Xiaomi’s laptop is for real, and Inventec’s making it for them


Xiaomi’s story is an interesting one. A company that started out making software for various phones made a phone, then a tablet, and in the process, kicked some of the biggest OEMs in the world off the charts.

What Xiaomi is up to next might cause troubles in an altogether different space. Rumours of a Xiaomi laptop have been going around since the beginning of time (alright, a little after that perhaps), but things are starting to get clearer as the young OEM gets its grips on more and more markets.

laptop.jpb

The fake Xiaomi laptop render that’s been doing rounds since a couple of years

An important update comes from Richard Lee, chairman of Inventec Corp. “I am upbeat about the business outlook for Xiaomi’s notebook computers, as the firm has more than 200 million registered smartphone users,” he said, confirming to Taipei Times that Inventec would be making notebooks for Xiaomi.

“I am not sure if the smartphone approach will be applicable to notebooks, but I expect Xiaomi’s entry into the notebook industry to bring something new to the market,” he added.

Xiaomi hasn’t just revolutionized smartphone prices (mainly through its Redmi series), but has also redefined how newcomer OEMs can leverage e-commerce to their benefit.

When Can I Expect the First Xiaomi Laptop?

“We will start shipping Xiaomi’s notebook computers in the first or second quarter of next year,” Lee added, answering one of the most important questions around the Xiaomi laptop.

Given Xiaomi’s expertise bringing extremely high value products to the market, the Xiaomi laptop should be another something that could cause ripples in the industry.

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77 Comments

  1. Manu
    September 23, 2015

    wow so about 3~4years of rumours and now its here xD wonder if it will come with a custom linux distro or with windows

  2. Dante
    September 23, 2015

    God please bring it with windows support + and at least gtx 960m

    • Muhammad Yasir
      September 23, 2015

      wat do u mean windows support?!
      if they’re thinking of making a linux or some crazy android laptop… they can forget about it!

      only if they make a powerful windows laptop for a killa price WITH support for adding further os… only then can things look good for them!

      • Dante
        September 23, 2015

        Thats would be pretty tough to acomplish – still It would be great still only thing it needs is an unlocked bootloader lol

      • September 24, 2015

        Microsoft products are not that important in china because of their government. Xiaomi is a chinese company so it probably will run linux.

        • Muhammad Yasir
          September 25, 2015

          aww .. mannn !

    • balcobomber25
      September 23, 2015

      Windows would be a turn off for me. But Xiamoi and Msoft have had meetings this year, most assumed it was for a Windows Phone or Tablet. Maybe it was for a new Ultrabook.

      • Muhammad Yasir
        September 23, 2015

        but wat good is a laptop … if it cant run windows?!

        • Airyl
          September 23, 2015

          It could run a version of Linux like Zorin OS, Linux Mint or Ubuntu.

          • Shashank
            September 23, 2015

            lol No Need to take too much exertion on your mind! i suppose it will going to run Window 10 because of tie up with Microsoft previously for Mitab and mi4 and you never know only because of this Xiaomi laptop would see the day of light!

          • Natsumi
            September 23, 2015

            why are people so insane about Windows… gosh.

            • Airyl
              September 24, 2015

              It’s familiar ground I suppose.

          • Muhammad Yasir
            September 25, 2015

            but u can’t game on those :/

        • balcobomber25
          September 23, 2015

          Incredibly good lol. Ever used a Macbook or a Chromebook? I have a 3 year old Chromebook which still is fast as the day i bought it.

          • Muhammad Yasir
            September 25, 2015

            u seem to have ALOT of money at hand !

            are u bill gates in Disguise ?!

            • balcobomber25
              September 25, 2015

              Lol nope just worked my butt off to get to a point where I have a lot of disposable income. Also don’t have kids or a mortgage so that helps.

            • Muhammad Yasir
              September 25, 2015

              wow … doesnt it feel a bit … incomplete to be without kids ?

            • balcobomber25
              September 25, 2015

              not for me. Neither me or my GF want them. We have nieces and nephews which are enough for us and we each have a dog.

            • Muhammad Yasir
              September 25, 2015

              well … not to be intrusive … and i really do respect you as a senior
              but i highly doubt a Dog can replicate the feeling of having an actual Baby.
              sorry but i don’t think one can replace the satisfaction of having an actual offspring with a pet which possesses a rather short and projected lifespan…

              again , this is just my perspective. I respect your opinions and choices.

            • balcobomber25
              September 26, 2015

              For me my dog is my best friend, nothing I wouldn’t do for my dog and nothing she wouldn’t do for me. The bond with a child is probably a lot greater but what I have is enough for me.

      • Dante
        September 23, 2015

        Yess – I already have a linex setuo so i dont need it and it wont be mac os – so windows is the way to go

      • Dante
        September 23, 2015

        yer graemer iz paerfekt

  3. balcobomber25
    September 23, 2015

    Depending on the software this could be my next laptop. Ububtu with a custom MIUI environment would be ideal.

    Also this is a pet peeve of mine but Xiaomi is not the OEM, that term is used incorrectly often here. Inventec would be the OEM. OEM either builds the devices (Foxconn for instance ) or supplies parts for a device (Mediatek).

    • linuxgeek
      September 23, 2015

      get your sh*t together dude, Ubuntu with MIUI?!

