ultra processors and a bevvy of cutting-edge AI-centric features.
The new Acer Swift Go 14 comes with the latest and greatest from Intel. Sporting either an Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 5, the laptop is leveraging Intel’s AI Boost to unlock its AI-powered resources. The new processors from Intel also come with enhanced power efficiency. Intel’s Unison technology also allows the laptop to work seamlessly with both iOS and Android devices with integrated experiences for things like file transfers, calling, messaging and device management through a single interface.
Acer is also bringing a QHD 1440p webcam to the laptop. The hardware is complemented by Acer’s own AI powered features such as Acer PurifiedVoice and PurifiedView. The former eliminates background noises and focuses on the person in front of the camera. PurifiedView helps keep the focus on the presenter by blurring the background, keeping them in frame and corrects their gaze to ensure that they appear engaged. Acer is also introducing a new feature called AlterView that uses AI-generated depth maps to convert 2D images into animated wallpapers with 3D effects.
The Acer Swift Go 14 comes with a larger touchpad. Of course, it goes without saying that the touchpad is made of OceanGlass which utilises ocean bound plastics keeping them out of our waterways. AcerSense is also integrated with a dedicated button that allows users to access and manage performance, laptop maintenance and personalise their experiences.
In addition to the Intel Core Ultra processors, the Acer Swift Go 14 comes with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. It comes with two USB-C ports that support fast charging of up to 100W. There is also an HDMI 2.1 and a microSD card slot. It also supports WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth LE Audio.
Pricing & Availability
The Acer Swift Go 14 is available in Malaysia through retailers and the Acer online store. It will be available in two variants. The Swift Go 14 with the Intel Core Ultra 5, 512GB of internal storage and 16GB of RAM is priced at RM3,599. The version with Intel Core Ultra 7, 1TB of internal storage and 16GB of RAM is priced RM4,299.
Dell’s monitors have long been one of the most sought-after monitors available. Dell’s most popular is the top-of-the-line Dell UltraSharp Monitors. The lineup is packed with cutting-edge features and features most users are looking for when it comes to productivity. The UltraSharp Monitors also set the pace for Dell’s monitors every year.
The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW) leads the way this year. Yep. It’s a mouthful but comes with everything – including the kitchen sink; which in this case is the whole USB-C hub functionality. This USB-C Hub functionality allows for power pass-through to charge devices as well as extend your connectivity options – particularly if you’re coming from a thin and light laptop like the Dell XPS laptop. With Thunderbolt 4 support, you’ll be able to power the monitor with a single cable. The hub also supports high-speed ethernet connectivity through an RJ45 port, and display inputs with HDMI 2.1 FRL (Fixed Rate Link) and DisplayPort 2.1
The new monitor has improvements over its predecessor including a doubled refresh rate of 120Hz. It comes with an improved version of Dell ComfortView Plus. This helps further reduce blue light exposure from 50% to lower than 35% in the new Dell UltraSharp Monitors. The built-in ambient light sensor also helps preserve eye health as it automatically adjusts screen brightness and colour temperature according to the ambient conditions of the room.
Of course, Dell’s UltraSharp Monitor Line-up continues to have a display panel with high resolution and a wide colour gamut. It is the line’s signature feature. This year’s edition comes with a 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space. The colour accuracy can also be calibrated using the Dell Color Management software. The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor comes with an IPS panel with VESA DisplayHDR 600 and IPS Black Panel technology. It’s also a 5K resolution display.
You may be wondering, we’ve been saying lineup for so long but only talking about a single monitor, well, if 40 inches is too much for you, Dell is also launching a smaller 34-inch monitor. The new Dell UltraSharp 34 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U3425WE) comes with a WQHD resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It comes with mostly the same specifications including IPS Black technology and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. However, it has a lower power delivery over Thunderbolt 4 of only 90W.
Pricing & Availability
Dell Technologies has not announced any pricing details for the monitors just yet. However, they will be available in the market starting end of February 2024.
Dell’s XPS lineup has been at the forefront of the company’s portfolio for the better part of two decades. The line has always been about pushing boundaries when it comes to performance, work and design. This year is no different, the XPS lineup continues its legacy as one of the best laptops that Dell has to offer.
XPS Expanded and Better than Ever
The new Dell XPS line is expanded. Where we had the XPS and XPS 15, there are now 3 entries: the XPS 13, XPS 14 and the XPS 16. Each laptop takes Dell’s thin and light flagship and caters it to different needs. However, they do share a similar design – one that Dell debuted with the XPS 13 Plus. The sleek design consists of tone-on-tone colours and CNC-machined aluminium. The biggest change is the inclusion of touch-enabled function buttons which line the top of the haptic trackpad. These buttons seamlessly switch between media and function keys when needed. The keyboard on the laptops is also larger with larger keycaps for a more coherent and comfortable typing experience.
