Good
Quite affordable
Decent battery life
Spare M.2 SSD slot
Bad
No Full HD screen
Keyboard is a major let-down
Only 802.11n Wi-Fi
One USB port is 2.0
If you’re on a tight budget, or you’re looking for a cheap “throw-away” laptop you can pop into a bag when you’re travelling, Chuwi’s HeroBook could be for you. Aimed at students and “low-income workers”, the HeroBook’s specs are nothing to get too excited about, but this is not the point of this particular laptop.
The Herobook has a surprisingly nippy CPU and a massive battery, but think that corners have been cut. The keyboard is one of the worst we’ve encountered, and the 1366 x 768 resolution screen is no longer fit for purpose, now that we’re almost two decades into the 21st Century.
SPEC
CPU: Intel Atom x5-E8000 quad-core 1.04GHz
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics for Celeron N3000 Series
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14.1-inch 1366 x 768 resolution
Storage: 64GB eMMC
Ports: 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, audio jack, microSD card slot, mini-HDMI
Connectivity: 802.11n Wi-Fi
Camera: 0.3MP front webcam
Weight: 1.46kg
Size: 332 x 214 x 21.3mm (W x D x H)
Battery: 43.8WHr
The laptop became very warmer under load, which isn’t surprising given that plastic was never a good heat dissipater.
The display was reasonably bright without overdoing it. The colors weren’t as punchy as you’d experience on a premium model, and the fact that an HD+ display – rather than Full HD – is used might have been a step too far in the cost-cutting process.
The biggest disappointment, though, is with the keyboard. It feels like it has a lot of flex, and touch typing on it sounds like you’re hitting an empty metal drum at times. It lacks the substance and the character of keyboards found on more expensive notebooks. The saying “you get what you pay for” sadly holds true here. The one I like to use you buy rubbish you buy twice.
This is a shame as Chuwi struck the right balance by making judicious use of the large real-estate available – the keys are larger than usual, with dedicated home/end/page up/page down keys present, which are very welcome.
There’s much to like about the Herobook, but it is a tough sell given that better known brands with local support are available for a similar (or cheaper) outlay. The Herobook delivers great value for money at this price point (sub-$200), but as is often the case with value products, too many corners have been cut to meet that price barrier.
If money is the price you like then you can pick up decent laptops refurbished ones or used that are better spec and have the local support.
