4 weeks with the Huawei MateView: Something from Apple!

Chic workhorse: With the MateView, Huawei has created a real monitor beauty that is an eye-catcher on every desk. Huawei still has to resolve some teething troubles.

I like to admit, I fulfill every cliché of an Apple user. I attach great importance to simple, intuitive operation and, of course, design. The form is at least as important to me as the function. I was accordingly enthusiastic when I saw the Huawei Mate View for the first time. “Something from Apple!” Was my first thought. After several weeks in the test, the beautiful Huawei monitor can confirm the good first impression, but I also have improvement requests.

First of all, the key data:

• 28.2-inch diagonal, IPS 3: 2 format
• 4K resolution (3840 x 2560 pixels)
• 500 cd / m² brightness
• 60 Hz
• Contrast ratio 1,200: 1
• Color spaces: DCI-P3: 98 percent, sRGB: 100 percent

A look that could come from Jony Ive

The first thing that catches the eye is the look 1: 1 could also have come from the pen of Apple’s legendary ex-designer Jony Ive. The matt silver, the clear lines and the lack of any form of ornate gimmick undoubtedly exudes Apple charm. The base is solid and ensures a secure hold. It is pleasing to see how smoothly the monitor moves up or down. The height adjustment extends to a total of 110 mm, the forward inclination to minus 5 to 18 degrees. Unfortunately, there is no pivot – what a shame!

Hooked service

On the other hand, the service was less appealing. This is not done via buttons, but via a touch-sensitive bar on the underside of the screen. In everyday life, swiping and typing has proven to be impractical and time and again led to incorrect entries. Here, Huawei will have to step up in the future and either optimize finger recognition – or rely on classic keys.

Work-friendly 3: 2 format

thanks to 3: 2 format, the MateView is particularly suitable for working. There is less space on the side, but above and below. When surfing, for example, means less scrolling. Basically, every workflow benefits from the format, which presents content mainly in the vertical direction. The Huawei monitor can also be an alternative for programmers or for photographers who specialize in portraits. They have to know that the screen covers 100 percent of the sRGB color space and 98 percent of the DCI-P3 color space.

The 4K resolution (3840 x 2560 pixels) on 28.2 inches ensures a crisp, sharp image and the brightness is absolutely satisfactory. Huawei only has to work on the partially uneven illumination. The 60 Hz refresh rate is absolutely sufficient for a work monitor; gamers will of course not be happy with it.

Huawei has installed two speakers, each with a nominal output of 5 watts, in the MateView. They offer a good, balanced sound that is absolutely sufficient for the office or home office. But you shouldn’t have greater demands.

More USB C, please

However, there is a need to improve the connections. Of the only two UBS-C connections, one is already occupied by the power supply. Huawei should have used at least one of the two other USB-A ports for a USB-C slot; that would have been more sustainable. Otherwise there is also an HDMI 2.0 connection and a mini DisplayPort as well as a combined 3.5 mm connection for headphones and microphone.

Also a shame: Many of the smart features advertised by Huawei only work with Huawei smartphones. Due to the US sanctions that have been in place for more than two years, only very few users in Germany are likely to use a Huawei smartphone and benefit from it. It would be smarter and more customer-friendly to open up the smart features to other platforms. For example, we could imagine the integration of Apple’s AirPlay and the wide base is perfect for integrating a wireless charging pad there. Please Huawei, happy to implement it with the MateView 2!

Chic workhorse with compromises

Conclusion: The Huawei MateView scores with its stylish design and work-friendly 3: 2 format. If you can live with the number of connections and the hacky control via the touch bar, the MateView is a real monitor beauty for the office or home office. The MSRP of 599 euros for the wired version is fair in view of the performance offered, especially since the monitor is now also cheaper after a few months on the market (check it out at Amazon).