Notebookcheck Logo

Chuwi LarkBox Celeron J4115 Review: A 4K Mini PC So Small, It's Lighter Than Its Own AC Adapter

Smaller than a baseball. Chuwi's latest product is one of the tiniest mini PCs you can find that doesn't run on a passively-cooled processor. Fan noise, however, is louder than expected. See what we think about this $160 USD crowdfunded project.
Chuwi LarkBox (left) next to the Intel NUC 10 (right)
Chuwi LarkBox (left) next to the Intel NUC 10 (right)

The Chuwi LarkBox is a miniature HTPC that could fit just about anywhere from the same creators as the GBox mini PC or AeroBook laptop series. Aside from its miniature dimensions, the system is notable for running on the uncommon Intel Celeron J4115 CPU for 4K video playback and for utilizing an active fan inside.

Additional details on the LarkBox can be found on its official Indiegogo page here. The manufacturer offers either Windows or Linux operating systems.

More Chuwi reviews:

Chuwi LarkBox specifications (Source: Chuwi)
Chuwi LarkBox specifications (Source: Chuwi)
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Processor
Intel Celeron J4115 4 x 1.8 - 2.5 GHz, Gemini Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel UHD Graphics 600, 26.20.100.7262
Memory
6 GB 
, Soldered, 1200 MHz, Dual-Channel
Storage
128 GB eMMC Flash, 128 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Gemini Lake SoC - High Definition Audio Controller
Networking
Wireless AC-9461 (ac = Wi-Fi 5/)
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 43 x 61 x 61 ( = 1.69 x 2.4 x 2.4 in)
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Additional features
12 Months Warranty
Weight
129 g ( = 4.55 oz / 0.28 pounds), Power Supply: 200 g ( = 7.05 oz / 0.44 pounds)
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
07/2020
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Celeron J4115, UHD Graphics 600
129 g43 mmx
12/2019
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620
499 g22 mm0.00"x
09/2018
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Celeron N4100, UHD Graphics 600
558 g37.3 mmx
06/2018
Intel NUC7CJYH
Celeron J4005, UHD Graphics 600
577 g51 mm0.00"0x0
09/2018
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620
1.1 kg68 mmx

Case

Like the GBox, the LarkBox uses a similar metal material for its chassis for a solid feel and first impression. We can't notice any manufacturing defects on our pre-production test unit whereas we can't say the same for some Chuwi laptops we've seen.

The mini PC is downright tiny at just 61 x 61 x 43 cm
The mini PC is downright tiny at just 61 x 61 x 43 cm
Make sure your HDMI or USB cables aren't too thick or else they may block access to adjacent ports
Make sure your HDMI or USB cables aren't too thick or else they may block access to adjacent ports
The screws on the bottom have rubber feet for a better grip when placed on a table
The screws on the bottom have rubber feet for a better grip when placed on a table
Very light at just 129 g according to our own kitchen scale
Very light at just 129 g according to our own kitchen scale
204 mm / 8.03 inch 129 mm / 5.08 inch 68 mm / 2.68 inch 1.1 kg2.52 lbs187.6 mm / 7.39 inch 138.3 mm / 5.44 inch 37.3 mm / 1.469 inch 558 g1.23 lbs179 mm / 7.05 inch 88 mm / 3.46 inch 22 mm / 0.866 inch 499 g1.1 lbs117 mm / 4.61 inch 112 mm / 4.41 inch 36 mm / 1.417 inch 493 g1.087 lbs61 mm / 2.4 inch 61 mm / 2.4 inch 43 mm / 1.693 inch 129 g0.2844 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The four main ports are packed tightly together on the back side of the cube. The sole USB-C port appears to be for power only as our IOGEAR USB-C passthrough adapter would not work at all.

HDMI 2.0 is supported for 4K60 output.

