Teclast F5

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Teclast F5 Hands-On (Finally)

Teclast F5 Hands-On (Finally)

After missing out on the first batch sent, then super slow delivery with DPD I finally have Teclast’s little F5, a promising 11.6″ Gemini Lake Celeron N4100 laptop with 8GB of DDR4 RAM. A 360-degree hinge, 1080p fully laminated touchscreen and a super light and thin design. For an ultraportable travel laptop, it ticks all the boxes but one, it doesn’t have a full sized USB port.

01:24 – Size and weight
01:35 – Design & build
06:06 – Unlocked bios
06:45 – Screen bleed
07:22 – Windows & performance
11:51 – Keyboard & touchpad
13:09 – 4k60p & Type-C
16:06 – Speakers
16:49 – Linux
17:51 – First impressions
19:00 – Pros & Cons (So Far)

Above is my first hands-on look which will be followed up in a week or some once I’ve been using enough to know all its ins and outs. So far the performance is really quite good for the spec, 9W TDP helps. And that 8GB of RAM of course, as a result, feels a little quicker than the Chuwi Lapbook SE I just reviewed. But the keyboard is a comprise, they always are at 11.6″ but for the size and the touchpad both are decent. But not going to match the Lapbook SE’s great keyboard and touchpad. This one cost $329 but is now selling for a little higher.

Loving the weight of it, only 1.05 kilos and just 15mm thin. More on this one soon!

Video tech reviewer and tech blogger. I have a huge interest in the latest tech, tablets, laptops, mobiles, drones, and even e-scooters. Active in the tech community since 2008 days of the Omnia i900 Windows phone. Samsungi8910omnia.com, Samsunggalaxysforums.com founder from way back.

50 Comments

  1. Good 2in1 but high temperature (USB-C area).
    Any Android with full HW compatible?
    Best BIOS settings?
    Any tips & tricks?
    Thanks.

  2. Hi, Chris,

    I would ike to ask whether you were able to use this device for 5-6 hors or not, cos mine is useable only for 2.5 hours. I use it only for light tasks. Should I set something to have better battery life? After detaching the power cord, chargig drops like a stone. What do you think, is there a problem with my unit? Thank you for your answer in advance.

  3. Good morning,
    I also have the same problem with my teclast F5, the touch and the wifi do not work.
    I tried all distributions with updated kernel, always with a negative result.
    But I have seen that to some of you on Manjaro and Ubuntu mate everything works right away.
    So the problem seems to be related to the Bios, or the version or a configuration.
    Who has the working system can kindly post the bios version and in case a series of configuration screens?
    Thanks in advance.

    • Good morning.

      When did you receive your F5? Maybe it is a newer BIOS in the second batch which shipped shortly. I got my F5 from the first batch end of August and am having no luck with wifi at all. Have tried different distributions and different kernels upto the current.

      I am already thinking about switching to another device. I have a 12″ 2-in-1 (similar to the F5) Medion Akoya E2294 (N5000, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC + SSDslot) and there it all works out of the box (wifi, touchscreen, onscreen keyboard in tablet mode,… I just tried it in ubuntu 18.10.). The thing is that I really like the F5 better over the E2294 due to: slimmer bezels and most important 8GB RAM! The SSD tray is only for small SSD in the F5 where the E2294 has 64 GB eMMC plus SSD tray for 2280-m2.

      I woud really like to get wifi working in linux on my F5.

      • Hello,
        I also bought with the first lot and probably all those who made the first reviews … then something has changed … I tried to contact the technical support teclast but I never had an answer.

        I also thought to take the same machine again and put on sale this, meanwhile with windows works in the same direction (indeed with the latest version, just find a recognized wifi key, launch the update and all drivers are installed regularly), however if I get another bios so I’ll split them both with rage! 🙁

        I do not want to change it, it’s perfect, size, battery life, speed … I hope that sooner or later someone will help us and we can make it work perfectly even with linux.

    • did you get an answer to this yet? I too bought the first batch and thinking the same that maybe the 2nd batch has updated bios.

      • No answer yet and no idea how to proceed.

        My F5 from the first batch has the following:

        on starting screen it says: Version 2.20.1270. Copyright (C) 2018 American Megatrend, Inc. BIOS Date 06/06/2018 14:45:18 Ver: 3BAP3003

        In the BIOS menu it states the following:
        BIOD Vendor: TECLAST
        Core Version: 5.13
        Compliancy: UEFI 2.6: PI 1.4
        Project Version: tPAD 3.05
        Build Date and Time: 06/06/2018 14:45:18

        • I also have the same bios
          core version: 5.13
          uefi 2.6: PI 1.4
          tpad: 3.05
          build date and time: 06/06/2018 14:45:18
          … and unfortunately, teclast does not answer …

          • Happy new year to all!

