Honor MagicBook Art 14 review

Honor
MagicBook
Art
14:
30-second
review

When
we
first
saw
Honor’s
new
MagicBook
Art
14
up-close
at
its
IFA
2024
launch,
we
were
impressed
–
and
even
more
so
once
we
went
hands-on
the
ultra-slim,
ultra-lightweight
laptop,
with
its
smooth
vine-leaf
design
and
performance-led
specs.
So,
away
from
the
bright
lights
of
the
big
tech
event,
and
armed
with
our
trusty
benchmarking
software,
we
were
keen
to
put
the
hardware
to
the
test.

In
short,
the
Honor
MagicBook
Art
14
is
a
great
choice
for
anyone
wanting
an
ultra-portable
laptop
without
sacrificing
power
or
screen
size.
To
ensure
there’s
ample
power
for
creative
tasks,
this
laptop
features
the
latest
Intel
Core
Ultra
processor,
which
is
partnered
with
Arc
Graphics.
This
helps
to
deliver
solid
performance
on
the
14.6-inch
screen
for
a
range
of
uses,
including
power-hungry
creative
applications
like
Photoshop
and
Resolve.
Comparisons
to
the
similarly
creator-driven
Apple
MacBook
Air
are
inevitable.

The
laptop’s
design
and
style
will
instantly
appeal
to
creatives,
along
with
its
robust
magnesium
alloy
body,
which
is
available
in
two
striking
colour
options:
Emerald
Green
and
Sunrise
White.

The
casing
materials
and
the
use
of
the
latest
components
mean
that
the
laptop
is
lightweight
and
slim,
weighing
around
a
kilo
and
measuring
just
over
a
centimetre
in
depth.
This
is
impressive
considering
the
14.6-inch
OLED
display,
which
offers
a
3.1K
resolution,
100%
DCI-P3
colour
gamut,
and
a
brightness
of
up
to
700
nits.
Overall,
this
makes
it
perfect
for
photographers,
designers,
and
videographers
who
require
high
colour
accuracy.

When
it
comes
to
performance,
general
office
applications
run
smoothly,
as
do
Photoshop
and
Lightroom
for
image
editing.
Da
Vinci
Resolve
works
smoothly
through
HD
video
edits
and
some
4K,
although
the
system
does
start
to
get
stretched
with
the
processing,
and
the
1TB
SSD
is
limiting
for
handling
large
files.
However,
with
the
inclusion
of
multiple
ports
like
Thunderbolt
4
and
USB-C,
which
enable
fast
external
storage
and
EGPU
connectivity,
there
is
plenty
of
upgrade
scope
for
the
performance
when
needed.

Additionally,
the
AI
Cross-OS
WorkStation
provides
seamless
connection
with
other
HONOR
devices
to
share
content,
screen
and
even
the
keyboard
and
mouse.

Battery
life
is
generally
impressive,
offering
an
average
of
9
hours
of
standard
usage.
However,
intensive
tasks
like
4K
video
editing
or
gaming
will
see
the
battery
life
diminish
far
faster,
at
around
3
hours.
For
gaming,
you
will
also
need
to
drop
graphic
demands
to
the
base
level
for
games
such
as
Hogwarts
Legacy
if
you
want
to
experience
smooth
gameplay.

Despite
some
limitations
in
high-end
gaming
or
heavy
video
work,
the
HONOR
MagicBook
Art
14
is
a
versatile
machine
that
balances
portability,
performance,
design
and,
most
importantly,
price,
making
it
an
excellent
choice
for
both
creative
professionals
and
business
users.

Honor
MagicBook
Art
14:
Price
&
availability

The
Honor
MagicBook
Art
14
is
available
in
two
color
options,
Emerald
Green
and
Sunrise
White,
with
pricing
aimed
at
the
mid
to
high-end
market.
While
exact
pricing
may
vary
by
region,
it
typically
sits
in
the
$1,200
–
$1,500
range
depending
on
configurations
(16GB/1TB
vs.
32GB/1TB).
Currently,
it’s
available
to
buy
across
Asia-Pacific
and
Europe.
Availability
can
be
found
across
major
retailers
and
Honor’s
official
website
by
clicking

here.

• 
  Price:
  4/5

Honor
MagicBook
Art
14:
Design
&
build

With
our
matte-like
Emerald
Green
review
unit,
the
MagicBook
Art
14
instantly
catches
the
eye.
As
is
common
with
premium
laptops
of
this
type,
a
magnesium
alloy
has
been
used
for
the
casing,
which
further
enhances
the
premium
feel
as
well
as
helps
to
keep
the
laptop
ultralight
at
just
1.03kg;
this
is
matched
by
a
slimline
profile
of
11.5mm
instantly
making
it
one
of
the

best
ultrabooks
if
you
intend
to
cart
the
device
across
multiple
locations.
The
slim
line
design
means
that
it
will
easily
fit
most
laptop
and
camera
bags
with
the
materials
offering
the
robust
build
that
should
give
you
confidence
that
it
will
survive
a
knock
or
two.
Ultimately,
the
overall
build
quality
feels
solid
while
keeping
the
design
sleek
and
modern.