Rear: USB-C, HDMI 2.0, 2x USB-A 3.0
Rear: USB-C, HDMI 2.0, 2x USB-A 3.0
Right: MicroSD reader, 3.5 mm earphones (no mic)
Right: MicroSD reader, 3.5 mm earphones (no mic)

SD Card Reader

The spring-loaded MicroSD reader is faster than we expected at about 85 MB/s. Moving 1 GB of pictures from our UHS-II test card to desktop takes about 15 seconds. A fully inserted MicroSD card sits flush against the edge and can be difficult to eject.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
81 MB/s +21%
Intel NUC8i7BE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
69 MB/s +3%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
66.9 MB/s
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
35 MB/s -48%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
18.7 MB/s -72%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
88.3 MB/s +3%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
85.4 MB/s
Intel NUC8i7BE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
85 MB/s 0%
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
37.73 MB/s -56%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
20.8 MB/s -76%

Communication

A non-removable 1x1 Intel 9461 comes standard for Wi-Fi 5 (or 802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. Theoretical transfer rates are up to 433 Mbps with our own real-world tests averaging around 350 Mbps when connected to our Netgear RAX200 router.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
604 MBit/s +78%
Intel NUC8i7BE
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
553 MBit/s +63%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
545 (414min - 604max) MBit/s +61%
Chuwi UBook CWI509
Wireless AC-9461
355 MBit/s +5%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Wireless AC-9461
339 (302min - 361max) MBit/s
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
281 MBit/s -17%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
248 MBit/s -27%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
227 MBit/s -33%
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
218 MBit/s -36%
iperf3 receive AX12
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
643 MBit/s +83%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
641 (554min - 678max) MBit/s +82%
Intel NUC8i7BE
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
602 MBit/s +71%
Chuwi UBook CWI509
Wireless AC-9461
391 MBit/s +11%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Wireless AC-9461
352 (344min - 357max) MBit/s
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
330 MBit/s -6%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
326 MBit/s -7%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
316 MBit/s -10%
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
301 MBit/s -14%
050100150200250300350Tooltip
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø352 (344-357)
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø339 (302-361)

Maintenance

Removing the bottom panel with a Philips screwdriver reveals the M.2 2242 SATA SSD expansion slot. A second panel beneath that can also be removed, but no more expansions are available as the RAM and WLAN are integrated.

It's surprising to see an empty M.2 slot on such a small mini PC
It's surprising to see an empty M.2 slot on such a small mini PC
Further disassembly yields no other expandable options
Further disassembly yields no other expandable options

Accessories and Warranty

A mounting bracket compatible with 75 mm and 100 mm mounts are included alongside the necessary screws.

Chuwi promises a one-year manufacturer warranty, but buyers may need to pay for overseas shipping and handling.

Performance

Processor

Raw multi-thread performance is about 40 percent and 80 percent faster than the Celeron N4100 and Celeron J4005, respectively, while single-thread performance remains essentially the same. This comes at the cost of a slightly higher TDP (10 W vs. 6 W), but the performance gains are well worth it.

See our dedicated page on the Celeron J4115 for more technical information and benchmarks. Performance is essentially identical to its immediate predecessor the Celeron J4105.

