Honor MagicBook Art 14 (2025) Review: A Reassessment of Intel’s Ultra 7 Platform
Introduction
The Honor MagicBook Art 14 returns to an Intel-based processor with the release of its 2025 model. Following iterations utilizing both an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and the Snapdragon X Elite platform, this latest iteration features the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H. This processor represents a generational advancement in processing technology.
The MagicBook Art 14 is a thin-and-light laptop, weighing 1.03kg, and is equipped with a 14.6-inch OLED display and a 60Wh battery. Its competitive pricing positions it favorably against rivals such as the Apple MacBook Air, Dell XPS 13 and 14, and Asus Zenbook 14.
The review unit, finished in Emerald Green, shares specifications with overseas models, including a 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM. The device ships with a USB-C cable and a 65W charger.
The design incorporates a unique magnetic camera module integrated into the laptop’s left side. This innovative design choice allows for symmetrical bezels on three sides of the display, with a slightly thicker bezel at the bottom. The display itself is a 14.6-inch OLED touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, a hallmark of Honor and Huawei laptops.
Design and Hardware Features
The innovative magnetic camera module is a notable design feature. This module sits flush within the left corner of the laptop and is deployable via a finger press. While providing a seamless integration, the placement of the camera module does result in the concentration of two USB-C ports on the left side.
The device features two USB-C ports; one supporting USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) and the other Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps). The Thunderbolt 4 port is recommended for connecting peripherals requiring high bandwidth, such as a 120Hz monitor.
Security features include a fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button with Windows Hello support. This implementation allows for a single-press power-on and automatic Windows login.
The laptop maintains the six-speaker spatial audio setup and three microphones found in its predecessor, delivering immersive sound.
Display, Keyboard, Audio, and Camera Analysis
The 2025 model retains the 14.6-inch, 3120x2080px 10-bit OLED display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. The panel covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and has a DeltaE (ΔE) rating of less than 0.5 out of the box. It also features 4,320MHz PWM flicker-free dimming and has received TUV Rheinland certification for low blue light emissions.
The measured HDR peak brightness is 780 nits, with a uniform brightness of approximately 540 nits. The display offers selectable refresh rates of 60Hz or 120Hz.
The keyboard layout retains the positive feedback of previous iterations, contributing to efficient typing.
The integrated 1080p camera, utilizing the magnetic module, offers satisfactory image quality but lacks advanced features, such as HDR. The webcam has a wide field of view and offers features like face tracking and virtual background support.
Performance Benchmarks
The Honor MagicBook Art 14 (2025) was tested with the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor. The CPU performance results are listed below.
| Benchmark | Test | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 CPU | Single Core | 2702 |
| Multi Core | 14357 | |
| Geekbench 6 GPU | OpenCL | 36740 |
| Geekbench AI (CPU/NPU) | Single Precision | 4587/4551 |
| Half Precision | 4719/9582 | |
| Quantized | 10598/14544 | |
| Passmark | CPU | 31863.9 |
| 2D Graphics | 874.1 | |
| 3D Graphics | 5991.3 | |
| Memory | 3205.6 | |
| Disk Mark | 49209.4 | |
| Overall | 7471.7 | |
| Cinebench 2024 | Single Core | 120 |
| Multi Core | 797 |
The integrated Intel Arc 140T GPU provides gaming capabilities, comparable to the NVIDIA RTX 3050, AMD RX 6600, and Radeon 880M.
Sustained performance, however, revealed a limitation. Under a 1-hour stress test, the processor maintained a frequency above 2GHz for only 20 minutes, with a significant thermal throttle occurring after initial performance phases.
The device remained relatively cool, with the temperature under the SoC remaining below 50°C.
Battery Life
Battery life tests at 60Hz demonstrated a browsing loop lasting 6:40 hours at 400 nits and 8:10 hours at 200 nits. YouTube streaming at 400 nits achieved a runtime of 7:00 hours. These results are slightly lower than those observed on the Snapdragon-equipped model.
Conclusion
The Honor MagicBook Art 14 (2025) presents a compelling proposition in its price range, especially considering its configuration with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor. While the performance of the device’s CPU is strong, its sustained performance is compromised. The laptop’s design is highly innovative, and its display quality remains impressive. Its portability remains a key advantage over competitors.
Key Advantages:
- Favorable configuration for its price.
- Effective processing from the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H.
- Lightweight design with a large OLED screen.
- Color-accurate OLED display with good brightness levels.
- Comprehensive port selection including USB-C, USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI.
- Innovative magnetic camera design.
Potential Drawbacks:
- Battery life performance does not reflect the improvements expected from the 3nm architecture.
- Sustained performance is limited, potentially underutilizing the processor’s capabilities.
- HDR brightness is below the advertised level.
- Camera module placement causes minor port layout imbalance.
- Availability limitations.
