HIGHLIGHTS
- Xiaomi has launched two new RedmiBook laptops.
- The Mi Notebook 14 standard variant remains out of stock.
- RedmiBook Pro is a decent option for the price.
Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi entered an all-new category on Tuesday with the launch of Redmi RedmiBook Pro and RedmiBook e-Learning Edition in India. Yes, Xiaomi had launched a few laptops last year but came from its premium Mi sub-brand while the new machines are the first from the house of Redmi. Those who have followed Xiaomi would know that it targets more budget conscious users with the Redmi sub-brand and the new RedmiBook series is an example of the same.
Both new laptops come with 11th-generation Intel Core processors and have up to 512GB SSD storage. They are designed keeping in mind early stage working professionals and students
learning remotely. So obviously, they have been priced accordingly as well. The Redmi Book Pro costs Rs 49,999 in India while the RedmiBook e-learning edition price starts at Rs 41,999.
In isolation, this is an excellent pricing for the features you get on the RedmiBook series. However, a closer look at the details show that Xiaomi has made a few compromises and of course, the new laptops are not as premium as last year’s Mi NoteBook 14. A large part of it can be blamed to the changing scenario and global shortage of components that have forced electronics makers to either increase the price of their products or make sacrifices with the spec-sheet. Well, who knows that better than Xiaomi, says the Redmi Note 10.
I am yet to get the RedmiBook in my hand so will be able to comment on its build quality later but, the new laptops come with polycarbonate body and weigh around 1.8 kilograms. That’s almost surprising given that the Mi Notebook 14 from last year had a unibody metal chassis and still weighed only 1.5 kilograms. It definitely had a more premium finish and feel to it.
Why the comparison though? The Mi Notebook 14 was priced in India at Rs 41,999 for the 256GB storage variant the same you pay for the e-learning edition of the RedmiBook, while the Pro model of the RedmiBook costs significantly more.
Yes, the RedmiBook comes with an improved 11th Gen Intel Tiger Lake processors and a slightly bigger 15.6-inch Full HD display but, both of them have the same RAM and SSD options, same battery life and the same two 2W stereo speakers for audio. The RedmiBook also has an edge with improved 8GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM and a built-in 720p HD webcam. The Mi Notebook came with a USB webcam. Spec-wise the RedmiBook Pro seems like an excellent choice for the price. But, if you look at it from the user experience point of view, the Mi Notebook is a more premium option, for considerably lesser cost. And, it’s only a year-old product, which means a lot of users would still be interested in purchasing it.
The Mi Notebook was launched with a 14-inch display and a FHD panel with anti-glare coating. Xiaomi had used an Intel 10th Gen Core i5 processor as standard on all the variants, but the base model packed Intel UHD 620 integrated graphics whereas the top-end model got the Nvidia MX 250 card. All of this for Rs 41,999 was a head-turning deal last year same time and makes for a sensible recommendation even for now.
Sadly, the standard Mi Notebook 14 has been out of stock in the country for a very long time. Xiaomi’s officially website is simply showing the Notify Me option and with the Redmibook launched around the same price, it won’t be surprising if the laptop silently disappears from the Indian market. Just to be clear, Xiaomi has not officially shown any intentions like that but, it’s a strategy electronics makers generally follow.
The more expensive Horizon Edition which comes with near bezel-less design continues to sell on online channels. Ideally, we would want Xiaomi to also bring back the Mi Notebook so that interested users have more options to choose from.
There have been rumours going around for a while that Xiaomi is planning to refresh the Mi laptop line-up and may launch new laptops in the country soon. These are expected to feature major upgrades like 120Hz refresh rate display, GeForce MX450 graphic card and 100W fast charging support. That would also mean that the new laptops will be costlier than the existing options. This will further takeaway the attention from the first-gen Mi Notebook laptops.
I will talk more about the RedmiBook in our detailed review once we get the device but, as of now, it doesn’t feel like a disruptor as the Mi Notebooks. Despite that, the new series does help Xiaomi compete with traditional players like HP and Dell.
