Chuwi Hi12 keyboard pictures? Dealbreaker?

[Chris G]

I don’t think it’s the keyboard. Firstly it’s not using the proper docking slots in the bottom/middle of the tablet and it has bo touchpad, this I think is some cheap Bluetooth iPad Pro keyboard of Aliexpress or the likes. I hope so!

 

Something like this would be better:

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Chris | Admin
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[Rsg]

Yeah you’re right didn’t notice the touchpad. When do you think it will be out and estimated price??

I hope they announce it soon as i have only 7 days to decide between Voyo Vbook v3 and Chuwi Hi12. I have done some specs analysis and the only thing bothering me is that ridiculous shipping price of for $80 AUD for the voyo vbook v3.  Which one you would go for?

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[Chris G]

Hard choice, since I haven’t used either I don’t know.

I have the Onda oBook 11 which is a smaller vBook v3. 11.6 inches instead of 13″ It’s made by the same ODM I think. But it has a few problems, USB 3 port doesn’t work most of the time unless it’s just a flash drive or usb receiver. Battery life is horrible, 3-4 hours and it makes a high pitch noise. But this is Onda, Voyo should be using different battery cells. Maybe not even have these issues.

If the vBook v3 is anything like my oBook it terms of build quality it’s not bad, the fit and finish is very good. The larger 13″ keyboard might be good, the oBoo 11 one is average as the keys aren’t full sized unlike the vBook v3.

I would get the Hi12, but the release dates with Chuwi always slip back and we haven’t seen the keyboard yet so it’s a risk. Not easy is it. You can either wait or risk it with the Voyo vBook. I might order one for review, but it would come via the cheap mail option. $30 usd vs $60.

Chris | Admin
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[Rsg]

That’s the thing am stuck between a rock and a hard tablet!

Risk with chuwi hi12 end up with no keyboard or loose the discount offer from gearbest and risk with build quality on voyo vbook v3.

So far i have seen only one proper review on YouTube for voyo a1 plus ultimate and reviewer has given positive feedback with very few downside. https://youtu.be/6tUZoi8gRRA   (that Toshiba emmc drive is comparatively slow)

I can get $500 AUD for surface 3 without keyboard from jb hifi 2gb 64gb ssd x8700 version.  Too bad surface pro 3 keyboard doesn’t fit surface 3 as i can grab that cheap people are upgrading to pro 4 keyboard.

My big concern with both voyo n chuwi if they turned out to be bad  it would be hard to resell it and cover the damage.  At least with surface 3 i can get a decent return.

I am happy to buy voyo vbook v3 but What really grinds my gear is that $82 aud shipping fee. Imo that is ridiculous probably gearbest making margin on it as well.

Chuwi hi12 looks good with metal body.  i love that retina display and the fact it can charge through micro usb is convenient.

I want to go with chuwi but no keyboard is a deal breaker for me.

[Evil E.]

Chris G wrote:

Something like this would be better:

The problem with this type of keyboard dock is that the tablet can only be set at 1 specific angle… For me that is a deal breaker because I prefer a keyboard dock that allows me to set the tablet in it at any angle I choose to (“customizability” is the way to go because it allows users to have the option to set it as they see fit). Asus hit the nail on the head with their Transformer Tablet keyboard dock :

And Chuwi copied this design for the Hi10 keyboard dock which was IMHO a brilliant move. I’m pretty sure that Chuwi noticed in the sales numbers that this type of keyboard dock is the way to go, so I don’t understand why they’ve seem to have abandoned this again for the Hi12… 🙁 And the same applies to Cube, they don’t seem to learn this lesson neither… And the keyboard dock in the original post is also of this type, so that is good. But then the they mismatch the color scheme, of course… Sigh… 🙁

It would be nice if tablet manufacturers started offering this Transformer-style keyboard dock for all their tablets as 1 available option, next to the keyboard case to provide a choice for the buyer. And it would be AWESOME if they would sell the keyboard docks/cases with a localized key layout (like Belgian AZERTY in my specific case)…

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[Rsg]

Yeah something like this would be almost perfect! I think hi10 has the same.

 

I still prefer the 360 keyboard and to have a detachable one will be out of this world!

I just hope chuwi atleast announces or releases concept what kind of keyboard they gonna come out with so i can preorder the hi12 and wait for the keyboard. Again what worries me with hi12 is battery life and the x8300 processing it. It’s amazing how baytrail gets decent battery life on teclast retina.

