Being a tech addict is something that most people reading this article would understand. No matter if it is a smartphone, smartwatch or laptop, most of us would love to keep changing devices all the time. The company that mostly drew my interest this year is the established in 2014 XIDU that specializes in researching, developing, manufacturing and selling laptops and tablets. They’ve released several models until now and I went ahead and ordered 2 of the same Series to check out their differences. I’m talking about PhilBook and PhilBook Max. The first is focused on portability and performance whereas the second is more suitable for business office and multitasking.
Similarities
Both models come with the 2in1 convertible design that the Chinese manufacturer is very fond of. The 360° flexible hinge allows you to enjoy four modes: laptop, tablet, stand, and tent. In addition, equipped the multitouch display offers maximum functionality, especially when using the tablet mode. The display on both hosts an IPS FHD panel that offers wide viewing angles. The FHD resolution should be a minimum standard to every laptop out there but unfortunately, some manufacturers use inferior panels to cut costs. Well done XIDU.
I was a bit worried about the available ports and if they could cover my daily needs though, but that worry quickly went away since the basic ports are all there: mini HDMI, USB 2.0/3.0, microphone jack, memory card slot, and Bluetooth 4.0/4.2.
Differences
Now, there are many differences as well. If there weren’t any, the company wouldn’t have a reason to launch a second model, would it? Hence, there are differences concerning color, screen size, processor, and memory. The PhilBook Max, for example, comes with a strong aluminum-alloy body and low weight for its size, unlike its smaller sibling. What’s more, the Space Grey color makes it look more “businessy”.
The PhilBook is powered by an Intel Atom CPU backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage but the PhilBook Max comes with a more powerful, Intel Apollo Lake CPU together with 6GB RAM and 128GB SSD, making it much faster than the budget-friendly PhilBook. What was really cool and useful was the backlit keyboard that helped me work in the dark, just like I like it. Considering that, the PhilBook Max is definitely a better choice but if you are short on budget, the 11.6″ PhilBook may be more appropriate thanks to its more affordable price and not bad performance.
The PhilBook Max currently costs $339.99 on Amazon while the PhilBook $269.99. If you are interested, you can get both on discount using the coupons below.
Amazon US
XIDU PhilBook, $224.99 final price with coupon ZHZ6WC5J (+$15 off with page coupon)
XIDU PhilBook Max, $339.99 final price using coupon LWX8INIA (+$30 off with page coupon)
Amazon UK
XIDU PhilBook, £209.99 final price with coupon XPFYDX6W (+£15 page coupon)
XIDU PhilBook Max, £339.99 final price using coupon ISOB84YO (+£30 off with page coupon)
