HONOR MagicBook X 16 review
The Honor HONOR MagicBook X 16 ranks as the #578 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 69. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #64-ranked features among 291 laptops. Consider the Dell Vostro 15 5501 or Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The HONOR MagicBook X 16 is a solid mid-range laptop with a 16-inch IPS display, adequate build quality, and decent port selection. It's powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB storage, making it suitable for productivity users. However, the battery life falls short, lasting only up to 4 hours on a single charge, which is disappointing considering its 60Wh battery. Despite this, the laptop offers great value for its RM3,499 price tag. For students or office workers who need a reliable laptop for everyday tasks, the MagicBook X 16 is worth considering, especially when compared to other options in the market.
Build
The Honor MagicBook X 16 boasts an excellent build quality with a magnesium alloy chassis that resists flexing. Weighing in at 1.75 kilograms, it's remarkably light despite its sturdy construction. The slim bezel design and 16-inch IPS display add to the laptop's premium feel, while the updated hardware design ditches the noisy camera for a more conventional webcam placement on top of the display bezel. The fingerprint reader embedded on the power button provides convenient biometric authentication, rounding out the MagicBook X 16's solid build quality and design features. Give GIGABYTE A7 a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled build.
Display
The HONOR MagicBook X 16 boasts an impressive 16-inch IPS display with a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, covering 100% of the sRGB color space and reaching up to 300 nits of brightness. This is more than sufficient for indoor use and provides vibrant colors. The slim bezel design adds to its visually appealing appearance. The display hinges also allow for a 150-degree angle, making it easy to use while standing. While some might be disappointed by the placement of the 720p webcam on top of the display bezel, the overall display quality is undoubtedly a highlight of this laptop. Get your hands on Honor HONOR MagicBook 14 if you're looking for better display.
Performance
The HONOR MagicBook X 16's performance is commendable. Powered by an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, paired with 8GB LPDDR4 RAM and 512GB storage, it delivers smooth performance even when running multiple browser tabs. The laptop remains cool to the touch, and the fans are quiet, making it ideal for office work. In benchmarks, it performed well, showcasing its ability to handle productivity tasks with ease. While not exceptional, its performance is sufficient for everyday use. The only drawback is battery life, which lasted around 4 hours in my tests, falling short of HONOR's claimed 10 hours. Overall, the MagicBook X 16's performance is solid, making it a great option for students and office workers. Consider discovering the power of Honor HONOR MagicBook X 14, featuring the latest advancements in performance.
Battery and Charging
The battery life of the HONOR MagicBook X 16 is underwhelming. Despite its 60Wh battery, I only managed to get up to 4 hours of usage on a single charge, falling short of Honor's claim of up to 10 hours. This can be frustrating for those who need to stay unplugged all day. However, the laptop's USB-C charging does offer fast charging capabilities. Unfortunately, this drawback may deter users from purchasing the MagicBook X 16, especially considering its similar price point in the market.
Connectivity
The HONOR MagicBook X 16 boasts a decent port selection with two full-size USB ports, an HDMI port, and a USBC port that supports fast charging. However, the configuration is not the best among its competitors. The laptop also features a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button for biometric authentication. Connectivity-wise, it's satisfactory but could be improved upon. For a superior connectivity, Honor HONOR MagicBook X 14 could be the right choice.
Features
The Honor MagicBook X 16 offers excellent build quality, slim bezels, and a 16-inch IPS display with 1920x1200 resolution, covering 100% sRGB color space. It features two full-size USB ports, HDMI 1.4, and USBC port for fast charging. A better alternative might be Honor HONOR MagicBook X 14, featuring a next-level features.
Support and Maintenance
The HONOR MagicBook X 16 boasts excellent build quality with a magnesium alloy chassis, weighing 1.75 kilograms. The laptop's display is decent, covering 100% of the sRGB color space and offering up to 300 nits of brightness. However, battery life falls short, lasting only around 4 hours on a single charge, which may be frustrating for users who need an uninterrupted experience.
Pros
1. The laptop has excellent build quality with no flexors on the magnesium alloy chassis.
2. It has a very reasonable weight of 1.75 kilograms similar to the competition.
3. You get a really nice slim bezel, 16 by 10 aspect ratio, 16 inch IPS display that pushes a 1920 by 1200 pixel resolution and covers 100% of the sRGB color space.
4. The display has up to 300 nits of brightness which is sufficient for working indoors.
5. You get a fingerprint reader embedded on the power button for Biometrics authentication.
6. Productivity users will appreciate the Magic Book X16 keyboard as it comes with a very spacious number pad and large keycaps for comfortable typing experience.
7. The laptop performs well and I never hear the fans kick in even when running multiple browser tabs, making it a very pleasant experience to work on.
Cons
1. The display bezel webcam is a pretty underwhelming 720p camera with no IR sensor for facial recognition.
2. The backspace, enter, and right shift key are shrunken in size which might not be ideal for some users.
3. The trackpad isn't as large as I would like it to be but tracks well enough that doesn't force me to use an external Mouse.
4. Battery life is a far cry from what the company claims with only up to 4 hours of usage on a single charge.
5. The side panel feature can be accessed by pressing the function plus f11 key which might require some getting used to.
FAQ
Compare with other laptops
See how this item stacks up against any other model
Choose two different items to see a detailed comparison of their specifications, performance, and features