HONOR MagicBook Professional 16 Evaluate: Someplace within the center

Earlier than diving into this assessment, I wish to make one factor clear — I have been utilizing MacBooks for the higher a part of the final decade and have been utilizing the MacBook Professional 13-inch (M1) because it debuted in 2020. So, once I received my arms on the HONOR MagicBook Professional 16, the large query on my thoughts was — can this laptop computer exchange my Mac? For any laptop computer to tackle Apple’s laptops, particularly their new M-series MacBooks, it should excel in 5 areas: portability, construct high quality, show and audio high quality, uncooked efficiency, and battery life.

HONOR’s new MagicBook Professional 16 comes ever so near matching Apple’s requirements, however the machine makes one factor clear — there’s nonetheless an extended solution to go. With its 16-inch 165Hz display, a robust mixture of Intel Core Extremely 7 CPU and RTX 4060 Laptop computer GPU, and among the greatest audio system on a Home windows laptop computer, the HONOR MagicBook Professional 16 presents a strong general expertise. Nevertheless, there are some areas the place it falls quick. Hold studying for my detailed assessment to search out out why and the place it misses the mark.

Pricing and Availability

The HONOR MagicBook Professional 16 was unveiled on the firm’s grand keynote at MWC 2024. Nevertheless, within the typical HONOR vogue, the corporate hasn’t introduced the worldwide pricing or availability simply but. Within the residence nation China, the HONOR MagicBook Professional 16 begins at CNY 8,999 ($1,250 / €1,160) for the bottom mannequin with Intel Core Extremely 5. We received our arms on the top-tier variant with the Intel Core Extremely 7, which is priced at CNY 9,999 ($1,400 / €1,290). We’ll preserve you posted on world availability as quickly as we obtain extra information from the model.

Design and Construct

Beginning off with the design, which has been a standout characteristic of HONOR’s merchandise. Their Magic V2 was a “groundbreaking” foldable smartphone, and the Magic6 Professional introduced its distinctive design to Android flagships. The MagicBook Professional 16 follows swimsuit — it carries on this custom with its personal aptitude.

The MagicBook Professional 16 comes with a pure white end, with the outer shell given a rainbow hue. Once I took out this machine out of the field, I used to be left amazed by this colour. However, as anticipated, it will get soiled actual quick. In actual fact, should you look carefully, you will see that my unit has already picked up a number of everlasting stains. For those who’re a cleansing freak, I’d quite advocate you to get the outer floor laminated as quickly as attainable. As a result of white end, I’ve been hesitant to eat close to it, which is a disgrace given its audio system and show are distinctive for the value.

However, should you can overlook the colour, it is a fairly solidly constructed laptop computer. You will get a reasonably smooth design for a laptop computer with top-end, gaming-capable {hardware}. It weighs 1.86kg and measures 17.9mm in thickness — solely about 1mm thicker than the 16-inch MacBook Professional. The physique incorporates a mushy brushed metallic end and is free from any overly flashy design components. Even the outer shell options solely the HONOR emblem.

The position of ports on the MagicBook Professional 16 can also be thoughtfully carried out. There are six ports in complete, with probably the most continuously used ones, like the three.5mm headphone jack and two USB-C ports (one supporting PD charging), conveniently positioned on the left aspect. The appropriate aspect has been left clean, whereas the again aspect of the laptop computer options the opposite ports, such because the HDMI port, two USB-A ports, and the proprietary charging port, making them much less obtrusive.

To maintain this factor cool, since this laptop computer can get a bit heat, HONOR has included air vents on all sides, together with the again, backside, and sides. Nevertheless, the underside line concerning the MagicBook Professional 16’s construct high quality is that it is strong — and this comes from somebody who has been utilizing Apple’s MacBook for greater than a decade. The hinge can also be well-designed, opening easily with one hand, and with the physique made principally out of metallic, the laptop computer feels sturdy and premium.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The MagicBook Professional 16 incorporates a full keyboard, full with a numeric pad on the proper aspect. This format is nice for many who worth having a numeric pad, however as somebody like me who’s accustomed to centered keyboards, it took me some time to adapt. The truth that the keyboard has pretty small “Enter” and “Shift” buttons did not assist both.

Nonetheless, the general responsiveness and really feel of the keys are glorious. The keys are generously sized, supply good journey, and are comparatively quiet. As soon as accustomed to this format, you will love typing on this machine. The keyboard even has backlighting. Nevertheless, I discovered the lighting uneven and poorly seen in opposition to the white keys, and I switched off this characteristic on the primary boot itself.

The keyboard is surrounded by the laptop computer’s sound system on each side. The highest proper key of the keyboard doubles as an influence/wake button and the fingerprint scanner. The fingerprint scanner on this machine might be the quickest I’ve used on a Home windows laptop computer, unlocking the laptop computer nearly immediately upon contact.

