Laptops

Huawei MateBook 14 review: Energy-efficient workflow

The work-from-home laptop that keeps you working

Published

October 26, 2020

Gab Orlina

At this point in time, everybody is already used to a 9-5 grind from their homes. As we continually adjust to the pandemic’s ways, we also need the proper devices dedicated for our workload in the day. Even if you’re a student taking online classes, you want a laptop that can keep up with all your requirements.

Enter the Huawei MateBook 14, the company’s take on a more productive work laptop. With a sleek design, a powerful processor inside the device, it offers what is essentially a balanced machine. Upon first glance, I thought that it was simply a mixture of the Huawei MateBook D14 and the MateBook X Pro.

The question is whether it stacks up as a power-efficient, balanced work laptop. Well, here’s what you get with the Huawei MateBook 14:

It comes with a 14-inch, 2K FullView Display

An AMD Ryzen 4000-series processor powers the device

It comes with a recessed camera at the top-middle of the keyboard

It only comes in Space Gray

Admire the design first

I know that I usually go straight to how this device performs, but I honestly couldn’t ignore its build quality. Compared to most Huawei laptops I’ve looked at, the Matebook 14 remains consistent with all of them in terms of design. They go for the sleek, subtle yet professional tone with how the laptop looks and feels.

Upon knowing that the build was mostly CNC-ed in, I was expecting durability and hardness in the device. It felt durable enough for me to toss it onto the bed most of the time, and I was pretty confident it wouldn’t break. Also, for a device that weighs almost 1.5 kg, it sure feels light to carry around.

These were some of my observations on the Huawei Matebook X Pro, which I felt is a more powerful version of the Matebook 14. It’s nice to see that Huawei brought that in, leaving no rough surface behind.

Performance that’s great for any type of work

Huawei’s Matebook 14 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor, with 16GB of RAM — which is what most people want out of a work laptop. Because a newer AMD chip is inside, I was expecting great performance right out of the gate. Not to mention that this device also comes with a 512GB SSD, so booting up should be fast.

Just as expected, the device performs well for most work-related tasks I threw at it. I tried using it as my main work laptop for three days, and I was able to do my work in an efficient way. I mean, I still finished overtime for work one day but the device lasted long enough and performed well. Also, I felt that most applications ran pretty smoothly while I was using it.

It was even able to handle close to 100,000 rows of Microsoft Excel data without slowing down significantly. Also, I felt that I didn’t have to manually switch to Performance Mode just to do that. However, because this only comes with built-in Radeon Graphics, I wouldn’t recommend it for creative work and advanced data processing.

Long lasting battery, and it’s surprisingly not warm

The Matebook 14 boasts its 56Wh battery to last all day when you’re doing your usual tasks. Realistically, I don’t think you could keep a laptop running the whole day without plugging the charger. However, on a full charge, I managed to get close to 14 hours mixing work, watching YouTube and streaming Netflix.

Charging the device didn’t take long, either as I got about two hours to fully charge it. That whole thing about a 15-minute charge granting 2.5 hours is close to the truth. Also, I appreciate that Huawei thought of putting a charger that supports SuperCharge, which also charges smartphones.

The biggest surprise I found was the thermal setup for the device. Compared to the Matebook X Pro, this did not feel that warm to hold at all — especially while working. Honestly, I give full credit to the AMD chip in keeping it energy-efficient. The dual fan, dual heat pipe design worked wonders, even in a much smaller chassis.

More things that deserved to be noticed, for better or worse

Other things I wanted to bring to light include the usual features it comes with. The hybrid of a fingerprint sensor and the power button still works wonders. It’s pretty easy to set up, and it recognizes your fingerprint pretty fast so you start working right off the bat.

Also, I’m a big fan of the keyboard mostly in terms of the key travel. I’m not drawn to the whole backlit keyboard since it still looks dim in the dark. But in terms of my typing experience, it provides a great one every time I use it. Honestly, it made me work a lot faster so it’s a win for me.

What isn’t a win, and will honestly continue being an L for Huawei is the camera. It’s not because the quality is bad, but it’s just the placement of it. I know that they had to do it for the FullView Display, but it really is an unflattering angle.

Is the MateBook 14 your GadgetMatch?

For PhP 54,999 (US$ 1133), the Huawei MateBook 14 delivers on many fronts as a work laptop. It checks all the important boxes on what you need so you can work better. Plus, it lasts as long as you want it to without reaching for the charger, and stays cool too.

All the usual features Huawei puts in their laptops have their moments to shine. From the keyboard to the display, everything fits quite nicely for what you need it for. At this point, there’s really nothing you can do about the camera being where it is.

If you need a more than decent laptop for work or school, this is a great option to consider. All in all, It gives you premium yet energy-efficient performance that will keep you at the top of your game.

