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| The MateBook Pro S weighs only 798 grams. Pictured: a promo picture showcasing the thin design of the laptop. |
Huawei's upcoming ultraportable promises to be significantly lighter than the MacBook Neo, with a surprising camera setup and next-generation Kirin XE90 chip
Huawei is preparing for what industry observers are calling one of its most significant product launches of the year, scheduled for August 5, 2026. At the center of the event is the highly anticipated MateBook Pro S, an ultra-thin laptop that the company claims will revolutionize the portable computing segment with its remarkable weight and innovative features.
The most headline-grabbing specification? The MateBook Pro S tips the scales at just 798 grams (approximately 1.76 pounds) , making it approximately 1.5 times lighter than Apple's recently released MacBook Neo, which weighs in at 1.23kg (around 2.7lbs). This dramatic weight reduction positions Huawei's offering as one of the lightest premium laptops ever created, potentially setting a new industry standard for portability.
A Featherweight Design That Defies Expectations
The 798g weight figure was initially teased through Chinese social media, with Weibo user 看山叔 posting photographs of what appeared to be a MateBook-shaped lid registering the remarkable weight on a kitchen scale. Huawei has since confirmed these specifications through official channels, validating what many tech enthusiasts had considered almost too good to be true.
For context, the current MateBook X Pro weighs close to 980g, meaning Huawei has managed to shave nearly 200 grams off an already impressively light chassis. This engineering achievement puts the MateBook Pro S in direct competition with the lightest laptops on the market, including the acclaimed LG Gram series.
Check out the official video teaser for the MateBook Pro S here.
Five Vibrant Color Options and Unconventional Camera Placement
The video teaser has revealed that the MateBook Pro S will be available in five distinct colorways, expanding Huawei's typically conservative color palette. While the exact shades haven't been officially named, leaks suggest options including yellow, white, gray, purple, and black – a vibrant selection that would make this one of the most colorful devices in Huawei's professional lineup.
Perhaps the most surprising revelation from the teaser is the presence of a camera setup on the rear of the laptop – a feature virtually unheard of in traditional laptop design. While Huawei hasn't elaborated on the purpose or specifications of this rear camera, speculation suggests it could enable augmented reality applications, document scanning, or innovative video conferencing capabilities that leverage the laptop's portability.
The device measures just 11.9mm thick, remarkably slender for a 14-inch laptop. This ultra-slim profile, combined with the sub-800g weight, suggests Huawei has made significant advances in materials science and internal component miniaturization.
Follow the latest updates from Huawei's official Weibo channel.
Kirin XE90: Powering the Ultraportable Revolution
At the heart of the MateBook Pro S lies the new Kirin XE90 chipset – a processor that Huawei claims delivers 23% better single-core performance and 25% improved energy efficiency compared to the previous-generation Kirin X90.
The Kirin X90, which powered the MateBook Pro 2025, offered decent everyday performance, but the XE90 appears to be a significant step forward. According to leaks from Bilibili user AAA魅魔荧師傅, the Kirin XE90 maintains the same fundamental architecture as its predecessor but features a revised core cluster with higher frequencies, suggesting a refined approach to performance optimization rather than a ground-up redesign.
This processor strategy mirrors Huawei's recent approach of incrementally improving its in-house Arm-based PC silicon, delivering meaningful performance bumps without the development cost and risk of entirely new microarchitectures.
For more detailed specifications and performance analysis of the Kirin XE90.
Display, Memory, and Storage Expectations
While Huawei has yet to officially disclose the full specifications of the MateBook Pro S, industry sources expect the laptop to feature a 14-inch display with minimal bezels, offering an immersive viewing experience that maximizes screen real estate in a compact form factor.
Memory configurations are rumored to include up to 32GB of RAM, with storage options reaching 1TB – specifications that would position the MateBook Pro S as a capable productivity machine for professionals and power users.
The display technology remains somewhat mysterious, but the "Soft-Light" and "Anti-Peep" edition names mentioned in leaks suggest options for matte anti-glare screens and integrated privacy filters, catering to different user needs and environments.
Competing in the Ultraportable Landscape
The MateBook Pro S enters a competitive field that includes not only Apple's MacBook Neo but also other lightweight contenders like the Asus ZenBook 14 Air. Huawei's strategy appears focused on differentiation through weight reduction, innovative features (like the rear camera), and deep integration with the HarmonyOS ecosystem.
Read our comprehensive comparison of the latest ultraportable laptops.
The 798g weight represents a significant competitive advantage over the MacBook Neo, making the MateBook Pro S potentially more appealing to frequent travelers, students, and professionals who prioritize extreme portability.
For a detailed review of the Apple MacBook Neo and its features.
Check current pricing and availability for the MacBook Neo.
What to Expect at the August 5 Event
Huawei's August 5 launch event is expected to feature the MateBook Pro S as the centerpiece, but it may also showcase other products in the company's ecosystem. More official details about the laptop's core specifications, pricing, and availability are expected to emerge as the event date approaches.
Industry analysts suggest the MateBook Pro S could be priced competitively, potentially undercutting premium ultraportables while offering comparable or superior specifications. However, Huawei's pricing strategy may be influenced by the device's advanced engineering and premium materials.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in Ultraportable Computing
The MateBook Pro S represents Huawei's most ambitious laptop design to date, combining extreme portability with what appears to be impressive performance capabilities. The 798g weight sets a new benchmark for 14-inch laptops, while the inclusion of features like a rear camera and multiple color options suggests Huawei is thinking creatively about how users interact with their devices.
Whether the MateBook Pro S can translate these impressive specifications into market success remains to be seen, but there's no doubt that Huawei has created a product that will capture attention when it's officially unveiled on August 5.
Stay tuned for our hands-on coverage of the MateBook Pro S following the launch event.
What are your thoughts on the MateBook Pro S? Is extreme portability worth the potential compromises? Share your opinions in the comments section below.
