REVIEW: CHUWI Hi9 Plus with Helio X27 SoC and 10,8-inch 2,5K IPS OGS

PRODUCT DETAILS

Description

The Chuwi Hi9 Plus tablet has a metal body with some area made of plastic, the screen is coated in glass and beveled by its perimeter. It has quite narrow frames on the sides, in general we think it has good finishes and a fairly high quality for the price.

• Measurements and weight: 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.19 inches (302 x 213 x 4,9  mm) / 1,1 lb (500 gr).
• Materials: Bevelled front glass, side plastic and aluminum body. Integrated keyboard anchor..
• Interfaces: Microphone, Speakers, Volume, Power, audio jack, microSD, and USB Type-C charge and data.
• Cameras: Rear 8MP / Front 8MP.
• Speakers and microphone: Two stereo speakers with high volume but somewhat metallic sound. Right microphone.
• Vibration and LEDs: Vibration YES. Without LEDs.

In the back of aluminum we can see the two integrated speakers that give us a sound with high volume but with few bass, an 8MP rear camera and in that same area we have the tray of microSD + two microSIM cards. We also have an audio jack that behaves normally and without noise.

Screen

The screen of the Chuwi Hi9 Plus has an excellent quality in interiors and is defended correctly in exteriors. We are facing a product for domestic use that has a good quality image excellent at the user level.

• Size: IPS OGS 10.8 “Inches, resolution 2560 × 1600 and 16:10 format.
• Light power: NO automatic brightness. High Contrast. No leakage of light on the sides.
• Viewing angles: Good IPS angles.
• Tactile precision: High precision and sensitivity.
• Extras: Color modes and reading protection through Mediatek EyeCare screen settings.

Keyboard

The keyboard for the Chuwi Hi9 Plus fits on the bottom of one of its long sides only in one position and has an asymmetric design, the touch of the keys is quite good and we can write normally to be such a compact design. We can also use it as a vertical support and as a cover although the result is quite bulky. The default language of the keyboard is in English but we can change them to any language using some very effective vinyl stickers.

Stylus

The optional digital pen for this model Chuwi Hi9 Plus is the so-called HiPen that has 1024 levels of pressure and as we see has a classic design powered by a small AAAA battery. In the lower part we have two buttons and in the back a pocket support. We do not have palm detection, the delay in the writer is quite evident and does not support inclination, in general we are before a pencil for a basic use.

Cameras

The cameras of the Chuwi Hi9 Plus tablet are of basic quality, have very few options in the settings, few ISO levels and emulated HDR modes that give us a pretty basic result. We also have video modes that reach up to FullHD, we do not have face detection for unlocking.

• Rear camera: Sensor with 8MP resolution with HDR mode, muted colors and noise  / Video 1080p.
• Front camera: 8MP sensor, muted colors / / Video 1080p.

ANDROID SYSTEM

Environment and user experience

We turn on the Chuwi Hi9 Plus tablet and note that we have the Android 8.0 system. The system in a general use of browsing and consuming multimedia content moves smoothly after applying OTA update O00623 and we can use any app without problems thanks to its powerful Mediatek Helio X27 Hexa core SoC. In the lower area we have the classic Android buttons and in the upper area we have the curtain with shortcuts, in general the system is basic and has no customizations of any kind.

• Installed apps: Camera apps, calendar, photos, Google Play, video and audio recorder.
• Languages: All the international languages of Android.
• Multitasking: Multitask app change and split screen.
• Root: The system is NOT root.

System, support and store apps

If we enter the Android settings of the Chuwi Hi9 Plus we can see that we find the classic Android settings where we have a system with just some customization of Mediatek for the improvement of image and visual protection. Google Play works perfectly as it comes by default.

• Firmware version: During the review we received the OTA update O00623 that solves performance problems.
• Android version: Android 8.0 (64bit) / Kernel 3.18.60 (24-10-2018).
• Store apps: Google Play is perfectly functional.
• Brand support: Chuwi updates its system through OTA on a regular basis.

HARDWARE TESTS

Storage and RAM Memory

We perform our usual memory tests and internal storage in the Chuwi Hi9 Plus using the SD bench app. Internal storage can be expanded using the included microSD card reader. The results of internal storage are good compared to models in your sector.

• Storage: Total 64GB / Free 50GB
• RAM: Total 4 GB DDR3L / Free 3.1 GB
• microSD: Speeds of 39 MB/s reading / 15 MB/s writing. Not compatible with NTFS or exFAT.
• USB Type-C: Charge, USB drives and some peripherals. Not compatible with NTFS or exFAT.

Battery and temperature

The Chuwi Hi9 Plus has a 7000 mAh battery, the autonomy is very good if we do not demand too much and if we use the brightness of the screen at half level. If we play demanding games, the battery goes down quickly, as is normal for a Helio X27 is manufactured in 20nm.

• Battery recharge: Charging at 5V 2A, not fast charging, it can take up to about 5 hours.
• Idle: Connected to the Wifi and without using it can last about 8 days.

We check the performance of the tablet in scenarios of maximum sustained performance and in its usual use, we use a stress app for fifteen minutes and thermal camera to detect hot areas.