CineBench R15
CineBench R15
CineBench R20
CineBench R20
0153045607590105120135150165180195210225240255Tooltip
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø253 (207.57-262.65)
Chuwi GBox CWI560 UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DA4064; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø185.6 (184.81-188.15)
Intel NUC7CJYH UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005, SanDisk Ultra II; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø145.7 (143.42-146.64)
Chuwi UBook CWI509 UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, Netac SSD 256GB; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø174 (172.96-175.02)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 -mmt1 | 7z b 4
Geekbench 5.5: Single-Core | Multi-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano IoT
Intel Core i3-8145U
353 Points +34%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
333 (293min - 333max) Points +27%
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
Intel Core i3-8121U
317.6 (304.79min - 319.39max) Points +21%
Asrock J4105-ITX
Intel Celeron J4105
270 Points +3%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
263 (207.57min - 262.65max) Points
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel Celeron N4100
188 Points -29%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Celeron N3450
167 Points -37%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
144.1 (131.27min - 145.38max) Points -45%
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel Celeron J4005
144 Points -45%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
125 Points -52%
Chuwi Hi10 Air
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
97 Points -63%
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel Celeron J3355
90 (89.56min - 90.33max) Points -66%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
82.3 (81.02min - 82.28max) Points -69%
Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
141 Points +98%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano IoT
Intel Core i3-8145U
139 Points +95%
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
Intel Core i3-8121U
133 Points +87%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
78.9 Points +11%
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel Celeron J4005
77 Points +8%
Asrock J4105-ITX
Intel Celeron J4105
73 Points +3%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
71.1 Points
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel Celeron N4100
68 Points -4%
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel Celeron J3355
47.6 Points -33%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Celeron N3450
44 Points -38%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
43.4 Points -39%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
41 Points -42%
Chuwi Hi10 Air
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
30 Points -58%
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core)
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
590 Points
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
587 Points -1%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
316 Points -46%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
272 Points -54%
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel Celeron J3355
200 Points -66%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
190 Points -68%
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core)
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
348 Points +123%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
175 Points +12%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
156 Points
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel Celeron J3355
106 Points -32%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
100 Points -36%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
93 Points -40%
Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
6277 Seconds * -164%
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel Celeron J3355
5811 Seconds * -144%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
4564 Seconds * -92%
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel Celeron J4005
4124 Seconds * -73%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
4064 Seconds * -71%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel Celeron N4100
3527 Seconds * -48%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
2380 Seconds *
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
1814 Seconds * +24%
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
3438 MIPS +55%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel Celeron N4100
2459 MIPS +11%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
2456 MIPS +11%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
2215 MIPS
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel Celeron J3355
1825 MIPS -18%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
1653 MIPS -25%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
1454 MIPS -34%
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
8098 MIPS
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
7921 MIPS -2%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel Celeron N4100
6608 MIPS -18%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
4569 MIPS -44%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
4498 MIPS -44%
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel Celeron J3355
3541 MIPS -56%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
3267 MIPS -60%
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
1096 Points +182%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
475 Points +22%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
388 Points
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
310 Points -20%
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
2028 Points +44%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
1410 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
858 Points -39%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
591 Points -58%
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
2.23 fps +50%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
1.49 fps
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
0.98 fps -34%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel Celeron N4100
0.974 fps -35%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
0.92 fps -38%
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel Celeron J4005
0.88 fps -41%
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel Celeron J3355
0.7 fps -53%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
0.65 fps -56%
LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
281 s * -87%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel Celeron J4115
150 s *
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
139 s * +7%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
97.8 s * +35%
R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel Celeron N3350
2.21 sec *
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel Celeron N4020
1.511 sec *
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Core i3-1000NG4
0.918 sec *
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 -mmt1 | 7z b 4
Geekbench 5.5: Single-Core | Multi-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
7426
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
3259
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
2087
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.2 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
10.44 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
0.83 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
71.1 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
17.4 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
263 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark results are higher than most other inexpensive Celeron or Atom-based systems but still much lower than the latest Core i3 solutions. Subjectively, the system still chugs when browsing the net especially when visiting larger web pages.

PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10
Score
Intel NUC8i7BE
Iris Plus Graphics 655, i7-8559U
4580 Points +154%
Intel NUC10i5FNK
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1
4019 Points +123%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3876 Points +115%
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, OCZ Vertex OCZSSD2-1VTX120G
3837 Points +113%
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
Radeon RX 540, i3-8121U, Seagate ST1000VT001
3161 Points +75%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano IoT
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB256HBHQ
3042 Points +69%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i3-1000NG4, Apple SSD AP0256
2229 Points +24%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash
1803 Points
Chuwi GBox CWI560
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DA4064
1658 Points -8%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1269 (1261min - 1270max) Points -30%
Jumper EZbook X3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1179 Points -35%
Intel NUC7CJYH
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005, SanDisk Ultra II
1136 Points -37%
Essentials
Intel NUC8i7BE
Iris Plus Graphics 655, i7-8559U
8994 Points +86%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
8551 Points +77%
Intel NUC10i5FNK
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1
8235 Points +70%
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, OCZ Vertex OCZSSD2-1VTX120G
8051 Points +66%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano IoT
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB256HBHQ
7625 Points +58%
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
Radeon RX 540, i3-8121U, Seagate ST1000VT001
5576 Points +15%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i3-1000NG4, Apple SSD AP0256
5464 Points +13%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash
4837 Points
Chuwi GBox CWI560
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DA4064
4418 Points -9%
Intel NUC7CJYH
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005, SanDisk Ultra II
4188 Points -13%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
3486 (3484min - 3505max) Points -28%
Jumper EZbook X3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2833 Points -41%
Productivity
Intel NUC8i7BE
Iris Plus Graphics 655, i7-8559U
7236 Points +144%
Intel NUC10i5FNK
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1
6494 Points +119%
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, OCZ Vertex OCZSSD2-1VTX120G
6481 Points +118%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
6337 Points +113%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano IoT
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB256HBHQ
5689 Points +92%
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
Radeon RX 540, i3-8121U, Seagate ST1000VT001
5302 Points +79%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i3-1000NG4, Apple SSD AP0256
3620 Points +22%
Intel NUC7CJYH
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005, SanDisk Ultra II
3289 Points +11%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash
2969 Points
Chuwi GBox CWI560
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DA4064
2883 Points -3%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2012 (1995min - 2022max) Points -32%
Jumper EZbook X3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1885 Points -37%
Digital Content Creation
Intel NUC8i7BE
Iris Plus Graphics 655, i7-8559U
4007 Points +261%
Intel NUC10i5FNK
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1
3296 Points +197%
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, OCZ Vertex OCZSSD2-1VTX120G
2939 Points +165%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
2917 Points +163%
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
Radeon RX 540, i3-8121U, Seagate ST1000VT001
2902 Points +161%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano IoT
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB256HBHQ
1762 Points +59%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i3-1000NG4, Apple SSD AP0256
1521 Points +37%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash
1110 Points
Intel NUC7CJYH
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005, SanDisk Ultra II
990 Points -11%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DA4064
972 Points -12%
Jumper EZbook X3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
835 Points -25%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
787 (784min - 789max) Points -29%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Intel NUC8i7BE
Iris Plus Graphics 655, i7-8559U
4674 Points +130%
Zotac ZBOX-CI660 Nano
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, OCZ Vertex OCZSSD2-1VTX120G
3594 Points +77%
Intel NUC10i5FNK
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1
3526 Points +73%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i3-1000NG4, Apple SSD AP0256
2701 Points +33%
Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Apple SSD AP0256
2550 Points +25%
Intel NUC7CJYH
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005, SanDisk Ultra II
2084 Points +2%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, SanDisk DA4064
2062 Points +1%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash
2036 Points
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1461 (1450min - 1461max) Points -28%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Intel NUC10i5FNK
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1
4286 Points +34%
Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Apple SSD AP0256
3550 Points +11%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash
3191 Points
Intel NUC7CJYH
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005, SanDisk Ultra II
3188 Points 0%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2152 (2150min - 2152max) Points -33%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2036 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3191 points
PCMark 10 Score
1803 points
Help

DPC Latency

The LarkBox is marketed as a 4K mini PC and so we're glad to report that the system is able to play 4K video at 60 FPS without any dropped frame during our YouTube test. GPU acceleration appears to be working as intended at 46 percent GPU utilization and only 17 percent CPU utilization. However, DPC latency issues may exist related to dxgkrnl.sys.

DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4020, SanDisk DA4064
2421 μs * -216%
Honor MagicBook 15
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB256HBHQ
1343 μs * -75%
Huawei MateBook 13 2020 AMD
Vega 8, R5 3500U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
993 μs * -30%
Dell Latitude 7310
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10610U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
767 μs * -0%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash
766 μs *

