CHUWI’s GemiBook XPro is a very affordable laptop. The regular price is around 30,000 yen. In the event of a sale, the real price, including point reduction, may be less than 30,000 yen.
That said, the specs aren’t extremely low. The CPU is for cheap laptops, but it’s a normal type with 8GB memory and a full HD IPS panel.
CHILDREN GemiBook XPro
When I tried the actual machine, it worked surprisingly well. Although the performance is low among the current generation CPUs, it is equivalent to the 8th generation Core i7-8550U in terms of old CPUs. As expected, it is not suitable for heavy processing, but it has sufficient performance for Internet research, emails, watching videos, and creating small documents.
However, there are parts that are cheaper. The housing is cheap, there are few terminals, and the battery life is short. Some people may find keyboards with alphabet layouts difficult to use.
The keyboard is an alphabetical layout
However, in terms of performance, it is a very high cost performance. Many people will be able to endure to some extent if it is cheap. It is suitable for those who want to get a PC as cheaply as possible.
Therefore, in this article, I will review the design, performance, actual usability, etc. using the actual machine I purchased.
spec
| release date | March 13, 2023 |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
| display | 14 inch 1920 x 1080 dots IPS matte |
| CPU | Intel N100 (4 cores/4 threads) |
| memory | 8GB ※LPDDR5-4800 |
| storage | 256GB SATA SSD |
| Graphics | UHD Graphics *Built-in CPU |
| communication | Wi-Fi 6、Bluetooth 5.2 |
| interface | USB Type-C x 1 (data communication only), USB Type-A x 1, HDMI 1.4 (4K output supported), headphone output / microphone input |
| biometric authentication | none |
| size / weight | Width 323.4mm, Depth 219.9mm, Height 19.9mm / Approx. 1.46kg |
| battery | 3.5 hours for video playback |
The Windows license is an OEM version for the same manufacturer as a general notebook PC * Other manufacturers may use volume licenses that are not generally available.
body design
GemiBook XPro is a cheap notebook PC in the 30,000 yen range, and it looks cheap. The housing is made of resin (plastic) and has a slightly thick and rugged form. It looks a lot like the cheap Chinese OEM laptops that were common among domestic BTO PC makers a few years ago. It’s not the highest quality, but considering the low price, it can’t be helped.
Appearance of GemiBook XPro.Body color is metallic gray
The body is made of resin (plastic).The surface is matte and fingerprint marks are not very noticeable.
display open
Palm rest and keyboard bezel are gray, keyboard is black
The camera has a privacy shutter. It supports 1280 x 720 dot photo shooting and 720p@30fps movie shooting.The angle of view is wide, and the specifications are standard for a notebook PC.
A slightly unusual specification where the microphone is at the top of the keyboard. In my video conferencing test, I was able to pick up audio normally, but in some situations it can be a little difficult to hear (usually at the top of the display).
The bezel (frame) of the display is slightly thick at the top and bottom, but it’s not enough to worry about
Fewer interfaces. Only on the left side, depending on the device, you may feel that the cable management is troublesome. Type-C is for data communication only
The power adapter is a 24W round mouth type.It weighs 119g and is rather compact
The speakers are placed on the left and right sides of the bottom. The volume is rather low, and when you turn up the volume, you can hear the treble sharply.The sound quality is moderate, but it can be used without problems for watching videos and video conferencing.
The exhaust port is on the back of the main unit.Not fanless, you can hear the fan noise under high load
Intake port on the bottom
size and weight
The 14-inch type has a smaller screen than the general 15.6-inch type, so the body is compact. However, the GemiBook XPro is slightly thicker. It’s not that you can’t carry it around, but basically it’s better to keep it on your desk.
The main body size is 323.4 mm in width and 219.9 mm in depth.
Size comparison between A4 notebook (pink) and B5 notebook (blue). It is slightly larger than A4 size
The actual height, excluding the rubber feet on the bottom, is 19.8mm. 24.1mm including rubber feet
Due to the high rubber feet, it looks thick when installed.