Source: Dell Technologies
The XPS lineup continues to feature the InfinityEdge panels with options for OLED touch, variable refresh rate and high resolution. This year brings improvements to the audio experience with a new quad speaker design that supports Dolby Atmos, and 3D stereo surround from MaxxAudio Pro by Waves. The XPS lineup will also feature a 1080p FHD webcam.
New Intel Processors with a Focus on Bringing AI Mainstream
The New XPS lineup will be coming fully equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra processors. These processors features an additional NPU (neural processing unit) that Dell is leveraging to bring impactful AI-powered features to its XPS line up. That isn’t the only thing that’s changing with the NPU; these laptops will be able to leverage the NPU to speed up features that rely on AI. This also frees up CPU and GPU resources which can be better mobilised to undertake non-AI focused tasks.
In addition, the XPS line up will be coming with configurations supporting the Intel Core Ultra 7 on the Dell XPS 13 and XPS 14. While the XPS 16 supports configurations with up to the Intel Core Ultra 9. These configurations are supplemented with up to 64GB of RAM across the board and up to 4TB of PCIe 4 SSD memory. This combination alone should give you enough performance on the go for most tasks.
The XPS 14 and XPS 16, however, come with NVIDIA’s RTX Studio certification. The XPS 14 comes with a configuration supporting the NVIDIA RTX 4050. On the other hand, the XPS 16 continues to be the powerhouse of the line up with configurations supporting the RTX 4060 and RTX 4080 as well as the RTX 4050. These laptops come with support for NVIDIA’s Studio drivers out of the box and are primed for content creation on the go. They can even handle 3D rendering when you’re out and about.
Specc’d to Kill
The XPS series continues its legacy of being a top performer with more than just processors though. The line up comes with a bevvy of displays including high resolution touch displays. The XPS 13 caps out at a 3K OLED touch display while the XPS 14 pushes the boundaries a little bit more with a 3.2K OLED touch display. The XPS 16, on the other hand, caps out at a 4K OLED touch display.
Source: Dell Technologies
Of course, connectivity on the go is important for the XPS line up. Dell has decided to leverage WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 on the XPS 13 and XPS 16 while the XPS 14 has WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Pricing & Availability
The XPS lineup will be available starting in Q1 2024. Malaysia, in particular, will see the laptops in stores starting end of February 2024.
Model
Base Specifications
Pricing (US)
Pricing (MY)
Dell XPS 13
Intel Ultra 5 / 16GB / 512GB / 13.4” FHD+ / Intel RPL-P P28 UMA (Iris Xe) UMA
Lenovo’s YOGA lineup has always been one where innovation takes the centerstage. Having already changed the way we use our laptops with multimode laptops nearly a decade ago, the company is still turning up the volume when it comes to laptops in the lineup. From design to functionality, the YOGA series of laptops is keeping us on the edge.
The new YOGA Slim 7i Carbon is in a league of its own when it comes down to it. Well, not exactly on its own. Only because it’s bringing some of the killer features from Lenovo’s ThinkPad line to the YOGA series. The YOGA Slim 7i brings the durability of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon to a more affordable price point and it also brings some of the most striking design cues we’ve seen in the YOGA Slim to date.
But, we’re not here for all the dancing lights and fancy features. We’re looking to answer the questions: “Is this laptop worth the money?”, “Does it have the features you need for productivity?”, “Can it serve my needs?”. You’ll have to keep reading to find out in our in-depth review of the Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i Carbon.
Design
Let’s not beat around the bush, if anything, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon lives up to its name. It’s one of the slimmest laptops available on the market right now. Coming in at only 14.25mm thick. Together with its 0.966 kg weight, the laptop is the epitome of thin and light.
It’s also the sleekest when it comes to design. Lenovo has opted to mellow out the hard edges of the YOGA lineup with sleek, curved lines that bring a softness to the laptop lineup. With premium carbon fibre build – yes, that’s where the “Carbon” comes from – the laptop isn’t sacrificing anything to become the thinnest YOGA to date.
The YOGA Slim 7i Carbon isn’t sacrificing sturdiness with its carbon fibre build. The laptop can take a beating – of course, we don’t recommend it. It does come with MIL-STD810H certification which means that you can actually toss it around without damaging it much. The laptop is also pretty dense, it feels a lot heavier than it is. This and the build quality make the Slim 7i a go-to for those needing a thin and light option.
