Blackview AceBook 8: Affordable Metal Laptop Makes Compromises for Budget Price
Blackview, known for rugged phones and budget-friendly devices, has released the AceBook 8, a 15.6-inch laptop aiming for affordability with an MSRP of $319.99. While boasting a standout aluminum alloy case, achieving this price point involved some notable trade-offs.
The Good:
- Premium Build: The AceBook 8 stands out with its 5052 aluminum alloy casing, unusual for this price range, giving it a premium look and feel.
- Lightweight: Weighing only 3.52 lbs (1.6 kg), the laptop is portable despite its larger screen size.
- Plenty of RAM and Storage: It comes equipped with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB SSD, exceeding expectations for a budget laptop.
- Fingerprint Reader: A convenient security feature often missing in budget laptops.
- Decent Port Selection: Offers a good range of ports, including USB-A, USB-C with Power Delivery, HDMI, and a microSD card slot.
The Compromises:
- Dim Display: The 15.6-inch IPS display, while using a decent panel type, suffers from low brightness (220 nits) and limited color gamut (roughly 67% sRGB), impacting visual experience.
- Short Battery Life: The 38Wh battery is expected to provide only 3-4 hours of real-world use, making it less suitable for extended unplugged work.
- Basic Webcam and Face Unlock: The 1MP webcam offers basic 2D face recognition, lacking the security of 3D mapping found in more expensive laptops.
- No Backlit Keyboard: A noticeable omission for those working in dimly lit environments.
- Slow microSD Reader: Transfer speeds are limited to under 30MB/s.
- Older Wi-Fi Standard: Only supports up to Wi-Fi 5, missing out on the speeds and efficiency of Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
- Modest Performance: The Intel N97 processor, while sufficient for daily tasks, won't handle demanding applications or modern games smoothly.
Overall:
The Blackview AceBook 8 presents a value proposition with its attractive price and premium build. However, compromises in display quality, battery life, and performance should be considered. It's a suitable option for budget-conscious users who prioritize portability and a premium look and feel, as long as they are aware of its limitations.