The actual weight is 1.451 kg. It’s a standard weight for a 14-inch laptop.Weight
About the display
The screen size is 14.1 inches, which is slightly smaller than the general 15.6 inches. By default, the desktop magnification is set to 150%, so the text is not too small to read. Rather, it feels large, so you should change it to around 125%.
The image looked bright and relatively vivid, but the panel of a cheap notebook PC has a relatively large individual difference, so in some cases you may feel that it is not good enough. If it is bright and the color is not uncomfortable, it is better to think about it as a “hit”. Basically, it is suitable for text-centered work.
The screen size is 14.1 inches and the resolution is full HD with 1920 x 1080 dots.For some reason, 14.1 inches is often seen in Chinese OEM PCs
Although it’s not as good as a smartphone, the image felt quite bright and vivid on our test machine. However, depending on the individual, the appearance may vary greatly.Basically, please consider it for text-centered work
The display opens up to nearly 180 degrees.The viewing angle is wide, and the brightness changes slightly even if the image is viewed from an angle.
The screen is bright enough.Doesn’t feel dark even in bright lighting
About the keyboard
The keyboard is an alphabetical layout. Please note that the layout around the Enter key and the position of the symbol keys are different from the Japanese keyboard. Alt + “‘(backquote, under the ESC key)” at the same time, you can enter Japanese in romaji.
The keyboard is an alphabetical layout without a numeric keypad.Not compatible with backlight
The layout around the Enter key is different from the Japanese layout, and special keys are arranged vertically at the right end of the keyboard.Also, if you accidentally press the power button, it will go to sleep, so you should change the button behavior in the power options.
A feeling of type is suitable for price. The keystrokes are shallow, and the click feeling at the moment of pressing is also light. When inputting, the switch feels wobbly and a slight deflection is felt near the home position.If you’re not particular about it, you can use it normally, but you shouldn’t expect it to feel like a type.
The typing sound of the keyboard is a rattling sound like hitting plastic. Even if you type lightly, you can still hear the sound.If you hit the key strongly, it will crackle, so a light touch is recommended.
Not compatible with memory expansion
The GemiBook XPro’s memory is onboard (directly attached to the motherboard) and has no memory slots. Therefore memory expansion is not supported. The SSD is an M.2 SATA type, and it may be possible to replace it (unconfirmed).
You need to break the sealing seal to open the bottom cover.Breaking this seal may void the manufacturer’s warranty, so do so at your own risk.
With the bottom cover removed
Motherboard sticker removed
SSD is M.2 SATA Type-2280
One cooling fan is provided.The reason why there are no terminals on the right side may be that the sub board was abolished and the cost was reduced.
Benchmark result
test machine specs
| CPU | Intel N100 (4 cores/4 threads) |
|---|---|
| memory | 8GB LPDDR5-4800 |
| storage | 256GB SATA SSD |
| Graphics | UHD Graphics (Built-in CPU) |
*The benchmark test was conducted with the Windows 11 power plan set to “High Performance” and the power adapter connected.
*Benchmark results may vary greatly depending on various factors such as parts configuration, environment, timing, and individual differences.
Storage performance
For storage, a 256GB SATA SSD is used. It’s a standard speed for SATA type, but NVMe SSD, which is often used in recent laptops, is around 1000MB/s at the latest, and even cheap laptops are around 3000MB/s, so it’s quite slow. Processing large files may take a long time. However, it didn’t seem to have any particular impact on system response.
256GB SATA SSE access speed. Fast enough for a SATA SSD, but pretty slow for a modern laptop
CPU performance
As the CPU, the development code “Alder Lake-N”, the 12th generation Intel Processor N100 (hereinafter “Intel N100”) is used. This is a CPU whose brand name has been changed from the 12th generation, which corresponds to Celeron in the old generation. More to the point, it follows in the footsteps of the (infamous) Atom series.
