Huawei launched MateBook, “a two-in-one device” that it said combines “the mobility of a smartphone with the power and productivity of a laptop” and is targeted at enterprise, rather than consumer buyers.

At a press conference this afternoon, the company said the device was created “to meet the evolving demands of today’s modern business users” and “seamlessly integrates mobility, high efficiency, work and entertainment”.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, said the device will “redefine the new style of business – connected computing across all devices in almost every scenario”.

The device is aimed at a similar market to Microsoft’s Surface and Apple’s iPad Pro, although it is said to be lighter (640 grams) with higher screen-to-body ratio (84 per cent) than these rivals.

It will run on Microsoft’s Windows 10, and supports the Cortana digital personal assistant.

Peter Han, VP of worldwide OEM marketing at Microsoft, said: “Huawei appreciates how consumers want to interact with devices, and is bringing a fresh perspective to this space. Our relationship with Huawei is a great example of the growing ecosystem of premium portable Windows 10 devices.”

MateBook, which has a 12 inch screen, ranges in price from $699 to $1,599 depending on configuration, is powered by a sixth generation Intel Core m-series processor.

Huawei claims the 33.7Wh high-density lithium battery provides enough power for nine hours of work, nine consecutive hours of Internet use and 29 hours of music playback.

Yu was keen to talk up the fact that MateBook provides security and quick access through its fingerprint recognition feature, touting “the fastest fingerprint recognition in the industry”, with 360-degree sensitive identification for fewer authentication failures.

Accessories include a spill resistant and detachable keyboard, sold separately for $129, which wraps around the tablet for protection, and MatePen stylus, which has 2048 levels of sensitivity and is said to offer the “highest precision for drawing”.

It is available in two colours, which the company described as grey and golden. MateBook will be available in Asia, Europe and North America in coming months.