Review: Chuwi aced the UBook Pro tablet but not the attachable keyboard
Source: Windows Central
The Surface Pro has spawned many clones over the years, some expensive and some affordable. Chuwi’s UBook Pro 2-in-1 is a prime example of the latter, and it’s a way to get your hands on a solid Windows device starting at less than $400. The tablet alone is mostly a respectable piece of hardware, but it runs into some issues when tested as a package complete with attachable keyboard and touchpad. I used it for about a week to see what it’s all about and, ultimately, who it’s for and whether or not it’s worth a buy.
Budget 2-in-1 PC
Chuwi UBook Pro
Pros
- More affordable than Surface Pro
- Quality construction
- Bright, colorful display
- Decent port selection
Cons
- Intel Core m3 CPU is underpowered
- Touchpad is almost useless
- Speakers and cameras are not great
- Battery life could be better
Chuwi UBook Pro at a glance
Source: Windows Central
Models with the Intel N4100 CPU start at about $370 from Amazon, while the Intel Core m3 models start at about $526 at Gearbest. Keep in mind that keyboard and active pen are not included in these prices. A UBook Pro keyboard tacks on about $40, while the HiPen H6 costs another $40.
Take a look at a breakdown of the exact hardware found in this review model.
Category | Spec |
---|---|
OS | Windows 10 Home |
Processor | 8th Gen Intel Core m3-8100Y Dual core Up to 3.40GHz |
RAM | 8GB LPDDR3 RAM |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 615 |
Storage | 256GB M.2 SATA SSD |
Display | 12.3 inches 1920×1280 (FHD+) Touch, IPS, glossy 3:2 aspect ratio |
Ports | Two USB-A 3.0 USB-C Micro HDMI 3.5mm audio microSD card reader |
Audio | Dual speakers |
Wireless | Intel Wireless-AC 3165 802.11ac Bluetooth 4.2 |
Camera | Front-facing 2MP Rear-facing 5MP |
Battery | 37Wh |
Dimensions | 0.35 inches (9mm) thin |
Weight | 1.7 pounds (780g) |
What I loved about Chuwi’s UBook Pro
Source: Windows Central
Chuwi’s tablet uses a U-frame stand instead of a solid flat panel. It folds out to about 145 degrees, enough for a comfortable drawing angle when using the pen. The stand cuts into the legs just as much as most other 2-in-1s sitting on your lap, but it gets the job done. There’s a bit of twist to it — more than you find with a solid panel — though it seems like it can stand up to regular use.
The UBook Pro’s touch display is well above what you’d expect in a budget device.
One thing we’ve noted in the past about Chuwi devices is its ability to include quality displays in budget devices, and the same holds true here. The UBook Pro’s touch display doesn’t have as high a resolution (1920×1280) as some of the pricier 2-in-1s on the market, but it still delivers a 3:2 aspect ratio and good color. I tested with a Spyder5 Pro colorimeter and got back 95% sRGB and 74% AdobeRGB gamut coverage.
An overabundance of brightness was also unexpected. You should have no issues working in well-lit spaces despite the glossy finish thanks to nearly 500 nits brightness when maxed out. This review unit came with Chuwi’s HiPen H5, though if you’re buying the tablet, you’ll likely see the newer HiPen H6 advertised with it. The latter pen delivers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity (compared to the H5 pen’s 1,024 levels) and has two buttons on the side, making it better cut out for artistic work.
No matter the pen, though, the UBook Pro shouldn’t be relied on for any sort of intensive design work beyond occasional sketches. It just doesn’t have the performance hardware to back it up. It’s ideal for note-taking and jotting down ideas, and it should be treated as such.
Source: Windows Central
This hardware is meant for lightweight productivity work, and in that sense, it excels. You can browse the web with purpose, stream video, and fire up a word processor to take notes. The higher-end configuration will handle some (very) lightweight entertainment, but don’t buy it expecting a full-time gaming machine.
I ran some benchmarks to see how well the UBook Pro stands up to other PCs we’ve recently tested, especially the new Surface Pro 7.
