Chuwi NeoBook launches as a cheaper MacBook Neo alternative with upgradeable RAM and storage

Ever since Apple launched the MacBook Neo earlier this year, OEMs have been trying their best to build similarly-specced alternatives. Chinese laptop maker Chuwi has now entered the arena with the NeoBook, a new 14-inch laptop that aims to trade blows with Apple’s maiden mid-range offering.

The Chuwi NeoBook is powered by Intel's Core 3 100U, a six-core, eight-thread Raptor Lake-U processor with a maximum boost clock of 4.7 GHz. That alone puts it at somewhat of a disadvantage against similarly-specced offerings from Dell, Samsung, Lenovo and others, at least in terms of raw performance, because Wildcat Lake is based on Intel's newer Panther Lake platform. 

Like many of its competitors, Chuwi offers the NeoBook with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD or 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. However, neither component is soldered down, opening the door for user upgradability. The laptop has two SO-DIMM slots for DDR4 memory and two M.2 2280 slots for storage. The 512 GB configuration uses a PCIe Gen3 SSD, while the 256 GB version downgrades that to a slower SATA SSD.

The Chuwi NeoBook launches with a WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, 60 Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 300 nits. The hinge opens to 180 degrees, while a 720p webcam with a physical privacy shutter sits above the display.

Chuwi claims the NeoBook weighs approximately 1.2 kg and measures 16.4 mm thick, making it one of the more portable laptops on the market. For a laptop this compact, it offers plenty of I/O, such as two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports supporting charging, data and 4K 60 Hz video output, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB 2.0 Type-A port, a HDMI 1.4 port, Gigabit Ethernet, a microSD card reader and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

The laptop draws power from a 53.38 Wh battery that charges at 65 W via USB-C. Charging up to 50% capacity is said to take about an hour. Lastly, Chuwi claims up to 7 hours of local 1080p video playback on a full charge.

Price and availability

The Chuwi NeoBook starts at $409 for the 8 GB/256 GB configuration, while the 16 GB/512 GB model is listed at $499. Chuwi is also advertising a $30 limited-time discount at checkout.