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Chuwi AeroBook (2019) Laptop Review: A crowdfunded compact Ultrabook

MacBook, made in China. Chuwi's latest laptop is the product of a successful IndieGoGo campaign. While the package is wrapped in a nice shell, the AeroBook ultimately falls short of other compact notebooks. This is largely in part to its outdated 6th-generation Core m3 CPU.

How do you make a laptop that can rival Apple's 12-inch MacBook? If you're Chuwi, you turn to IndieGoGo and ask your userbase to fund the initial costs. The 2019 AeroBook is the product of a crowdfunding campaign launched at the end of February this year. The campaign ultimately raised US $286,846 from 694 backers, far exceeding Chuwi's flex goal of $30,000. Now that the laptop is here, how does it fare?

The AeroBook looks incredibly similar to the 12-inch MacBook, although there are some subtle changes to the design. Sadly, Chuwi also took cues from the internals of the MacBook; the AeroBook uses Intel's Core m3-6Y30, a nearly four-year-old CPU based on the Skylake architecture. We will see how the AeroBook holds up and whether or not it is worth its $500 retail price.

Competitors of the AeroBook include Apple's 12-inch MacBook and the new MacBook Air. On the Windows side, the Dell XPS 13 should also be considered. These machines are more than double the price of the AeroBook, though. Those on a budget should look at the Asus E203MA and Lenovo's IdeaPad 330S. Lastly, Chuwi's own LapBook SE is a worthy contender.

Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019 (AeroBook Series)
Processor
Intel Core m3-6Y30 2 x 0.9 - 2.2 GHz, Skylake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 515 - 1024 MB VRAM, Core: 400 MHz, Memory: 798 MHz, Integrated, Intel(R) HD Graphics 515 23.20.16.4973
Memory
8 GB 
, 933.3 MHz
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, No touch, BOE BOE0719, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Skylake-Y Premium PCH
Storage
Netac SSD 256GB, 256 GB 
, 237 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Skylake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: 3.5mm headset (audio in/out), Card Reader: microSD/SDHC/SDXC
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 16 x 310 x 209 ( = 0.63 x 12.2 x 8.23 in)
Battery
38 Wh
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 2.0 MP
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, fanless
Weight
1.2 kg ( = 42.33 oz / 2.65 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
499 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Chuwi borrowed quite a few design elements from Apple for the AeroBook. The laptop is hewn from aluminum and shares a similar industrial look and feel to Cupertino's computers. The keyboard deck is made of plastic masquerading as metal; though they are a cheaper material, the palm rest and keyboard shell look and feel premium. Users will be hard-pressed the deck from the lid and base. The understated Chuwi logo and brushed matte finish go a long way in masking the AeroBook's $500 price tag; this device looks almost as good as an Apple laptop at less than half the cost.

Build quality is also excellent. Gaps are tight and even across the chassis save at the bottom of the clickpad. The lid is rigid and can barely be twisted. The keyboard experiences some flex under directed pressure but remains steady when typing. The bottom panel similarly flexes when squeezed. Overall, the laptop feels well-built for a thin device. It bears repeating: it's hard to hit this level of quality at this price. The hinges are too stiff for one-handed opening but hold the screen in place with no wobble. The display can open to about 135°.

The AeroBook is thinner than most laptops at 16 mm, though the MacBook Air trims another 0.4 mm off. The 12-inch MacBook is almost 3 mm thinner than the AeroBook. Still, the AeroBook is very portable for a 13.3-inch device. The machine comes in at 1.2 kg (2.7 lbs), which is a hair lighter than the MacBook Air and about even with the Dell XPS 13. Users will have no trouble carrying the laptop around all day.

358 mm / 14.1 inch 244 mm / 9.61 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 1.9 kg4.12 lbs318 mm / 12.5 inch 216 mm / 8.5 inch 17 mm / 0.669 inch 1.4 kg3.16 lbs310 mm / 12.2 inch 209 mm / 8.23 inch 16 mm / 0.63 inch 1.2 kg2.65 lbs304.1 mm / 12 inch 212.4 mm / 8.36 inch 15.6 mm / 0.614 inch 1.2 kg2.73 lbs302 mm / 11.9 inch 199 mm / 7.83 inch 11.6 mm / 0.4567 inch 1.2 kg2.7 lbs286 mm / 11.3 inch 193 mm / 7.6 inch 16.9 mm / 0.665 inch 980 g2.16 lbs280.5 mm / 11 inch 196.5 mm / 7.74 inch 13.1 mm / 0.516 inch 920 g2.03 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Thankfully, Chuwi did not copy Apple's port selection. The AeroBook is reasonably well-equipped for peripherals. The left side features a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, the power adapter, a mini-HDMI port, and a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port. The right side houses another USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, a headset jack, and a microSD card reader. While the lack of Thunderbolt is noticeable, considering the price, it is to be expected. Our chief complaint is the placement of the power jack. The included power supply uses a right-angle connection, and this can easily block either the adjacent USB or micro-HDMI port.