The laptop comes in a stunning white finish. One that left us gawking at it for a good long few minutes. The sleek, slender build is accentuated by the glowing Moon White colourway. You get to experience the Slim 7i in all its glory complete with Intel IRIS Xe Graphi and a comparatively compact power bring. However, it’ll be nice to see this get pushed a bit harder when it comes to graphical prowess.
Hardware
The Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i isn’t just about the aesthetics, it’s built for productivity. To achieve this, Lenovo has packed the laptop with insides that put productivity first without sacrificing aesthetics.
Specifications
LENOVO YOGA SLIM 7i CARBON
As tested
Processor (clock)
Intel® Core™ i7-1360P processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) and 12MB cache
Intel WiFi 6E Bluetooth 5.1 1Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Audio Combo Jack
Battery
50Wh lithium-polymer battery Up to 10 hours of battery life 65W Type-C power adapter
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
Miscellaneous
HD camera IR Camera Camera Shutter Backlit Keyboard 2 x 2W Harman Kardon® Speakers Dolby Atmos® Audio Dual Microphones DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4 MIL-STD 810H Certified
Features
It would seem like the only highlight of the Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i is its design and build. However, Lenovo did spend some time bringing features that complement the lightweight productivity house. It comes with features like Lenovo AI+ that give it a mind of its own and seamlessly optimises the laptop in the background for the best performance and battery life.
Built for Wireless Work
Lenovo’s YOGA Slim 7i is undoubtedly built for working from anywhere. It’s thin and light and is equipped with all the essentials you’ll need for a nomadic life. It supports WiFi 6E for high-speed wireless internet. WiFi 6E is a step above WiFi 6 in that it provides a larger number of bands for higher data transfer speeds.
Complementing this is Bluetooth 5.1 which allows you to connect to a myriad of accessories. Mouses, keyboards or even your phone for wireless connectivity or to utilise Windows features like Phone Link. Phone Link is perhaps one of the best Windows complements to Bluetooth 5.1. It allows you to seamlessly message, use apps and even view pictures on your connected device.
Together with these, the laptop comes with an HD webcam for online meetings over Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The dual mics complement the camera with intelligent noise cancellation and crisp sound.
Lenovo AI Engine+
AI’s the word when it comes to laptops this year and beyond. With more companies integrating some form of AI automation and sensing to help users draw the most from their laptops. Lenovo’s AI Engine+ is the latest generation of AI automation to come to Lenovo laptops.
The AI Engine+ will keep an eye on your computer’s performance for you. It will intelligently optimize the settings on your laptop to make sure you get the best performance regardless of your battery level. In fact, this engine may be the reason behind the long battery life of the YOGA Slim 7i.
It may seem like a small thing to talk about, but these optimisations are key to having the best experience possible. Of course, it does come with a few quirks like sudden changes in screen brightness as it optimises your settings. That said, it’s a small trade-off for the extended battery life of the laptop.
Lenovo’s AI Engine+ is also behind some of the privacy features that come with the Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i Carbon. It uses things like the HD webcam and the IR camera to detect if you’re in front of the laptop. If you’re not, it will automatically lock your laptop to protect your data.
Light Weight Durability
Of course, the hallmark of the Lenovo Slim 7i is the durability that the carbon fibre brings to the laptop. The choice of materials allows you some peace of mind when carrying the laptop around as you go about business. It’s also lightweight, a very welcomed feature when it comes to people who work on the go as we don’t end up sacrificing our backs with the hefty laptops that are usually around.
The lightweight durability of the laptop is complemented by a flexible hinge that is able to give up to 180° of articulation. This means you’ll be able to lay the laptop absolutely flat if you ever need to. Of course, it goes without saying that this isn’t a multimode laptop so, please don’t go overextending this hinge… It will break!
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Slim 7i isn’t a slouch. While it’s not going to give your gaming laptops a run for their money, it’s packed with enough power to cater to larger workloads. With Intel’s 13th Generation i7 processor, the laptop can handle a little bit of heavy lifting. That said, it may not be able to handle things like video editing without breaking a sweat.
During our review period with the Slim 7i, we were pushing the limits a little bit. Since the laptop was my personal on-the-go rig, I inevitably ended up using it for simple video edits and photo editing. While video editing on programs like Capcut, there were no issues with the laptop at all. However, heavier editing even on programs like Adobe Rush bogged the system down severely. Of course, this would be highly dependent on the resolution you’re editing in. During this period, I was primarily editing with source footage being either 1080p or 4K. The latter made the laptop struggle for its life. 100% would not recommend the workload – no cap.
