The Honor MagicBook Art 14 Snapdragon is a tough laptop computer to return by — out there solely in Europe for €1,699 (roughly $1,800). But in testing it, I’m realizing that the U.S. is actually lacking out, as a result of this can be a true gem that provides you a glimpse at the way forward for notebooks.
And all of it comes down to 3 key issues: the CPU, the webcam and the design. Typically, these aren’t probably the most fascinating issues a few laptop computer, however right here, they’re a vital wanting glass into the laptops of 2025.
Let me let you know about my three weeks with the MagicBook Art 14, and share the fascinating backstory to Honor’s stellar new system, which I consider could possibly be higher than the M3 MacBook Air.
This appears acquainted…
Remember the Huawei MateBook X Pro? Back on May 7, I fell in love with this ultraportable that was on the precipice of being an final foe to MacBook Air.
The {hardware} feels wonderful within the hand with stellar ergonomics, the show is excellent and whereas it was first gen Intel Core Ultra, the efficiency potential and energy effectivity is spectacular. In reality, the one gripe I had was that this might’ve been a dream machine if the corporate had opted for the Snapdragon X Elite.
But on the very day that this laptop computer was introduced — actually the very second that the presenter uttered the phrases “MateBook X Pro,” the information dropped of the U.S. Government’s crackdown on Huawei — blocking the tech big from receiving semiconductors from Intel and Qualcomm.
What adopted was a reasonably awkward night of “no remark” responses and a complete lot of confusion over what occurs subsequent for the Chinese firm. And now, we’ve obtained a few solutions to that query.
First, it’s wanting doubtless that Huawei is difficult at work on a foldable show laptop computer with haptics on the underside panel to recreate the sensation of a keyboard. And the second reply arrived by way of a FedEx courier two weeks in the past. Holding the Honor MagicBook Art 14 in my hand, my first response was one among suspicion, as a result of this machine appears very acquainted.
And I do know that technically, Honor is a separate firm from Huawei — being offered to Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology again in 2020. But it was a subsidiary of the bigger company, and has a method of bringing Huawei’s telephones to extra individuals.
So I’m truthfully fairly joyful to see the MagicBook be virtually like a MateBook in spirit. Not solely that, however Honor has put within the laborious graft to make this not only a MacBook Air killer, however the Air of the longer term.
Snap joyful with out compromising the show
Let’s speak in regards to the headline function right here that appears like the way forward for laptop computer design. Up high, you’ll discover a beautiful 14.6-inch 3.1K OLED panel with multi-touch capabilities. The bezel is tremendous slim round all the perimeters which raises the query — the place’s the webcam?
For the MacBook Air, the reply is that notch cutout atop the display. It’s advantageous, however it may be distracting and really disguise toolbar performance when you’re like me and have a number of issues operating up there. Honor’s reply, nevertheless, is a magnificence — a magnetically-attached digicam that’s stowed within the physique of the laptop computer.
Not solely does this 1080p snapper offer you a fairly respectable image in my testing (courtesy of some AI trickery), however that is additionally a nifty workaround of the entire webcam privateness shutter factor, whereas additionally supplying you with an uninterrupted show.
It’s so small, I do know. But eliminating the bezels virtually solely feels so liberating of your content material, and means Honor is ready to cram an enormous panel with a productivity-friendly 3:2 facet ratio into an equal 13-inch laptop computer shell.
Oh Snap(dragon)
I wished the Snapdragon X Elite within the MateBook X Pro. Of course, Huawei is banned from doing that now, so Honor has swooped in and saved the day with the MagicBook Art 14.
This is the top-tier Snapdragon X Elite chip in right here (the catchily-named X1E80100), and also you already know the secret right here. CPU processing is on a special stage in Arm in comparison with x86 — pairing efficiency with energy effectivity. Graphically, Intel and AMD do pull forward, however for all of the day-to-day duties, that is positively the chief choice
| Laptop | Geekbench 6.3 single-core | Geekbench 6.3 multicore | Geekbench AI CPU Quantized rating |
| Honor MagicBook Art 14 | 2781 | 14308 | 5704 |
| MacBook Air M3 (13-inch) | 3082 | 12087 | 4694 |
| Asus Zenbook S14 | 2751 | 11157 | 3764 |
Plus, with the updates coming to the prism translation layer in Windows 11, that pesky app compatibility drawback Snapdragon-powered laptops face is turning into much less of an issue.
Next-level ergonomics
And lastly, I can’t go any additional with out speaking about how skinny and lightweight this machine is. Machined magnesium provides it an unmistakably premium aesthetic, which is much more spectacular while you notice this machine is half-a-pound lighter than the MacBook Air.
| Laptop | Dimensions | Weight |
| Honor MagicBook Art 14 | 12.5 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches | 2.2 kilos |
| MacBook Air M3 (13-inch) | 12 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches | 2.7 kilos |
| Asus Zenbook S14 | 12.2 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches | 2.7 kilos |
But none of this comes on the sacrifice of the ergonomics. That keyboard feels nice with loads of depth, and the trackpad actually comes alive right here. Matching the MateBook’s usability, this can be a haptic engine-driven pad, however elevating itself additional with edge controls.
Yes, they’re coming to an increasing number of Windows laptops, however the smoothness of the haptic response right here provides you a critically spectacular tactile response to any adjustment of quantity, brightness, or scrubbing by video timelines.
A imaginative and prescient of the longer term
Like I all the time say in relation to going through off towards the MacBook Air, when you come for the king, you greatest not miss. Instead of aiming at it, Honor has primarily stepped over it to be among the finest laptops I’ve used all 12 months. It’s a crying disgrace that it will solely be out there in choose territories throughout Europe and the East.
So, as you understand, CES 2025 is simply across the nook. Big issues are coming for laptops — not simply gaming laptops (due to Nvidia) however notebooks as a complete. Testing the Honor MagicBook Art 14 provides me a critical vibe that I simply caught a preview of what I can count on to see on the present flooring from the likes of Asus, Acer and extra.
