After testing multiple smart chess boards, the Chessnut Pro stands out for its classic wooden design, weighted pieces, and seamless online connectivity. For budget buyers, the Chessnut Air offers great value. The Millennium Supreme T2 excels in responsiveness and battery life.
Smart chess boards are revolutionizing the way enthusiasts play the game, blending traditional board feel with digital connectivity. After a month of testing with a chess-mad family member, we've identified the best options for both online and offline play. Here are our top recommendations.
Top Pick: Chessnut Pro
The Chessnut Pro is a full tournament-size board (55 cm) with a classic wooden design and beautifully weighted beechwood pieces. Hidden red LEDs in each square indicate moves, while the board connects via USB-C or Bluetooth to computers, laptops, or smartphones. Pieces have sensor chips for automatic detection, and the Chessconnect Chrome extension enables easy play on Chess.com and Lichess.org. Battery life is around seven to eight hours, though charging takes overnight. The official Chessnut app has weak AI opponents, but third-party programs offer better options. Online play may have slight lag and require reconnection per game.
Budget-Friendly: Chessnut Air and Air+
For those seeking affordability, the Chessnut Air ($250) is a smaller wooden board (33 cm) with lighter pieces and visible LEDs. The Chessnut Air+ ($400) offers superior weighted wooden pieces and subtle LEDs. Both provide a similar experience to the Pro at lower prices.
Best for Built-in AI: Chessnut Evo
The Chessnut Evo ($630) features a large screen and built-in AI computer, but uses plastic pieces and a modern design. While convenient, reliance on manufacturer updates and less appealing in-person play make it a niche choice.
Premium Alternative: Millennium Supreme T2
The Millennium Supreme T2 surpasses the Chessnut Pro in some areas. It's a real wood, tournament-size board with heavily weighted pieces, two drawstring bags, and extra Queens. The board is thicker and heavier, with visible LEDs even when off. It connects via USB or Bluetooth, and setup with Chessconnect is easy. It offers slightly less lag and stays connected between games. Battery life is excellent (around 15 hours), but charging is slow. The tested all-in-one set includes a chess computer with two programs, though it feels dated and glitchy.
Other Smart Chess Boards Tested
Particula Harry Potter GoChess ($350): A themed board with movie-accurate pieces, colored LEDs, and a built-in chess bot with 32 levels. Includes hint system but no move explanations. Battery life is six hours. The board sometimes fails to detect moves, and plastic construction feels cheap.
ChessUp 2 Smart Chess Board ($400): A beginner learning board with light-up squares, onboard AI coaching, and Wi-Fi for online play without a phone. Plastic pieces and board feel cheap, and individual piece recognition is slow. Durability is poor; our board broke after a fall.
Key Points
- Chessnut Pro is the top overall pick for its classic design, weighted pieces, and reliable connectivity.
- Chessnut Air offers an affordable entry point with similar functionality.
- Millennium Supreme T2 excels in responsiveness and battery life but is heavier.
- Built-in AI boards like Chessnut Evo limit upgradeability and in-person experience.
- Themed boards (Harry Potter) and beginner boards (ChessUp 2) have trade-offs in quality and durability.