Chuwi UniBook review: A $449 laptop that gets a lot right
Measuring 12.38 × 8.70 × 0.65 inches, the UniBook takes up barely more space than a sheet of A4 paper. Chuwi states its weight as 2.65 pounds. This makes it significantly more portable than the MSI Modern 15, which, at 14.13 × 9.49 × 0.79 inches and 3.86 pounds, takes up more space in your bag. The compact 65-watt USB-C power adaptor also fits in well with the portable design.
Christoph Hoffmann
The hinge holds the screen securely in place and allows for an opening angle of 180 degrees. However, the base is too light to open with one hand.
Christoph Hoffmann
The backlit chiclet keyboard makes good use of the width of the chassis. The keys offer a clear actuation point and sufficient travel for longer texts. Two brightness levels make typing in dark environments easier. The backlighting shines through noticeably at the edges of the keys in places. Our test unit also features a US QWERTY layout without dedicated keys for umlauts and the ß. Prospective buyers should therefore check which keyboard layout the laptop comes with before purchasing. Due to the 14-inch format, there is no numeric keypad. The arrow keys are on the small side, but the rest of the layout remains clear and uncluttered.
Christoph Hoffmann
The touchpad measures approximately 12 × 7 centimeters. Its smooth surface responds precisely to movements. Clicks work across almost the entire surface, though they feel firmer at the top edge.
The matt 14-inch screen has a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels in the practical 16:10 aspect ratio. This provides more vertical space for documents than a standard Full HD panel. Text appears sharp, whilst IPS technology ensures consistent viewing angles. The refresh rate is 60 hertz. This is sufficient for Office and video streaming. However, photos look noticeably washed-out and color-accurate editing is out of the question. Outdoors, there is a lack of brightness reserve.
Christoph Hoffmann
The matt finish is a welcome feature, as it reduces distracting reflections. The display does not flicker. However, with dark images, the backlight shines through slightly at the edges.
