Honor MagicBook 14 512 review (2020)

Honor has updated its MagicBook 14 and 15 laptop models, a version launched a few months ago and now comes with faster versions of the Ryzen 4000 series with increasing specifications.

Nothing else has changed, but given the quality of the original MagicBook, there is much to see how it improves its configuration while maintaining a competitive price. The big question is whether the MagicBook 14 from the end of 2020 is a truly recommended purchase.

Design and attributes

The chassis of MagicBook 14 remains unchanged from the previous model. Basically what you get is a laptop no doubt in the middle class, but a nice and premium style finish that you will only see in the high school.

At 15.9 mm, it is a very small tool, though it is enough to provide two traditional USB-A ports (one 2.0 and one 3.2), a USB-C (battery charging), and a video port. HDMI compatible with headphones.

It weighs 1.38 kg, which is also quite light, especially a laptop with a 14-inch screen. Obviously, it is not that number less than a pound where we all feel more comfortable, but it is simple enough to be able to carry it everywhere.

Combined with an aluminum frame, that extra weight will help you feel like you’re wearing a solid, sturdy gear. At the time of the review, the only model available was the Space Gray with a blue strap tied around the cover.

Screen

As its name suggests, the MagicBook 14 512 comes with a 14-inch panel, though you’ll get a larger 15-inch model for the same price, so you can choose the size you choose to do your jobs.

The panel is a type of IPS LCD, with HD resolution with 1920 x 1080 pixels. Frankly, it is not a very special price, but at this price it would be wrong to expect an OLED or so-called 4K

solution.

What we would have liked is that Respect has given us the opportunity to be able to choose between a model with a touch screen and an incoming one, but for now, the various configurations offered by the product are not very extensive.

The good thing is that the screen looks sharp and has enough color to be used normally in office environments or in viewing streaming content. A combination of 63% in sRGB and 47% in AdobeRGB and DCI-P3 (audited SpyderX Elite), will not work for founders, but it is not something that this team intended.

High brightness is also somewhat limited, as we only hit 220 nits in our tests, but since the finish is matte rather than glossy, this is not really a problem, and you shouldn’t worry about the bright light.

Include in this that the viewing angles are quite wide and the bezels are small (on the plastic edge, rather than metal from another construction). In short, a successful selection of your screen.

Keyboard and trackpad

In the section dealing with laptop installation and management devices, we should talk about one of the lime and the other sand. The keyboard has a short navigation, but with full size, backlit, and is generally fast and free to type.

There is really no big difference between this and what you can get from more advanced programs like the new magic keyboard available in The new MacBook Pro de Apple.

We are sure you will be surprised if you can find a laptop with a better keyboard than MagicBook, within this price range. As for the trackpad, it’s not bad at all, or it can be improved.

It is indeed a weak point. Made of plastic material rather than glass used at higher premiums, it has a sticky feel and clutter of very cheap touch panels for machines.

By its harvest it can be said that it produces a generous size and works with a positive response. You may not hate it, but it is one of the few things that can offer MicrosoftBook 14 as a budget device.

In addition to the keyboard and trackpad, you’ll find a fingerprint sensor plugged into an unknown power button. It works well and is effective in everyday use.

For greater security, it may be your choice to open your computer, because even though there is a webcam, it is not configured to allow login and Windows Hello.

Like all Huawei and Honor laptops, the webcam is 720p and hidden inside a duplicate key on the central ‘Activity’ keyboard line.

It’s a great way to maintain privacy and security for intruders, but it’s physically hidden from view, with the obvious disadvantage of not being the best viewing environment for the times when you make video calls, as it will show dewlap.

Details and functionality

That’s where Honor has put major updates on its MagicBook 14 since the end of 2020, with obvious improvements and some not so much. And a major change is associated with the replacement of the new Ryzen 5 4500Y chip with the replacement of the previous Ryzen 5 3500U.

That may not sound like a major strategic change, but as we will see below, there is a significant increase in annual performance in AMD silicon, and it is confirmed by the benchmarks we show.

This updated model sees an almost 50% increase in performance on the CPU-centric benches Geekbench 5 and PCMark 10, with modest gains in large-scale 3DMark-compliant GPU testing.

This is due to the availability of the CPU, although Honor has chosen to upgrade the current RAM of the 2666 MHz DDR4 type, much faster (compared to the last 2400 MHz), even though it still has an 8 GB limit.

Storage has been upgraded, exceeding 512 GB from the previous 256 GB, something that can now sound like a very low-key one.

Honor’s MagneticBook 14 has always been unbeatable in its performance per euro, and jumping over the 4000 series does nothing but confirm this claim.

Now we see how it is compatible with laptops with the most expensive Intel Core chipset, which makes this an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a laptop that can be compatible with multi-tasking and production.

Self-charging and battery charging

The new MagicBook 14 has played more than 13 hours of continuous video playback in our standard tests, which means it is also capable of dealing with a full day of Black activity, video streaming, easy photo editing, and various Chrome tabs. .

Charging the battery is another impressive feature. A built-in Type 65 65W USB charger (highly compact for easy portability) allows the battery to charge up to 44% in just over half an hour, making it one of the fastest laptops we’ve tested.

Price and availability

El MagicBook 14 512 7 nm Now available, with the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U chip model costing $750 for direct purchase on the web, in addition to getting a mouse, backpack and Bluetooth Earphones product as a gift.

Note, however, that Honor keeps its low-end Ryzen 5 3500U processor on sale at the same purchase page, without making it clear what it is, without this notification in the name.

In fact, we have found that the new MagicBook 14 512 is sold in gray, while the previous MagicBook 14 is only available in space gray (Space Gray).

If you’re looking for a faster chipset, be sure to choose 8GB + 512GB with a better processing option; the final version below also has a slower processor. But if your needs are not met, buy a recommended one.

The same thing happens to Amazon and other stores, where a model with a 3500U chip i.e. for sale can lead to model confusion errors. So, pay attention to what you decide to buy.

Look at ours he is on level Specialty for the best laptops of the year.

The decision

The Honor MagicBook 14 also represents what can be offered with a great laptop design and a very good price, with the updates now set to be more acceptable and ensure a small price increase.

Smaller users will enjoy the same as the cheap 3500U model, but the added power the new MagicBook 14 512 7nm model can offer more than just justifying small price differences to ensure strong performance and longevity throughout. for the next few years.

See here for a review of the previous model Honor MagicBook 14 con chip AMD 3500U.