CHUWI recently released a new version of the tablet UBook Pro based on the Intel Celeron N4100 processor generation Gemini Lake. This 14nm chip copes well with routine tasks and is highly energy efficient. With a combination of high performance and affordable pricing, the Chuwi Ubook Pro is a bargain.
Design
The concept of the Ubook Pro is based on the Surface devices but still differs in a certain way. Like the normal Ubook, the Pro version consists of a CNC machined aluminum housing with a ” U-stand “, so unlike Surface only a frame that can be folded out as a foot and not an entire panel. The display is in a 3: 2 format and has a diagonal of 12.3 inches with 1920 x 1280 pixels. It is ” fully laminated “, which means that the touch sensors are incorporated directly into the top glass layer, which is why the display should appear particularly clear. The dimensions are 293 x 208 x 9 millimeters without a keyboard and weigh 780 grams. The UBook Pro works without a fan, so it is noiseless and light in operation.
The keyboard, which can be optionally ordered, is unfortunately only available in QWERTY format but has individually illuminated keys. You can also purchase a stylus that you can use to make notes thanks to the digitizer. It has 2048 pressure levels, but Chuwi has also announced a version with 4096.
Hardware
The Chuwi Ubook Pro is available in two different versions, which only differ in the chipset. The cheaper version is powered by an Intel Celeron N4100 with Intel UHD Graphics 600. It is a quad-core processor from the Gemini Lake series, which normally runs at 1.1GHz, but can be boosted up to 2.4GHz. For a good 100 € more you get an Intel Core M3-8100Y with Intel HD Graphics 615 and also 1.1GHz clock. The boost for this version is 3.4GHz. The M3 only has two cores, but thanks to Hyper-Threading it can process four threads at the same time as the N4100.
Both processors are manufactured in the 14nm process and can access 8GB LPDDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD ROM. Since the processors are only cooled passively, it is unlikely that the boost clock can be kept for a long time, so you should only expect 1.1 GHz in the long run. Both devices run with Windows 10 Home in the 64bit version. If you just want to surf and watch one or the other YouTube video, the N4100 is enough. However, if the field of application is expanded, such as more complex office work and graphical work with the stylus, you should use the M3 processor. However, it should be clear that both tablets are not suitable for gamers.
Features
Video calls can also be made with the 2MP front camera and the 5MP main camera. The battery of both devices holds 37Wh (7.4V / 5000mA) and lasts 8 hours, according to Chuwi. Since the processors differ slightly in their energy requirements (TDP: M3-8100Y: 5 watts, N4100: 6 watts), the runtime should also show slight differences. A large number of connections is being massively advertised and is also quite impressive for a tablet: 2x USB-A 3.0 USB-C (data + power) Micro HDMI 3.5mm audio jack DC charging socket Keyboard contacts You can charge the devices either via the normal mains plug or via USB-C. You can, of course, connect a hub to the USB-C port if you need other connections. The memory can also be expanded with a MicroSD by up to 128GB.
ou can charge the devices either via the normal mains plug or via USB-C. You can, of course, connect a hub to the USB-C port if you need other connections. The memory can also be expanded with a MicroSD by up to 128GB. You can access the internet via WLAN with 2.4GHz or 5GHz in the 802.11a / ac / b / g / n standards. The Ubook Pro is also Bluetooth capable. Indiegogo talks about 4.2 for the M3 processor and 5.0 for the weaker version, but I can hardly imagine that Chuwi only uses the new standard in the poorer device. To be able to make more precise statements, we have to wait for the test.
Conclusion
The Chuwi Ubook Pro is far below the competition from Microsoft and Co in terms of price but still sounds like a promising device. The stronger version with the M3-8100Y processor, 8GB RAM, 12.6-inch display, stylus, and keyboard already offers a lot and could be a good alternative to the Surface models. Unfortunately, so far there is only the version with N4100 to buy. For More information visit on the official Chuwi Website.