The Chuwi AeroBook Review: One Small Step For Chuwi
by Brett Howse on June 21, 2019 8:00 AM ESTWireless
One area where Chuwi clearly focused on their price target was the wireless. We don’t often see a 1x1 solution anymore, but the AeroBook features just a single stream for Wi-Fi. Luckily that wireless card is an Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165, and with Intel’s track record on network cards, at least some solace can be found in the connecting being rock solid.
As expected, the performance of just a single 5 GHz AC stream is much lower than what you’d get in any 2x2 wireless offering, which is the standard for most notebooks. But the connection was as solid as expected, with zero dropouts or reboots required to establish a Wi-Fi connection, which tends to be the case with Intel wireless adapters. The transfer rate is generally enough for most internet access, but if you want to copy files over the network, you’d likely be better off using USB.
Audio
The Chuwi AeroBook contains speakers. We could pretty much wrap it up there. Most notebooks don’t offer much in the way of dynamic range on their incredibly small speakers, but the AeroBook offers almost no bass at all. The speakers get reasonably loud, with around 80 dB(A) measured one inch over the trackpad, but there was little in the way of stereo separation and the speakers sound very poor. Luckily the 3.5 mm jack seemed to function well.
Thermals
One of the benefits of sticking with a low TDP processor is that Chuwi can continue to offer a completely fanless device. With only a 4.5-Watt TDP, the Core m3 is even a bit less TDP than a Gemini Lake Atom, which has a 6-Watt TDP, although the scenario design power is closer at 4.8 Watts.
To see how the AeroBook handles load, it was run at 100% CPU while monitoring the temperatures and power draw.
The AeroBook had no issues maintaining maximum performance. It quickly jumped to the 2.2 GHz maximum, drawing 7.56 Watts in the process, and then once its PL1 was exhausted it moved into a steady PL2 draw averaging about 6.8 Watts, and maintaining almost a 2.0 GHz frequency for the duration of the run.
The maximum CPU temperature was 85°C, but averaged closer to 75°C in steady state, and the notebook itself got warm on the bottom but never hot to the touch. Chuwi have had issues in the past with cooling, but it looks like they’ve got them sorted out on the AeroBook.
Software
Chuwi offers no additional software over the base install of Windows 10, which is something they’ve been consistent at, and a welcome change over many of the manufacturers who bundle in unwanted applications and bloat. That’s not to say that Windows 10 doesn’t offer bloat itself – because it does – but Chuwi at least isn’t adding on to that.
For some reason the company tends to put shortcuts on the desktop for This PC, Network, Control Panel, and your user profile, which gives the look a bit of an XP-era feel, and if a guess had to be made, it would be because XP was so popular in their native China. Luckily they can be deleted off the desktop if you like a clean desktop.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
51 Comments
View All Comments
HStewart - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
I have purchase a Chuwi tablet and would say it was very cheap and I would never purchase one for $500. This uses 2 generations old bottom of line Intel Y processor and very soon to 3 generations old. My guess is that they are trying to monopolize on old hardware.My 3 year old Samsung TabPro S has similar cpu and in better form factor than this - are we sure this was a new computer - but than again Chuwi always used outdated components which to be honest gives a bad name out there.
pjcamp - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
"Chuwi has often never done well on battery life..."Often never?
PixyMisa - Sunday, June 23, 2019 - link
In this case, yes.Hog54 - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Im on a Asus laptop that has a AMD RYZEN 2500u, Nvidia 1050 graphics,8 gig of ram,and a 256 ssd that I paid the same price for 3 months ago.:)Xpl1c1t - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
Bought a Huawei Ryzen 2500U Matebook D, $450. Im mainly a desktop user, but this laptop is probably the most functional laptop I've used. Running Plasma Wayland desktop for most taks (still need windows for MATLAB and SPICE). Havent been this convinced that I own a great mobile product since purchasing the Samsung NC20 (Via Nano powered) netbook ages ago and reworking the keyboard to DVORAK to evaluate the claimed benefits (it is better, wish i could rework this keyboard).The level of competition in the low/midrange mobile segment makes me wonder why anyone would mess with premium segment mobile products given the minimal performance gap. Egotism I guess.
HP, Razer, Dell, Apple - I see most college students around me using these products, but cant help shaking my head when considering their markup over price-competitive brands. My experience with HP laptops is that they have fragile glass coverings on their touchscreens, Razer is basically adopting the premium Apple tax mentality which caters to their market segments, Dell products are probably the most durable - though XPS machines are way overpriced. I strongly suspect that, despite the fact that all these machines are not manufactured domestically, that the markup over identically specc'd machines from non-domestic brands is simply buffering the inevitable collapse of their niche domestic markets. The proposition that the domestic engineering of a laptop is significantly superior to non-domestic engineering is no longer legitimate. Guess this is why people want to make america great again?
bji - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
I guess no one else is as smart as you huh?Perhaps you should read and understand the selection mechanisms that go into consumer choices. Not everyone wants what you want, and other people value aspects of products that you may not care about. It's kind of obvious if you think about it. Have you actually thought about it? Or are you more comfortable making ego-stroking assumptions?
Sorry I just cannot read another smug Anandtech post about how much smarter the poster is than everyone else with regards to product choices. It is soooo old and increasingly annoying every time it happens.
Xpl1c1t - Sunday, June 23, 2019 - link
I'm not proposing that I am smart, but thank you for educating me about your opinion."The proposition that the domestic engineering of a laptop is significantly superior to non-domestic engineering is no longer legitimate."
That is my proposal. Eat it. What, do you work for HP? Raking in the screen repair bucks? Yeah... guess I cant get my Huawei repaired domestically, but im not concerned about the glass shattering any time soon.
oRAirwolf - Sunday, June 23, 2019 - link
I got one of these off of the IndieGoGo campaign for $429. It's a nice laptop for the money. I agree that the battery is too small.Some complaints:
The screen has a very yellow tint to it. I have tried adjusting the color temp in the Intel control panel, but it's just not great. I ordered a SpyderX Pro and am going to play with it more.
The backlight on the keyboard does not turn on with the laptop. You have to turn it on every time you power on the laptop. It would be really nice if it remembered it's setting.
The backlight on the keyboard does not turn off when you turn off the laptop.
The BIOS is completely unlocked and has options for many features that do not exist. It makes it pretty difficult to make any changes.
Lord of the Bored - Monday, June 24, 2019 - link
"The backlight on the keyboard does not turn off when you turn off the laptop."All I can say to that is: Haha what.
...
How do you mess that up?
Spunjji - Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - link
Agreed, that's pretty damn special!