CHUWI AeroBook - the "Windows version of MacBook Pro" for just $399

A few days ago, CHUWI launched AeroBook, a full-view budget laptop, currently crowdfunding on Indiegogo where it has already achieved presales nearing $120,000. As soon as it was announced, Aerobook was dubbed "A Windows version of MacBook Pro" by a number of industry insiders. Let’s dig a little deeper and find out why.

From the moment you first meet Aerobook, it's hard to believe it retails for just $399. After all, it boasts the same metal body as a MacBook Pro. CHUWI has been through 30 processes from proofing to shaping in order to polish the delicate surface of AeroBook, before an aluminium-magnesium alloy coating and sandblasting have been applied, for the perfect finish.

Unlike the MacBook Pro, AeroBook is designed with relatively clear edges and corners, in contrast to the Macbook’s more rounded edges, which brings a uniform aesthetic and a sense of order and symmetry.

The form factor of both machines is very similar, with both offering a similar size and weight, and both are super-thin at around 15mm.

Under the hood, you can see that CHUWI has adopted the latest in ultra-narrow bezels for Aerobook, with two of the sides actually being about 30% narrower than MacBook Pro’s at just 5mm. The design of MacBook Pro still seems slightly conservative in comparison!

Looking at the keyboard layout, you can see that these are two products of equal quality, but look closer - there are some differences. Whilst Aerobook has no touch bar, the most noticeable difference comes from CHUWI AeroBook’s narrow bezel keyboard, which shares a visual unity with the narrow bezel screens and enables you to type comfortably, just like a full-sized keyboard, yet in more compact and portable form. Look even closer - AeroBook also has five more keys and offers full-size directional keys compared to MacBook Pro. That subtle change ensures the typing experience of AeroBook is as comfortable as it can be.

To sum up, you can see CHUWI AeroBook really does deserve the title of "Windows MacBook Pro" in every way - design, material or technology. If you are looking for an alternative to MacBook, but still crave a great-looking, powerful laptop, CHUWI AeroBook is definitely worth a look.