Update#2 – According to Chuwi France, the N3450 is just the initial CPU used in the Lapbook Air, so there is some hope still of a Core M3 version.
Update: Specs updated and first hands-on video of the Lapbook Air shows a very nice looking design and build. Looks a lot like the Mi Notebook Air. Anyone understand Polish? Is it that a mini HDMI port or Type-C? I can see just by looking at the keyboard it will have a good amount of travel like the Lapbook 14.1’s keyboard. Nice large touchpad, but is it a precision touchpad?
Chuwi’s end of the year line up is now official, just announced at IFA in Berlin today. Some good news and some slightly disappointing. I’ll start with the disappointing one. It seems due to the price point Chuwi is aiming for the Lapbook Air (their premium 14.1″ laptop) is now going to ship with an Apollo Lake Celeron N3450 and not the Core M3 Chuwi France said it would have. Such a shame, hopefully, we will see an Airbook Pro release with the Core M3 onboard. Like myself a lot of readers of the site also want to see Chuwi release a Core M3 laptop or tablet, so come on Chuwi! The demand is there…
The Chuwi Lapbook Air specs at least are now final:
- Intel N3450
- 8GB LPDDR3 RAM 1600Mhz
- 128GB eMMC + empty SATA3 M.2 SSD slot with easy access hatch (2242 spec)
- 1.3 kilos and 6mm thin and the shortest point
- Windows 10 Home
- Backlit keyboard
- 1920 x 1080p fully laminated 350nit screen (non-touch)
- Intel Wireless AC 3165 / BT 4.0
- 2 x USB 3.0 & 3.5mm headphone jack on the right side
- (Unconfirmed) Type-C or Mini HDMI (hard to tell pm the left size)
- 12v D/C 2.5A or 3A charging port (3mm)
- MicroSD slot (click in flush style?)
- Preorders start end of September
Then we have the Chuwi Hi9, the successor to the Hi8, this 8.4″ laptop will have a 400nit 2560 x 1600 res screen, 4GB of RAM and 64GB eMMC. It’s going to be running Android 7.0 out of the box and has wireless AC. The CPU is a MediaTek MTK8176, the same as the Teclast T10, Xiaomi Mi Pad 3 and ASUS ZenPad 3S 10. You can see it pictured below:
No word on the release date of this one, but I would assume it would be soon, next month or two.
And their mini PC the HiBox gets with a chipset upgrade, the new Chuwi HiBox King it runs the N3450 (No surprises there!!) 4GB of DDR3 RAM and 64GB eMMC. Windows 10 Home is the OS and it will support 3k 30hz output like other Apollo Lakes. It also has a USB 3.0 port and USB 2.0 (MicroSD I’m sure, but not confirmed)
And the Surbook is also at IFA, but I’m waiting for mine to arrive hopefully tomorrow if it’s not held by customs. This is Chuwi’s a premium 2-in-1 tablet with the Surface Pro 4 screen, stylus, kickstand and backlit keyboard. Stay tuned for more on that one this week once I get my hands on it.
And if you’re in Berlin be sure to stop by the IFA 2017 Expo and go and check out Chuwi’s new tech on display. I would love to be able to make it one of these years to IFA. But flights and hotel costs meant a 2-day visit was just out of the question for me. Who knows maybe next year?