In a global market choosing between products has become really hard so just imagine what a nightmare it is if someone had to buy a laptop. With hundreds of choices out there some newer models stand-out thanks to their excellent value/price ratio. Today, XIDU Tour Pro is our guest as we’ve had the chance to test it for a while and here’s our short review.

The Tour Pro is among the 3 new models that the Chinese manufacturer launched this year and it is for the most part business-oriented as it sports a 12.5″ display to be more portable but at the same time hosts a full-sized keyboard that is backlit and allows you to work in low-light conditions. The design is obviously affected by Apple’s design language while the 2K display is mostly found in more expensive models.

So, a beautiful design combined with a relatively powerful Intel Kaby Lake CPU live-up to the expectations of the company when they started planning the ideal portable workstation. For anyone looking for a go-anywhere, lightweight, beautiful ultraportable laptop that will take care of productivity tasks and even handle some gaming, the XIDU Tour Pro seems the perfect choice. Is it? Let’s see what our impressions were during the time we got our hands on it.

Design and Hardware

The device is made of metal and it’s pretty thin (0.62″) and light (3.5 pounds) despite the fact that it comes with a 180° hinge that allows the display to open all the way back on a table. Speaking of the display, it’s a 12.5″ one with 2K resolution and 10-point multitouch. The bezels around it are relatively thin and the screen/body ratio goes up to 88%. Also, XIDU managed to fit a full-sized backlit keyboard there too. The overall volume stays low and makes the laptop very portable.

Now, the Tour Pro might be called “a workstation” by the company but it doesn’t carry the power of the common workstations we know. It is not a performance beast but it balances between performance and cost featuring the Intel Kaby Lake R 3867U 1.8GHz CPU with a top clock speed of 4.0GHz. In order to make multitasking more comfortable, XIDU added 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD which can be expanded up to 512GB more via the SSD extra slot. What’s more, connectivity is decent as it sports more ports than a usual ultrabook like 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x MicroSD reader, 1 x Headphone jack, and 1 x Charging Port. Obviously, the killer feature is the 2K resolution on such a small display as the usual resolution at this price range is HD or FHD.

Performance

Performance-wise, the XIDU Tour Pro is a perfect decision for expending media content (videos/music) and doing office work. The moderately powerful CPU backed by the 8GB of RAM and SSD (not eMMC) offers smooth performance and stable multitasking experience. No problems were reported during 2K video playback on YouTube while performing other tasks at the same time.

Speaking about the display of a laptop, the main problem most users face is the low brightness and/or contrast that makes it impossible to use outdoors on a sunny day. This proved a non-problem for the Tour Pro as the brightness is adequate for outdoor use. Let us add that the speakers perform well but take into account that we are talking about laptop speakers. In addition, the backlit keyboard is a surprise as the luminance is even without any dark or bright spots detected. We even tried some 2K video editing as well as some 2K gaming during the hands-on and although the performance was obviously lower than gaming or workstation machine, it was acceptable. Lastly, the one-touch power button that allows you to power on the device while performing the fingerprint authentication using the Windows Hello platform, worked well and you jump into the Desktop in just 3 seconds.

Having used the XIDU Tour Pro 12.5 consistently for seven days, the overall impressions we got were positive. It is well-built, lightweight, and the body feels sturdy. The hinge is well-calibrated to allow opening the lid with one hand and it is stiff enough when using the touch display. The lid bounce is practically non-existent while the touchpad doesn’t experience the ill effects of the sluggishness.

For a student that takes online courses, the 2K display is brilliant and the GPU capabilities are a surprise. We tested Skyrim and it run well, albeit at low graphics settings. Don’t forget that we are talking about a device without a dedicated video card. Also, we used Blender for 3D design and 3D printing and no serious problems were faced there either. Again, nothing runs blazing fast but everything runs without problems.

The personal favorite part of the device is how well proportioned the design is. The 88% screen/body ratio and the big touchpad show that smart design isn’t dead. And that is the real surprise here as even the design king -Apple- offers the MacBook that is obviously very well built but comes with lower screen/body ratio that outcomes in extra space around the keyboard and display. Everything is beyond organized better than a MacBook to me.

We must confess that our expectations were low prior to getting our hand on the real thing but XIDU really delivered with the Tour Pro, especially for a laptop that costs under $500. If you are in the same position and want a device with a 2K display and good overall performance, you should definitely add the Tour Pro to your list. They even have their own online store now and you can get it for $50 off using coupon Tour50. Also, you can find it on Amazon US for a total of $60 off using coupon V8E3G6RE ($30 off + another $30 off using page coupon). Lastly, it’s also available on Aliexpress while you can get coupons for more XIDU devices here.

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It’s official! Chuwi’s latest 2in1 powerful tablet UBook Pro just went live on the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform at an amazing price. The top configuration that includes the Intel Core-m3 8100Y CPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD, type cover, and 2048 points active stylus costs just $499 and if you don’t need the keyboard and stylus, the price drops to just $449! Also, if you don’t need the extra power of the Core processor, there is a special version powered by Gemini Lake N4100 that costs just $399. Let’s see some more details about it.

The 12.3″ FHD IPS display with 3:2 aspect ratio brings larger workspace

Chuwi chose a fully-laminated 12.3″ FHD IPS panel with 3:2 aspect ratio that offers a vivid and vibrant experience to the user whether he’s working with pictures or watching videos. What’s more, the screen also supports up to 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity of the upgraded HiPen H5 active stylus that offers improved experience when righting or sketching.

