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

Yash GargJune 3, 2015

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.

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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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About the author
Yash Garg
Yash is a blogger by profession, builder of things by passion and foodie by birth. You'll usually find him talking about technology, music, travel and the game of cricket on the streets of Pune when not busy writing or speeding his way through the country! Read more on retro handheld gaming on RETRO91

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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

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?
hans
June 3, 2015
pity the battery is not a bit bigger, 5 hours these days is not enough

hans
June 3, 2015
pity the battery is not a bit bigger, 5 hours these days is not enough
Guest
June 3, 2015
- 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

Guest
June 4, 2015
pity the battery is not a bit bigger, 5 hours these days is not enough
Petar Radunović
June 4, 2015
uh, there is no gps on this one as far as I can see?

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
petarr90
June 4, 2015
uh, there is no gps on this one as far as I can see?

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
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
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

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

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
Gerard Foaracda
July 31, 2015

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