            @chris do you have any possibility to contact Teclast on the matter of older/outdated Bios on the first batch of the Teclast F5 so we could maybe request a Bios update from Teclast? Or do they not offer any costumer support at all? That would be one hell of a reason not to buy Teclast tech in the future.

          • Problem solved! I updated my BIOS thanks to @primo who got the update file. Update worked without problems and after a reboot the wifi card is automatically detected in KUbuntu 18.04.1 (and I guess in any other linux distribution too).

            Find the BIOS update files in the Forum: https://techtablets.com/forum/topic/teclast-f5-bios-update/

            • Thanks, everything works correctly.
              Now this teclast F5 is perfect!

  4. Could you help me on charging? My F5 charges only to 98%. When I plug usb connector the red lamp lights and I am wondering if this led is to turn green or off after battery is charged.

  5. Hi Chris,

    are there any news on wifi-support in linux?

    This would be such a good linux-device with wifi but without definitly not.
    I really don’t understand why the wifi on pci-bus 1 is not seen (bluetooth from the same hardwaredevice is possible since it is connected via usb) in for example Ubuntu but Windows does not have any problems.

    Do you have any coontact at Teclast who could give us an answer?

    Thank you

    • Hi,

      just got my F5 today.

      I tried the manjaro linux live image and it works great out of the box, it sees and runs the intel 3165 without problems. touchscreen also works. Manjaro is based on arch linux, so could be that the driver issue is a debian/ubuntu problem.
      Have to wait till next week to get another m2 ssd to install it, but looks good so far. The only thing that does not work is going to tablet mode, but thats probably out of the scope of a live image.
      I am also waiting for the Teclast T6 Stylus to arrive.

      • Ah great so it now works? Because in my video I tested Mint and it wasn’t working. I’ll try manjaro now. Thanks!

        • Thank you for pointing to the latest Manjaro. I tried Manjaro a couple of weeks back but it didn’t work then. Tried Ubuntu, Kubuntu, OpenSUSE, Manjaro,…

          I also just saw a comment in the other Post from someone who got it working (wifi, touchscreen,…) with Ubuntu MATE even with stock kernel for 18.04.1 ! see the comments in https://techtablets.com/2018/08/teclast-f5s-already-arriving-to-some-lucky-customers/
          so maybe it is just some funny BIOS setting we’ve been missing?

          Could someone with working wifi please post the output of ‘lspci’?

          • The manjaro ( openbox ) live image is also a few weeks old from my last install on another pc, but i am not sure how up to date their live images are, i just use manjaro to get an easy arch with openbox starting point.

            But here is lspci of the live image:
            https://imgur.com/a/MzoG69z

            • I just tried the newest Manjaro Gnome and Arch Linux from November and did not have any luck at all. No trace of wifi or the bus 1.

        • Well I now have a bricked Teclast F5 🙁

          I was hoping it would be a BIOS setting for the wifi-card in order to get it detected in linux but after saving and rebooting my F5 leaves me with a black screen without any BIOS-information on boot or nothing.

          • Hold and also try taping Esc when powering it on it can reset the bios on many of the Apollo Lake /Gemini lake laptops and tablets. That or try opening it up and pulling the battery plug then leave it for 24 hours. Plug back in it could reset the settings. let us know how you get on.

            • Hi Chris,

              thank you for your tip. Hitting ESC did not work… opening up the F5 and unplugging the battery for 24 hours did! It is alive again.

              Any hints on getting wifi in Kubuntu 18.04.1 working? What do I have to enable in the kernel (as Ragnar Ironblood suggested)?

      • I now have a dualboot arch linux / windows 10 running on the T5.
        I can’t get any info about the accelerometers in linux, not hint of them anywhere. Also couldnt find whatever fires a signal that the laptop is folded out.
        Probably the best way to do it for now is having a script to flip the screen and disable touchpad/keyboard to instead of having it automated by detecting that it is fully folded out.

    • It’s not that it is not supported, you just have to enable it in kernel. Debian based distributions does not have these enabled out of the box. Ubuntu does.

      • Hello, what do I have to enable in the kernel to get wifi recognized and working? Thank you.

    • I guess not, because USB type c3.1 laptop should be charged with a usb cable with type c on both ends, where the end on the charger or (maybe power bank) being usb c (PD). Its only my guessing.

  6. Hi Chris,

    I purchased this laptop due to your great review. Still awaiting shipment. I’m curious, does upgrading to a faster SSD (especially a faster write time) shows any real world noticeable improvement? With some of the problems I’m reading about refreshing Windows is cloning preferred for this laptop? Also, do you recommend a good USB-C Hub? Screen protector?