Classic U shaped kickstand, lightweight and portable 2-in-1 tablet

Contrary to Surface Pro’s metal plate kickstand, the UBook Pro features a more light-weighted u-shaped kickstand which is more agile and convenient. The 9mm thin body and the low weight (780g) makes it very portable while the -up to- 145° turning kickstand makes it a decent sketch board for creativity or an efficient office tool when combined with the keyboard.

Intel’s 8th Gen Core m3-8100Y

The UBook Pro comes with the powerful Intel Core M3-8100Y processor that has an overall performance improvement of more than 50% over the previous gen. The processor is built with Intel’s advanced 14nm+ manufacturing process, it’s a dual-core/four threads chip and the highest frequency reaches up to 3.4 GHz. Combined with the highly-efficient UHD Graphics615, it can deal with multiple daily office work and even some moderate Adobe Photoshop editing.

With an excellent internal cooling design and Intel’s latest ULV processor, the UBook Pro is engineered with a fanless cooling system that keeps it extremely quiet even when running multiple software programs at the same time. Also, the large battery gives the tablet up to 8 hours of use on a single charge. Meanwhile the PD2.0 fast charging via USB-C port can fully charge the device in only 1.5hrs.

If this is what you’ve been waiting to grab a 2in1 device, you can back the Indiegogo campaign right away by visiting the campaign page to view the product and campaign information.

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Making a laptop for office work is not that easy since “office work” has many definitions. For example, someone works at the office all day whereas someone else may need to leave office and work on the go. So, manufacturers try to implement as many as possible characteristics that will make a laptop suitable for both worlds. This is where XIDU is aiming with the all-new Philbook Max 2in1 notebook. Of course, safety and stability are the priority for business laptops, However, with changes in people’s demands and development in the industry, notebooks for business people are expected to be stable, safe and at the same time versatile and trendy.

When developing the PhilBook Max, the Chinese manufacturer firstly dealt with safety and security. This was easy as the security features of Windows 10 are greatly improved over previous versions. The Philbook Max protects users’ privacy via pin while the touchscreen also improves their working efficiency by reducing reliance on mouse and keyboard. In addition, the device sports an Intel Apollo Lake CPU clocked up to 2.5GHz backed by 6GB of RAM and 128GB SSD, enabling users to multitask without any noteworthy lag. What’s more, it also comes with a backlit keyboard that perfectly suits the need of people who work overtime.

A definitely killer feature is the 2in1 design that, with the help of the 360° flexible hinge, allows you to flip the screen to whatever position suits you best. You can even use it as any other tablet if you flip it 360°. This is space-saving as well if you find yourself traveling in a narrow plane or train seat. And if you get tired, you can relax by watching a movie or some videos when in tablet mode.

As far as build quality is concerned, the company has undoubtedly done a good job. Philbook Max features a sophisticated aluminum alloy body and the abrasive texture of A and D side of the laptop gives a deluxe and comfortable touch. More importantly, it helps reduce fingerprints and other residues. Also, it is more durable than plastic although it dents may appear on aluminum if the laptop accidentally falls. Well, that’s better than ending up with a broken plastic laptop.

Lastly, the Philbook Max also provides various external ports including 1 x Mini HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x Microphone Jack, 1 x Bluetooth 4.2, 1 x MicroSD card slot, 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n, and a Webcam. The device is now available on XIDU’s Official Store costing just $349.99, which is way lower than similar products. If you are looking for a portable, versatile, and cost-effective product it is worth a shot. Don’t forget to check out the coupon list to get it at an even lower price. More coupons will be available for Amazon Prime Day.

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Design and Hardware

The Tour Pro is a slim metallic laptop with a 180° convertible hinge and it’s just 0.62″ thin while its weight barely reaches 3.5 pounds. The 12.5″ 2K display features very thin bezels that allow for 88% screen-to-body ratio while the 2K resolution and 10-point touchscreen along with the full-sized backlit keyboard make it look and act professionally. The large screen/body ratio and those thin bezels offer an immersive visual experience for all kinds of users. Weight and thinness are impressive and make it convenient to carry at any time!

Moving on to the hardware specs, the Tour Pro is interesting both on the inside and outside. The laptop is powered by the 8th Intel Kaby Lake R 3867U 1.8GHz CPU with a top clock speed of 4.0GHz. The CPU is backed by 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 256GB m.2 SATA SSD which can be expanded up to 512GB more through SSD expansion. The ports included are plenty for a small ultrabook and include 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x MicroSD reader, 1 x Headphone jack, and 1 x Charging Port. Of course, the top feature is the 2K resolution on such a small display as most users are used to work on bulky laptops with HD or FHD resolution.

Performance

Performance-wise, the Tour Pro is an ideal choice for consuming media content (videos/music) and doing office work. The relatively strong CPU combined with the 8GB of RAM and fast SSD offers smooth performance and stable multitasking experience. For example, streaming 2K videos on YouTube while performing other tasks at the same time was flawless.

Moving on to the display, it is crisp thanks to the 2K resolution and the brightness is pretty high so that outdoor use is possible. The positioning of the speakers allows for sound to pump out loud and the full-sized, backlit keyboard is great for typing. What’s more, it is capable of some gaming as well as 2K video editing, with lower performance than gaming or workstation laptops of course. Lastly, the one-touch power button enables users to power on the notebook while at the same time performing the fingerprint authentication using Windows Hello platform. The desktop is accessible in just 7 seconds.

If you’ve been looking for a portable laptop with 2K display and good overall performance, then you should seriously consider the XIDU Tour Pro. You can see more details on Amazon US as well as on the official XIDU Store.

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