However, with photos the laptop was able to cope pretty well. It was able to use a good selection of apps from the built-in Windows Photos app to Adobe Lightroom and even Adobe Photoshop without much hassle. It goes without saying that apps like Canva and Adobe Express have no issues running at all.
Web browsing and multitasking were not much of an issue with the Slim 7i. I was able to use my Mozilla Firefox browser with about 30 tabs before it started bogging down the system noticeably. With Google Chrome it was affected with about 20 tabs open. That said, not many of us will have that many tabs open at once. Working on Excel sheets, PowerPoint and word processing is a breeze on the laptop.
If you really want to, you’ll be able to get away with gaming on the YOGA Slim 7i. It will be able to handle light games like Lords of Water Deep or even This War of Mine should run without issue. I was able to play Final Fantasy VIII remastered without much issue. However, don’t expect the laptop to be able to handle games like No Man’s Sky.
Battery life on the 7i Carbon is very, very, very good. On a regular day with simple word processing, emails and browsing, I was able to get at least 8 hours of battery life easily. With heavier workloads, the battery life dwindled to about 5 hours. However, it was easy to top up the charge with a GaN charger even when the original charger wasn’t around thanks to USB-PD.
Display
The 2.5K resolution display of the laptop is a highlight no matter how you slice it. The screen is vibrant with accurate colour reproduction. But, more importantly, it gives you sizeable pixel real estate to multitask. Of course, this will be limited by your eye’s health thanks to the smaller 13.3-inch size.
That said, thanks to low blue light emittance, I found my eyes less strained. I also set the display size to about 125% so that it was more legible. However, thanks to the number of pixels, I was able to read more at a glance. This made reading and writing a tad bit easier. Editing videos and photos was also easier to do thanks to the colour calibration of the laptops.
Where the display really shone was when used to view videos. The deep blacks and vibrant colours allow for a really immersive experience second only to a proper OLED TV. The display was, of course, complemented by the Harman Kardon speakers that come built-in for a commendable sound experience.
Thin and Light Never Looked So Good
The Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i is a contender for anyone looking for a thin and light laptop. Especially if you’re looking for a light laptop. The carbon fibre used in its build lends itself to the overall reduction of weight which many other laptops are undoubtedly going to vie for. However, it doesn’t compromise on durability. It comes with a dense, sturdy overall build with insides that cater to nearly all workloads. It’s also a real looker when it comes to design.
Huawei is about to launch its latest additions to both its tablet and laptop lineups. The MateBook D 16 and MatePad Pro 13.2 are the latest in a bevy of devices that have made 2023 the start of a potentially huge comeback for the company.
The MateBook D 16 and MatePad Pro 13.2 are the latest in what seems to be a fine-tuning of devices to take the Harmony OS ecosystem to the next level. They continue to have robust interconnectivity with Super Device and SuperHub features. This feature continues to bridge the interconnectivity gap between devices to supercharge productivity and creativity.
The new Huawei MateBook D16 comes with configurations supporting up to a 13th-generation Intel Core i9 processor with Intel IRIS Xe graphics. It comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The 16-inch FullView display is the hallmark of a laptop focused on bridging that gap between productivity and creativity. Huawei is looking to help you get more done with a screen with a 16:10 golden aspect ratio. It’s even got low blue light certification for those long work sessions. Huawei has even upped the ante when it comes to cooling with dual-fin fans that are both quiet and better at cooling.
The new MatePad Pro 13.2 bolsters Huawei’s lineup of tablets with one of the slimmest tablets ever. Coming in at only 3.4mm, the MatePad Pro 13.2 packs a punch in the slimmest form factor ever! While Huawei remains mum on the processor in the MatePad Pro 13.2, its 13.2-inch screen and 94% screen-to-body ratio make it stand out. Huawei is also incorporating Glass Fibre in the rear cover of the tablet; this provides added scratch and impact resistance.
The tablet is built for both entertainment and work with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 2880×1920 pixel resolution, and support for accessories like the M-Pencil Smart Keyboard. Underneath the flexible OLED display is a six-speaker audio system with 4 subwoofers and 2 tweeters. The tablet is also the first to support Near Link in the M-Pencil. This gives the M-Pencil latencies and better pressure sensitivity.
Pricing & Availability
Both the Huawei MateBook D 16 and the MatePad Pro 13.2 are up for pre-order now. From now until January 10, 2024, purchases of the Huawei MateBook D 16 and MatePad Pro 13.2 made on Huawei’s Official Shopee storefront will entitle buyers to a piece of the RM6,620 worth of prizes up for grabs.
By placing an RM50 deposit, you could get items like the Huawei Watch 3, the Huawei Freebuds Studio, and more. Winners for this randomised draw will be announced every three days.
