Eve V review: crowd-developed 2-in-1 convertible laptop is a world first that gives users what they really want
Eve’s online community wanted extra USB ports, a larger battery and more, and the start-up has delivered. But while the Eve V is a machine that aims to topple the Surface Pro, ironically it is Microsoft’s software holding it back
The Eve V is the world’s first crowd-developed computing device. It was built by Finnish tech start-up Eve with direct input from its 6,000-strong online community of fans, which began as a WhatsApp chat group of customers who bought the company’s first tablet in 2014. The fans decided the device’s form factor, specs, ports – even the name.
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This is why, for example, the new 2-in-1 convertible laptop doesn’t skimp on USB offerings like Apple and Microsoft. In addition to two USB-C ports that can charge the device and transfer data, there are also two traditional USB-A ports. It’s what the people want, literally.
Design and hardware
The V is directly inspired by the Microsoft Surface Pro and looks just like it. It is a Windows tablet that turns into a laptop when attached to a keyboard that doubles as a tablet screen cover.
Despite Eve being relatively inexperienced in the Shenzhen manufacturing game, the device is well-built, with a brightly lit, 12.3-inch, 2880 x 1920 display panel from Sharp. It also has a very sturdy keyboard that offers 1.3 millimetres of key travel distance, which is identical to the Surface Pro and way more than the iPad Pro’s similar keyboard cover.
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With the cover attached the V is a bit heavy at 1.36kg, but Eve co-founder Konstantinos Karatsevidis says that was a conscious decision made by the community because fans wanted a larger battery (48 Wh) and an individually powered keyboard which can connect to other devices such as a smartphone.