Opening
the
lid
of
the
laptop
reveals
the
impressive
14.6-inch
OLED
display,
which
offers
a
97%
screen-to-body
ratio
alongside
ultra-thin
bezels,
which
again
add
to
the
machine’s
aesthetics
and
premium
look
and
feel.
While
the
screen
is
touch-sensitive,
it
only
supports
10-point
multitouch,
allowing
for
more
interactive
use.
However,
it
should
be
noted
that,
unlike
other
creative
laptops,
it
isn’t
positioned
as
a
2-in-1
or
tablet-replacement
device.

Despite
being
ultra-thin,
the
laptop
includes
a
good
selection
of
ports,
including
Thunderbolt
4,
USB-C,
USB-A,
and
HDMI
2.1
for
versatile
connectivity.

While
most
of
the
laptop
follows
what
you
expect
from
this
level
of
machine,
there
are
a
couple
of
features
that
do
mark
it
out.
One
such
item
is
the
removable
AI
magnetic
camera,
which
pops
out
from
the
side
when
needed.
This
design
offers
flexibility
for
video
calls
and
privacy,
enabling
you
to
completely
remove
the
camera
so
you
can
be
sure
it’s
completely
switched
off
when
not
needed.

Overall,
the
MagicBook
Art
14
is
a
beautifully
designed
machine
with
striking
aesthetics,
perfectly
complimented
by
the
stunning
emerald
green
finish
and
ample
power
and
functionality
that
will
appeal
to
creative
and
business
users.

• 
  Design:
  5/5

Honor
MagicBook
Art
14:
Features

When
it
comes
to
features,
the
MagicBook
Art
14
offers
something
different
from
the
mainstream.
You
might
think
that
such
a
lightweight,
slimline
laptop
would
compromise
on
power
and
features,
but
it’s
surprising
just
how
much
the
MagicBook
Art
14
has
to
offer.

Once
you
open
up
the
laptop
most
of
the
width
and
length
is
used
by
the
large
14.6″
3.1K
OLED
display,
ensuring
maximum
screen
real
estate.
The
typical
teardrop
design
around
the
camera
has
been
removed,
with
the
camera
itself
neatly
fitted
into
the
side
of
the
body
and
removable
for
placement
on
top
of
the
screen
when
needed,
if
you
value
your
privacy
then
you’ll
love
this
feature.

Despite
its
lightness,
the
laptop
still
managed
to
pack
in
a
60Wh
battery,
and
Honor
states
that
you
can
expect
up
to
9.5
hours
of
power
during
general
web
browsing
and
processing.
For
tasks
like
video
editing,
multimedia
playback,
or
gaming,
the
battery
life
will
decrease,
but
9.5
hours
is
still
impressive
for
most
standard
usage.

In
terms
of
processing
power
and
graphics
capability,
the
HONOR
MagicBook
Art
14
does’t
disappoint.
Our
review
sample
featured
the
Intel
Core
Ultra
7
processor
155H
with
16
cores
and
Intel
Arc
graphics.
This
is
complemented
by
a
1TB
SSD
and
32GB
of
LPDDR5X
7467MHz
dual-channel
RAM,
providing
ample
power
and
storage.
Additionally,
the
Thunderbolt
4
port
supports
external
GPUs
for
added
graphics
processing
if
needed.

Moreover,
the
AI
Cross-OS
WorkStation
integrates
seamlessly
with
other
HONOR
devices
like
smartphones
and
tablets.
It
allows
for
easy
sharing
of
screens,
keyboards,
and
mice
across
devices,
improving
workflow
for
those
within
the
Honor
ecosystem.

Another
major
feature
is
Honor
Spatial
Audio,
powered
by
six
speakers
capable
of
delivering
high-quality
sound.
When
using
headphones,
the
laptop
supports
DTS
certification
for
premium
audio.
For
audio
recording
or
video
conferencing,
the
three
microphones
are
equipped
with
AI-powered
noise
cancellation
to
improve
clarity
and
reduce
background
noise.

The
company
also
promotes
the
360°
all-round
network
connection,
which
provides
a
360-meter
connection
distance.
This
makes
the
laptop
ideal
for
users
who
work
in
cafés
or
other
locations
where
typical
signal
strength
may
be
unreliable.
The
laptop
supports
Wi-Fi
6E
(IEEE
802.11
a/b/g/n/ac/ax,
160
MHz),
operating
on
the
2.4GHz,
5GHz,
and
6GHz
bands,
and
features
Bluetooth
5.3.

In
terms
of
power,
the
laptop
is
equipped
with
the
60Wh
Li-polymer
battery
previously
mentioned.
Charging
options
include
both
USB-C
and
Thunderbolt
4,
with
fast
charging
that
provides
46%
charge
in
30
minutes
and
a
full
charge
in
about
95
minutes.

• 
  Features:
  4.5/5

Honor
MagicBook
Art
14:
Performance

After
loading
the
laptop
with
Windows
11
Home
64-bit
and
testing
Microsoft
Office
applications,
the
Honor
MagicBook
Art
14
handles
word
processing
and
Excel
documents
with
absolute
ease.
Similarly,
browsing
with
Microsoft
Edge
and
performing
basic
office
tasks
like
word
editing
and
administration
is
smooth,
and
this
laptop
has
more
than
enough
power
to
handle
them
effortlessly.

