Chessnut EVO Review: Game Changer or AI Hype?

[@whiggi]

If you like my content and want to support the channel, please consider using my affiliate code, code WHIGGI for up to 17% off all Chessnut Products. www.chessnutech.com/Whiggi Free shipping within the U.S. and the European Union, will be dispatched within 3 days

[@Tiao8282]

Looks like a good product, thanks for the review. Couple point that would make me lean towards on waiting for the « perfect » AI chess board 1/ heavy pieces and size & well crafted (not plastic looking) 2/ numbered board 3/ self moving pieces (the main feature I would be looking in the future)

[@whiggi]

glad you enjoyed the review :) In regards to the pieces, you can replace them with wooden pieces, and possibly get them weighted. There are suppliers out there that will drill holes in the sets before sending them. Great for picking a set that fit your style :) (I did this with my Pro, purchased a FIDE World Championship set) A numbered board would be good.. Chessnut have different boards, Pro, Air+ and Evo dont have numbers. But Air and Go do. For the EVO there is space around the border that you could put stickers on to number it if you wanted to. Chessnut are working on a moving set! I dont think it will be like the Evo, I am expecting it to be more like the Pro.. I could be wrong though who knows :D but it is a high demand feature for alot of people :)

[@Tiao8282]

⁠Thank you for the very detailed and quick responseI appreciate it! Lookingww forward to the moving piece model which hopefully won’t take too long to come!

[@tomislavnagy8715]

How long is Your Code Valid? For Ever? Did You get it for Free?

[@whiggi]

@tomislavnagy8715 ​ hi, my code WHIGGI for 10 to 12% off and is always valid. Chessnut were kind enough to send me this unit in the video for free

[@tomislavnagy8715]

I live in Croatia, Eu; and my Montly Salary is 850€! So, I have to give my whole Salary for this one Chess Set! For me that's Really Expencive!

[@whiggi]

for sure. when I got my first set (The Pro) i saved up for awhile, put some thought into whether or not it was right for me. definitely not the cheapest set either :) glad I got it! but everyones needs are different. the electronic chess sets are an investment that will depend greatly on the persons situation. the Go is a great entry level set at a more affordable price of 150, and the Air is too not much more. they might be better for your needs if you are looking for an eboard

[@SelfishFurniture91]

For me the question really is how long will this product receive support from the devs and will I be able to use it for the next 10 years? If I buy an expensive product like that I just need some guarantees

[@whiggi]

i believe they just hit their 4th anniversary and still continue to be active in the community (especially on chessnut backers/reddit), upgrading software and adding features. Looks like theyre growing with future ambitions so i feel like support for this product will be around for a long time.

[@Yayo2323]

You pay 1.5K for an Iphone that last 2 years... so this is half the price, why are you asking for 10 Years warranty??

[@SelfishFurniture91]

Next time you comment, try to use more than three brain cells.

[@davidbusse8900]

The best review of this product that I have seen. Thanks very much, appreciate the time and trouble that went into making it. Dave

[@whiggi]

thanks for the kind words Dave 😀 glad to hear you enjoyed it

[@michaelholley5023]

So... It's a lot and need to do my diligence. You've helped and I thank you for that. Appreciated.

[@whiggi]

You are so welcome :)

[@albireo9]

Really like that Chessnut EVO is an integrated system. No smart phone, computer, nor tablet computer required, which eliminates bluetooth connection problems and frees up those devices for other tasks. Playing chess on-screen does nothing to prepare you to play chess over-the-board (OTB). Seeing, feeling, and touching actual chess pieces is important. Imagine future developments that enable the Chessnut EVO board to automatically move opponent's pieces. That would be so cool!

[@whiggi]

agree with everything you said! my first OTB i was not prepared, even though on my screen practice made me feel like I was... but when the game started I felt lost. following year practiced on a board instead of a screen and the results showed :) also looking forward to future advancements

[@ClassicalSquaresoft]

I have a regular Bluetooth full DG size dgt set. Can I use my Fide chess pieces on this board? They got sensors on them too.

[@Quercifolia]

We are out in the countryside with no dedicated internet service. We have to link to another phone which we have set up as a hotspot to get system updates or perform backups on our other devices. Will linking the evo to a phone/pad device work for online play?