Left: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, DC in, mini-HDMI, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C
Left: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, DC in, mini-HDMI, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C
Right: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, Headset jack, microSD card reader
Right: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, Headset jack, microSD card reader

SD Card Reader

The microSD card reader is slow. The AeroBook manages a mere 10 MB/s in our real-world JPG copy test, which is about six times slower than the average laptop. We should also note that the card reader requires a microSD card to be inserted upside down, which is uncommon.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
184 MB/s +1711%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (19.5 - 193.9, n=16, last 2 years)
69.6 MB/s +585%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
29.7 MB/s +192%
Chuwi LapBook SE
 
23.8 MB/s +134%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II SDXC)
10.16 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
192.6 MB/s +749%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (23.6 - 239, n=16, last 2 years)
84.3 MB/s +272%
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
39.9 MB/s +76%
Chuwi LapBook SE
 
26.8 MB/s +18%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II SDXC)
22.68 MB/s

Communication

Wireless speeds are slower than the average laptop but should still be fast enough for most home wireless networks. The main sticking point with the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 in our unit was reliability; connections remained stable when the router was in an unobstructed line with the device, but the 5 GHz connection could not be made through an external wall. The 2.4 GHz band was still able to connect up to about 20 meters from the router through an interior and an exterior wall.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Subnotebook
  (606 - 1339, n=3, last 2 years)
1056 MBit/s +278%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
Broadcom 802.11ac
689 MBit/s +147%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
594 (579min - 616max) MBit/s +113%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Broadcom 802.11ac
461 (216min - 525max) MBit/s +65%
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
Wireless AC-9461
330 (247min - 394max) MBit/s +18%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
315 MBit/s +13%
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
301 (237min - 351max) MBit/s +8%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
279 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Subnotebook
  (623 - 1690, n=3, last 2 years)
1258 MBit/s +256%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
Broadcom 802.11ac
660 MBit/s +87%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Broadcom 802.11ac
570 (566min - 572max) MBit/s +61%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
524 (459min - 576max) MBit/s +48%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
353 MBit/s
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
309 (299min - 316max) MBit/s -12%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
305 MBit/s -14%
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
Wireless AC-9461
289 (204min - 340max) MBit/s -18%

Maintenance

The AeroBook features a convenient hatch on the bottom panel to replace or upgrade the M.2 SSD. Two small screws hold the panel onto the chassis. There are 9 more Phillips Head #00 screws holding the bottom panel in place, including one hidden behind a warranty sticker. The bottom panel is also secured by some stubborn clips and the ports along the side. As such, we did not remove the bottom for fear of damaging the laptop.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The oversized keyboard is fairly comfortable to type upon. Key travel is average and feels similar to most other keyboards. Feedback feels stiff; there is a definite pressure point, and the key action is rigid due to a firm and responsive spring. This, in turn, generates clatter. Overall, the keyboard is good and most will find it comfortable after a short period of adjustment. The addition of dedicated navigation keys (Home, End, Page Up, Page Down) along the right side is a plus.

One complaint we have concerns the arrow key arrangement; while it is nice that the AeroBook has full-sized arrow keys, Chuwi shortened the right shift key to accommodate the layout. This will be frustrating to some typists.

Touchpad

The touchpad is large and offers a generous amount of space. The smooth surface feels premium underhand, and glide is easy. Tracking is responsive, and the clicking mechanism feels firm. The AeroBook uses Windows Precision drivers, and we have no complaints about cursor response. As mentioned, there is a slight gap along the bottom of the touchpad which may collect dirt and grime over time.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad

Display

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

The display is a definite strength of the laptop. The screen is bright at about 295 nits (300 nits is the average for modern laptops). The backlight is evenly distributed (90%), and contrast is good. Blacks look deep and shades of gray are easy to distinguish. There is PWM at 99% brightness and below, but at 2000 Hz, it's unlikely to bother most. Overall, the AeroBook's screen competes well with other laptops, but Apple's MacBook Air and Dell's XPS 13 offer brighter and more pixel-dense panels.

