Xiaomi is one among only a few new manufacturers within the laptop computer area, however its enormous footprint throughout the Indian smartphone and TV markets means that it is not a brand new title. Model recognition and belief are necessary when spending massive quantities of cash. In fact, the Chinese language large is finest recognized for providing wonderful worth within the entry-level area, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how that interprets to laptops. We have already reviewed the premium Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Version mannequin, and now it is time to try how Xiaomi is catering to extra budget-conscious laptop computer patrons.
The vanilla Mi Notebook 14 loses among the distinctive design components and options of its Horizon Version counterpart, but it surely’s nonetheless a slim and lightweight laptop computer. It stakes its declare in a extremely aggressive section, and must fend off main gamers corresponding to Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus. Let’s examine what the Mi Notebook 14 has to supply.
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Xiaomi Mi Notebook 14 design
Whereas not fairly as slick as its sibling, the Horizon Version, the usual Mi Notebook 14 continues to be fairly fashionable and enticing. It has a steel physique with an anodised sandblasted exterior, and the identical logo-free lid that we favored on the costlier mannequin. The general look is pretty minimalist and unassuming.
There’s actually nothing to see on the surface aside from the ports on the left and proper and a small indentation that will help you left the lid. Consumption vents are on the underside and sizzling air is exhausted via the again of the hinge.
Not like with the Horizon Version although, you may have to carry the bottom down with one hand whereas elevating the lid with the opposite. The whole weight is 1.5kg and thickness is slightly below 18mm so this laptop computer must be straightforward sufficient to hold round and even commute with on daily basis.
Flipping the lid open, you may see a comparatively thick chin beneath the display screen and a few clean area throughout it. This is among the key differentiators between the usual Mi Notebook and the Horizon Version, which boasts of slim borders. Though there’s sufficient room on the highest for a webcam, this mannequin does not have one built-in. Xiaomi says that this was a acutely aware resolution made in the course of the design course of, however since people are actually all of the sudden extra depending on video conferencing for distant work and studying, an exterior USB webcam can be included with each Mi Notebook.
The keyboard deck can be steel, with a sunken tray for the island-style keyboard keys. The arrow keys are crammed right into a single row and there is not any backlighting, however there are not any main points with format. In reality there are extra Fn row keys right here, in comparison with the Horizon Version’s keyboard, in order that PrtScrn and Insert do not need to be secondary capabilities. The wrist relaxation areas are beneficiant sufficient, and the trackpad measurement and placement are fairly commonplace.
There’s solely slight flex to the lid, and the display screen does not warp when strain is utilized. The hinge opens to 140 levels and is sort of agency. Total, Xiaomi appears to have carried out job with design the Mi Notebook 14 does not really feel low-cost and plasticky, which supplies it a bonus in its worth section.
Xiaomi Mi Notebook 14 Overview
There are three variants of the usual Mi Notebook, all of which use the identical quad-core 10th Gen ‘Comet Lake’ Intel Core i5-10210U processor. This CPU has base and enhance speeds of 1.6GHz and 4.2GHz respectively, and options built-in Intel UHD Graphics. All three variations have 8GB of DDR4-2666 RAM which is soldered and never upgradable.
The bottom variant was launched at Rs. 41,999 and encompasses a 256GB SSD. Stepping as much as the center tier doubles the SSD capability to 512GB, which looks as if nice worth because it’s priced at Rs. 43,999. On the high finish, the SSD stays the identical however you additionally get a discrete Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU, for Rs. 48,999. That is the one I’ve for assessment.
Not like the top-end Horizon Version, there is not any alternative of CPU. Xiaomi has additionally used SATA M.2 SSDs for this mannequin you may swap yours out for an improve, however there is not any clean slot for an extra one. It additionally is not clear whether or not you may swap in a sooner NVMe SSD.
The port choice can be a bit restricted, in comparison with the Horizon Version. Most tragically, you do not get a USB Kind-C port in any respect. There are two USB 3.1 (Gen1) Kind-A ports, one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI 1.4b video output, a 3.5mm combo audio socket, and a DC energy inlet. An SD card slot would have been good.
A non-reflective display screen is often higher for work, particularly underneath indoor lighting. Xiaomi has gone with a 14-inch full-HD panel for the Mi Notebook 14. The corporate makes no claims concerning color accuracy, however does boast of 178-degree viewing angles.
The battery has a 46Wh capability which Xiaomi says interprets to 10 hours of utilization. You get a reasonably chunky 65W energy adapter within the field, plus in fact the exterior 720p webcam. Twin-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5 are supported. The Mi Notebook 14 additionally has bottom-firing stereo audio system rated at 2W every, in addition to DTS audio enhancement.