[@whiggi]

Linking the Chessnut EVO to a phone or tablet via a hotspot should work for online play, as long as the internet connection through the hotspot is stable. :)

[@Quercifolia]

Thank you. It should be, but we will find out soon. I took advantage of the Black Friday sale last week and bought one for my husband. It arrives tomorrow. It’s been difficult to bite my tongue and not blow the surprise! Will let you/community know how it goes.

[@whiggi]

thats awesome! he is going to love it! looking forward to hearing how he enjoys the suprise!

[@Kamadev888]

I wonder what happens if you want to promote a pawn to a rook, bishop or knight, if the other two are still in the game. These computers don't allow for such a situation, especially since each type of piece has its own identifying chip. Great 'tight' review by the way.

[@whiggi]

thanks :) its definitely a downside, but a very minor one. when I got my first set (the Pro) i ordered a set of replacement chips with it to ensure I had a backup set incase I ever 1. wanted to replace my pieces with a new set, or 2. lost a piece and needed a replacement. i did get new pieces for it. but its good having piece of mind incase me, or my opponent, ever need a 3rd knight or 3rd or 4th queen on the board. hasnt happened yet (over a year of playing on eboards)... however someone did mention they were playing a low rated bot that promoted to a 3rd rook when it was losing and they couldnt continue >.< still very rare:)

[@jJustPlayingNZ]

Great for a chess enthusiast who doesn't have a computer, doesn't want a computer, but wants all the chess content a computer would deliver. Brilliant! I have 3 computers so the extra expense not really worth it for me.

[@whiggi]

Absolutely, its also good if they want to get away from the computer itself. There was a time when I had no computer (it was a simpler time... but reflecting on it.. a somewhat more enjoyable time!) Good thing about Chessnut is their range of different products. I have a new board I will be reviewing shortly which is probably a better option for someone who wants to use a board whilst sitting infront of the computer.

[@thegreycount]

It is an excellent device, I love mine. Great review!

[@whiggi]

It really is! glad you enjoyed the video ill be adding more content soon on how to train with it! i was honestly quite shocked at how good it is

[@georgetiberiuduta6142]

What happens if you damage the screen of the tablet or something, can we change it ? What about the battery, it can be replaced in time ?

[@whiggi]

you can order screen covers. i dont have them, my cats walk over the screen all the time, no issues yet. the tablet and the board are connected so i dont think you would be able to exchange half of it. if you wanted to travel with it, youd best be getting a carry case for it to keep it protected. you can also purchase extra warranty on the products if you have concerns. following chessnut's socials ive seen some people bring up faulty issues, and chessnut is pretty active to get it resolved and/or provide support

[@georgetiberiuduta6142]

@@whiggi Thank you for the answer 😁

[@valuemastery]

Thanks for showing the bottom of the device. It looks like there is access to the inside. Is this for access to replace the battery?

[@whiggi]

hi, apologies for the late reply ive been out of town hopefully when I get back I can open it up. i havent heard lf any option to replace the battery though, so am curious as well

[@valuemastery]

@@whiggi I heard that there have been complains about the battery not being replaceable in the first version, so they added access to the battery. Since you're the first one to show the bottom of the device, I wondered if this is the changed version.

[@skymantechnology8329]

Hi, after using the Evo for some time now, I wanted to know if you feel it's the best option for OTB online chess. Also, any issues with the slick, nonmagnetic smaller pieces 🤔. Great video, thanks!

[@whiggi]

glad you enjoyed it :) i think all the sets are great for online chess OTB. but if it were distraction free, tournament/club feel, the pro is a great option. the evo is also does the job no problem, but with the screen there it could be a bit of a distraction. no issues with the sliding either :)

[@skymantechnology8329]

​@@whiggithank you very much. That makes sense to me.

[@VoidObserver47]

Does the board have the option to display only a timer for player vs player games?