297.2
cd/m²
305.6
cd/m²
301.5
cd/m²
291
cd/m²
307.6
cd/m²
296.5
cd/m²
275.5
cd/m²
304.1
cd/m²
276
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE BOE0719 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 307.6 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 295 cd/m² Minimum: 19.44 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 307.6 cd/m²
Contrast: 905:1 (Black: 0.34 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 7.31 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.94
ΔE Greyscale 6.8 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
87% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
57% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
87.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
67.3% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 1.909
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
BOE BOE0719, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
Apple MacBook Air 2018
APPA039, IPS, 13.30, 2560x1600
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
AUO225C, TN LED, 11.60, 1366x768
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
BOE0700, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Apple MacBook 12 2017
APPA027, LED IPS, 12.00, 2304x1440
Chuwi LapBook SE
13.30, 1920x1080
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
ID: AUO 282B B133ZAN Dell: 90NTH, IPS, 13.30, 3840x2160
Display
7%
-43%
-37%
3%
1%
Display P3 Coverage
67.3
67.8
1%
35.75
-47%
39.85
-41%
65
-3%
64.7
-4%
sRGB Coverage
87.6
96.1
10%
53.8
-39%
58.8
-33%
94.8
8%
93.1
6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
64.1
69.8
9%
36.94
-42%
41.17
-36%
66.5
4%
65.3
2%
Response Times
1855%
22%
1387%
1892%
-35%
-50%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
34 ?(15.2, 18.8)
39.6 ?(20.8, 18.8)
-16%
41 ?(22, 19)
-21%
44 ?(21, 23)
-29%
40.8 ?(19.6, 21.2)
-20%
39.2 ?(19.2, 20)
-15%
58 ?(26, 32)
-71%
Response Time Black / White *
28 ?(14.8, 13.2)
28 ?(15.6, 12.4)
-0%
10 ?(6, 4)
64%
31 ?(17, 14)
-11%
29.2 ?(15.8, 13.4)
-4%
27.7 ?(14.8, 12.9)
1%
36 ?(20, 16)
-29%
PWM Frequency
2000 ?(99)
113600 ?(75)
5580%
86000 ?(90)
4200%
116000
5700%
200 ?(29)
-90%
Screen
37%
-36%
-8%
-9%
23%
Brightness middle
307.6
320
4%
235
-24%
283
-8%
227
-26%
404
31%
Brightness
295
315
7%
227
-23%
252
-15%
210
-29%
389
32%
Brightness Distribution
90
95
6%
93
3%
75
-17%
89
-1%
85
-6%
Black Level *
0.34
0.29
15%
0.44
-29%
0.63
-85%
0.44
-29%
0.37
-9%
Contrast
905
1103
22%
534
-41%
449
-50%
516
-43%
1092
21%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
7.31
1.2
84%
11.73
-60%
4.02
45%
6.6
10%
3.72
49%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
11.92
3.2
73%
18.8
-58%
8.77
26%
12.2
-2%
7.38
38%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.94
0.5
87%
3.73
5%
4.03
-2%
1.9
52%
2.06
48%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.8
0.8
88%
12.64
-86%
0.8
88%
7.9
-16%
4.44
35%
Gamma
1.909 115%
2.2 100%
2.61 84%
2.35 94%
2.16 102%
2.34 94%
CCT
7695 84%
6548 99%
14819 44%
6552 99%
8879 73%
7095 92%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
57
62.1
9%
34
-40%
38
-33%
60
5%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
87
96
10%
54
-38%
58
-33%
93
7%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
633% / 352%
-19% / -30%
447% / 233%
1892% / 1892%
-14% / -12%
-9% / 10%

* ... smaller is better

Color accuracy is average. The average DeltaE2000 scores for colors and grays sit at 7.31 and 6.8, respectively. (DeltaE2000 scores of 3 or less are generally considered acceptable for professional work.) As such, the AeroBook is not well-suited for projects that depend on accurate color. However, the AeroBook's screen is more than accurate enough for content consumption. Calibration vastly improves color accuracy, but Apple's devices (especially the MacBook Air) are far better options for color work. There is also a slight blue shift to the screen due to the higher color temperature (7695 K), but calibration corrects this.

ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
ColorChecker (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
vs sRGB: 87%
vs sRGB: 87%
vs AdobeRGB: 57%
vs AdobeRGB: 57%

The IPS display offers excellent viewing angles with images remaining clear and colors remaining accurate up to about 175°. The glossy finish does present a problem: reflections. Indoors under normal lighting, reflections are not visible. However, under bright lights or outdoors, smudges across the glass and reflections can obscure displayed images. The AeroBook is not well-suited to outdoor use. Backlight bleed is minimal.

Outdoors under direct sunlight
Outdoors under direct sunlight
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Blacklight bleed is almost non-existent.
Blacklight bleed is almost non-existent.

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
28 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14.8 ms rise
↘ 13.2 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 67 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
34 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15.2 ms rise
↘ 18.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 40 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 2000 Hz ≤ 99 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 2000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 2000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Performance

While the AeroBook looks great on the outside, looks can be deceiving; the laptop is powered by painfully outdated hardware. The AeroBook can handle simple office tasks and web browsing reasonably well, but heavier loads will bring the system to its knees and try the patience of users.

CPU-Z: CPU
CPU-Z: CPU
CPU-Z: Caches
CPU-Z: Caches
CPU-Z: Mainboard
CPU-Z: Mainboard
CPU-Z: Memory
CPU-Z: Memory
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO64
HWiNFO64

Processor

Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15

The Intel Core m3-6Y30 powering the AeroBook is an odd choice. The Skylake CPU is now almost four years old, and it wasn't known for its performance when it was released in 2015. The dual-core hyperthreaded chip falls behind most competitors. Even Asus' inexpensive E203MA beats the AeroBook thanks to its capable Pentium Silver N5000 CPU. It's likely Chuwi decided on the Core m3-6Y30 to lower costs; the manufacturer may have been able to secure a stockpile of the chips from Intel's surplus. As a final kick in the teeth, the older platform only supports DDR3 memory. On the plus side, long-term performance is very stable.

The Core m3-6Y30 does have a benefit; the CPU is fanless, and the AeroBook is completely silent. Overall, the device has a similar use case to that of Apple's MacBook - it is capable for most office work and general web browsing, but heavier CPU-reliant tasks are no-gos.

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019 HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Netac SSD 256GB; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø198 (196.89-200.66)
Apple MacBook Air 2018 UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256; CPU Multi 64Bit; macOS: Ø277 (266.55-285.88)
Apple MacBook 12 2017 HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32, Apple SSD AP0256; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø223 (81.65-262.2)
Asus E203MA-FD825TS UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, SanDisk DA4064; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø213 (210.75-224.73)
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø461 (452.07-488.22)
Chuwi LapBook SE UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DF4032; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø157.8 (150.45-161.13)
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019 UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø614 (574.66-670.36)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (91.8 - 280, n=62, last 2 years)
234 Points +255%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
Intel Core i5-8265U
148 Points +124%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel Core i5-8250U
140 Points +112%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel Core i5-8210Y
132 Points +100%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
Intel Core m3-7Y32
120 Points +82%
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30
  (62 - 92, n=14)
81 Points +23%
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
79 Points +20%
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Celeron N4100
69.8 Points +6%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Intel Core m3-6Y30
66 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (514 - 2581, n=70, last 2 years)
1705 Points +761%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
Intel Core i5-8265U
666 Points +236%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel Core i5-8250U
488 Points +146%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel Core i5-8210Y
285 Points +44%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
Intel Core m3-7Y32
265 Points +34%
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
224 Points +13%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Intel Core m3-6Y30
198 Points
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30
  (97 - 218, n=13)
192.5 Points -3%
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Celeron N4100
161 (150.45min - 161.13max) Points -19%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (1.38 - 3.33, n=12, last 2 years)
2.84 Points
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30
  (0.81 - 1.04, n=6)
0.97 Points
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Celeron N4100
0.8 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (9.23 - 30, n=12, last 2 years)
21.7 Points
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30
  (1.79 - 2.4, n=6)
2.17 Points
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Celeron N4100
2.13 Points
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (13940 - 56242, n=13, last 2 years)
38077 Points
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30
  (6194 - 7355, n=4)
6966 Points
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Celeron N4100
4915 Points
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2481 - 10300, n=13, last 2 years)
7601 Points
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30
  (3286 - 3477, n=4)
3385 Points
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Celeron N4100
2009 Points
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30
  (788 - 864, n=3)
815 s *
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel Celeron N4100
790 s *
Average of class Subnotebook
  (243 - 1168, n=11, last 2 years)
470 s *