* ... smaller is better

Storage Devices

The primary 128 GB eMMC performs more similarly to smartphones than other classic mini PCs or subnotebooks. The maximum sequential write rate of only about 106 MB/s is slow but adequate considering the intended workloads. In this case, capacity is generally more important than transfer rates. Users can expand storage via M.2 2242 or MicroSD.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5.5
CDM 5.5
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
128 GB eMMC Flash
Intel NUC10i5FNK
Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Chuwi GBox CWI560
SanDisk DA4064
Intel NUC7CJYH
SanDisk Ultra II
AS SSD
930%
1586%
416%
Seq Read
286
1318
361%
1668
483%
480
68%
Seq Write
106.9
616
476%
1150
976%
464.8
335%
4K Read
15.22
26.44
74%
48.46
218%
26.98
77%
4K Write
21.59
61.3
184%
116.5
440%
47.43
120%
4K-64 Read
16.8
650
3769%
726
4221%
420.5
2403%
4K-64 Write
20.03
642
3105%
1074
5262%
174.6
772%
Access Time Read *
0.254
0.11
57%
0.039
85%
0.115
55%
Access Time Write *
0.406
0.07
83%
0.032
92%
0.089
78%
Score Read
61
808
1225%
942
1444%
498
716%
Score Write
52
765
1371%
1305
2410%
268
415%
Score Total
142
1955
1277%
2716
1813%
1025
622%
Copy ISO MB/s
107.3
576
437%
197
84%
Copy Program MB/s
92.6
328.9
255%
102
10%
Copy Game MB/s
104.7
471.2
350%
175.5
68%
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
826%
1692%
69%
286%
Write 4K
26.02
58.4
124%
130
400%
38
46%
61.1
135%
Read 4K
16.33
30.24
85%
45.61
179%
23.84
46%
31.99
96%
Write Seq
109.5
773
606%
226.7
107%
421.7
285%
Read Seq
334.3
712
113%
271.8
-19%
427.4
28%
Write 4K Q32T1
28.76
448.5
1459%
365.3
1170%
44.74
56%
97
237%
Read 4K Q32T1
17.41
391.4
2148%
350.2
1911%
53.2
206%
121.9
600%
Write Seq Q32T1
59
914
1449%
2986
4961%
129.4
119%
504
754%
Read Seq Q32T1
218.8
1583
623%
3565
1529%
189.4
-13%
551
152%
Write 4K Q8T8
402.3
368.7
183.1
Read 4K Q8T8
680
790
221.3
Total Average (Program / Settings)
878% / 892%
1639% / 1623%
69% / 69%
351% / 369%

* ... smaller is better

128 GB eMMC Flash
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 218.8 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 59 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 17.41 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 28.76 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 334.3 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 109.5 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 16.33 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 26.02 MB/s

Disk Throttling: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8

No graph data

GPU Performance

The integrated UHD Graphics 600 hasn't changed from the last generation J4105 or J4005 series. Users can still expect about 50 to 60 percent slower graphics performance than the common UHD Graphics 620 as a result.

3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
AMD Radeon RX 540, i3-8121U
18704 Points +382%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points +139%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano IoT
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U
6971 Points +80%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950
3997 Points +3%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115
3882 Points
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005
3513 Points -10%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
2651 (2630min - 2661max) Points -32%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
AMD Radeon RX 540, i3-8121U
3242 Points +616%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points +156%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i3-1000NG4
922 Points +104%
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano IoT
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U
863 Points +91%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115
453 Points
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005
448 Points -1%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4020
372 Points -18%
Jumper EZbook X3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
364 Points -20%
XIDU PhilBook Max
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron J3355
311 Points -31%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
310 (307min - 317max) Points -32%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (26409 - 59483, n=71)
42924 Points +159%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950
17895 Points +8%
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005
16594 Points 0%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115
16551 Points
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
AMD Radeon RX 540, i3-8121U
4458 Points +637%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i3-1000NG4
1941 Points +221%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points +189%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950
765 Points +26%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115
605 Points
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
584 Points -3%
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005
579 Points -4%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4020
532 Points -12%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100
484 Points -20%
Chuwi Hi10 Air
Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail), Z8350
278 Points -54%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Intel NUC8i3CYSM
AMD Radeon RX 540, i3-8121U
4334 Points +608%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (927 - 2505, n=244)
1578 Points +158%
Apple MacBook Air 2020 i3
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i3-1000NG4
1352 Points +121%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950
754 Points +23%
Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115
612 Points
Intel NUC7CJYH
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4005
593 Points -3%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
570 Points -7%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4020
501 Points -18%
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100
445 Points -27%
Chuwi Hi10 Air
Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail), Z8350
318 Points -48%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
4434 points
3DMark 11 Performance
687 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
3516 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
420 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
140 points
Help
low med. high ultra
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 42.9 19.5 8.6 7.7
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 7.17 4.93 4.55

