The Chuwi Hi8 dual boots Android KitKat/Windows 8.1 for under $120


Chuwi are a well known brand in the Chinese tablet space. The latest tablet from the company happens to be the Chuwi Hi8, which is a rather easy to handle tablet (thanks to the size) with some noteworthy features.

What’s most interesting about the Hi8 is the fact that it can boot into Android KitKat as well as full Windows 8.1. The hybrid comes with the acclaimed Intel Z3736F Atom processor along with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board ROM. The display on the Hi8 is an 8 inch 1920 x 1200 WUXGA IPS panel, which should probably suffice for what its meant to do.

At a price cheaper than that of the Intel Compute Stick, the Hi8 offers not only a screen but also a couple of cameras: a VGA front and a 2 mega-pixel rear. It is powered by a 4000mAh battery which according to the company should live up to 5 hours of screen-on, i.e., real world work times.

A lot of mini and nano PC’s have shown up in the recent months in China, but if makers such as Chuwi keep dishing out tablets like the Hi8, mini PC’s will soon go out of business.

The Chuwi Hi8 can be had for $117 on GearBest, but using coupon code ‘CHI8’ brings the price down to just $103. Please note the Hi8 is in pre-order, with shipping expected to commence in a couple of weeks.

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29 Comments

  1. RRRobert
    June 3, 2015

    Their Vi8 tablet comes at an even lower price; the only difference seams to be that the Vi8 comes with an HD panel, where the Hi8 has a FHD panel

    BTW, at these prices, does it come with a legal version of Windows 8? And is it eligible for an upgrade to Windows 10?

    • Xalis
      June 3, 2015

      Pretty much this, but I doubt that it comes with a non trial windows key.

      Anyways sounds pretty good, and more now that I’m looking for a cheap windows tablet.

      • Stef
        June 3, 2015

        Microsoft gives the licence away for tablets less than 9 inches. Pretty much that’s how they achieve the low price(s).

        I’ve bought one for a friend and it was activated, plus 6 months of full Office free of charge. That’s what I call a deal. They’re full laptops those BTW.

        • Xalis
          June 6, 2015

          Thanks just got a confirmation that it’s a fully activated W8.1.

          Now I need to choose between the Vi8 and the Hi8, also I dare to say that both units are likely to have a 4000mAh battery, they just lied with the first version specs.

      • Stef
        June 3, 2015

        Microsoft gives the licence away for tablets less than 9 inches. Pretty much that’s how they achieve the low price(s).

        I’ve bought one for a friend and it was activated, plus 6 months of full Office free of charge. That’s what I call a deal. They’re full laptops those BTW.

    • Xalis
      June 3, 2015

      Pretty much this, but I doubt that it comes with a non trial windows key.

      Anyways sounds pretty good, and more now that I’m looking for a cheap windows tablet.

    • agunrunner
      June 6, 2015

      Microsoft is giving windows free to tablet makers,so it will be legal version
      it looks like Microsoft is trying to implement a subscription too windows 10 where you pay every year,i don’t think it would work well
      also intel is giving cheap cpus to tablet makers about $5

  2. RRRobert
    June 3, 2015

    Their Vi8 tablet comes at an even lower price; the only difference seams to be that the Vi8 comes with an HD panel, where the Hi8 has a FHD panel

    BTW, at these prices, does it come with a legal version of Windows 8? And is it eligible for an upgrade to Windows 10?

  3. hans
    June 3, 2015

    pity the battery is not a bit bigger, 5 hours these days is not enough

  4. hans
    June 3, 2015

    pity the battery is not a bit bigger, 5 hours these days is not enough

    • Guest
      June 3, 2015

      Pretty much this, but I doubt that it comes with a non trial windows key.

      Anyways sounds pretty good, and more now that I’m looking for a cheap windows tablet.

    • Stef
      June 4, 2015

      Microsoft gives the licence away for tablets less than 9 inches. Pretty much that’s how they achieve the low price(s).

      I’ve bought one for a friend and it was activated, plus 6 months of full Office free of charge. That’s what I call a deal. They’re full laptops those BTW.

    • Guest
      June 6, 2015

      Thanks just got a confirmation that it’s a fully activated W8.1.

      Now I need to choose between the Vi8 and the Hi8, also I dare to say that both units are likely to have a 4000mAh battery, they just lied with the first version specs.

    • agunrunner
      June 6, 2015

      Microsoft is giving windows free to tablet makers,so it will be legal version
      it looks like Microsoft is trying to implement a subscription too windows 10 where you pay every year,i don’t think it would work well
      also intel is giving cheap cpus to tablet makers about $5

  5. Guest
    June 4, 2015

    pity the battery is not a bit bigger, 5 hours these days is not enough

  6. Petar Radunović
    June 4, 2015

    uh, there is no gps on this one as far as I can see?