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
66 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
198 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
29.82 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance

Overall performance is adequate but falls short in some areas. Office work can be done smoothly and very light graphical work is possible (simple photo edits with three or fewer layers). However, the machine quickly runs into limits. Streaming 4K video results in stutters every few seconds. The AeroBook can chug through simple spreadsheets, but larger worksheets (5000+ rows) will cause slowdowns, as will complex formulas like nested IFs. Video editing is also off the table. Essentially, the AeroBook is good enough for writing papers and managing small data sets but runs out of steam with anything heavier.

The AeroBook falls toward the back of the pack in PCMark 8 and PCMark 10. Those that need more power should look at a laptop with a full-fledged Core i3 or Core i5 CPU, like the Lenovo IdeaPad 330s or Dell XPS 13.

PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4384 - 7428, n=56, last 2 years)
5810 Points +172%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
3835 Points +79%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
3609 Points +69%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32, Apple SSD AP0256
2568 Points +20%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
2174 Points +2%
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30, Intel HD Graphics 515
  (2138 - 2151, n=2)
2145 Points 0%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Netac SSD 256GB
2138 Points
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, SanDisk DA4064
1930 Points -10%
Chuwi LapBook SE
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DF4032
1502 Points -30%
Essentials
Average of class Subnotebook
  (8890 - 11168, n=56, last 2 years)
10202 Points +107%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
8110 Points +64%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
8033 Points +63%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32, Apple SSD AP0256
6014 Points +22%
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30, Intel HD Graphics 515
  (4931 - 5263, n=2)
5097 Points +3%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Netac SSD 256GB
4931 Points
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, SanDisk DA4064
4766 Points -3%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
4504 Points -9%
Chuwi LapBook SE
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DF4032
3776 Points -23%
Productivity
Average of class Subnotebook
  (6213 - 10279, n=56, last 2 years)
7803 Points +121%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
6101 Points +73%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
5777 Points +64%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32, Apple SSD AP0256
4138 Points +17%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
3902 Points +11%
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30, Intel HD Graphics 515
  (3531 - 3583, n=2)
3557 Points +1%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Netac SSD 256GB
3531 Points
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, SanDisk DA4064
3039 Points -14%
Chuwi LapBook SE
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DF4032
2567 Points -27%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4093 - 9749, n=56, last 2 years)
6758 Points +343%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
3125 Points +105%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
2723 Points +79%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32, Apple SSD AP0256
1848 Points +21%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
1609 Points +6%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Netac SSD 256GB
1524 Points
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30, Intel HD Graphics 515
  (1433 - 1524, n=2)
1479 Points -3%
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, SanDisk DA4064
1293 Points -15%
Chuwi LapBook SE
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DF4032
949 Points -38%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4730 - 5285, n=3, last 2 years)
5030 Points +90%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
3621 Points +37%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
3519 Points +33%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32, Apple SSD AP0256
3078 Points +16%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Netac SSD 256GB
2650 Points
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30, Intel HD Graphics 515
  (2116 - 2976, n=13)
2606 Points -2%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
2484 Points -6%
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, SanDisk DA4064
2070 Points -22%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
4783 Points +28%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
4302 Points +15%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32, Apple SSD AP0256
3946 Points +6%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2972 - 5271, n=3, last 2 years)
3805 Points +2%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Netac SSD 256GB
3735 Points
Average Intel Core m3-6Y30, Intel HD Graphics 515
  (3186 - 3773, n=10)
3573 Points -4%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
3209 Points -14%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2650 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3735 points
PCMark 10 Score
2138 points
Help

Storage Devices

The 256 GB Netac SSD is fairly good considering the price of the laptop. Read and write speeds are average for a SATA III-based SSD and should be adequate for most users. The AeroBook's chipset does support NVMe drives on paper, although we were unable to test an NVMe drive to see how speeds may be affected by the rest of the system. The drive can easily be swapped via the dedicated panel on the bottom.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark 5
CrystalDiskMark 5
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Netac SSD 256GB
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Apple SSD AP0256
Apple MacBook 12 2017
Apple SSD AP0256
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
SanDisk DA4064
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
 
