Review: CHUWI FreeBook N100

Chuwi Freebook N100

Overview

The Chuwi FreeBook is a versatile 13.5-inch 2-in-1 laptop featuring an Intel Alder Lake N100 chip and running on the Windows 11 operating system.

Specifications:

• Operating System: Windows 11
• CPU: Intel Celeron N100
• GPU: Integrated
• RAM: 12GB LPDDR5 (3GB x 4)
• Storage: 512GB SSD (NVMe)
• Battery: 38 Wh (7.6V/5000mAh)
• Display: 13.5 inches, 2256 x 1504 resolution, 3:2 IPS
• Camera: 1MP
• Speakers: 4 speakers
• Ports: 3x USB-C (1 usb-c 2.0, 2 usb c full spec), 1x3.5 headphone jack
• Dimensions: 301.4 x 267.35 x 17.2 (A) mm
• Weight: 1360g

Pricing and availability

The Chuwi FreeBook N100 is available for purchase on Chuwi's website for €389.00 (full price €419.00). This price will get you the machine with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. I purchased it on sale, using a 20% off coupon, bundled with the H7 stylus pen for €327.00. At this price, it's truly a steal. So much so that I couldn't resist buying it.

 

Hardware overview

Build Quality

The FreeBook is a convertible laptop, featuring a hinge with nearly 360 degrees of range, enabling the lid to fold all the way back against the bottom of the laptop, effectively transforming into a tablet. 

The build quality appears impressive, especially considering the price point. We're presented with a frame crafted entirely from silver-colored aluminum alloy. The display frame, solid and robust, shows no signs of bending even under repeated stress. The hinge is meticulously constructed, offering a smooth experience when opening or closing the laptop. It maintains just the right amount of friction, ensuring it doesn't feel loose.

Speakers, keyboard, trackpad and pen support

The FreeBook is equipped with two speakers positioned above the function row on the keyboard and two on the back (one on each side). While the speaker quality is good and they deliver decent power, they lack bass. 

The keyboard features an American QWERTY layout and is backlit. The keys have a really short travel distance. Chuwi included two silicone keyboard covers with the laptop – one for Italian and one for Spanish. I appreciated the free gift, although when using the device as a tablet, the cover tends to fall off, rendering it less useful in that scenario. As a solution, I purchased stickers for the keyboard from AliExpress. Some other noteworthy aspects of the keyboard include the slightly smaller ENTER key compared to the traditional size, which hasn't been a bother for me but is worth mentioning. Additionally, the absence of a numeric keypad, while expected given the notebook's size, may be a consideration for some users. The keyboard is backlit and offers two adjustable brightness levels. The keyboard light bleeds a bit too much for my taste.

The touchpad is surprisingly spacious. While I typically prefer using a mouse, it's reassuring to know that the trackpad is comfortable to use while on the go.

I purchased the CHUWI FreeBook bundled with the HiPen H7. This pen utilizes the Microsoft MPP protocol and features a precise tip along with two side function keys. It utilizes a single non rechargeble battery (AAAA). It's a valuable addon, and I thoroughly enjoy using it without any complaints. It would have been nice if the pen came in a case or if it had a slot in the laptop.

 

Webcam

The webcam is a 1 MP camera, and to put it bluntly, it's not great. Despite tinkering with the control settings, the quality remains subpar. It's usable for occasional video calls, but don't expect much beyond that. It sucks.

Display

I absolutely love the display – it's one of the laptop's standout features! The quality is surprisingly impressive, with vibrant colors and excellent brightness.

It's a 3:2 display with an odd resolution but it's a really a good quality display. Could have had a higher refresh rate (it's only 48 or 60Hz) but considering the price point, I shouldn't be too judgy. The brightness its crazy good since i never used it above 20%.

 

Performance: Cpu, ram, temperature and fan noise

The Intel Celeron N100 processor powering this laptop is an entry-level processor. It only has 4 E-cores and no performace corse. At only 6W it's a real efficenct cpu.

It's important to note that this laptop isn't designed for gaming. I would recommend it for individuals who primarily use it for writing, web apps, and content consumption. It's perfect for someone who's an office worker by day and a movie watcher by night… like me lol

Despite this information, I haven't noticed any stuttering or slowdowns during my usage. I also use it occasionally with a cad program called CATIAV5. I haven't had any issuse performance wise.

While benchmark numbers may not be outstanding, they're adequate for everyday tasks. Here is a comparasion with intel's i7-2600k (a cpu of 10 years ago with a tdp of 95w):

SIDENOTE: Occasionally, I hear a faint whine (electronic whine). It's low enough that it's not bothersome to most, but I can hear it, and it can be a bit annoying.

Ram: This laptop is configured with 12gb of ddr5 in 3x4gb configuration. Its soldered, so no upgrades.

The fan operates remarkably quietly – so quiet that at first, I wasn't even sure if there was a fan. The laptop's temperature remains consistently good, and it has never become hot. 

Battery

The FreeBook is equipped with a 38Wh battery that supports fast charging at 45W. The inclusion of a USB-C Power Delivery port for recharging adds a convenient touch to the device. It's always nice to carry only a single cable. The battery lasts between 6 to 8h on light usage (web, youtube, office suite) and 20% brightness.

Storage

The FreeBook features a PCIe gen 3 NVMe SSD, providing fast and efficient storage capabilities. 

Ports

It features only 3 usb c ports and a 3.5 audio jack. Among the 3 usb ports, 1 is only usb 2.0. It would have been nice to have one usb A port but I guess I can survive.

Considerations: Things to consider before making the purchase:

• Support and assistance: If you encounter issues with your device, good luck. Reading online, not everyone has had positive experiences. Personally, I've contacted support a couple of times (via email), and they've always responded within 24 hours. So, I can only consider myself satisfied. However, if you do experience problems with the product, it seems you may be required to ship the laptop back to Spain or China for repairs. Given the distance, I can only imagine the turnaround time for repairs and return.
• If you are a gamer, your only option is cloud gaming. Probably you could run some retrogames but don't expect anything more.
• You are not going to use the webcam because it sucks really bad.
• No windows hello login, no fingerprint.
• No real aftermaket accessories, no screenprotectors, no cases.
• Price: I would advise against paying full price because it's always on sale.

 

…

As soon as I have some time, I'll take some photos of the internals during disassembly... once the new SSD arrives. I plan to upgrade to a 1TB SSD and put the existing SSD from the laptop into a case.