Disclosure: this guide is written by the FEMUEY team, and we make some of the boards below. Specs for other brands come from each maker’s official product page, checked on 10 October 2026; where a maker does not publish something, we say so. Prices change often, so check the store before you buy.
The short answer
- Choose Chessnut Air if you want every piece recognised and mostly play online or against AI through an app on your phone.
- Choose Chessnut Evo if you want a large touchscreen with Chess.com, Lichess, ChessKid and Chessable built in, and your budget is around $630.
- Choose FEMUEY L6 Pro if you want to play a strong computer opponent with no phone or Wi-Fi, plus Lichess straight from the board, for $208.
- Choose FEMUEY P6 for a screen-free board with lights and voice guidance, for example for a child.
Side by side
| FEMUEY L6 Pro | FEMUEY P6 | Chessnut Air | Chessnut Evo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $208 | $199.99 | $249.99 | $629.99 |
| How it senses moves | Magnetic sensing; does not identify individual pieces | Magnetic sensing | Identifies every piece (type and color) | Full piece recognition |
| Computer opponent with no phone or Wi-Fi | Yes, 2300 Elo on the board | Yes, 1800 Elo on the board | No, AI play through supported apps | Yes, Stockfish 600–3190 Elo and Maia 1100–1900 |
| Built-in training | 1,000 puzzles, custom endgames, 3,000+ openings once online | 200 puzzles, custom endgames | Not listed by the maker | Chessable and ChessKid built in |
| Screen | E-Ink display | None: colored lights and voice | None (LED lights) | 12.3-inch touchscreen |
| Online play | Lichess from the board over Wi-Fi, no phone | Not supported | Chess.com and Lichess through an app (Bluetooth) | Chess.com, Lichess, ChessKid and Chessable built in |
| Size | 13.58 × 11.02 in, 1.63 kg | Playing area 8.8 × 8.8 in, 28 mm squares | 13 × 13 × 0.7 in, king 2.7 in | 520 × 340 × 21 mm, 3 kg |
FEMUEY prices at the time of writing; Chessnut prices and specs from chessnutech.com on 10 October 2026. More boards on our comparison page.
The real differences
Piece recognition
This is where Chessnut leads. Chessnut Air and Evo identify each individual piece, so the board knows which piece is on which square even if you set up a position by hand. FEMUEY L6 Pro and P6 sense moves magnetically: they follow the game as you play it, but do not identify each piece. If piece recognition matters most to you, FEMUEY’s upcoming L8 adds it; today, Chessnut is the choice.
Playing the computer without a phone
This is where FEMUEY leads at its price. L6 Pro runs a 2300 Elo engine on the board and P6 an 1800 Elo engine, so you switch on and play, with no phone, app or Wi-Fi. Chessnut Air relies on supported apps for AI play. Chessnut Evo also plays offline, with Stockfish and Maia, at about three times the price of L6 Pro.
Online play
Chessnut covers more platforms: Chess.com and Lichess on both models, plus ChessKid and Chessable on Evo. FEMUEY L6 Pro and Y2 connect to Lichess only, but play it directly from the device over Wi-Fi, with no phone or computer during the game. If Chess.com is your main platform, choose Chessnut.
Screen
Chessnut Evo has a 12.3-inch touchscreen; Chessnut Air has none. L6 Pro has an E-Ink display beside the board for notation and settings. P6 has no screen at all and guides each move with lights and voice, which many parents prefer.
Who should buy which
- Online player on Chess.com: Chessnut Air, or Chessnut Evo if you would rather not use your phone.
- Player who wants a strong offline opponent on a budget: FEMUEY L6 Pro.
- Lichess player who wants to leave the phone in another room: FEMUEY L6 Pro, or FEMUEY Y2 ($78) as a handheld.
- Parent buying a first board for a child: FEMUEY P6. See our guide to kids’ boards.
- Player who wants everything in one device and has the budget: Chessnut Evo.
FAQ
Is FEMUEY a Chessnut alternative?
Yes, for players who care most about playing the computer without a phone. FEMUEY L6 Pro ($208) has a 2300 Elo engine on the board; Chessnut Air ($249.99) recognises every piece but uses apps for AI play.
Does FEMUEY L6 Pro recognise individual pieces like Chessnut?
No. L6 Pro senses moves magnetically and does not identify each piece. FEMUEY’s upcoming L8 adds individual piece recognition.
Can FEMUEY boards play Chess.com?
FEMUEY L6 Pro and Y2 connect to Lichess. For Chess.com, Chessnut Air and Chessnut Evo are better choices.
Which is cheaper, FEMUEY or Chessnut?
At the time of writing FEMUEY L6 Pro is $208 and P6 $199.99; Chessnut Air is $249.99 and Chessnut Evo $629.99.
What warranty and returns come with FEMUEY boards?
Every FEMUEY board has a 1-year warranty. Hardware can be returned within 15 days of delivery, and in-stock orders ship worldwide within 72 hours of payment. See the FAQ for details.
Last updated: October 2026.
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