Chuwi LapBook SE
SanDisk DF4032
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
Average Netac SSD 256GB
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
113%
99%
-59%
19%
-78%
99%
-7%
Write 4K
81.8
118
44%
95.7
17%
38.28
-53%
11.17
-86%
84.6
3%
86 ?(63.2 - 113.1, n=3)
5%
Read 4K
33.97
29.97
-12%
22.8
-33%
12.14
-64%
7.2
-79%
38.52
13%
23.2 ?(5.32 - 34, n=3)
-32%
Write Seq
422.4
1000
137%
867
105%
220.2
-48%
158.1
-63%
87.7
-79%
557
32%
364 ?(230 - 440, n=3)
-14%
Read Seq
502
1218
143%
940
87%
262
-48%
892
78%
247
-51%
1393
177%
432 ?(257 - 536, n=3)
-14%
Write 4K Q32T1
152.9
232.1
52%
342
124%
45.72
-70%
162.2
6%
12.29
-92%
339.5
122%
188.9 ?(134.7 - 279, n=3)
24%
Read 4K Q32T1
175.4
254
45%
437.5
149%
61
-65%
320.4
83%
32.46
-81%
255.4
46%
185.9 ?(155 - 227, n=3)
6%
Write Seq Q32T1
464.9
1001
115%
1085
133%
167.1
-64%
160.2
-66%
92
-80%
558
20%
398 ?(258 - 470, n=3)
-14%
Read Seq Q32T1
530
2555
382%
1634
208%
211.5
-60%
933
76%
150.1
-72%
2541
379%
456 ?(283 - 555, n=3)
-14%
Netac SSD 256GB
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 530 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 464.9 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 175.4 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 152.9 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 502 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 422.4 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 33.97 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 81.8 MB/s

GPU Performance

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 515 is not known for its graphical prowess. As such, light photo editing is possible, but video edits or 3D modeling are not feasible. Additionally, 720p or 1080p video can be streamed relatively smoothly, but higher resolutions result in consistent stutters. As mentioned, 4K video playback via YouTube is not possible. On paper, the AeroBook can support up to two additional screens. We were able to test a single 1080p monitor in addition to the laptop's display, and both displays were supported.

Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2979 - 16904, n=55, last 2 years)
8016 Points +670%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U
1815 Points +74%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1805 Points +73%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y
1572 Points +51%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
Intel HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32
1227 Points +18%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Intel HD Graphics 515, 6Y30
1041 Points
Average Intel HD Graphics 515
  (714 - 1254, n=29)
1013 Points -3%
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000
639 Points -39%
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100
482 Points -54%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2080 - 13942, n=55, last 2 years)
6370 Points +636%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U
1795 Points +107%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1645 Points +90%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y
1472 Points +70%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
Intel HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32
1124 Points +30%
Average Intel HD Graphics 515
  (622 - 1370, n=29)
963 Points +11%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Intel HD Graphics 515, 6Y30
866 Points
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000
583 Points -33%
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100
455 Points -47%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (13768 - 65911, n=40, last 2 years)
29002 Points +435%
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U
10126 Points +87%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
10069 Points +86%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y
7231 Points +33%
Apple MacBook 12 2017
Intel HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y32
6863 Points +27%
Average Intel HD Graphics 515
  (3982 - 7035, n=26)
5440 Points 0%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Intel HD Graphics 515, 6Y30
5424 Points
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100
2826 Points -48%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2837 - 12349, n=59, last 2 years)
5881 Points +778%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y
947 Points +41%
Average Intel HD Graphics 515
  (494 - 892, n=22)
679 Points +1%
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
Intel HD Graphics 515, 6Y30
670 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
557 Points -17%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (811 - 4773, n=58, last 2 years)
1981 Points
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y
286 Points
Chuwi LapBook SE
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100
85 Points
3DMark 11 Performance
1121 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
4145 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
617 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Similarly, gaming on the AeroBook is possible, but expectations should be tempered. Older titles and less-demanding games like Bioshock Infinite and Rocket League are playable at the lowest settings and resolutions. Indie titles like Stardew Valley and Undertale are (as expected) smooth. More demanding 3D games and newer titles are far out of reach.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 32 13
Rocket League (2017) 28 11
Team Fortress 2 (2017) 42 30 14

Emissions

System Noise

The AeroBook is fanless, and there is thus no noise under any load. Coil whine is present but is only audible up to about 8 inches from the keyboard.

