Review: Transformer Book T100 Chi review

Introduction and design

The Transformer Book T100 Chi is one of several new Windows 8.1-powered convertibles by Asus. Outed at CES 2015 alongside the company's flagship 12.5-inch T300 Chi and 8.9-inch T90 Chi, the 10.1-inch T100 Chi aims for the sweet spot between portability and performance.

Its predecessor, the Transformer Book T100, made an impression back in 2013 for being one of the first cheap Windows convertibles that could handle everyday computing tasks without buckling at the knees.

• These are the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2015

While it wasn't for everyone due to its small, low-resolution display, absence of full-sized ports and average performance, it was thin and light, ran all of your old Windows programs and went for more than 10 hours before giving up the ghost. Compared to similarly-priced laptops, Chromebooks, and anything that ran Windows RT, the original T100 was a pretty sweet deal at the time.

Two years later, the T100 Chi arrives as an upgraded model with positive energy seeping out of its 80 machine-drilled speaker holes (probably). One of the biggest upgrades from the T100 is the display, which at a pixel-resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 delivers a more than respectable 224 ppi - just short of the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro's 227 ppi.

Bay city roller

It's received a healthy boost on the inside too, swapping the T100's Z3740 CPU for a newer Bay Trail-based Intel Atom chip in the quad-core Z3775. That's backed up by 2GB of DDR3 RAM, 32GB/64GB of flash memory, Windows 8.1 and a battery-powered stylus.

Simply put, it's an all-round improved device, something that's reflected in the price tag. Available to buy now for £399 (around US$604 or AUS$774), the T100 Chi teeters on the brink of budget territory and costs £50 (around US$76, or AUS$96) more than the T100 did when it first launched.

Once again it's more than suited to accompanying you on road trips as a travel device and could be used as a main machine too - so long as you're prepared to make a few compromises.

The T100 Chi lands with a number of competitors snapping at its heals - including the Toshiba Satellite Click Mini and Dell's impressive Venue 11 Pro 7000. But if we're picking out an arch nemesis, the Surface 3 is the red-eyed bull waiting to charge when its May 5 launch date comes around.

Microsoft's latest 2-in-1 boasts a sharper 1,920 x 1,280 pixel-resolution display, a newer Cherry Trail-based chip and one full-sized USB port. However, the base model starts at £20 (around $33, orAUS$40) more than the T100 Chi, and for the full experience you to shell out an additional £110 (around US$166) for a Type Cover, making the Chi the more affordable option post-accessories.

Metal head

The T100 was an inexpensive 2-in-1 that felt like a budget device, something that can't be said for the T100 Chi. It's a world apart in terms of build quality, swapping its predecessor's plastic-clad exterior for an aerospace-grade aluminium that stands up well to flex. It seems forever cool to the touch too; even in a warm office I managed to stay cool by pressing the lid of the Chi to my face (attracting some curious looks in the process).

The biggest compliment that can be given to the T100 Chi is that it doesn't look or feel a million miles apart from Apple's 11-inch MacBook Air - at least on the outside.

Open it up and the premium effect is only slightly diminished. While the base is adorned in the same attractive gunmetal matte finish and silver trim, the tablet part is let down by a chunky black bezel surrounding the display. It's not hugely unattractive, but the symmetry between the T100 Chi's two parts isn't there in the same way that the Surface 3's Type Cover feels a natural fit for Microsoft's 2-in-1.

The T100 Chi has traded the clamping action of the T100 with a magnetic latch that holds the tablet part in place. It's now easier to insert into the dock in a single motion while being simpler to remove with a forceful tug. It's sturdy too; you could confidently carry it around by the lid without worrying about either part flying off.

Specifications

Like the Surface 3 and Venue 11 Pro 7000, the Asus Transformer Book T100 Chi stuffs its internals behind the display, which makes it slightly top heavy but never feels in danger of tipping over. With both parts combined, the Chi T100 measures just 8mm thick (versus the Surface 3's 8.7mm) and weighs 570 grams (versus the Surface 3's 798 grams).

On the underside of the T100 Chi's base are four rubber feet that keep it from slipping when placed on a surface. The device isn't hugely configurable, with only two versions available that let you choose between 32GB or 64GB of internal eMMC flash storage. Even at 64GB, around a third is swallowed up once you count the operating system, so you'll have to make the most of its expandable micro-SD card slot if you want to store a lot of data locally.