    TIA

  7. I am considering getting either this or the JUMPER EZbook X1. In my eyes, it seems like they are the same laptop, just with 4GB less RAM and half of the storage is eMMC (64GB SSD + 64GB eMMC). I want to give it to my father as his first ever experience with a computer (he’s not that old xD 50 years old). I wonder if it’s worth going for the Techlast since there is a 25-26% price difference between those two… If anyone has an opinion, let it be welcome 😛

  8. Hi
    Waht you feel about F5 vs F6 Pro?

    • F6 is better in many ways, only the full laminated screen of the F5 is better and it’s smaller. But the F6 Pro has a better keyboard, touchpad and performance is faster due to Core M3 7Y30

  9. Did you manage to make the wireless and trackpad work in Linux?

  10. hello Chris G. I’m new member here. I bought teclast f5 after saw your review about teclast f7.
    When my unit came, I remove all windows 10 and then install fresh windows 10 home, also install all drivers, BUT now tablet mode does NOT work anymore (keyboard still active when I open above 180 degree angle), a lot of people also facing same problem.
    Can you help me posting the original windows 10 home from teclast f5 ?
    Also I notice battery life is now worse using fresh windows 10 home, compare to original windows 10 home from teclast f5.

    Also when I ENABLE power limit in bios setting (to improve batter life), it won’t enable, because when I checked using hwinfo, power limit still 14.

    Are you experience the same problem ?

    Thanks

    Arta

    • Hi, I have a backup image of the original stock Windows 10 installation here: https://techtablets.com/teclast-f5/drivers/ Yes I’m now on my Transcend 256GB SSD and had that issue install the keyboard angle driver from the driver dumb. Also the battery, yes it has dropped off. The power limit seems to stay put no matter the setting. I’ve noticed it’s very hard to change on the Gemini Lake. But at 14W it will perform great, however like what you’re trying to do save battery life I recommend using power settings to limit the CPU turbo. This will save power. Stop the CPU holing 2.3Ghz on all 4 cores and using about 8W in the process. If gaming it’s 14W.

      • Thank you very much for your kind support. I will try to install the original stock windows 10 home, and I will report to you about angle driver and battery life.

      • Hello
        I’ve done installed original stock windows 10 home for teclast f5. Everything works now, thank you sooo much, my teclast f5 is now better.

        Also for power limit, seems like enabling power limit on bios doesn’t effect anything

  11. Hi i am a new user would like to help me I also have the F5 Teclas I have a problem the BIOS does not recognize the SSD please help me thanks here I leave a link where I put a test video: https://youtu.be/DgNw8DSSqyA

    • Hello, I got same issue. I found out that if you get your ssd out of the notebook and wait a bit, then put it back it boots. But my Windows freezes often and sometimes ssd disappears from BIOS. I suspect it is either bios issue or ssd firmware issue. I wrote to teclast but more than a week and no response. I don’t wanna buy another ssd for 40 euro to find out it is not the problem, but this is so scarce kind of ssd – 2242 size – that I cannot find one to test. I really like the device, but this problem is frustrating.

      • hello we have almost the same problem, I also sent a message to the teclast page a week ago and they did not answer me a few days ago I wrote to gearbest and they said they would help me with my problem but they still do not answer me, sure that all this week is a holiday in China. I would like to contact you to solve this problem together. My email is [email protected].

        • Hello, I just want to add that after a bit more tests I concluded that it was the SSD that is the problem. I got partial refund and bought a new SSD, the notebook works flawlessly now and is really nice piece of hardware. I am just wandering if someone knows what the ssd is and if I can find a new firmware to try to recover it somehow. Cheers.

  12. Do you know if the chuwi h13 stylus is compatible with the F5 ? I read somewhere that this screen and pen uses the same tech.

    Gearbest – Original Chuwi HiPen H3 Dual-chip Stylus for Chuwi Hi13 – SILVER

  13. This is nice! You were correct in noting the goofy placement of the webcam, but that is not such a deal breaker. If there were some reasonable way to run Android on it, I’d be ready to replace my tablet with one of these. Really like the form factor and 2 in 1 design for portability.

    • Bliss Oreo, Android x64 ISO might be able to run on ti well. I’ll have to test it out.

      • Thank you, I would really appreciate that. I like my Chuwi Hi12, but I’d be happy to retire it and this seems like a good replacement.

      • Any android version full working on it?
        I tried Bliss but USB is not recognized at boot.

  14. Been waiting for this review, Chris. Great job. Would you in all honesty say that if you not looking for a 2-in-1 that this, at least performance wise, doesn’t completely render the F7 worthless? I love the keyboard on the F7 very much and I love the real estate that the 14″ display provides. Maybe I’ll wait patiently for Teclast to out a Gemini Lake 8GB model F7. Anyway, this seems very nice but I like having more ports and less cramped keyboard.

    Cheers,
    Pete

    • No not completely, the Teclast F7 is still a great laptop. I have mine, but my new favorite is the Lapbook SE, slightly better build, keyboard and touchpad. (I’m typing this on it now) The Teclast F5 I’m finding a little small for extended periods of typing but have to admit getting use to it.

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