Huawei unveils Windows 10-powered MateBook at MWC 2016

There's no firm MateBook release date just yet, with Huawei saying it'll be available in Asia, Europe and North America "in the coming months". It has reached worldwide success with their smartphone devices and now they are making a bold move in the tablet market.

Chinese manufacturer Huawei trotted out a 2-in-1 device at Mobile World Congress 2016, one that looks like a less expensive alternative to Microsoft's Surface Pro line.

The 12-inch MateBook tablet has a detachable keyboard and it features Microsoft's Windows 10. It also weighs only 640g and is as thin as an iPhone 6. Huawei Matebook is being offered in 4GB and 8GB RAM variants along with customizable storage options ranging from 128GB to 512GB SSDs. The 12-inch screen has a resolution of 2160 x 1440 and storage space of up to 512GB.

Prices for the MateBook start at $699 for entry-level models and climbs to a lofty $1,599 for the top-of-the-line version.

The MateBook also features a 33.7 watt-hours battery, which equates to a 4430mAh capacity. It runs on Windows 10 and is powered by Intel Core m3, Core m5, and Core m7 processors.

The tablet has built-in dual speakers with Dolby audio, and a noise cancelling headset that charges through the MateBook.

The backlit keyboard case, while not sporting the same highly adjustable kickstand of the Surface Pro, supports working angles of 67 and 54 degrees, along with 1.5mm of key travel.

Huawei has also built a new Stylus called the "MatePen", created to allow hand written input.

It would however be unfair to state that the spill-resistant keyboard cover isn't good enough, it's just that the Microsoft Type Cover for the Surface is ever so slightly better.

Accompanying the MateBook is the MateDock, a USB Type C dock that includes a VGA output, USB outputs, and Ethernet that comes wrapped up in a colour-matched case. It also has laser pointers, and an elastomer tip. Putting these inputs in a separate dock is what has kept the MateBook so slim, but it will cost accessory fans an extra $89 for the privilege. Huawei claims you'll get 10 hours from that battery on a single charge - although that remains to be seen.