14 DAY TRIAL // There’s no doubt that the Surface Book is an excellent device and there’s a good reason why Microsoft calls it “the ultimate laptop.” The hardware hidden under its case makes it a top Windows 10 workhorse, but its premium price might be a problem for many of us, as the highest configuration retails for around $3,000 (2,800 EUR).
The Chinese, however, have the solution: a Surface Book clone that looks exactly the same as Microsoft’s product and which offers similar functionality, including the signature hinge.
Chinese company Onda has created what it calls the oBook, which is available in several configurations, including 10.1-inch and 11.6-inch.
The top configuration comes with the latter size and features a full HD display with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, being powered by an Intel Core M3-6Y30 processor. A Plus version offers an upgrade to Atom X5-8300.
If you want to go even more premium, then there’s the Onda oBook 12 which this time features a 12.2-inch full HD display with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. Power comes from an Intel Atom X7-8700 processor.
Surface Book’s hinge
According to TechTablets, Onda has even created a keyboard that can be removed from the screen, but this time “there is no extra battery or GPU” should you do that.
The devices, however, feature USB 3.0 ports and support for stylus, so it’s very clear that it was created to boast the same features as the Surface Book. The most striking similarity though is the signature hinge that Microsoft debuted on the Surface Book and which looks exactly the same on the Onda devices.
There’s no information on how much you’d have to pay for this Surface Book clone, but expect it to be a lot more affordable than Microsoft’s original model. And it goes without saying that you won’t get the same premium experience with a Chinese clone, but many people are willing to trade that in exchange for a better price.