Here is the Transformer Book T100 Chi's spec sheet that was provided to TechRadar:

Spec sheet

• Intel Bay Trail-T Quad Core 1.46GHz (Turbo Boost to 3.9GHz)
• Operating System: Windows 8.1
• Onboard memory: 2GB (1.89GB usable)
• Display: 10.1-inch 16:10 Full-HD (1920 x 1200) LED Backlight Glare Panel
• Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics
• Storage: 64GB
• Card Reader: Card reader (Micro SD)
• Camera: Front 2MP and Rear 5MP
• Networking: Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n
• Built-in Bluetooth V4.0+HS
• Interface: 1 x Combo audio jack / 1 x micro SUB / 1 x HDMI / 1 x SD card reader / 1 x AC adapter plug / 1 x volume up/down
• Battery: 30Whrs
• Dimensions: Tablet - 265 x 174.5 x 7.2 / Dock - 265 x 174.5 x 13.2
• Weight: Tablet - 0.57kg (with Polymer Battery) / 0.51kg

One of the main annoyances of the T100 Chi is that the keyboard base charges separately to the tablet part. Both have a single micro-USB port on the side, which means you'll need two separate cables to charge both at the same time. If you just have the one, it'll mean swapping it when the battery in either runs low.

The Bluetooth keyboard is turned on using a switch on the top-right side of the base, which can be flicked off to conserve battery. Pressing a key will lead to a brief delay before any action takes place on the screen, which is a small yet annoying gripe that could've been avoided if there was a direct connection between the two parts.

In terms of ports, you'll find just enough connectivity options to get by. Along the edge of the base you'll find one micro-USB 2.0 port, one USB 3.0 micro-B port, micro-HDMI, a micro SD slot that supports cards up to 128GB and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Apple's new MacBook has attracted criticism for having a single USB Type-C port, and the Chi T100 runs into a similar, if less pronounced problem. The T100 Chi similarly lacks full-size USB ports, but the inclusion of a USB 3.0 micro-B port along the tablet's right-hand edge can be used to connect a hub for standard USB peripherals while at the same time using the micro-USB 2.0 port on the left-hand side of the tablet to keep it charged.

Unlike the MacBook, the T100 Chi is unable to use its USB port to output to a display; instead, Asus has provided a micro-HDMI port on the right-hand side. Though the setup means you're going to have to carry around more cables than you might like, on the plus side you're not forced to lug a proprietary charging brick around.

Performance and benchmarks

The tablet uses an Intel Atom Z3775 CPU, a Bay Trail-based processor that's geared toward everyday computing tasks - such as browsing the web, checking email, watching 1080p movies and light image editing. While the chip doesn't match the power levels of the Intel Core M variant in the T300 Chi, it's a passively-cooled CPU that allows the T100 Chi to go fanless - and it's super quiet as a result.

It's a shame that Asus didn't opt for Intel's newer and more powerful Cherry Trail Atom chip, which has demonstrated a slight, but noticeable performance gain over Bay Trail going by comparisons with our Surface 3 benchmarks.

Benchmarks

• 3DMark: Cloud Gate: 1,404; Sky Diver: 562; Fire Strike: Would not run
• Cinebech R11 (CPU): 1.44pts; (GPU): 6.94fps
• Cinebench R11.5 (GPU): 6.94fps
• PCMark 8 Home: 1,217
• PC Mark 8 Battery Life: 8 hours 38 minutes

The T100 Chi came out slightly faster than its predecessor in our CPU benchmarks, with its Z3740 Atom chip scoring 1.44pts versus the 1.09 points achieved by the T100's Z3775. Likewise, T100's integrated Intel HD Graphics delivered a slight boost over the T100, clocking in at 6.94fps versus the T100 Chi's 6.09fps. Despite the improved score, it still isn't suitable for playing games due to a combination of an unsuitable CPU and the T100 Chi's weak integrated graphics.

The T100 Chi's Bay Trail chip came out 32% slower than the Cherry Trail CPU in the Surface 3, scoring 1,217 in PCMark 8's Home Test versus the Surface 3's 1,682. It doesn't mean a great deal in real world terms; like its predecessor, the T100 Chi can handle multiple applications running at once - including browsers with several tabs open and YouTube streaming in the background - without too much stuttering or lag. It's when you start to push the device further that its 2GB of RAM and chip start to become bogged down under the strain.