[@whiggi]

in trying to make it happen but cannot see a way to do it. i placed a piece of cardboard over it to remove the distraction :) ill continue looking and if I figure it out I will let you know :)

[@VoidObserver47]

@@whiggi Oh wow thank you for checking! I'm trying to weigh out the price drop and usage before I commit to a $600 board. What kept my interest was the the pieces are interchangeable and don't have some sort of onboard system built in. I appreciate you going out of your way to check, I'll definitely be using your affiliate if I do :)

[@whiggi]

No worries :) Always good to check. I found a piece of posterboard which pretty much covered the board without being a distraction in any way to the game itself, so there is always some flexibility there. The flexibility to change pieces is also a huge bonus, that was a huge selling point for me when I got my first set (The Pro) If you have any other questions feel free to ask :)

[@BoskoZecevic]

What an amazing news??? (first chess computer >> 1977)

[@whiggi]

even though the chess sets evolve so much, good thing the price stayed down.. The Belle cost $20,000 apparently >.

[@head4you1]

700$ SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS for a CHESS BOARD 😅😅 I am okay man 🙏

[@ValamaMeite]

do they plan to make a tournament size?

[@whiggi]

An EVO tournament size, i am unsure on that. however, if your looking for tournament size I'd recommend the Chessnut Pro. ive got a few videos on it including reviews and piece upgrades (i replaced the pro pieces with. the fide world championship pieces)

[@ValamaMeite]

@@whiggi I have the Chessnut air but the problem is that it is difficult to use the app on my phone due to the high volume of call. The Evo is better for me because I do not have to use the phone. I gave away my air to my brother and I will need to purchase another chess board. I am hesitating between the Evo and the King Performance. What is your advice? Thanks!

[@whiggi]

ive never used the king performance so my answer will be a bit biased towards the EVO. like you, I wanted a tournament board, but when playing with the Evo instead of the pro, not needing a phone was a huge plus for me as well. i looked up king performance, the pictures/piece design dont appeal to me personally and im unsure if they are tournament size.. but the boards I saw that had a gap/input keys infront of white, seems like a very odd and annoying design. not sure which model you are looking into If the only problem with the Air was that you had to use your phone, but you liked the board itself, then the EVO should fit your needs perfectly :)

[@ValamaMeite]

@@whiggi Thanks for the advice. I will go for the evo.

[@Murat807]

I rather have just the evo board (new lights) and my own tablet where full google security futures are enabled.

[@phenanrithe]

Can't you simply put the black pieces near you when you play black, instead of turning the whole board around?

[@whiggi]

if you start a game it will register which side the pieces are on. so if you vs a bot whatever side your pieces are on will be fine, no need to rotate. the only time youll need to rotate is if your playing online, random colour, and you get the wrong colour. then youll need to rotate. but if offline play then no need to rotate :)

[@rickaguilar1833]

Does it give your chess ratings??

[@whiggi]

when slecting the bots you can choose their rating elo there is also a career mode where you get assigned a rating and try to move up

[@gautam9]

can i play on this board against the computer without internet connection?

[@whiggi]

yup :)

[@slammario]

Very good

[@Tortuosit]

Well, they attached an Android device, other peoples engines/software and a Zeitgeist marketing term (AI! Cyberz!). Meh.

[@ThePenguinTutorials]

I think one thing you’re missing is it’s ability to “visually” track any digital chessboard on the android device and engage with it which allows you to control any software which has an intractable chessboard. That’s pretty clever and not something other digital chessboards can do without direct integration of the application to the chessboard.

[@whiggi]

very true. i was also skeptical at first, thats why I went for the pro.. but now that I have the Evo i was shocked at how good it is :) i dont regret getting the pro, im glad I waited because theyve made some improvements since the original I believe

[@amarthurfurniture860]

Buyer Beware! This product is essentially unreturnable. Returns only approved if the package is unopened and unused. Even then, the process takes about a week of back and forth with the company proving your case with photographic evidence. Unethical.

[@whiggi]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Looking into it, Chessnut does have a 30-day return policy, which requires items to be unused, in original packaging, and with proof of purchase. I know that they also cover issues like defective or incorrect items as I've seen the occasional incident mentioned on Chessnut Backers (Facebook group) Anyone interested can find more details about their policy here: www.chessnutech.com/pages/chessnut-limited-warranty Sorry to hear you had an issue, but hopefully this helps clarify things for other viewers as well!