Temperature

The AeroBook's chassis stays near room temperature under light load. When pressed, the notebook's left side warms up, particularly along the palm rest. The upper-right corner of the bottom gets noticeably hot under load. This is to be expected, as this spot rests directly above the fanless CPU. As such, the AeroBook should be kept on a table or desk when pushing the laptop (e.g., streaming HD video).

Stress Test

The AeroBook cannot keep its cool under stress. Despite the low 900 MHz base clock of the Core m3 6Y30 CPU, the system still throttles under sustained system load. Using Prime95 to strain the CPU, the chip does fairly well, maintaining an average clock of 1.8 GHz while boosting intermittently to 2.0 GHz. It should be noted that the CPU does not reach its rated boost of 2.2 GHz. Graphical stress cripples the AeroBook. Running FurMark throttles the CPU back below its base clock, and the integrated Intel HD Graphics 515 suffers in equal measure.

Prime95
Prime95
FurMark
FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 1.8 - 74 -
FurMark Stress 0.8 600 76 76
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 700 550 77 77
Max. Load
 44 °C
111 F
35.8 °C
96 F
30 °C
86 F
 
 43 °C
109 F
34.6 °C
94 F
30.4 °C
87 F
 
 36.2 °C
97 F
33 °C
91 F
30.4 °C
87 F
 
Maximum: 44 °C = 111 F
Average: 35.3 °C = 96 F
35.6 °C
96 F
41 °C
106 F
53.4 °C
128 F
35.4 °C
96 F
39.8 °C
104 F
49.6 °C
121 F
35.2 °C
95 F
38.4 °C
101 F
42.6 °C
109 F
Maximum: 53.4 °C = 128 F
Average: 41.2 °C = 106 F
Power Supply (max.)  30 °C = 86 F | Room Temperature 23 °C = 73 F | Fluke 62 Mini
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.3 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 53.4 °C / 128 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.9 °C / 89 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 36.2 °C / 97.2 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-7.9 °C / -14.3 F).
Keyboard, idle
Keyboard, idle
Bottom, idle
Bottom, idle
Keyboard, load
Keyboard, load
Bottom, load
Bottom, load

Speakers

The speakers are bad, even by laptop standards. Our chief complaint is the thin profile and tinny timbre. The lack of bass is painfully obvious, and the thin chassis leaves no room for resonance. Overall, the sound profile is weak. To their credit, the speakers remain clear up to 100% volume, and there is no noticeable distortion.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2041432540.940.33139.339403938.25038.938.16338.236.28035.835.71003535.912535.935.416033.837.4200343925033.34231532.245.240031.548.650030.455.963029.962.180029.766.6100028.870.4125028.673.6160028.575.8200028.472.4250028.172.3315027.968.9400027.772.4500027.676.7630027.674.9800027.567.11000027.361.61250027.256.21600027.250.2SPL40.884.3N4.155.8median 28.6median 62.1Delta1.612.430.128.225.925.324.925.522.526.322.225.323.836.722.135.621.243.220.450.620.256.12054.32053.719.356.719.26018.862.818.463.91860.617.564.617.263.316.364.215.966.915.465.515.261.715.160.61561.614.960.614.657.514.65514.456.614.657.128.5751.136.1median 17.2median 60.62.243739.732.631.129.827.929.229.627.630.331.432.528.135.925.342.423.65023.356.223.656.720.662.820.763.720.167.11971.818.57517.673.717.972.417.37117.270.717.270.31770.216.868.21772.61774.317.272.217.372.317.3741768.717.360.729.783.91.363.5median 17.3median 70.31.85.3hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseChuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019Apple MacBook Air 2018Apple MacBook 12 2017
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (12.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 8.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (11.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (37.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 97% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 93% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 6% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook Air 2018 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (75 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 13% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 7% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 2017 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 9% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 87% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 5% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

One of the positive points of the Intel Core m3-6Y30 is its low 4.5 Watt TDP. While it lacks power, the chip is fairly efficient. Under load, the system draws an average of 20 Watts. The included power supply is rated for 24 Watts; while the AeroBook hits a peak of 28.6 Watts in our testing, this is a brief spike and shouldn't be cause for concern.

