Highlights
The iBall CompBook i360 is made using plastic
The champagne colour model looks good, but the build quality is average
The display features an
11.6-inch TFT LCD panel
Nowadays, it's not difficult to find a functional laptop for less than ₹15,000. Major brands like Dell, HP, and Acer also offer products in this segment. Recently, Hyderabad-based startup RDP entered the market with a great option . iBall has launched several products in this segment. We previously reviewed the CompBook Exemplar , but due to its outdated CPU and poor build quality, we weren't entirely confident in recommending it.
Most laptops in this segment feature mediocre displays, CPUs, and other components. However, Indian companies like iBall have tried to raise the bar by introducing something new. Today, we'll discuss the CompBook i360. This two-in-one touchscreen laptop can also double as a tablet and is priced under ₹15,000. On paper, it seems like a good option, but we'll only know its actual performance after reviewing it. We'll also be interested to see if iBall has addressed the shortcomings of the previous model we highlighted.
iBall CompBook i360 Design and Build Quality
These budget-segment laptops tend to be fairly consistent in material quality. The i360 is also made using plastic. The champagne-colored model looks good, but build quality is average. The laptop is quite thick. At 17 millimeters thick, and at 1.35 kilograms, the system feels a bit heavy.
The dual-hinge technology provides a sense of sturdiness. Being convertible, you can flip the display all the way back, allowing the laptop to function like a tablet. The physical connections are also quite good. You get one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, mini HDMI, and a 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo port. There's also a microSD card slot, though there's no SD card reader. The power button is on the right, and next to it is a switch to disable the keyboard. This switch is useful when using the laptop in tablet mode. However, it would have been better if this function were automatic.
The display features an 11.6-inch TFT LCD panel with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. It comes with multi-touch support. Viewing angles aren't great, and color reproduction isn't particularly impressive. The low resolution means text isn't very clear. The trackpad has plenty of space, and the buttons are easy to press. However, tracking isn't very good. We often found Windows minimized when we simply wanted to move the cursor. The island-style keyboard layout is quite good, but unfortunately, typing isn't very comfortable. You'll find a charger, a cleaning cloth, and a micro-USB cable in the box.
iBall CompBook i360 Specifications
The CompBook i360 uses the Intel Atom X5-Z8300 chipset, which is also found in the RDP ThinBook and Notion Ink Able 10. It has four CPU cores. The processor has a maximum clock speed of 1.84 GHz and supports HD graphics. Flash storage is 32 GB, and RAM is 2 GB. The laptop also features Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and a VGA webcam.
The CompBook i360 laptop will come with Windows 10 Home 32-bit. The laptop doesn't have a large number of pre-installed apps.
iBall CompBook i360 Performance
While the iBall 360 is capable of dual-tasking, it's entry-level hardware. So, don't expect too much. Fortunately, the flash memory is quite fast, so booting up doesn't take long. The laptop's chipset also offers quiet operation. The base does get a little warm during charging, but not to the point where it's a concern.
App and gaming performance are weak. Programs take a while to load, and even Windows Explorer sometimes takes a while to open. This shortcoming is also highlighted by benchmark results.
The iBall CompBook i360 isn't a very efficient tablet even when converted, especially due to its weight and thickness. The 10-finger touch response is good, but the distance between the outer surface and the actual display makes it feel like a resistive panel. The brightness is also quite low, with poor viewing angles and very dim colors. We weren't very satisfied with the large bezels surrounding the display.
The iBall CompBook i360's video decoding engine makes high-resolution videos play smoothly. You can even play 4K videos. The stereo speakers are located at the bottom. Sound isn't blocked in tablet mode. The speakers are also reasonably loud.
The CompBook i360 has a 10000mAh battery. It lasted 5 hours and 53 minutes in the Battery Eater Pro test. With normal use, it should easily last a day. The problem is that the 1.25 watt power adapter takes a lot of time to charge this battery.
Our Verdict:
iBall's vision for the i360 is good, but its execution falls short. Packing so many functions into a laptop at this price isn't easy, which is why major brands haven't yet attempted this. Priced at ₹13,999, the iBall version of the convertible laptop isn't particularly impressive. We believe you'll find a more affordable laptop.
Interestingly, iBall also has a model called the Flip-X5, which costs ₹2,000 more. However, you can find it cheaper in the market. This device features a full-HD display. We haven't reviewed this laptop, so we can't comment on its performance. But you're sure to get a sharper display. The CompBook i360's battery is a strong factor. Furthermore, it's one of the cheapest Windows 10 machines
on the market. However, if your computer needs are strictly a computer, consider other options.
Price (MRP): ₹13,999
Cheap two-in-one Windows 10 laptop
Touchscreen
Good battery life
Disadvantages
Slow charging
thick and heavy
Weak display
Keyboard and trackpad
Poor app performance
Ratings (maximum 5)
Designs: 3
Display: 3
Performance: 2.5
Software: 4
Battery life: 4
Value for money: 4
Average: 3