The T100 Chi's small display combined with its energy-sipping system-on-chip provides good battery life thanks to its 30Wh internal battery. Running PCMark8's battery benchmark, which simulates use of real-world applications and full-HD video, I managed to eke out 8 hours and 38 minutes before it ran out of juice. Here is a tablet that's sure to run most of the day, and even longer if you turn off the Bluetooth keyboard for any amount of time.

On key

The design of the keyboard means that it's a little on the cramped side, a criticism that was also aimed at the original T100. I still prefer it over the Surface 3's Type Cover accessory, which has larger keys but much narrower key travel. As with any keyboard, the experience is subjective and the only way is to try it for yourself.

Sticking with accessories, the T100 Chi's battery-powered stylus is useful for prodding at the screen to pick out menus and toolbars, and while it's preferable to using fingers when it comes to drawing on Fresh Paint, it lacks the precision and multiple pressure levels of the Surface 3's Surface Pen.

Display

I got on well with the T100 Chi's super-sharp display, in part due to its high pixel density. Measured with our X-Rite i1DisplayPro colorimeter, brightness was recorded at a good, but not groundbreaking 319.2 cd/m2, which fell short of the Surface 3's 416.3 cd/m2. Whacked up to full brightness it's more than enough for indoor use, but when combined with the glossy IPS display it's too dark to properly see outdoors. Viewing angles, on the other hand, are superb - living up to Asus's 180-degree claims.

Elsewhere, the display has good black levels of 0.2824 cd/m2 and a more than acceptable contrast ratio of 1037:31, which ensures strong, bold colours, bright whites and inky blacks. Colour temperate sat at 6767K, slightly on the cool side and a fair bit above the ideal 6,500K figure, but it's not something you're likely to notice in your day-to-day use of the T100 Chi.

Once connected, the Wi-Fi remained rock solid during my time with the T100 Chi. The hybrid's speakers are found on both edges of the unit and emit loud, albeit tinny sound as is common on 2-in-1s in its price bracket. Suitable for Skype calls or YouTube video, it's not ideal for listening to music in anything other than a small room.

Verdict

Simply put, the revamped T100 Chi delivers a greater improvement than its marginally greater cost over the T100 would suggest. It makes big strides in build quality, has a superior display and features the same great battery life as its predecessor. If only its two parts felt a little more naturally related, rather than two slabs of plastic and aluminium communicating at arms' length, it would be even more of a joy to use. Maybe that's being reserved for the T200 Chi, ay, Asus?

We liked

The T100 Chi is a small, versatile laptop and tablet thanks to its sturdy aluminium construction, something that you don't often get at this price point. You can sling it in a bag without worrying about it becoming damaged or scratched, it'll handle 1080p video without any problems, and you can watch video for hours on end without reaching for the charger thanks to its great battery life. Though it costs extra, the stylus is an welcome option as it allows you to pick out parts of the display with greater accuracy.

We disliked

The inclusion of a Bay Trail-based Atom CPU instead of a Cherry Trail variant feels like a missed opportunity, though it likely hasn't negatively impacted the T100 Chi's performance too much when it comes to day-to-day computing activities.

Regardless, if you need a device to do any heavy lifting - whether that's converting video into different formats or editing high-resolution photographs - the T100 Chi isn't going to be it. Slapping micro-USB connections all over the device isn't going to please the full-size USB traditionalists either. And if you've got big hands, the T100 Chi's small chiclet-spaced keyboard may prove too cramped.

Final verdict

Save for a Cherry Trail chip, full-sized USB ports and smaller bezels, the Asus Transformer Book T100 Chi has delivered just about every improvement over its predecessor that you could want. While it's not going to set the world alight, it's a solid upgrade and an attractive proposition compared to a similarly-priced laptop or Chromebook - particularly so if you you need a Windows tablet.

Deciding between the T100 Chi and its predecessor is a no brainer - it's worth the extra money in every sense. If you're got plenty of sense and money, splashing out a bit more on the Chi T300 would net you an even more capable, if less portable device.

Alternatively, the Surface 3 has a better processor and comes with the option of a pressure-sensitive stylus but costs a chunk more due to the cost of Microsoft's Type Cover accessory. Both have superb high-resolution displays, and in many ways deciding between the two comes down to a matter of preference.

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://ift.tt/1GpyfD9