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise is the one aspect where the LarkBox could use some more attention. The internal fan pulses frequently between silent (26 dB(A)) and loud (43.3 dB(A)) with nothing in between. The change is very sudden and undesirable. Simple actions like web browsing or video streaming will be enough to induce the loud fan and pulsing behavior.

Thankfully, users tend to position their PCs further away than their laptops and so the loud fan may be less noticeable depending on your setup. Even so, don't expect a silent mini PC here.

Chuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron J4115, 128 GB eMMC Flash
Intel NUC8i7BE
Iris Plus Graphics 655, i7-8559U
Intel Skull Canyon NUC6i7KYK
Iris Pro Graphics 580, 6770HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO m.2 120GB
Dell XPS 13 9300 i5 FHD
UHD Graphics G1 (Ice Lake 32 EU), i5-1035G1, Toshiba XG6 KXG60ZNV512G
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Vega M GH, i7-8809G, Intel Optane 120 GB SSDPEK1W120GA
Noise
2%
-5%
8%
0%
off / environment *
26
28.7
-10%
29.5
-13%
29.3
-13%
28.7
-10%
Idle Minimum *
26
28.7
-10%
31.6
-22%
29.3
-13%
29
-12%
Idle Average *
26
29.3
-13%
32.2
-24%
29.3
-13%
29
-12%
Idle Maximum *
43.3
31.8
27%
32.3
25%
29.3
32%
29
33%
Load Average *
43.3
39
10%
43
1%
30
31%
36
17%
Load Maximum *
43.5
41.4
5%
43.2
1%
32.4
26%
49.4
-14%
Witcher 3 ultra *
39
42

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
26 / 26 / 43.3 dB(A)
Load
43.3 / 43.5 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 26 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.631.634.336.32529.230.53231.23124.326.228.326.44024.122.823.423.65023.422.722.523.26324.224.323.924.98022.921.521.822.710024.720.31925.612521.417.617.922.316022.91715.921.520023.416.516.724.325023.816.215.224.631523.716.215.924.740024.316.315.224.650026.114.61426.863028.413.513.828.680031.713.513.331.6100032.413.413.132.4125038.412.713.237160030.812.813.532.4200031.213.213.130.8250031.613.213.231.7315029.713.513.729.7400029.413.913.929.85000321414.332.3630027.514.314.428.1800025.91414.326.21000018.81414.219.21250017.71514.517.41600016.715.715.517.2SPL43.525.92643.3N4.20.70.74.2median 26.1median 14median 14.3median 26.8Delta4.61.51.24.6hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseChuwi LarkBox 4K Mini PC

Temperature

AC adapter after running high loads for almost an hour
AC adapter after running high loads for almost an hour

Surface temperatures are warm at about 36 C even when idling on desktop without any running applications. Hot spots can become warmer than 50 C when under high loads.

It should be safe to run the mini PC on its side, but we don't recommend placing it upside-down since there are ventilation grilles on top. There is a fan inside, after all.

System idle (front)
System idle (front)
System idle (back)
System idle (back)
Extreme load (front)
Extreme load (front)
Extreme load (back)
Extreme load (back)

Stress Test

When running Prime95, clock rates would boost to 2.4 GHz and remain at 100 C for about a minute before deciding to cycle between 900 MHz to 2.4 GHz and 68 C to 98 C, respectively, as shown by our screenshots below. Interestingly, clock rates and temperature become more stable when running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously.

System idle
System idle
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C)
System Idle -- -- 56
Prime95 Stress 0.9 - 2.4 -- 68 - 98
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.7 350 88

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The mini PC is very power efficient as one would expect. Idling on desktop would draw just 2 W to 3 W even when the wireless is enabled. Demanding loads like 3DMark 06 would raise consumption to 13 W to be about half that of the Core i5-powered Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n. Results are very close to the Intel NUC7CJYH powered by the older Celeron J4005 while offering significantly faster multi-thread performance.

