POP culture was once dominated by wizards, vampires and zombies, but in the past decade there is no doubt that we have been fascinated with superheroes. From mainstream movies that bring to life the characters from Marvel and DC comics, to animated series, like Invincible and my current favorite. Amazon’s The Boys (it’s a bloody-gore watch) “supers” seem to be the key ingredient to success.
Well, someone at Huawei R&D must probably be a big Avengers fan and suggested; Why not come up with our super team and create a “Huaweiverse” of devices?
“The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable devices, and see if they could become something more. See if they could work together when we needed them to.” Sounds familiar?
Instead of working to save mankind from some interstellar threat, these devices are meant to save us from the struggle and complications of using multiple devices for work.
Many of us now use at least two devices for work, and they usually run on different operating systems, different connection options and file formats. This fragmented experience can be highly challenging—especially against the backdrop of an increasing demand for flexible working.
At Mobile World Congress 2022, Huawei unveiled several firsts—its first-ever all-in-one PC, e-ink tablet, printer, alongside other excellent products. While all of these devices are great on their own, it’s the software Huawei has designed that make them “Super Devices” paving the way for its interconnected future.
“Super Device” refers to a wide range of connectivity features, with the overall aim of creating better-connected system for users between their devices. By connecting all their Huawei devices into one “singular experience,” it will allow them to essentially use any device for any task—meaning that you can use your phone app on your PC, or work on your tablet screen while connected to a laptop.
As Huawei brings its focus on the Smart Office, Huawei PCs are now equipped with Super Device to bring an all-new smart office experience tearing down the boundaries between Windows PCs and mobiles. By enabling multi-device collaboration, users are freed from the many complications and interruptions of working among multiple unique devices, allowing them to focus and be more productive.
For example, we use PCs for work, but tablets can be much easier to use when drawing or for designing because of the stylus. Monitors, on the other hand, enable better viewing experiences with larger displays.
Users who own a Huawei laptop or PC will be able to use those devices as a hub to create with the ability to share resources between devices easily, with smartphones and smartwatches having the ability to quickly pair up with earbuds and other accessories.
Super Devices connect easily by a simple drag and drop, with tablets and laptops having three options: Mirror, Extend and Collaborate.
Mirror, as the name suggests, will mirror the computer screen onto the tablet, with the ability to still use the tablet’s stylus, while Extend will allow you to use the tablet as a second screen. Collaborate makes it easier to drag and drop files between devices, so users can seamlessly transfer various files without the need for wires or third-party services.
Super Device pairs your smartphone and turns it into an external drive connected to the MateBook laptop, allowing for saving, transferring and direct editing of files across devices.
Instead of having to look at both your phone and laptop screen, the smartphone interface is displayed on the MateBook, enabling the simultaneous use of two systems in one screen, while up to three mobile apps can be opened on the MateBook.
HUAWEI MATEBOOK D 15 2022
AS the pandemic killed off the 9-to-5 workday, companies are beginning to evaluate several categories that will allow employees to choose how often, if ever, they return to the office.
Modern productivity is characterized by mobility and for the past month, I’ve been using the new Huawei MateBook D 15 (2022) as my main work laptop, and I’ve been able to try out Super Device experience pairing it with my Huawei P40 for quick file transfers as well as with the MatePad Pro, and this interconnection is something that you can easily get used to.
In terms of look and feel, the MateBook D 15 has a beautiful polished aluminium body. This aluminium alloy body is tempered by anodic oxidation that includes 40 processes to make the metallic body tougher and stronger. The build is solid and doesn’t feel flimsy, and doesn’t flex or creak when gripped or pressed. It is available in two colors: Space Grey and Mystic Silver.
It measures just 16.9mm thin and weighing 1.56kg. It’s not the lightest, but I had no problems slipping it into my carry-on backpack as I brought it with me during my recent Boracay trip and was able to do some work while having milktea near the beach.
The Huawei MateBook D 15 has all the ports you need so you don’t have to buy or bring an extra dongle. On the left is the USB-C port for charging, data and reverse charging (in powered-off state); there’s also a USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, and an HDMI port beside it. Looking over to the right you’ll see a 3.5mm headphone and mic combo jack, and two more USB Type-A 2.0 ports.
For the display, the MateBook has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS anti-glare display that follows the series’ signature FullView design. Thanks to the 5.3mm narrow bezels at the top and on the sides, the device gets a high screen-to-body ratio of 87 percent and the 16:9 aspect ratio makes it the perfect candidate for showing cinematic content. The display also has passed TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification and flicker-free certifications for a more comfortable viewing experience.
Since I’m mostly typing, I liked the spacious keyboard and the spacing of the keys. The keys are not cramped and have a decent travel providing you with those satisfying keyboard clicks when you type fast. My usual problem with a keyboard is that is often smooth and an oil magnet; the keyboard of the MateBook D 15 has a very subtle texture which hopefully means it won’t get greasy easily. The only thing that is missing is the backlit keys, which is quite important if you are someone who likes to work in the dark.
The power button on the top right also doubles as a fingerprint sensor while beside trackpad, you’ll find the location for Huawei Share. A unique feature of Huawei laptops is its hidden webcam, located between the F6 and F7 key, making it ideal for privacy. The fingerprint security, on the other hand, is so useful especially if you are like me who always forget their passwords.
The MateBook D 15 is Windows 11-ready and powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 Processor with a four-core, eight-thread CPU delivering superb multi-thread performance for multitasking, and comes with an integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics. Our review unit has a 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. I’ve used it everyday for blogging, documents, web browsing, social media; photo editing and short video editing and everything was snappy.
The MateBook D 15 comes with a 65W USB Type-C AC adaptor with detachable cables and it weighs only 160g. I usually get around 5 to 6 hours per full charge, which is okay since its fast-charging, and a 15-minute charge can last for about two hours of office use.
If you’ve been eyeing a laptop for work and general duties, the Matebook D 15 is a good affordable choice. This is a more-than-capable laptop for students and those who work-from-home and don’t handle heavy content creation and mainly do general office tasks. The display is huge and clear, with loud-enough speakers for streaming movies or just your daily social-media usage. It looks premium built, solid but still light enough to carry around. It has a current, proven CPU and enough storage for all your files, and if you want to experience the Huaweiverse ecosystem, the Super Device features is a compelling bonus.