Xiaomi ships the Mi Notebook 14 with Home windows 10 Residence and a one-month trial of Workplace 365. The 2 in-house apps that we noticed on the Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Version additionally make appearances right here Mi Blaze Unlock allows you to mechanically register to Home windows if you happen to’re sporting a appropriate Mi Band, whereas Mi Sensible Share is for transferring recordsdata to and from telephones working the equal app.
Xiaomi Mi Notebook 14 efficiency
Preliminary setup went easily, and the Mi Notebook 14 was prepared to be used after following the usual Home windows setup course of. This laptop computer is handy sufficient to make use of in varied conditions, even whereas reclining. Resuming from sleep generally took 10-15 seconds, however normally, utilization was no hassle in any respect. I used to be in a position to multitask with over a dozen browser tabs open, streaming video concurrently.
The display screen is not very vibrant and colors are considerably muted. Xiaomi’s declare about viewing angles just isn’t overstated, however the display screen’s brightness must be pumped up pretty excessive. I did admire the anti-reflective end. The audio system aren’t very loud, and sound is sadly scratchy and tinny.
Typing is sort of comfy. The keys are just a bit stiff, however that is straightforward sufficient to get used to. Alternatively, the trackpad wasn’t all the time as clean or responsive as I might have favored, and the clicking motion is a bit sticky.
Coming to benchmark exams, it is simple to see the strengths and weaknesses of the Mi Notebook 14. SSD pace is proscribed by the SATA interface, and so the CrystalDiskMark take a look at confirmed sequential reads and writes capped at 500.6MBps and 383.3MBps respectively, with random reads and writes coming in at 300.2MBps and 269MBps. In real-world process exams, the Mi Notebook 14 took 7 minutes, 6 seconds to compress a 3.24GB folder of varied recordsdata utilizing 7zip, and 1 minute, 34 seconds to transcode a 1.3GB AVI file to H.265.
PCMark 10 posted scores of 3,542 and 3,371 in its commonplace and Prolonged runs, respectively. Cinebench R20 achieved 361 and 1,604 factors in its single- and multi-core exams. POVRay completed its benchmark run in 2 minutes, 52 seconds.
As for graphics efficiency, the Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU is certainly not meant for severe gaming or something past entry-level efficiency. 3DMark’s Time Spy and Time Spy Excessive scores had been 1,217 and 171 respectively, whereas the Evening Raid take a look at and Hearth Strike Excessive managed 12,327 and 1,661 respectively.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider barely managed to cough up 23fps whereas working at its Lowest high quality preset at 1920×1080. Taking the decision right down to 1280×720 and disabling AA completely resulted in a jittery however playable 41fps common.
This implies the Mi Notebook 14 is able to working older and fewer demanding video games. Nevertheless, it did get slightly sizzling, and sadly the realm across the WASD keys, together with the left wrist relaxation, did turn out to be uncomfortable after only a few minutes of gaming. The best aspect of the keyboard stayed cool however I might really feel air being sucked in from between the keys by the cooling fan. Talking of the fan, it did turn out to be audible whereas gaming, however to not a distracting diploma.
Xiaomi guarantees 10 hours of battery life however does not say underneath what situations. I discovered that with informal use, which concerned streaming a film and multitasking principally inside a Internet browser, I obtained a most of eight hours, however often extra like six hours per full cost. The extreme Battery Eater Pro take a look at lasted 1 hour, 23 minutes which is decrease than common. Fortunately, this laptop computer does cost rapidly I went from zero to 55 % in 30 minutes with the laptop computer turned off.
Verdict
Xiaomi has carried out job general, and the Mi Notebook 14 is appropriate for on a regular basis efficiency. You should not anticipate to have the ability to play fashionable video games, and flicks will not look or sound their finest, however normal productiveness must be effective. College students and workplace staff, in addition to residence customers with cheap expectations can be pleased with this laptop computer.
Building high quality is nice, and I do just like the minimalist look with the logo-free lid. Not a number of people are commuting nowadays, but when or if you do want to maneuver round, you may admire what Xiaomi is providing.
The bottom variant does not make a lot sense since you may double your SSD capability for only a few thousand Rupees extra. The highest-end one, which I’ve reviewed right here, is of debatable worth as effectively for the reason that GeForce MX250 GPU is of restricted use in such a machine. Nevertheless, the mid-tier possibility appears to hit a candy spot and is sort of aggressive, contemplating it’s priced underneath Rs. 45,000.
I’d undoubtedly have favored at the least one USB Kind-C port, an SD card slot, a sooner NVMe SSD, and a backlit keyboard, however I believe the bundle is fairly effectively balanced general. The Horizon Version (Core i7 variant) is in fact sooner and sleeker, but it surely’s costlier by round 33 %, which makes the usual Mi Notebook 14 effectively price contemplating.