Shifting to the trackpad, the MagicBook Professional 16 presents a big trackpad with ample floor space, however that is one other key space the place this laptop computer falls in need of different rivals. The trackpad feels plastic-y, and the press suggestions is inconsistent, with the highest half feeling stiff and the underside overly versatile. HONOR positively has room for enchancment on this space.

Show and Audio

Shifting onto the show, the MagicBook Professional comes with a big 16-inch “FullView” IPS LCD show with as much as a 165Hz refresh price and a decision of 3072×1920 pixels. The show has a 16:10 side ratio, a matte end, and might attain as much as 500 nits of brightness. Even for somebody like me who loves the shiny and colourful show of the Mac, the HONOR MagicBook Professional 16’s show does an incredible job in sustaining glorious colour replica and vibrancy, regardless of it being a matte show.

The excessive refresh price makes certain Home windows and general UI look buttery easy. And oh, did I point out the bezels? The bezels on three sides are just about negligible and it makes for an incredible viewing expertise when watching TV reveals, films, and sports activities. The display can also be TUV Rheinland licensed for Low Blue Mild and Flicker Free, just like HONOR’s different merchandise. The one factor I’d enhance about this show is the brightness. The low 500 nits brightness means the colours take successful when checked out from the aspect angles and in out of doors settings the place the matte end doesn’t assist both. Nonetheless, the general expertise is excellent, particularly contemplating the value.

What enhances this show superbly is the laptop computer’s sound system. The MagicBook Professional 16 might nicely have the most effective audio system of any Home windows laptop computer presently available on the market. For the primary time shortly, I didn’t miss the sound system of my MacBook Professional — which has turn into the trade commonplace at this level. The audio system ship punchy, detailed sound throughout low, mid-range, and excessive frequencies, making for the most effective audio experiences I’ve had on a Home windows laptop computer in a very long time.

Software program, Efficiency, and Battery Life

Now, shifting onto efficiency, however let’s first get the uncooked specs out of the way in which. The HONOR MagicBook Professional 16 is powered by Intel’s Core Extremely 7 155H processor coupled with 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage. For graphics, it features a devoted NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 laptop computer GPU with 8GB of reminiscence and an Intel Arc built-in GPU, although it primarily depends on the RTX 4060 for graphic-intensive duties. And, with HONOR calling this laptop computer an AI PC, because of the inclusion of two Gen3 compute engines NPU for dealing with AI-based duties.

As you’ll count on from a laptop computer with this succesful {hardware}, Home windows runs quick and fluid on this system. From launching functions and booting up, to switching between browser tabs and enhancing paperwork or images, the efficiency is steady and fast. The one enchancment I would counsel is streamlining Home windows updates, however that is a job for Microsoft, not HONOR. However apart from that, this factor flies proper off the bat. Proper from the second you activate this machine, you’ll really feel it being buttery easy and quick.

Nevertheless, the graphics efficiency doesn’t meet the expectations for a gaming laptop computer. Regardless of setting it to efficiency mode and retaining it plugged in, the MagicBook Professional struggles to take care of a constant 60fps in FIFA 23, with body charges usually dropping to between 40-43fps. I additionally tried to play Microsoft’s Forza Horizon 5 on this machine, however discovered comparable outcomes with the machine failing to ship easy gameplay.

HONOR has built-in a number of Apple-like cross-platform options. The MagicBook Professional comes outfitted with HONOR PC Supervisor and HONOR WorkStation apps. PC Supervisor lets you handle the laptop computer, together with updating BIOS and drivers, backing up knowledge, enabling spatial audio, and configuring HONOR Share.

WorkStation, alternatively, improves interoperability amongst HONOR units, permitting for clipboard sharing, file transfers, display sharing, and even utilizing the laptop computer’s enter units along with your telephone. You too can immediately allow the telephone’s hotspot by means of the WorkStation app. Whereas HONOR guarantees extra AI options like doc summarization, AI video subtitles, and extra, these weren’t accessible on the time of assessment.

Concerning battery life, the MagicBook Professional 16 falls quick. The battery life is disappointing, with the laptop computer usually operating out earlier than noon even underneath mild use, which incorporates doc writing and enhancing, net shopping, video streaming, and emailing. Moreover, the laptop computer comes with a cumbersome charger, which is cumbersome regardless of the choice to cost through USB-C.

Verdict

So, is the HONOR MagicBook Professional 16 price it? In equity to HONOR, it is a commendable try at creating a conveyable powerhouse. The MagicBook Professional 16 is provided with among the greatest {hardware} accessible, boasts glorious construct high quality, a show + sound combo that is unmatched on any Home windows laptop computer, and delivers nice efficiency, all for round $1000. Whereas there are some shortcomings that make this laptop computer inferior in opposition to among the rivals, these drawbacks are typically manageable for many customers (even probably the most energy customers).