The market for Chinese tablet devices is growing before our eyes. Immediately after smartphones, which in terms of their technical characteristics surpass the capabilities of “top” devices from leading manufacturers, Chinese developers also introduce new tablets that have the same low cost and, at the same time, are endowed with incredibly high technical parameters.
In this article we will just talk about one of these devices. Meet the Chuwi Vi8 tablet, which is priced at $100. Most often, when listening to information about this tablet, the user does not have any thoughts about why it is so unusual, and what is its peculiarity. Yes, we know that devices from the Middle Kingdom can be offered at such a low price, because Chinese factories have long been flooding various market segments with ultra-cheap goods (smartphones and tablets are no exception). But, believe me, our Chuwi tablet has one major difference. Its technical characteristics do not allow calling it a budget one (if you do not know about the price of the device). What exactly does the manufacturer offer to its customers, read on.
Positioning
How can you imagine a tablet on the market that has such a low price of 100dollars? The only thing that comes to mind is to tell everyone how cheap this gadget is given, and what exactly each of the buyers will get by buying it. In fact, part of the Chuwi tablet is moving forward with such a strategy. All news sites and IT news portals have already written about how affordable the new gadget is. But that's not all! Its specifications were also presented along with the tablet. Because of this, the device presented to the public has become so popular: it has high functionality available at a relatively ridiculous price. This position was taken by the tablet immediately after information about it was published in the public domain.
Equipment
So, how well can you “stuff” a device, provided that its retail price is $100? Obviously, not so much - after all, other gadgets available at this price are, most often, a pitiful sight, similar to an e-book or some kind of “under-tablet”. However, the Chuwi tablet is anything but.
It is powered by an Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processor paired with 2GB of RAM. Such a platform serves as an excellent base for high-speed interaction of the device with the user, allowing you to install the Windows operating system on the tablet. This is a completely separate topic for news: there are budget device developers who are willing to focus on Windows Phone, and not the classic and now commonplace Google Android.
Appearance
The design of the device is not unique. It looks (in its form) like the Apple iPad mini (hundreds of electronics manufacturers adopted this concept, so there is nothing to be surprised at). On the market, Chuwi tablets (the review proved this) come with the Windows logo instead of the “Home” button, as on “apple” devices. On the back cover of the device, at the same time, we see the Chuwi logo and some huge Chinese letters near it. It is obvious that the manufacturer was guided by the fact that the supply of devices will be established within the country, and not to foreign markets. Below under the inscription is an advertisement for Intel.
In terms of some navigational elements, the authors of the device did not show us anything new: here is the standard placement and universal design of all nodes that the owner of the gadget is used to working with. Well, except that on the left side there is an open slot for a memory card.
Screen
An important role in the presentation of any tablet is played by the characteristics of its display. After all, this is the main way to receive information from the device and manage it. The Chuwi tablet is no exception, so its specifications also focus on high-quality components installed on such an affordable device: we are talking about an 8-inch display powered by IPS technology, which has a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels.
According to customer reviews, the Chuwi Vi8 tablet has a fairly bright screen that allows you to convey the entire color gamut and saturation as accurately as possible. ATreviews are the best examples - this is an illustration of how the game loads on the tablet. If the device is able to colorfully convey the entire gameplay of even the most “difficult” game, then it can be positively noted.
In addition to colors, one can also praise the sharpness of the image, its accuracy. When interacting with the display, the user will not notice a single “blurred” pixel: the whole picture is completely made in a very sharp form, so the lines are transmitted very accurately.
Operating system
As noted above, the tablet is offered for sale with the operating system Windows 8.1. It is interesting in terms of interaction, user experience and some unique moments for this OS. However, some users do not like it, which is why they choose a tablet option that runs on two OS, depending on the switch (Android and Windows Phone).
If you use Windows, the developer company offers certain advantages on its part. For example, this may be the use of some software product (Office 360) or a similar service. With such bonuses, Microsoft lures users to their system, although, as many reviews describe, the process does not go so smoothly. Many people find the architecture of the system, its logic, and some features unusual. Because of this, Android and iOS are more interesting and promising for ordinary users.
Autonomy
Windows Phone operating system must bemore economical in terms of energy consumption. So, if the technical specifications state that the gadget is equipped with a battery with a capacity of up to 4000 mAh, this means that this power source is enough to ensure the operation of the device for 8-10 hours in moderate use.
You can increase this period if you take measures to save battery. For example, you can switch to the appropriate power saving mode, or take an extra battery with you in order to connect it when you need it. In the end, as the reviews show, there is such a problem as a sudden “depletion” of the battery. As a result, the tablet may begin to lose charge many times faster than before. Repair of the Chuwi tablet, which can be carried out at any service center, will help in such a case.
Communication
Communications available to us in this tablet also keep up with what other gadgets brag about. There is almost the entire typical set of “Android” devices here: a Bluetooth module and a Wi-Fi adapter, as well as the ability to send data via microUSB. It lacks, perhaps, a GPS receiver, but demanding it for 100 dollars in a device with such cool characteristics is already impudent.
Reviews
What recommendations can you find about Chuwi tablets? Reviews show that the device is really worth your attention. The characteristics that developers use to attract the interest of buyers to their offspring are true: a powerful processor, a large operationalmemory, great screen. The overall score of the gadget fluctuates between 4-5 points.
From the negative reviews, you can find the opinions of those whose Chuwi tablet does not turn on for unknown reasons (as these users write, the problem is solved by flashing), as well as those who believe that the device does not have the most pleasant design or weak camera; someone does not like the lack of a GPS module.
Opinions may vary, but the popularity of the tablet and the growth in the number of its users indicate that the model is of interest to the market. Today in stores you can find several types of modifications for every taste and color.
