Huawei suddenly launched a laptop using advanced American technology

Huawei's AI laptop will be sold in China from April 18 with the highest-end version priced at about 51.88 million VND thanks to the most powerful Intel Core Ultra9 CPU.

MateBook X Pro is equipped with a 14.2-inch OLED screen, CPU up to Core Ultra9, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD and is equipped with Huawei's shark fin cooling system. The company claims that overall performance is 60% higher than the 2023 version of the MateBook X Pro.

Intel positions the Core Ultra CPU as a key component of AI PCs, allowing the PC itself to execute AI applications without needing to access AI servers through the cloud. Each Core Ultra CPU adopts Intel's new 3D hybrid architecture, integrating a unique CPU, GPU, and NPU to drive AI computing in a single package.

Although the US has always restricted Huawei from accessing advanced US technologies, the new MateBook X Pro is still equipped with an Intel Core Ultra CPU. This has shocked some US lawmakers and questioned how the Joe Biden administration allowed Huawei to get new processors.

According to the latest data from market research organization Canalys, Huawei is conquering China's laptop market by becoming the second largest PC manufacturer in the country by 2023, with a market share of 10%, just behind Lenovo (38% market share) and sharing position with HP (10% market share). In addition, laptops are also an important part of Huawei's expansion of the Hongmeng ecosystem.

Since the second half of 2022, the PC market has been in serious decline. However, 2024 will usher in a major shift from traditional PCs to AI PCs. Intel estimates that by 2025, shipments of AI PCs equipped with Intel Core Ultra CPUs will reach 100 million units.

Jessica Tanner

Update 15 April 2024