The Chuwi MiniBook is a convertible notebook with an 8 inch touchscreen display and a 360-degree hinge that lets you use the computer as a laptop or tablet. When it first launched a few years ago, the MiniBook wasn’t the most powerful subnotebook around, but it was certainly one of the most affordable, with retail prices starting at around $430. But the original MiniBook has been out of stock for some time.
Now there’s a new model and it’s both cheaper and it has a newer processor. Banggood is selling an updated Chuwi MiniBook Yoga with an Intel Celeron J4125 processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Available for $330 at launch mid-March, it was selling for $360 by early April.
The new model appears to be physically very similar to the original. It still has an 8 inch, 1920 x 1200 pixel IPS LCD touchscreen display, a 26.6 Wh battery, the same set of ports and the same size and weight.
It’s a 7.9″ x 5″ x 0.7″ computer that weighs about 1.5 pounds and which features LPDDR4 memory (not upgradeable) and eMMC 5.1 storage plus an M.2 2242 slot that you can use to add an optional SSD.
Here’s a run-down of key specs:
| Chuwi MiniBook (2022) specs | |
| Display | 8 inches 1920 x 1200 pixels IPS LCD Touchscreen |
| Processor | Intel Celeron J4125 10W 4-cores / 4-threads 2 GHz base / 2.7 GHz burst |
| Graphics | Intel UHD 600 250 MHz base 750 MHz burst |
| RAM | 6GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 128GB eMMC 5.1 M.2 2242 |
| Ports | 1 x USB Type-C 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A 1 x mini HDMI 1 x microSD card reader 1 x 3.5mm audio jack |
| Webcam | 2MP |
| Audio | Stereo 0.8W speakers microphone 3.5mm audio jack |
| Wireless | WiFi 5 Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Battery & charging | 26.6 Wh USB-C power adapter |
| Keyboard | 6-rows 65 keys Backlit |
| Touch | Optical touch sensor |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor in power button |
| Dimensions | 201 x 128.6 x 19.3mm 7.9″ x 5″ x 0.7″ |
| Size | 663 grams 1.46 pounds |
| Price | $330 |
Wireless capabilities include WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 support, and the notebook has stereo 0.8W speakers, a 2MP webcam, and a built-in microphone.
What’s new is that the updated model has 6GB of RAM (the old versions started at 8GB) and an Intel Celeron J4125 processor, which is a 10-watt, 4-core, 4-core chip released at the end of 2019 as part of Intel’s Gemini Lake Refresh lineup.
When the MiniBook first launched it was available with two processor options:
- Intel Celeron N4100 Gemini Lake (6-watt, 4-cores, 4-threads, released Q4, 2017)
- Intel Core m3-8100Y Amber Lake (5-watt, 2-cores, 4-threads, released Q3, 2018)
While the new model with a Celeron J4125 processor probably won’t be a speed demon, it should bring a performance boost over the previous-gen entry-level model while also lowering the price tag of the little laptop.
For more details about the physical characteristics of the Chuwi MiniBook, check out Liliputing’s review of the 2019 model, which appears to be identical in most respects.
via AndroidPC.es
This article was first published on March 11, 2022 and most recently updated April 5, 2022 to reflect a price increase.Â
I ordered one before the price rise almost a month ago and the estimated ship date was in early April. Now it says “out of stock” on the “My Orders” page and they still haven’t shipped it with a constantly moving estimated ship date now in May.
Does this product even exist? Almost seems like a faux crowdfunding campaign at this stage
Well since the banggood is handling shipping, it should arrive at some point of time. Downside is that not all countries are accepted or i would have ordered too while it was “cheap”
Let’s hope so. Just realised I made a mistake in my last comment – my ship date was actually March 20 and arrival date was early April. It seems like they never had any stock to begin with but a bit reluctuant to cancel now with the price rise.
@Bob my Chuwi got shipped yesterday believe it or not, at first tracking number was not showing any info, today it got some info updated on various tracking sites for HK parcel tracking. Apperently it will arrive soon-ish. I am wondering if your unit is shipped too ?
As of today price just bumped to US $399.99
Today it appears to be $360. Seems like the pricing may be in a state of flux. I’m updating the article to reflect that.
Linux is the first idea that comes to my mind when I see this device.
This is definitely in the goldilocks zone for Chinese UMPCs for me. Not expensive enough that I’m unwilling to risk it, and not so low-end that I’d worry about it being useful.
My only concern is how well it handles linux.
love the formfactor.
fear the linux support of the ‘atom’ based chinese devices.
Seems like a decent UMPC for the price.