  7. dax
    June 4, 2015

    saw 8″ windows tablets as low as 89$
    all with same 3735/6F processor, 32gb rom and 4000mah battery and dual system with android.
    thats about 4,5 hrs of standby in real life and not a bad deal for a starter/ secondary tablet.

    • Dis
      June 4, 2015

      This is 1200p IPS though

  8. petarr90
    June 4, 2015

    uh, there is no gps on this one as far as I can see?

  9. Guest
    June 4, 2015

    saw 8″ windows tablets as low as 89$
    all with same 3735/6F processor, 32gb rom and 4000mah battery and dual system with android.
    thats about 4,5 hrs of standby in real life and not a bad deal for a starter/ secondary tablet.

    • Dis
      June 4, 2015

      This is 1200p IPS though

  10. sai bhagavan
    June 6, 2015

    looks exactly like the micromax canvas tab p666 but i can see a hell of a difference between these two tabs in terms of specs…chuwi is more impressive

  11. sai bhagavan
    June 6, 2015

    looks exactly like the micromax canvas tab p666 but i can see a hell of a difference between these two tabs in terms of specs…chuwi is more impressive

  12. agunrunner
    July 4, 2015

    I did not like it when I got it,now I like it ,i paid $102 presale then they dropped it to $92,the instructions are pretty useless,it does not tell you how to get it to dual boot,it booted into android first time (when turning on for first time push the volume bar down,then it goes into boot mode,the first time it froze,i pushed the power button and volume button to get it to shut down then I booted to boot screen and had to do trial and error to boot to windows,it gives you choice android or windows,

    android had the anything click every time you press the keys its hard to find were to turn it off I think it was the android keypad in settings on the right is picture of sliders ,click on that,i reset android and it went back to Chinese from English,in setting look for a language and go down to English,i also went to settings and turned off location,in windows they had john as user name I reset windows while saving my other files put in user name,i think I prefer windows 8.1 to android it seems faster windows 10 is coming in july ,there was no way to upgrade android to 5.0 usully you click on about in android and lets you upgrade,i hope chuwi brings it out,battery life is pretty poor I think its 2 or 3 hours but it could be more I just charged it,not the fastest tablet,i think windows uses 15gb and android must use 15gb ,there a micro sd slot on side which is hard to see,what ilike about tablet you can use windows or android,price is great $92,it seems well built,it has lot of memory 2gb and 32gb,i deleted the Chinese apps and downloaded the apps from windows and android stores now I like the tablet,the screen works well wth your finger,but seems to struggle with my pen which has rubber on it,its barely able to hold it in your hand as its 8 inches,a game iplayed seemed fast and screen bright,will be great for anyones first tablet,i read camera is bad but I never tried it yet,out of 10 I would give it an 8 funny I think I prefer windows,but you will not see much difference,hpefully they will upgrade to android 5.0
    I was disappointed no hdmi port,it would be also good if came with a keyboard,it shipped quick from china,all in all I like the tablet and will probably buy more as gifts

  13. agunrunner
    July 5, 2015

    I did not like it when I got it,now I like it ,i paid $102 presale then they dropped it to $92,the instructions are pretty useless,it does not tell you how to get it to dual boot,it booted into android first time (when turning on for first time push the volume bar down,then it goes into boot mode,the first time it froze,i pushed the power button and volume button to get it to shut down then I booted to boot screen and had to do trial and error to boot to windows,it gives you choice android or windows,

    android had the anything click every time you press the keys its hard to find were to turn it off I think it was the android keypad in settings on the right is picture of sliders ,click on that,i reset android and it went back to Chinese from English,in setting look for a language and go down to English,i also went to settings and turned off location,in windows they had john as user name I reset windows while saving my other files put in user name,i think I prefer windows 8.1 to android it seems faster windows 10 is coming in july ,there was no way to upgrade android to 5.0 usully you click on about in android and lets you upgrade,i hope chuwi brings it out,battery life is pretty poor I think its 2 or 3 hours but it could be more I just charged it,not the fastest tablet,i think windows uses 15gb and android must use 15gb ,there a micro sd slot on side which is hard to see,what ilike about tablet you can use windows or android,price is great $92,it seems well built,it has lot of memory 2gb and 32gb,i deleted the Chinese apps and downloaded the apps from windows and android stores now I like the tablet,the screen works well wth your finger,but seems to struggle with my pen which has rubber on it,its barely able to hold it in your hand as its 8 inches,a game iplayed seemed fast and screen bright,will be great for anyones first tablet,i read camera is bad but I never tried it yet,out of 10 I would give it an 8 funny I think I prefer windows,but you will not see much difference,hpefully they will upgrade to android 5.0
    I was disappointed no hdmi port,it would be also good if came with a keyboard,it shipped quick from china,all in all I like the tablet and will probably buy more as gifts

  14. Gerard Foaracda
    July 31, 2015

    Worst tablet ever:

  15. Gerard Foaracda
    July 31, 2015