Along with the Watch GS Pro, HONOR also gave me an opportunity to test out its 2020 iteration of the MagicBook Pro. First previewed during IFA 2020 last month, the laptop is a refresh of last year’s model with upgraded hardware under its hood.
The MagicBook Pro’s design is pretty similar to the 2019 version. Complete with the same 16.1-inch display with a high screen-to-body ratio, stereo speakers, pop-up webcam, and an aluminium based chassis. It’s not a bad thing per say, as the device maintains the familiar yet premium feel as its predecessor.
Much appreciated is its colourful, bright, and sharp screen that takes up a majority of its display, thanks to the narrow bezels and the lack of built-in webcam module. The 2020 MagicBook Pro’s backlit keyboard is membrane based with high actuation, and is comfortable to use. Despite its solid aluminium body, the laptop itself is fairly light and is only 1.7kg in weight.
Hardware-wise is where this year’s model does shine. The laptop is equipped with a powerful and fast AMD Ryzen 5 4600h processor, which is paired with 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB storage via SSD. HONOR claims that the MagicBook Pro is ideal for both professional work and also gaming. Although don’t expect too much for the latter as it relies on Ryzen’s integrated Radeon Graphics. However, given that I only had a brief hands on with the device, I barely had enough time to evaluate its performance.
HONOR also updated the MagicBook Pro’s cooling capabilities by including dual fans and dual heat pipes, which is claimed to be a 15% improvement over its predecessor. Throughout my time testing the laptop, the fans were mainly silent and the device itself was maintaining steady temperatures. Again, this is something that needs to be fully evaluated with a review unit rather than a short preview.
Other than that, the performance by its stereo speakers is pretty decent when it comes to playing audio from YouTube videos and music from Spotify. However, if you’re looking for an actual sound system-esque ‘oomph’, you’re better off connecting it to an external audio device by wired or Bluetooth connectivity.
HONOR claims that the 2020 MagicBook Pro is able to last up to 11 hours with its 56Wh battery. The laptop also supports fast charging via its 65W USB-C charger, which is said to be capable of topping up 50% of its battery in just 30 minutes.
So far, the new HONOR MagicBook Pro is looking to be a promising device, especially for professionals. As previously reported, the laptop is slated to officially launch in Malaysia on Tuesday, 6 October 2020 along with the HONOR Watch GS Pro. Its retail price is yet to be announced but for reference, the Ryzen equipped 2020 MagicBook Pro is going for EUR899 (~RM4,386) in European regions.
