Chuwis Hipad LTE tablet took me by surprise.
Im not a big fan of phablets to begin with.
And when I saw it only cost $159 I was certain this slab would be a hot mess.
The 10.1-inch Hipad LTE is a phablet an unlocked smartphone with a big screen.
Theres a few problems holding it back that Ill get into later.
Credit: Nicole Gray
First, the good: this is the perfect tablet for me.
All I need to do my job is an internet connection and something to write on.
Im not patient enough to tap out articles on my phone, so I appreciate the physical keyboard.
And a tablets easier to manage than a laptop especially when sand is a concern.
I like being able to walk down to the nearby park and work on a 4G internet connection.
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This review treats both products as a single package retailing for $199.
Still, if youre a writer, Id say this is a pretty good deal.
Dont get me wrong, the price is right.
Its as good as any similarly priced tablet Ive used.
And if youre looking for more from a tablet, youll probably end up frustrated with this ones shortcomings.
The Hipads specifications are too modest for gaming and design:
Theres simply nothing here to get excited about.
The battery is decent, you should expect it to last between 6 and 10 hours during normal use.
Its perfectly passable for low-key selfies and streaming or video chat though.
I also used it for voice calls and had no problems with clarity or dropped calls during my testing.
The Hipad may not be very powerful, but its got a lot of charisma.
Its elegantly designed with chrome accents and subtle, angular features.
Its well-built and feels solid, nothing about the way this tablet looks belies its paltry price tag.
Lets start with the keyboard case.
The actual keyboard part is pretty decent.
I found it simple to adjust to the reduced footprint and the keys have a proper amount of travel.
On its own merit, Id give it full marks.
Sometimes when this happens the tablet wont recognize that the keyboards been disconnected.
I end up restarting the tablet four or five times a day to fix this issue.
Its a bigger problem than just figuring out a way to secure the back so it doesnt slide down.
All things considered Ill just take my laptop when I fly.
I hate being tethered to my desk and WiFi, and coffee shops just arent my style.
I highly recommend it for writers, bloggers, or people who work out of their inbox.
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