[Chris G]

@evil-e Transformer style is defiantly better, looks like the Hi12 dock it will be a transformer style as it has to two larger slots in the bottom for the dock.

Chris | Admin
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[Evil E.]

Chris G wrote:

looks like the Hi12 dock it will be a transformer style as it has to two larger slots in the bottom for the dock.

I would like that a lot. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Transformer-style keyboard docks are the best !!! 😀 😀 😀

Let’s hope that Chuwi will confirm this by showing us some photos soon (and get their power delivery/management circuitry in order).

[Chris G]

FYI finally got my Hi12: http://techtablets.com/2016/02/chuwi-hi12-unboxing-and-first-impressions/ keyboard is still nowhere to be found, I don’t think Chuwi has even finalised the design of it yet by the looks of it!

Chris | Admin
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[Rsg]

Good to see Chuwi worked on thermal issue. Makes me wonder should i have cancelled my order! Anyways can reorder anytime but would like to see the keyboard first!

They should really make make a pro version with 8700 or core m or m3 and take advantage of the heat sink metal back

[Chris G]

Rsg wrote:

Good to see Chuwi worked on thermal issue. Makes me wonder should i have cancelled my order! Anyways can reorder anytime but would like to see the keyboard first! They should really make make a pro version with 8700 or core m or m3 and take advantage of the heat sink metal back

I hope they do, if it proves super popular (I think it will be) I’m sure they will release it with a X7 or maybe even a Core M Chuwi Vi12? Now if they would just show us the keyboard and release it already!

Chris | Admin
Please support us and help keep TechTablets online. Affiliate revenue is used to pay for the server, studio apartment (Techtablets HQ) and buy new tech to review. Without it, this site would be dead.
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[Rsg]

I reckon Chuwi Hi12 will do very well if they keep the price $250, but already retailers bumping up the price now they selling at almost $300. Which makes me rethink of getting cube i7 stylus for $325 or even teclast x2 pro for $360 (hope it drops further).

Like you said i7 stylus is far more superior in performance but the lack of full size usb 3.0 is disappointing. Wonder if anyone has mod it to full size usb 3.0? If it can be done would buy it in a heartbeat!

[Chris G]

Not sure why they did pump the price up. Maybe it was Chuwi or they saw the demand and thought let’s make more $$$ on it. GearBest has lowered it to $246 today which is good. They must have sold none when they increased the price to $279 haha serve them right!

Lack of full USB 3 is ultimately why I sold my i7 Stylus, I will not keep a tablet for personal use if it has only MicroUSB, unless it’s a super portable 8″ tablet like a Mi Pad 2.

Chris | Admin
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[Rsg]

Same here that’s why i don’t see a point buying the cube i7 stylus and later muck around with adaptors!

After seeing the Core M 5Y10c CPU performance closer to the M3 6Y30, my eyes are on teclast x2 pro now.

Do you still use or have your the teclast x2 pro? would be great to see how it’s holding up now and a quick video like you did for chuwi vi10. Even better if you you can do smackdown between X2 pro core m vs SP4 core m3.

 

Gearbest now says 7-10 days for dispatching. Earlier they promised the same when i placed the order on 28 jan but later they said it will be dispatched after feb 28!!

 

[Chris G]

Hi, No I sold the X2 Pro to fund more tablets to review here and I have my Surface Pro 4. Overall a great tablet apart from the minor complaint with it’s sharp corners. Performance is top notch and over all with the two USB 3.0 and large keyboard I really enjoyed.

Banggood, Gearbest and the rest aren’t really to blame. The manufacturers are, most orders now are delayed somewhat as they reopen their plants and start to ramp up production again. I just think they don’t have the stock to meet the current demand. I ordered it the day it went live on GearBest so being first in first served I was one of a lucky few that got it sent out with I imagine a very few first batch Hi12’s being delivered to them in Shenzhen.

Saying that I still had to wait a good month almost from order date to receiving it. It’s pretty much the normal for these orders from China, very slow but you do get it in the end and for a good price Vs known western brands.

Chris | Admin
Please support us and help keep TechTablets online. Affiliate revenue is used to pay for the server, studio apartment (Techtablets HQ) and buy new tech to review. Without it, this site would be dead.
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