1/19/2016

Chuwi Vi8 Plus Review-by Neomode

Chuwi Vi8 Plus Review - An 8" Windows 10 Tablet.

First of all i will say thank´s to http://chuwi.com/ for Sending me the Tablet for a Review.

Between the extremely cheap tablets, the most interesting devices are the ones equipped with Windows, due to the potential good versatility of Windows on Cherry Trail Tablets.
Windows for the possibility to be used as a laptop-replacement and the complete compatibility with all x86 softwares and Microsoft Office documents.

Here in the followings are the technical characteristics of the tablet:

- 8GB, 1280 x 800 pixel IPS display
- Intel Atom x5-Z8300 quad-core processor
- Windows 10
- 2GB of RAM
- 32GB of eMMC storage
- microSD card slot
- micro HDMI port
- 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0
- 2MP front and rear cameras
- 4,000 mAh battery​

Also the Tablet have a USB-C Port that is realy new Feature that i like, because the Connector is more robust then the Micro USB and you can Plugin it like you want.
I have tested the Tablet now for more than a Week and i am impressed by it.

The Touchscreen and the Working Speed of the Tablet is good. Also the Preinstalled Windows 10 where Setup correct and Works like it should.
It where easy for me to grab Windows 10 Updates and Download other Languages the English.
The Intel Cherry Trail is a good compromise of performance and battery drain for low-middle class devices.
In this case the use of an Intel SoC is useful to guarantee complete x86 compatibility to allow Windows 10 home functionalities as on a Desktop PC.


Dimensions and Build quality:

With a weight of 340gr (measured) it’s not the lightest tablet I’ve seen, considering also the battery of 4000mAh.
So probably some of the extra weight is due to the internal heatspreader that helps reducing SoC produced heat that during all tests have been kept always under control.

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The back cover is made of plastic with a “fingerprint” finishing to increase grip. The tablet as soon as you get it on your hand gives a feeling of solidity.
The reduced bezel size improve screen-to-size ratio, and makes its overall dimension similar to a 9.7” display device of other brands.
Build quality
is good for the price with no squeaks’ or crunches. All the tablet plastics are well assembled: no dust under the screen (common on ultra-cheap Chinese devices),
no dead pixels, no problems or malfunctions of every button.

Surprisingly Windows logo on the bottom is not only cosmetic.
It has the following functions:


- In Windows (desktop mode) is used to open “start menu”
- In Windows (tablet mode) is used to go back to main page of the Windows Tiles


Display and TouchScreen:

The display is a common IPS with a resolution of 1280x800 (16:10 ratio). Not a bad resolution for an 8” tablet.
It helps reducing weight and increasing battery life and general performance.
The Touchscreen has a good sensitivity and is perfectly able to detect 10 simultaneous touches.

Connections:

Bluetooth:
Pairing any device on Windows is a very easy job. Also pairing a Bluetooth speaker deactivate the integrated speaker of the tablet correctly.

Wireless:
Thanks to the plastic cover of the tablet there are no issues or limited sensitivity for wifi. Connection is established quickly and kept stably.
Network of my neighbors can be easily seen too.

MicroSD:
Every MicroSD I’ve inserted have been recognized correctly on both OS. Unfortunately I haven’t had the possibility to test MicroSD bigger than 16Gb.

Micro HDMI:
Need an adapter from micro-HDMI to HDMI to be connected to the TV, so I’ve ordered the adapter, I will upgrade this review as soon as I receive it.

Earphone jack:
Works correctly deactivating integrated speaker.

Boot times:

Boot times are generally good and similar to other competitors:
Cold boot on Windows: 25 sec to lock screen.

Usability / Stability / Performances:

The real plus of the use of a Intel Atom x5-Z8300 quad-core processor​ is the compatibility with x86 OS.
On a tablet, having a complete version of the Microsoft Windows 10 Home x86 is interesting:
  • with Windows 10 Home fully licensed, the OS will be always updated through Windows Update
  • it is possible to install via BT or USB a keyboard and mouse, converting the device in a laptop that can really improve personal productivity.
  • the presence of Micro-HDMI with the possibility to use a bigger screen raises the multitasking ability of Windows.
Windows update is fully functional so on this device OS obsolescence will not be a problem. General performance in Windows are good, no lag or stuttering even opening multiple windows.
Browsing with Edge is good, the possibility to open multiple windows for Copy-paste operation is an interesting capability.
On windows 10 going from tablet mode to desktop mode is easy: sliding from right to left appears the notification center with tablet mode / desktop mode button.
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More Info on the CPU you find there http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-A....146643.0.html



Movies:

On Windows movies up to 4K are played perfectly, also possible to work with other applications while 4K movie is playing without any stuttering.
This is amazing for such a cheap device.

Battery life:

Use: 4-6 hours in normal use
Movie playback: 6:45 of continuos playback with brightness at 50% and wifi deactivated
Stand-by Windows 10: lose 0,5% every hour
Charging Time: 2 hours with wall charger (2Amp), 3 hours with USB

Conclusions:

The flexibility of an Windows 10 device, considering the extremely low street price of around 100USD there are no other issues to not consider this tablet.
It’s extremely cheap, can be used as a Desktop as soon as you connect keyboard and mouse on Windows 10, all connections work properly, WiFi sensitivity is very good and stable,
movie playback is perfect up to 4K.



Thanks again to Chuwi to give me the Tablet for a Review!

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