Chuwi MiniBook X Review: The Perfect 10.5-Inch 2-in-1 Laptop for In-Trajectory Productivity
If you’re the type who wants portability without trading off productivity, then the Chuwi MiniBook X could be the product you’ve been waiting for. This 10.5-inch 2-in-1 laptop boasts a slim body with decent performance, and it’s perfect for someone who requires a working computer on the go. In this review, we will talk about its design, features, performance, and value to check if it’s the right fit for you.
Compact Yet Powerful: A Nostalgic Nod to the Netbook Era
Remember the days when netbooks, those small and lightweight laptops with 10-11 inch screens, were all the rage? Well, Chuwi has revived this concept with the MiniBook X, a sleek, compact 2-in-1 device that brings the best of portability and functionality to a modern audience.
The Chuwi MiniBook X has a 10.5-inch screen, and its 360-degree flip hinge makes it a highly portable computer that can be used either as a laptop or tablet. Whether you are working in dense spaces on an airplane or train, or need to do some work quickly for a business trip, this gadget gets the best of both worlds when it comes to size and functionality.
Solid Build Quality and Sleek Design
One thing you’ll learn in a hurry about with the MiniBook X is the quality of the build. Unlike the majority of budget laptops, the MiniBook X has a solid feel to it because of the aluminum construction. It’s not the prettiest bit of aluminum work you’ll ever see, but it’s smooth, tough, and lacks any bargain-basement character to it. The hinge is firm and comfortable, so going from laptop to tablet is easy.
One feature that pops out most is that there is no logo on the lid, making the device very minimalist and clean-looking. If you’re the kind of user who likes to customize their laptops, this is ideal—howsoever you want it to be, whether no logo at all or your own stickers.
But one of the drawbacks is that there is no dust-resistant mesh on the bottom, which could be a problem if you’re going to be using it in dusty environments.
Performance: Excellent for General Use
Under the hood, the Chuwi MiniBook X is fueled by the Intel N100 processor with four frugal E-cores. It isn’t a beast for heavy usage, but it’s well more than enough to get by doing light office tasks, browsing the web, and even a little light gaming.
It’s also coming with 12GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, so you’ve got all the space you’ll ever need for basic work functions. You don’t have to cross your fingers for an upgrade on day one—this is a seriously specced machine for everyday work.
On the performance front, the MiniBook X recorded around 891 in single-core and 2,861 in multi-core tests (with Cinebench R23). These place it on par with old mid-range processors such as the Intel Core i5-7200U. For general tasks such as emailing, document composition, and web browsing, the performance is responsive and snappy.
Striking Display and Touch Experience
The 10.5-inch display of the MiniBook X sports a 16:10 aspect ratio, excellent as a middle ground for usage as both tablet and laptop. The color output is decent at 94% sRGB and becomes bright enough for easy reading under normal circumstances, topping 350 nits. The touch input is equally decent, with no issue having any spurious touch inputs on my part.
But a little bit of out-of-box color calibration is necessary because the white balance is completely off. With a quick fix by means of a color calibration tool, the screen is a lot more bearable to look at.
Battery Life and Portability
The MiniBook X is for those who require a laptop that is easy to move around, and at 910g (roughly 2 pounds), it’s lighter than most laptops in its category. Whether you’re throwing it into your backpack or carrying it in one hand, it’s highly portable.
Battery life, though, is a bit constrained. With a 28.8Wh battery, it just manages to last 4 to 5 hours on a single charge under normal usage. But it is PD charging-capable, and you can easily charge up the battery in no time using a portable power bank on long drives.
Affordable and Practical: A Great Value for the Price
And lastly, the price. At a cost of around $340, the Chuwi MiniBook X is a huge bargain for a 2-in-1 PC with decent specs, portability, and construction. And if you will only use the laptop for minimal tasks, occasional media viewing, or as secondary use, then this one’s a good recommendation.
For anyone seeking to purchase an affordable 2-in-1 computer that isn’t too bulky, the Chuwi MiniBook X is a good option. It’s a value laptop for general use that gets the job done and is also extremely portable, making it a good investment for regular travelers or anyone who simply needs a second device.
A Solid Laptop for Everyday Use
The Chuwi MiniBook X won’t be a gaming nor video editing behemoth, but with its balance of portability, reasonable performance, and strong build quality, it is perfect for day-to-day tasks. Be it word documents, browsing the internet, or participating in online meetings, this small 2-in-1 laptop will take care of all your work without being too burdensome to carry around.
For about $340, it’s a great value for someone who requires a cheap, light laptop with the portability of a tablet.