The performance is very modest because it is a CPU for cheap notebook PCs. Although the average value of the same CPU is higher, it is a lower class among the current generation CPUs. It is not a model for making full use of heavy processing.
CPU performance difference (overall performance)
| CPU | PassMark CPU Mark Score |
|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 7735U |
21265 |
| Core i7-1360P |
21213 |
| Core i5-1340P |
20922 |
| Ryzen 7 7730U |
19633 |
| Core i5-1335U |
16573 |
| Ryzen 5 7530U |
16444 |
| Core i7-1355U |
16378 |
| Core i3-1315U |
13893 |
| Ryzen 3 7330U |
11856 |
| Ryzen 5 7520U |
9771 |
| Ryzen 3 7320U |
9289 |
| GemiBook Xpro(Intel N100) |
6159 |
| Intel N100 |
5503 |
| Intel N95 |
5502 |
*Other scoresPassMark CPU BenchmarksAggregated value by
Although it is a lower class among the current generation CPUs, its performance cannot be underestimated when compared to the previous generation CPUs. For example, comparing the single thread (single core) results that strongly affect the comfort of light work, it is equivalent to the 8th generation Core i7-8550U used around 2017. In other words, the high-end model that was around 100,000 to 150,000 yen six years ago and the cheap model in the 30,000 yen range in 2023 are at the same level.
Comparison with previous generation laptop CPU (single thread)
| CPU | PassMark CPU Mark Score |
|---|---|
| Core i7-10510U |
2326 |
| Core i7-8550U |
2057 |
| GemiBook Xpro(Intel N100) |
2046 |
| Core i7-7500U |
1928 |
| Core i7-6500U |
1700 |
*Other scoresPassMark CPU BenchmarksAggregated value by
Comparison with CPU for previous generation desktop PC (single thread)
| CPU | PassMark CPU Mark Score |
|---|---|
| Core i7-6700 |
2298 |
| Core i7-4790 |
2229 |
| GemiBook Xpro(Intel N100) |
2046 |
*Other scoresPassMark CPU BenchmarksAggregated value by
Currently, the CPU performance is growing rapidly. The Intel N100 is a lower class CPU in the current generation, but it’s not a level that can never be used. Rather, it is sufficient for light processing such as searching the Internet, emailing, and watching videos. The price is cheap, so it can be said that it is a very cost-effective CPU.
graphics performance
UHD Graphics built into the CPU is used for processing around graphics.
I explained that the CPU performance is sufficient, but the graphics performance is very modest. Please think that it is a fairly severe level for the use of large-scale games and graphics software. Atom series CPUs have traditionally had low graphics performance and are intended for character-oriented work.
GPU performance difference (DirectX 12)
| GPU | 3DMark Time Spy GraphicsScore |
|---|---|
| GTX 1650 |
3241 |
| Radeon 680M(Ryzen 7 6800U) |
2211 |
| Iris Xe(Core i7+LPDDR) |
1528 |
| Iris Xe(Core i5+LPDDR) |
1302 |
| Radeon (Ryzen 7) |
1204 |
| Iris Xe(Core i7+DDR4) |
1149 |
| Iris Xe(Core i5+DDR4) |
977 |
| UHD(Core i3) |
900 |
| GemiBook Xpro(UHD) |
338 |
*Other scores are the average values measured on this site.
The comfort of working with a PC
PCMark10 is a benchmark test that measures the comfort of working with a PC. Since it is intended for common tasks, the tests are relatively lightweight. The trends in each test are: CPU single-core performance and storage performance in “Essentials” (general use), CPU multi-core performance and memory performance in “Productivity” (business use), CPU in “Digital Contents Creation” (content creation) And storage, GPU performance seems to be strongly affected.
In each test, although the target value was greatly exceeded for general use (video conferencing, web browsing, etc.), the target value was barely reached for business use (spreadsheet calculation and word processing), and content production (photo processing, 3D production, video editing) below the target value. It seems that it is not good at processing that requires high CPU performance and graphics performance.