• Thermal throttle: The system maintains a maximum performance of 72%, there is appreciable loss.
• Temperature: The rear part is heated at one zone where the SoC is located but have low temperatures.

WIFI and Bluetooth

In Wi-Fi connections, the Chuwi Hi9 Plus tablet has a Wi-Fi ac Dual Band wireless adapter with which we connect to an ASUS RT-AC1200G+ Router, a mid-range device. We perform tests on the use of streaming using the iPerf measurement tool to see the maximum performance of each network adapter.

• Wifi speed results: Correct speeds for this type of adapters.
• Wifi Scope: At a distance of 5 meters with a wall we have a signal of 43 dBm, a very poor result.
• Bluetooth: Works correctly and connects without problems.
• We recommend reading our Tutorial SAMBA on Android networks if we are going to use files from our network PC.

Sensors, modem, radio and GPS

Integrated in the Chuwi Hi9 Plus tablet we only have an accelerometer and GPS system support. We also have a 4G-LTE modem with almost all international bands that allows to mount two microSIM cards in the inner tray.

• Location: GPS with good accuracy.
• Sensors: Accelerometer.
• Modem: 4G LTE.
  2G: GSM 850/900/1800 / 1900MHz
  3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900 / 2100MHz
  4G: FDD-LTE 800/850/900/1800/1900 // 2100 / 2600MHz, TDD B40 2300MHz

PERFORMANCE TEST

SOC

In the performance tests, the Chuwi Hi9 Plus shows us good results thanks to the Mediatek Helio X27 SoC and the power of the Mali-T880 MP4 GPU that it integrates. If we compare the results we can see how it surpasses the inferior models of Mediatek, it is below its direct rival Qualcomm and far from the Kirin 960 that remains as the leader in its sector. We must also bear in mind that we are talking about another price range.

• You can read in our Comparative for the Mediatek Helio SoC with all the details of this processor.

Benchmarks

Games and gamepads

The tablet Chuwi Hi9 Plus with the Mediatek Helio X27 SoC integrates the powerful Mali-T880 MP4 GPU allows us to move 99% of Google Play titles without performance problems and good compatibility. We have done a long test with PUBG and we can say that it moves with fluidity in all the setups although we recommend the medium or low quality setting to have fast response.

• Compatibility: It is possible to play demanding titles such as PUBG with slight frame skips, the battery drains quickly.
• Controls: Compatible with Bluetooth Gamepads.

VIDEO TEST

Test video files

In terms of multimedia playback, the Chuwi Hi9 Plus behaves well using the Mediatek Helio X27 SoC (MT6797) which integrates a Mali-T880 MP4 GPU with video playback support up to 4K@30fps in the graphic section. As we see it has certain limitations in the VP9 4K format but it is not a problem to see any content at the correct level.

• Compatibility: HEVC with good performance / VP9 correct with basic quality
• You can read our Tutorial to install Addons in KODI in a simple way to get to watch the most popular streamings.

Test results

• * The maximum bitrate depends on the internal storage, usb port, Ethernet adapter or wifi used, we have used the fastest available, see Hardware tests section of this same review to have more information and have consider the limitations of SAMBA Networks.

Streaming services

We pass the classic tests on streaming services to see how the most popular services work. In this model does not have certificates for these services. The Chuwi Hi9 Plus model presents the classic configuration without certificates that limits us in quality in several streaming services, as it does not have notification bars, it also presents some classic problem of this type of configuration.

• DRM: Google Widevine L3
• Certification: No

CONCLUSIONS

Score

Opinion

As we have seen in our review of the tablet Chuwi Hi9 Plus is a product that offers a lot for its price, we have a powerful Mediatek Helio X27 SoC, a good network performance thanks to the Wifi ac adapter with efficient internal antennas and also integrates modem 4G-LTE that allows us to connect anywhere. At the level of finishes this tablet also stands out as we have good materials, some bevels that give a nice touch and has a weight and dimensions that allow us to handle it with comfort.

Undoubtedly the Chuwi Hi9 Plus stands out above all for its excellent 2.5K screen that surprises us with intense colors, very good contrast and the assembly of the screen in OGS format laminated in the glass itself that gives a solidity to the image that has nothing envy to the top brands in the sector. On the other hand, as is normal in this range of products, we have low specs are in the web cameras and in the speakers that are powerful but with metallic sound. The magnetic keyboard fulfills its function to type texts in a sporadic way, although as a cover the design is not the most practical. On the other hand the Stylus is quite basic and is not intended for people who require a demanding use of it. In general as we see this tablet is a good product for those who look for a tablet with good screen, powerful and comfortable without having to sacrifice our bank account.

WHERE TO BUY AND ADD-ONS

Add-ons

Chuwi Hi9 Plus _

0.00

7.8

DESIGN AND CONNECTIVITY

9.0/10

HARDWARE

8.5/10

SOFTWARE

7.0/10

SUPPORT

7.5/10

PRICE/QUALITY

7.2/10

Pros

• Good design and 2.5K screen
• Optional Keyboard and Stylus
• Battery life
• Powerful, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM
• Low price

Cons

• Basic cameras and speakers
• Firmware with few options