Designing a laptop that undercuts the MacBook Air in weight usually means accepting severe compromises. Yet, Huawei has managed to build an ultralight machine that weighs a mere 798 grams—making it roughly 35% lighter than Apple’s popular thin-and-light notebook while measuring just 11.9mm slim. The newly launched MateBook Pro S features a sleek magnesium-alloy chassis using a Cloud Falcon structural framework.
High-end display tech and dedicated privacy controls
Up front, the MateBook Pro S crams in a 14.2-inch 3.1K OLED touchscreen (3120 x 2080 resolution) with a productivity-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio. The panel runs at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, covers the P3 wide color gamut, supports HDR Vivid, and hits a peak brightness of 1,600 nits.
Huawei is also introducing a specialized Privacy Screen Edition alongside a luxury Collector’s Edition featuring a printed leather back cover. The Privacy Screen version employs a dual-pixel structure that narrows viewing angles at the push of a hardware switch. It works alongside an AI-driven Celia system that actively detects peeping eyes and alerts you if someone looks over your shoulder.
Internal power, connectivity, and software limits
Under the hood sits Huawei’s custom Kirin XE90 processor paired with an ultra-smooth Ark Engine, capable of sustaining a 20W performance boost. Configurations scale up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. A 54Wh battery that supports 66W reverse USB-C charging keeps the lights on for up to 18 hours of 1080p video playback. Additional hardware perks include Wi-Fi 7+ with long-distance quad-antenna support, Bluetooth 6.0, four speakers and six 10m long-distance pickup microphones. There are also dual 1080p cameras on the front and back for your meetings and occasional shots.
Physical connectivity remains the biggest hardware trade-off. The laptop is restricted to just two 5Gbps USB-C ports, with only one supporting 4K display output at 60Hz.
However, the main barrier for international users isn’t physical ports—it’s the software. The laptop ships with HarmonyOS 6.1 instead of Windows. While it integrates deep ecosystem features like seamless file transfers, multi-device sharing, and AI task tools that write weekly reports or fill forms, running HarmonyOS makes it impractical for anyone dependent on traditional desktop software suites.
Price and variants
Official Chinese pricing starts at 7,999 yuan (around $1,180) for the base 16GB/512GB model. It scales up to 14,999 yuan (approx. $2,220) for the maxed-out Collector’s Edition. While it stands as a masterclass in ultralight hardware engineering, the lack of Windows compatibility and unconfirmed global availability means most tech enthusiasts outside China will only admire it from afar (via Huawei Central).
Lastly, the laptop is available in shades like Midsummer Purple, Dawn Yellow, Smoke Gray, Velvet White, and Feather Black.
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