CPU
Geekbench 5.0 Benchmarks (Higher is better)
Device | CPU | Single core | Multi core |
---|---|---|---|
Chuwi UBook Pro | m3-8100Y | 797 | 1,136 |
Surface Pro 7 | Core i5-1035G4 | 1,191 | 4,441 |
Surface Pro 7 | Core i7-1065G7 | 1,205 | 4,852 |
Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) | i7-1065G7 | 1,202 | 3,600 |
Surface Laptop 3 13.5 | Core i5-1035G7 | 1,177 | 4,413 |
Surface Laptop 3 15 | Ryzen 5 | 769 | 2,720 |
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 | Core i7-1065G7 | 1,209 | 3,571 |
Dell XPS 15 7590 | Core i9-9980HK | 1,176 | 7,624 |
Dynabook Portégé X30-F | i7-8665U | 1,236 | 3,473 |
Dynabook Tecra X50-F | i7-8665U | 1,241 | 3,043 |
Dell Inspiron 13 7390 2-in-1 | i7-8565U | 1,111 | 2,965 |
I also ran an OpenCL GPU test with Geekbench 5 to see how well the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615 performs. It delivered a score of 2,607, which is right about where it should be but by no means remarkable. This isn’t a gaming PC, nor should it be used for any intensive design or editing work.
PCMark
PCMark 10
Device | Score |
---|---|
Chuwi UBook Pro | 2,100 |
Surface Pro 7 (i5) | 3,992 |
Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) | 4,415 |
Surface Laptop 3 15 (AMD) | 4,006 |
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) | 4,427 |
Dynabook Portégé X30-F | 3,881 |
Dynabook Tecra X50-F | 4,128 |
Dell Inspiron 13 7390 2-in-1 | 3,764 |
The PCMark 10 test measures how well the PC handles everyday productivity work. Compared to a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, you’re going to get about half as much performance.
SSD
CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)
Device | Read | Write |
---|---|---|
Chuwi UBook Pro | 283.96 MB/s | 246.02 MB/s |
Surface Pro 7 | 2,040 MB/s | 809 MB/s |
Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) | 1,641 MB/s | 1,025 MB/s |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 2) | 3,416 MB/s | 3,016 MB/s |
Dynabook Portégé X30-F | 529 MB/s | 348 MB/s |
Dynabook Tecra X50-F | 3,400 MB/s | 1,952 MB/s |
Lenovo ThinkPad P53 | 3,567.23 MB/s | 2,813.25 MB/s |
Lenovo ThinkPad P52 | 3,120 MB/s | 1,551.5 MB/s |
Dell XPS 15 7590 | 3,000 MB/s | 2,796 MB/s |
MSI PS63 Modern | 3,300 MB/s | 1,875 MB/s |
The UBook Pro uses an SSD, but it is M.2 SATA. It won’t touch the speeds offered by M.2 PCIe.
What I disliked about Chuwi’s UBook Pro
Source: Windows Central
The touchpad is almost entirely useless, partly due to the flimsy overall construction that bends when touched. Clicking down on the touchpad often closes all your windows and moves the cursor to a corner of the screen, while swiping only seems to register half the time. It’s evident I wasn’t the first to review this specific unit, but at most, a perfect keyboard would have weathered only a few weeks of use to arrive in this state.
Source: Windows Central
Speakers live on the inside edges of the tablet, covered by the stand when not deployed. They’re not as muffled as you might imagine with the stand over top, but there is a small difference. In any case, audio doesn’t get very loud, and holding the tablet on its sides will often further muffle the audio. The speakers get the job done, but they’re nothing to get excited about.
Like the speakers, the front- and rear-facing cameras are more a neutral point than strictly negative. They’re exactly what’s expected from a device this price, and they’ll do for video conferencing and the occasional still image. Don’t expect anything miraculous, and you won’t be disappointed.
Should you buy Chuwi’s UBook Pro?
Source: Windows Central
The tablet and pen are, however, only part of the full package, and the attachable keyboard that enables a true 2-in-1 experience is dismal. Corners had to no doubt be cut to arrive at the relatively low cost, but I’m certain users would have gladly tacked on another $20 or so to get something superior. As it stands, I recommend avoiding Chuwi’s keyboard and touchpad.
If you’re not sold on Chuwi’s tablet alone and need a full experience with quality keyboard and touchpad, have a look at our collection of the best 2-in-1s available in 2020.
Budget 2-in-1 PC
Chuwi UBook Pro
Great as a standalone tablet
Chuwi’s UBook Pro tablet is an affordable winner, but steer clear of the optional keyboard and touchpad.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.