Xiaomi’s New Flagship: A Deep Dive into the Mi Notebook Ultra
Xiaomi has been making waves in the laptop market with its aggressive pricing and feature-packed offerings. After the success of the Mi Notebook 14 series, the company has introduced the Redmibook series and now the 2021 Mi Notebook family, further segmenting its laptop offerings into mainstream and premium tiers just like its smartphones and TVs. With prices starting at INR 56,999 and INR 59,999 respectively, the new Mi Notebook Pro and Mi Notebook Ultra are remarkably similar and share many intriguing features. Today, we take a closer look at the Mi Notebook Ultra, the slightly more expensive of the two, and explore its first impressions.
While last year’s Mi Notebooks were all 14-inch thin-and-light models designed for mass appeal, the 2021 family so far comprises premium 14-inch and 15.6-inch models that offer significantly more in terms of features and specifications, naturally at a higher price point. The primary difference between the two boils down to display size and quality, which in turn impacts their overall size and weight.
Premium Looks, Premium Features
The Mi Notebook Ultra boasts an aluminium body with a dark sandblasted and anodised finish that Xiaomi calls Lustrous Grey. It’s a sleek, simple, yet high-end look. Unlike the completely minimalist design of last year’s models, the 2021 iteration features a shiny black Xiaomi logo in the center of the lid. Despite its slim profile of 17.9mm, the Mi Notebook Ultra weighs 1.7kg, which is on the heavier side for non-gaming laptops in today’s market.
Opening the lid reveals the Mi Notebook Ultra’s highlight – its 15.6-inch IPS LCD screen. This is a departure from the norm with its 16:10 aspect ratio and 3.2K resolution (2560×1600), alongside a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen boasts a 300 nits brightness and covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut.
The 16:10 aspect ratio is an appealing feature, a welcome return after years of manufacturers prioritizing 16:9 for video viewing. This minor change makes a significant difference in everyday work, providing a more comfortable viewing experience. First impressions of the screen are that it’s incredibly crisp and delightful. The non-reflective matte texture and relatively narrow borders enhance the viewing experience, and thankfully, the webcam is positioned in its rightful place, unlike last year’s models.
Keyboard and Trackpad: A User-Friendly Experience
Underneath the display, you’ll find a black keyboard that stands out against the dark metal frame. Potential buyers will be pleased to know that the keyboard now features backlighting, a welcome addition to last year’s model. The layout seems well-designed with generously sized arrow keys and a dedicated column of paging keys on the right. The power button incorporates an integrated fingerprint sensor for convenient everyday use. A unique feature is the inclusion of a macro key, which is typically only seen on enthusiast or gaming keyboards. The use of this macro key will be explored further during the review period.
While an in-depth review will delve into the keyboard and trackpad’s performance after extensive use, initial impressions are positive. The laptop’s overall build quality is reassuring – the lid doesn’t flex, and opening it with one finger is effortless. The lid can be pushed back far enough, and the hinge feels sturdy.
Powerful Performance and Expandable Storage
The Mi Notebook Ultra offers a choice between the 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11300H and Core i7-11370H processors. Both are quad-core CPUs with HyperThreading and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. Based on the Tiger Lake-H35 architecture, these processors differ only in terms of clock speed, cache amounts, and GPU strength.
Choosing the Core i5 CPU gives you the option of either 8GB or 16GB of RAM – these variants are priced at INR 59,999 and INR 63,999, respectively. The Core i7 option is available solely with 16GB of RAM for INR 76,999. All variants feature a 512GB NVMe SSD. While the RAM is soldered and non-upgradable, the SSD is socketed. However, Xiaomi advises users to visit an authorised service centre for any SSD replacements.
Connectivity and Battery Life
The Mi Notebook Ultra comes equipped with a Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port and a USB 3.2 Type-C port, as well as one USB 3.2 Type-A port and a USB 2.0 port. There’s an HDMI video output and a 3.5mm audio socket, but notably no SD card slot. Charging can be done through either of the Type-C ports using the included 65W adapter. The laptop features dual 2W stereo speakers. The webcam resolution is 720p, and it also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
Xiaomi promises 12 hours of battery life from the 70Wh battery, a claim that will be rigorously tested during the full review. Furthermore, the Mi Notebook Ultra comes with a full license to Microsoft Office 2019 Home & Student Edition, plus you’ll be eligible for an update to Windows 11 when it’s released.
First Impressions and Expectations
The Mi Notebook Ultra delivers a compelling first impression with its premium design, impressive display, and powerful performance. The 16:10 aspect ratio adds an extra dimension to the viewing experience, and the included
backlit keyboard makes everyday use comfortable. The addition of a macro key and the availability of an 11th generation Intel processor make it a compelling contender in the premium laptop market. Full reviews will delve deeper into its performance, battery life, and overall user experience, providing a comprehensive evaluation of this promising new offering from Xiaomi.