However, it can be said that the general use test is quite excellent for the Celeron class. If it is only about 20-30% different from the 100,000 yen class luxury machine, it is considered to be a sufficiently high cost performance.
PCMark 10 benchmark results
| test | Score |
|---|---|
| Essentials (general use) Target value: 4100 |
7162 9984 9409 10089 10647 10093 |
| Productivity (business use) Target value: 4500 |
4938 9266 6968 7094 6968 6759 |
| Digital Contents Creation (Content production) Target value: 3450 |
2410 5987 5525 4889 5997 6342 |
*Estimated scorePCMark 10 Official Sitedue to
Comparator specs (slim notebook PC)
Video conferencing using Zoom
Video conferencing/webinars via Zoom are possible, but not suitable for meetings with a large number of participants. Consider it suitable for video conferencing with a small number of people.
The maximum number of participants for gallery view, which is a guideline for performance, is 25 people.
I was able to use it without problems in a video conference with four participants (participating on the invited side).However, virtual backgrounds are not available
battery life
Battery life is said to be 3.5 hours during video playback. Although it is for stationary use, it is quite short for a modern notebook PC.
Therefore, when we measured the driving time for business work (web browsing, document creation, video chat, etc.), the remaining battery level reached 5% in 5 hours and 15 minutes from the start, and it went into hibernation. Although the result was longer than the nominal value, the driving time was still quite short.
I checked the battery report and it said the capacity was 38,000mWh (38Wh). It’s true that it’s a little less than a typical laptop, but the Intel N100, which consumes less power, should be able to run longer. It may be that the battery is being consumed by something other than the CPU, such as the display or air cooling fan.
PCMark 10 Battery Test Verification Results
| test method | battery consumption | drive time |
|---|---|---|
| *Nominal value | Small | 8 hours |
| Modern Office (business work) | big | 5 hours 15 minutes |
| Time to 50% charge | － | 1 hour 7 minutes |
| Time to full charge | － | 2 hours 38 minutes |
* Click here for test conditions and measurement methods
game performance
I can’t expect the game to play due to the low graphics performance, but I tried it with a very light game. Dragon Quest 10 and Valorant, which are said to be able to play normally even with built-in graphics, barely managed with the lowest image quality of full HD, and the low resolution and low image quality of 1280 x 720 dots seems to be a normal enjoyment.
However, Valorant can be jerky at times, and don’t expect smooth play even at low resolutions. If you don’t mind the rough screen, you can play even a very light 3D game.
* Average 60 FPS or more is a guideline for comfortable play
Dragon Quest X bench (super light)
| Resolution/Quality | Score/Rating |
| 1920×1080 / low quality | 4849 / normal |
| 1280×720 / low quality | 7645 / very comfortable |
Valorant outdoor shooting range (very light)
| Resolution/Quality | Average FPS / Low 1% |
| 1920×1080 / minimum image quality | 71.7 / 31 |
| 1280×720 / minimum image quality | 89.8 / 30 |
* Result of running around while using weapons at the outdoor shooting range.In actual play, the FPS will be about 10% lower than this result.
High cost performance machine for sub PC
First of all, in terms of performance, I don’t think it’s a notebook PC in the mid-30,000 yen range (depending on the sale, the real price is less than 30,000 yen). Although there is a subtle “pause” between processing, it is a level that can be passed through normally. In terms of CPU performance, it is equivalent to the 8th generation Core i7 or the 10th generation Core i5. It’s an amazing evolution because it’s about 30,000 yen with the same performance as high-end machines that used to cost 100,000 yen or more.
There are many things that can be a disadvantage. Some people may find it difficult to use the alphabet layout due to the lack of terminals and short drive time.
However, for those who can endure them, it is a very high cost performance. There are parts that are hard to use, so it is suitable for sub-PCs for those who have high-performance PCs. Recommended for light work.
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