First Look at the 2.2-Pound Chuwi CoreBook Air, a Featherweight Windows Laptop That Punches Hard on Value

Chuwi has recently entered the ultralight laptop market with the 2.2-pound CoreBook Air. When you open it, you’ll see a 14-inch IPS screen with a crisp 1920 by 1200 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio, ideal for reading documents or browsing the web, thanks to colors that cover the entire sRGB range while the brightness reaches 350 nits.

This thing is built to last, made of anodized aluminum with beautiful sandblasted finishes on the top and bottom. It feels solid in the hand, perhaps a little too firm at times because the corners are 9mm and the back is 16mm, but this only adds to its tiny profile, which allows it to easily slide into bags.

AMD’s Ryzen 5 processor, which has 6 cores and 12 threads, provides plenty of computing power. When combined with the integrated Radeon 660M graphics, it handles browsing, photo editing, and streaming like a professional. You won’t notice the 16GB of quick LPDDR5 RAM or the 512GB NVMe SSD; they just get the job done. If you need more storage, you can expand it using an upgradeable M.2 slot.

Type away on the full-size backlit keyboard, which has a convenient dedicated Copilot key that allows you to call on AI assistance in Windows whenever you need it. The huge touchpad responds flawlessly, and the two-level illumination automatically adjusts if you find yourself working in the dark. For audio, you have dual speakers that produce surprisingly good, crisp stereo with considerable bass for a laptop this tiny. Oh, and there’s a 2-megapixel webcam with a hardware privacy shutter, in case.

Connectivity is excellent, with full-featured USB-C ports for those looking to futureproof their devices, USB-A for older devices, HDMI 2.1 for external screens up to 4K at 60 Hz, a 3.5mm headphone line, and even a microSD card slot. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 provide wireless connectivity, so there will be no dropped connections. A pair of dual copper heat pipes and a small fan keep things cool inside, making it ideal for long work periods.

Chuwi claims that the 55-watt-hour battery can last up to 8 hours of video playing or a full day of work. If you do run out, don’t panic; the 65-watt charger will recharge you to 60% in less than an hour. So it’s not surprising that Windows 11 Pro comes pre-installed.

The CoreBook Air is priced at $529 during pre-sale. If you want more cores and better graphics, some countries offer the Ryzen 7 variant for roughly $600. Chuwi’s basic warranty provides support, yet it’s worth mentioning that they are a direct sales only brand and do not use large retail networks.
[Source]