Laptops

Acer unveils Swift Air 14 and Swift Spin 14 AI with Intel’s latest processors

Thin, light, AI-powered laptops

Published

May 30, 2026

GadgetMatch

Acer has expanded its Swift laptop lineup with the launch of the new Swift Air 14 and Swift Spin 14 AI. The new Windows 11 laptops combine slim designs, dedicated AI hardware, and long battery life for users who want productivity on the go.

Swift Air 14 focuses on portability

Leading the announcement is the new Swift Air 14. Powered by Intel Core Series 3 processors, the laptop delivers up to 40 platform TOPS and up to 17 TOPS from its dedicated NPU for AI workloads. Acer says users can expect up to 19 hours of battery life, with fast charging capable of reaching 50 percent in around 30 minutes.

The Swift Air 14 weighs just 1.25kg and measures as thin as 12.9mm. Its all-aluminum chassis comes in Sage Green, Frost Blue, Blossom Pink, and Lilac Purple. A 180-degree hinge allows the laptop to lie flat when collaborating or sharing content.

For visuals, Acer equips the laptop with a 14-inch WUXGA display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and 100 percent sRGB color coverage. Quad speakers with DTS:X Ultra complete the entertainment package.

The Swift Air 14 also includes a 1080p IR webcam with a privacy shutter, Windows Hello facial recognition, Acer PurifiedVoice noise cancellation, Intel Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a USB-A port.

Swift Spin 14 AI adds convertible flexibility

Acer also introduced the Swift Spin 14 AI. The new convertible features a 360-degree hinge that lets users switch between laptop, presentation, display, and tablet modes.

Inside is up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor. The system delivers up to 50 TOPS from its dedicated NPU and up to 100 platform TOPS overall. Acer claims battery life can reach up to 26 hours on a single charge.

The Swift Spin 14 AI features a 14-inch WUXGA IPS touch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also supports the optional Acer Active Stylus with Wacom AES 2.0 technology. The stylus supports shading and 4,096 pressure levels, making it useful for drawing, note-taking, and document signing.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, dual USB-A ports, and HDMI 2.1. Security features include a 5MP IR camera, fingerprint reader, human presence detection, and Acer User Sensing technology.

Acer brings AI features to both laptops

Both devices include a dedicated Copilot key for quick access to Microsoft’s AI assistant. Acer also bundles its own AI-powered software suite, including AcerSense and Acer Intelligence Space.

The suite includes tools such as Acer QR Capture, Acer AI Image Generator, and Acer Video Speed Controller. Acer says these features are designed to improve productivity, creativity, and day-to-day usability.

Acer has not yet announced local pricing or availability. The company says details will vary by market.

Laptops

MSI announces new Raider, Crosshair gaming laptops

Redesigned for better power

Published

May 19, 2026

GadgetMatch

MSI has unveiled its latest generation of high-performance gaming laptops, introducing comprehensive updates to the Raider, Crosshair, and Cyborg series.

The updated product lines include redesigns, as well as up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series laptop GPUs.

MSI Raider 16 HX: Flagship power

The premium tier is led by the redesigned MSI Raider 16 HX, which establishes a maximum total power delivery threshold of up to 300W of combined CPU and GPU output via MSI OverBoost technology.

This extreme performance is made possible by a newly designed Cooler Boost Trinity with Intra Flow thermal system. With up to three fans, six heat pipes, and an exclusive five-exhaust vent design, the laptop delivers exceptional cooling performance while keeping noise below 50 dBA.

It has a 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS display with up to 240Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.

With two DDR5 memory slots, it can support up to 128GB of RAM, alongside dual M.2 slots for ample storage.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX: Mainstream performance realignment

Meanwhile, the mid-tier MSI Crosshair 16 HX receives a structural redesign that slims down the overall chassis depth while boosting overall thermal ceiling performance by 30W over the prior model.

It comes with a similar Cooler Boost thermal solution and quad-vent exhaust, while delivering up to 200W total system power.

Gamers can fully tap into that performance with a QHD+ 240Hz display. Connectivity gets an upgrade too, as the new I/O layout features three USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and repositioned HDMI and RJ-45 LAN ports.

The look is completed by the iconic RGB Crosshair aesthetic, with a more dynamic RGB backlit keyboard.

MSI Cyborg 15 Max: Major upgrades in performance, display

Lastly, the newly redesigned MSI Cyborg 15 series arrives with major upgrades. Particularly, the entry-level Cyborg 15 Max marks a substantial performance update for the budget tier.

It now has up to a 140W total system power, thanks to an Intel Core 200H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 GPU. This sets a new benchmark in the entry-level gaming segment.

The performance is likewise powered by a Cooler Boost thermal system. Overall, the Cyborg 15 Max achieves an impressive 122% increase in TGP.

The entire series is equipped with an FHD 144Hz display with 100% sRGB color gamut. Even connectivity is upgraded, with three USB-A ports and one USB-C port.