AC adapter is approximately 9.6 x 4.4 x 3 cm. You can power the LarkBox with any third-party USB-C AC adapter as long as it can output 24 W (12 V, 2 A)
AC adapter is approximately 9.6 x 4.4 x 3 cm. You can power the LarkBox with any third-party USB-C AC adapter as long as it can output 24 W (12 V, 2 A)
AC adapter is almost as big as the mini PC itself!
AC adapter is almost as big as the mini PC itself!
Constant consumption when running 3DMark 06
Constant consumption when running 3DMark 06
CineBench R15 Multi-Thread initiated at 10s mark. The benchmark takes about 2 minutes and 37 seconds to complete
CineBench R15 Multi-Thread initiated at 10s mark. The benchmark takes about 2 minutes and 37 seconds to complete
Prime95 initiated at 10s mark. Consumption would fluctuate between 7 W and 16 W in a manner similar to our Stress Test clock rate observations above
Prime95 initiated at 10s mark. Consumption would fluctuate between 7 W and 16 W in a manner similar to our Stress Test clock rate observations above
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 10s mark. Power consumption peaks at 21.9 W before falling due to thermal limitations
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 10s mark. Power consumption peaks at 21.9 W before falling due to thermal limitations
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.04 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.2 / 2.6 / 3 Watt
Load midlight 13.1 / 21.9 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 LarkBox 4K Mini PC
Celeron J4115, UHD Graphics 600, 128 GB eMMC Flash, , x,
Intel NUC10i5FNK
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3256GJ1, , 0x0, 0.00
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n-1 Nano
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, , x, 0.00
Chuwi GBox CWI560
Celeron N4100, UHD Graphics 600, SanDisk DA4064, , x,
Intel NUC7CJYH
Celeron J4005, UHD Graphics 600, SanDisk Ultra II, , 0x0, 0.00
Power Consumption
-336%
-93%
26%
-64%
Idle Minimum *
2.2
4.4
-100%
1.9
14%
3.9
-77%
Idle Average *
2.6
15.7
-504%
4.4
-69%
2
23%
4.5
-73%
Idle Maximum *
3
4.7
-57%
2.9
3%
8.4
-180%
Load Average *
13.1
27.7
-111%
8.6
34%
12.3
6%
Load Maximum *
21.9
58.6
-168%
49.9
-128%
9.5
57%
21.4
2%

* ... smaller is better

Pros

+ MicroSD and M.2 2242 expansion slots
+ 75 mm and 100 mm mountable
+ 6 GB of dual-channel RAM
+ solid chassis design
+ very power efficient
+ inexpensive
+ tiny

Cons

- USB-C is for power only and not other devices
- AC adapter is comparatively large
- fan noise is loud and noticeable
- no faster CPU options
- DPC latency issues
- no IR receiver

Verdict

In review: Chuwi LarkBox. Test unit provided by Chuwi
In review: Chuwi LarkBox. Test unit provided by Chuwi

For $150+ USD, the LarkBox has surprised us with its pragmatic design, 4K video playback, and multiple storage options especially considering the small size. However, there are several ways we would improve the device.

Firstly, fan behavior could be better as its tendency to pulse is noticeable at best and annoying at worst. Secondly, the AC adapter is somewhat large even though it pushes just 24 W maximum. Integrating the AC adapter onto the LarkBox itself or making it smaller would be great to see. And lastly, we're not opposed to having faster processor options even if it meant paying a little bit more. Workloads like 4K playback may be smooth, but attempting to multi-task will feel like moving in molasses. The miniature design is attractive and useful enough that higher-end Core i3 or Ryzen 3 options would certainly attract more eyes.

Pricecompare

Read all 2 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Chuwi LarkBox Celeron J4115 Review: A 4K Mini PC So Small, It's Lighter Than Its Own AC Adapter
Allen Ngo, 2020-07-23 (Update: 2020-07-31)