It is a fact: getting a cheap laptop today is easier than a decade ago when the average price of laptops did not fall below 500 euros. Getting a relatively capable team for around 200 euros is currently possible. Within this price range, Chuwi is the manufacturer that takes the cake. On Amazon and AliExpress, models such as the HeroBook, the HeroBook Pro, or the AeroBook accumulate dozens of user reviews. Are they reliable in the long term? Is Chuwi a good brand? What limitations do they have compared to a traditional laptop?
DESIGN: ITS GREATEST ATTRACTION
We will not deny it: Chuwi laptops inevitably remind us of Apple ones, for better and worse.
Currently, most of the brand’s laptops use an aluminum chassis that is only 1.3 centimeters thick and 1.5 kilograms in weight. This is accompanied by a backlit keyboard similar to the one we can find on Apple computers. Unfortunately, its distribution is American, although we can always use adhesive stickers.
Finally, the trackpad’s size is worth noting, with a surface very similar to that of the latest Apple MacBooks. The good news is that they are compatible with Precision Drivers, Microsoft’s drivers for touch mice.
ALONG WITH THE DESIGN, THE SCREEN
That’s how it is. The cheapest Chuwi models have an IPS panel with Full HD resolution. In the words of some of its users, the brightness and representation of colors are not far from that of a smartphone. It is understood, therefore, that the brand uses quality panels.
If we opt for a more expensive model, the screen starts from a panel with 4K resolution, although this can partially reduce the system’s performance, which, as we will see below, is not the most appropriate.
PERFORMANCE, THE ACHILLES HEEL OF CHUWI LAPTOPS
The cost savings by the Asian firm drink largely from the internal components, starting with the processor.
Generally, most Chuwi models integrate an Intel Atom series processor or the M series at best. Both are intended for office tasks and multimedia playback, not for programs like Photoshop, Camtasia, or Cubase.
This cost savings is also transferred to RAM and internal memory. Almost all Chuwi laptops start with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage, generally based on eMMC 5.1 flash memory found in low-end mobiles. The result is poor performance in most tasks that require memory access.
BATTERY LIFE: ON PAR WITH THE COMPETITION
The advantage of using low-power processors directly affects battery life. In the worst case, the company implements modules with capacities starting at 38 Wh. The total autonomy, although far from what the manufacturer promises, gives for a whole day of work, according to the general opinion around some of the brand’s laptops.
LONG-TERM RELIABILITY, THAT GREAT UNKNOWN
The manufacturer’s reduction in costs is appreciated in the choice of components and their quality. In models of the brand currently offered on Amazon, such as the Chuwi HeroBook, 24% of users have reported that the product has stopped working overnight. Many others ensure that components such as the network card or USB connections show deficiencies after a few months of use.
The bottom line is that Chuwi laptops are not as reliable as advertised, although this can vary depending on the model.
BEWARE OF THE GUARANTEE
Chuwi is a Chinese manufacturer with all that that entails. Any repair we must manage must inevitably go through a technical service generally located in China since Chuwi does not have an official technical service in Spain. This affects the total time to repair: from a few weeks to months in the worst case.
I am a writer with eight years of experience writing in business and technology. I always carry a passion for learning and discovering new knowledge.