Moving
on
from
admin
tasks,
we
tested
a
few
creative
applications,
starting
with

Adobe
Photoshop
to
enhance
a
series
of
images
and
using
Adobe
Bridge.
The
14.6″
3.1K
OLED
display
really
stands
out
here,
with
its
clear,
bright,
high-resolution
visuals
that
are
ideal
for
photographers
and
creatives.
Editing
multiple
images
was
smooth
enough
thanks
to
the
powerful
CPU,
and
quick
edits
were
done
with
ease.
It’s
worth
highlighting
that
images
are
loaded
through
a
connected
portable
SSD.

When
it
came
to
batch
exporting
images
from
Lightroom,
the
Thunderbolt
4
connection
allowed
for
fast
data
transfers
from
the
external
OWC
Envoy
SSD,
making
the
entire
workflow
quick
and
essentially
seamless.

The
MacBook
Air
is
one
of
the

best
video
editing
laptops
we’ve
tried.
So,
how
does
Honor’s
contender
measure
up?
Switching
to
Blackmagic
DaVinci
Resolve,
the
laptop
performed
impressively
well
for
basic
HD
editing
despite
having
a
relatively
low-powered
GPU.
Upgrading
the
footage
to
4K
showed
the
laptop’s
capability
but
also
revealed
its
limitations.
Loading
raw
footage
from
a
Canon
EOS
R5
C
began
to
push
the
laptop’s
power
to
its
edge,
especially
during
more
complex
editing
tasks.

For
creative
applications,
the
MagicBook
Art
14
handles
image
enhancement,
social
media
edits,
and
light
video
editing
with
ease.
It’s
one
great
option
if
you
need
a
laptop
for
creative
tasks
and
some
video
editing,
though
for
small
production
or
corporate
video
work,
it
may
begin
to
stretch
its
limits.

In
terms
of
multimedia
playback,
the
laptop
performs
well,
streaming
video
from
popular
services
such
as
Netflix
and
Disney+
without
issue.
Video
conferencing,
even
with
high-resolution
video,
runs
smoothly,
thanks
to
its
strong
network
connectivity.
The
removable
AI
magnetic
camera,
which
can
be
mounted
on
top
of
the
display
and
then
packed
away
into
the
side
of
the
machine
when
not
in
use,
is
a
great
addition
and
one
I
hope
to
see
more
often
in
future
laptops.

In
terms
of
overall
performance,
the
laptop
fully
utilizes
the
latest
CPU
technology,
handling
functions
and
features
that
other
laptops
in
this
price
range
might
struggle
with.
While
it
does
falter
somewhat
with
more
intense
video
editing
or
gaming
that
requires
high-end
graphics,
it
performs
better
than
expected
given
its
size,
weight,
and
price.

Benchmark
tests
mirrored
the
real-world
performance.
General
processing
was
exceptional,
with
applications
like
Microsoft
Office
and
web
browsing
being
smooth.
For
creative
applications
like
Photoshop
and
Lightroom,
which
rely
more
on
CPU
than
GPU,
the
laptop
was
more
than
capable
of
image
enhancement
and
other
similar
tasks.
Even
when
pushing
the
system
with
DaVinci
Resolve,
the
laptop
managed
HD
footage
and
some
4K
editing
well.

However,
the
laptop
starts
to
struggle
with
longer
or
more
complex
4K
video
edits,
and
it
doesn’t
take
much
for
the
fans
to
kick
to
help
the
system
stay
cool,
however,
the
fans
always
remain
quiet.
Similarly,
when
playing
games
like
Assassin’s
Creed
Valhalla
or
Hogwarts
Legacy,
it’s
necessary
to
lower
the
graphics
settings
and
your
expectations
to
get
smooth
gameplay.
While
the
Honor
MagicBook
Art
14
isn’t
built
for
intensive
GPU
tasks,
for
general
processing
and
lighter
video
editing
and
gaming,
it’s
a
solid
performer—especially
given
its
price
point.

• 
  Performance:
  4/5

Should
you
buy
the
Honor
MagicBook
Art
14?

The
Honor
MagicBook
Art
14
impresses
with
its
sleek
design,
lightweight
portability,
and
excellent
performance
for
both
general
tasks
and
creative
work.
Easily
one
of
the

best
business
laptops,
and
with
its
standout
3.1K
OLED
display
providing
stunning
visuals
that
are
ideal
for
designers
and
photographers,
one
of
the

best
laptops
for
photo
editing
too.

Although
the
Intel
Arc
graphics
may
not
be
powerful
enough
for
high-end
gaming
or
intensive
4K
video
editing,
the
laptop
works
well
in
most
professional
applications.
Paired
with
a
competitive
price
point
and
strong
integration
with
the
Honor
ecosystem,
it’s
a
great
choice
for
creatives
and
professionals.

Buy
it
if…

Don’t
buy
it
if…

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