Prime95
Prime95
3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.77 / 0.78 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.6 / 7.8 / 8.9 Watt
Load midlight 20.9 / 28.6 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
6Y30, HD Graphics 515, Netac SSD 256GB, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Apple MacBook Air 2018
i5-8210Y, UHD Graphics 617, Apple SSD AP0256, IPS, 2560x1600, 13.30
Apple MacBook 12 2017
m3-7Y32, HD Graphics 615, Apple SSD AP0256, LED IPS, 2304x1440, 12.00
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
Pentium N5000, UHD Graphics 605, SanDisk DA4064, TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, , IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Chuwi LapBook SE
Celeron N4100, UHD Graphics 600, SanDisk DF4032, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG, IPS, 3840x2160, 13.30
Power Consumption
7%
28%
49%
-9%
26%
-36%
Idle Minimum *
4.6
2.2
52%
2
57%
1.9
59%
5
-9%
2.7
41%
4.8
-4%
Idle Average *
7.8
5.7
27%
5.4
31%
3.5
55%
7.6
3%
6.3
19%
8.6
-10%
Idle Maximum *
8.9
10.3
-16%
6.6
26%
3.9
56%
8.6
3%
7.6
15%
10.4
-17%
Load Average *
20.9
25.6
-22%
22
-5%
12.7
39%
25.6
-22%
12.6
40%
37.9
-81%
Load Maximum *
28.6
30.6
-7%
20
30%
19
34%
34
-19%
24.6
14%
48.5
-70%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Battery life is average. The 38 Wh battery lasted just over 6 hours in our WiFi test (screen set to 150 nits, opening a new web page every 30-40 seconds). While almost good enough to get through a full workday, most competitors lasted far longer in the same test. Additionally, the battery takes about 3 hours to charge from 5-100% while the system is idle. This is very long, especially for a laptop that draws such little power.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
9h 16min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 12min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 40min
Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019
6Y30, HD Graphics 515, 38 Wh
Apple MacBook Air 2018
i5-8210Y, UHD Graphics 617, 50.3 Wh
Apple MacBook 12 2017
m3-7Y32, HD Graphics 615, 41.4 Wh
Asus E203MA-FD825TS
Pentium N5000, UHD Graphics 605, 38 Wh
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 52 Wh
Chuwi LapBook SE
Celeron N4100, UHD Graphics 600, 37 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9380 2019
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 52 Wh
Battery Runtime
56%
45%
33%
14%
133%
54%
Reader / Idle
556
754
36%
1032
86%
WiFi v1.3
372
668
80%
540
45%
495
33%
350
-6%
444
19%
498
34%
Load
100
131
31%
113
13%
347
247%
141
41%

Pros

+ great design
+ sturdy build quality
+ good keyboard and trackpad
+ bright and vibrant screen
+ very light and compact

Cons

- slow, outdated processor
- weak graphical performance
- battery life shorter than expected
- terrible speakers

Verdict

In review: Chuwi AeroBook. Review unit courtesy of Chuwi.
In review: Chuwi AeroBook. Review unit courtesy of Chuwi.

Chuwi's AeroBook is a decent clone of Apple's 12-inch MacBook. The Chinese notebook gets several things right; the design is top-notch, the build quality is excellent, and the keyboard and trackpad are very good considering the $500 price tag.

Unfortunately, like the MacBook 12, the AeroBook fails to impress in terms of power. Additionally, Chuwi cannot rely on software optimization like the MacBook can. While Apple's compact laptop can power through 4K video streaming and decently complex office work thanks to optimizations in MacOS, the AeroBook falls short in these tasks and is ultimately relegated to the same use cases as Chromebooks and other cheap Windows laptops. 

Overall, the Chuwi Aerobook is a good-looking laptop made for light content consumption, writing notes, and basic office work. Anything heavier will leave users wanting (and waiting for) more.

Interested buyers can save $30 by using the coupon code "CHUWINOTE" at the Amazon link here.

Please note: We updated this review on 09/26/2019 to our new rating version 7. The former rating according to version 6 was at 83 %. If you would like to learn more about our new rating system please click here.

Chuwi AeroBook 13 inch 2019 - 09/26/2019 v7
Sam Medley

Chassis
84 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
39 / 75 → 52%
Weight
73 / 20-75 → 96%
Battery
70%
Display
80%
Games Performance
31 / 78 → 40%
Application Performance
67 / 85 → 78%
Temperature
86%
Noise
100%
Audio
30 / 91 → 33%
Camera
46 / 85 → 54%
Average
67%
80%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Chuwi AeroBook (2019) Laptop Review: A crowdfunded compact Ultrabook
Sam Medley, 2019-06-17 (Update: 2019-09-26)