Review of Chuwi Hi8 Pro - a compact tablet with a good screen and two operating systems

Specifications

CPU	Intel Atom Cherry Trail Z8350 Quad Core
CPU frequency	1.44-1.84 GHz
RAM	2 GB
Built-in memory	32 GB
Display	8 '' FHD (1,920 x 1,200)
Video processor	Intel HD Graphics Gen8
Front-camera	2 megapixels
Main camera	2 megapixels
Wireless interfaces	Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Bluetooth
Ports	USB 3.0 (Type-C), microHDMI, 3.5 mm
Colour	White
Dimensions (edit)	27.64 × 18.48 × 0.88 cm
Battery	4000 mAh
The weight	0.350 kg

The tablet uses an Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor, which has four processing cores that operate at a frequency of up to 1.84 GHz. In combination with the rather powerful graphics core Intel HD Graphics, such a processor allows you to easily watch high-definition video, play modern games, not to mention simpler tasks.

However, not everything is as good as it seems at first glance. The memory subsystem spoils the whole experience. More or less comfortable operation of Android on 2 GB of RAM can still be imagined, but for Windows this is clearly not enough. The same can be said about the amount of permanent memory allocated for storing user data.

Completion and appearance

The tablet comes in a simple cardboard box. On its upper part there is a company logo, on the side there is a sticker listing the main characteristics of the device. The package includes a charger, a USB Type-C cable, a reference book and a warranty card. Nothing special.

Chuwi Hi8 Pro is available in white only. The body is made of high-quality plastic with a barely visible embossing on the back, on which the camera peephole and the speaker hole are located. On the right side, the manufacturer has placed the power button, volume control and microSD card slot. Above, there is a place for a USB-C port, a microHDMI connector and a standard 3.5mm headphone hole.

You shouldn't expect premium materials or spectacular design solutions from a device in this price category. However, the Chuwi Hi8 Pro doesn't look flawed. The tablet is pleasant to hold in your hands, the frames are thin enough, and the assembly does not cause any complaints. Special thanks to the manufacturer for the fact that no prints remain on the tablet case, so it always looks fresh and neat.

Screen

The Chuwi Hi8 Pro screen is its main advantage. Chuwi is trying to equip all its devices with high-quality matrices. This tablet is no exception. An eight-inch IPS-matrix with a resolution of 1920 × 1200 (Full HD) displays a rich and contrasting picture. The only caveat concerns the maximum brightness level. It is clearly not enough for using the gadget in the bright sun, so the Chuwi Hi8 Pro will feel best on your bedside table.

Please also note that the Chuwi Hi8 Pro display is protected by ordinary glass that has no scratch resistance. So do not rush to remove the protective film that was pasted by the manufacturer. In general, the image on the tablet screen leaves a good impression, especially considering the cost of the device.

Performance

Chuwi Hi8 Pro runs on two operating systems at once. We had no big concerns about the behavior of the tablet in the Android environment, since this system is quite careful about the RAM, which is only 2 GB in the device.

Test name (Android)	Result
AnTuTu Benchmark	64 427
GeekBench Single-Core	715
GeekBench Multi-Core	2 310
PCMark for Android Work	4 718
3DMark Ice Storm	10 431

But the comfort of using Windows 10 was a big question. But testing has shown that Microsoft has laid a good margin of safety in its system, so even such harsh conditions turned out to be nothing to it.

Test name (Windows)	Result
3DMark Ice Storm	12 187
GeekBench Single-Core	758
GeekBench Multi-Core	2 177
PCMark 8 Home	1 105
PCMark 8 Work	1 031

The operating system interface is quite responsive to user actions, programs are launched, videos are played and music plays without any problems. Chuwi Hi8 Pro is not suitable for serious programs, but it copes well with all simple tasks (surfing, video, reading, chatting on social networks).

Autonomy

The tablet has a non-removable 4000 mAh battery. Nowadays, when even budget smartphones flaunt more capacious batteries, this is clearly not enough for a tablet. Moreover, the Chuwi Hi8 Pro uses a high-resolution screen, which has an additional impact on battery life.

The test results in various scenarios of use have once again proved that it is better not to go far from the outlet with such a battery. When running heavy gaming applications, Chuwi Hi8 Pro can withstand up to three hours, which is unlikely to satisfy avid gamers.

Things are a little better with watching videos and surfing the Web. The operating time of the tablet in these cases is approximately five hours. The tablet stays in reading mode even longer. Depending on the brightness of the screen, the battery lasts for six hours or even a little longer.

Outcomes

Chuwi Hi8 Pro left an ambivalent impression. On the one hand, we liked the device's screen, looks and build. And the performance of the tablet, considering its price, cannot be called bad.

On the other hand, the manufacturer had to make a number of compromises to keep the price low. The tablet is sorely lacking disk space for installing programs and storing data. Advanced users will be able to solve this problem by uninstalling one of the installed operating systems. Everyone else will have a hard time.

Another drawback is the weak battery. Because of this, you will only have to use the Chuwi Hi8 Pro as a bedside device for reading books, watching videos and browsing your favorite sites in the evening. If you are purchasing a tablet for exactly such purposes, then you can safely take the Chuwi Hi8 Pro.