      • Airyl
        September 23, 2015

        Doesn’t matter, every laptop I get will eventually run Linux Mint.

      • balcobomber25
        September 23, 2015

        A MIUI looking Desktop Environment you idiot. I can create one in an hour using Gnome as a base.

      • Natsumi
        September 23, 2015

        better ubuntu or other distro.

  4. Merckel
    September 23, 2015

    “I expect Xiaomi’s entry into the notebook industry to bring something new to the market”

    Really? Xiaomi doesn’t do anything “new.” It copies. Period.

    • September 23, 2015

      I’m not talking about the specifications or even the design there. It’s the marketing model.

      I hope you aren’t expecting to be able to go your neighborhood electronics store one fine day and take home a Xiaomi laptop.

    • Airyl
      September 23, 2015

      “Xiaomi doesn’t do anything “new.” It copies. Period.”

      Hahahahahaha. Of course they make new stuff. There’s the Xiaomi Water Purifier for starters. Then there’s the Yeelight bulb and lamp, the Xiaomi Air Purifier, the Xiaomi power cord, the Xiaomi Pistons, Xiaomi’s shoes, the Xiaomi Yi infrared camera, the Xiaomi trolley bag, the Xiaomi Mi4, the Xiaomi Mi3, the Xiaomi Mi2, the Xiaomi Mi Phone, the Mi Note, the Redmi, the Redmi 1S, the Redmi 2, the Redmi Note, The Redmi Note 2, the Mi Band, the Amazfit, The Xiaomi Mi Box Mini, the Xiaomi MiTV 2, The Mi Band 2 and the like.

      But the most important thing that Xiaomi did that was new and instantly got adopted by many other companies was their pricing scheme. They were the first to offer a truly good and affordable device with their M1.

      • irebel
        September 23, 2015

        the air purifier is a copy of a japanese product, the yeelight is a copy of the mi light, the water purifier existed long before xiaomi made one.
        xiaomi yi camera? too bad it’s made by xiaoyi and not xiaomi. xiaomi just invested in the startup, not developed the product. same with the mi band, not their product but a company they invested in.

        you’re right about the price tho.

  5. njren
    September 23, 2015

    This is a much tougher space but if Xiaomi can crack China’s stubbornly high-priced, meager-specced laptop market by selling near cost, then more power to them.

  6. Frozzem
    September 23, 2015

    wow so about 3~4years of rumours and now its here xD wonder if it will come with a custom linux distro or with windows

  7. David
    September 23, 2015

    Make with decent intel i3 and coreboot. Be open to all OS. Don’t make it like chromebook or android laptop because that is useless. But of course you won’t listen.

    • Natsumi
      September 23, 2015

      and no Spanish keyboard -.-

  8. Dante
    September 23, 2015

    God please bring it with windows support + and at least gtx 960m

    • Guest
      September 23, 2015

      wat do u mean windows support?!
      if they’re thinking of making a linux or some crazy android laptop… they can forget about it!

      only if they make a powerful windows laptop for a killa price WITH support for adding further os… only then can things look good for them!

    • Dante
      September 23, 2015

      Thats would be pretty tough to acomplish – still It would be great still only thing it needs is an unlocked bootloader lol

    • balcobomber25
      September 23, 2015

      Windows would be a turn off for me. But Xiamoi and Msoft have had meetings this year, most assumed it was for a Windows Phone or Tablet. Maybe it was for a new Ultrabook.

    • balcobomber25
      September 23, 2015

      Windows would be a turn off for me. But Xiamoi and Msoft have had meetings this year, most assumed it was for a Windows Phone or Tablet. Maybe it was for a new Ultrabook.

    • Guest
      September 23, 2015

      but wat good is a laptop … if it cant run windows?!

    • Guest
      September 23, 2015

      but wat good is a laptop … if it cant run windows?!

    • Airyl
      September 23, 2015

      It could run a version of Linux like Zorin OS, Linux Mint or Ubuntu.

    • Shashank
      September 23, 2015

      lol No Need to take too much exertion on your mind! i suppose it will going to run Window 10 because of tie up with Microsoft previously for Mitab and mi4 and you never know only because of this Xiaomi laptop would see the day of light!

    • Dante
      September 23, 2015

      Yess – I already have a linex setuo so i dont need it and it wont be mac os – so windows is the way to go

    • balcobomber25
      September 23, 2015

      Incredibly good lol. Ever used a Macbook or a Chromebook? I have a 3 year old Chromebook which still is fast as the day i bought it.

    • Dante
      September 23, 2015

      yer graemer iz paerfekt

    • Natsumi
      September 24, 2015

      why are people so insane about Windows… gosh.

    • Fenix2412
      September 24, 2015

      Microsoft products are not that important in china because of their government. Xiaomi is a chinese company so it probably will run linux.

    • Airyl
      September 24, 2015

      It’s familiar ground I suppose.

    • Guest
      September 25, 2015

      aww .. mannn !

    • Guest
      September 25, 2015

      u seem to have ALOT of money at hand !

      are u bill gates in Disguise ?!

    • Guest
      September 25, 2015

      u seem to have ALOT of money at hand !

      are u bill gates in Disguise ?!

    • Guest
      September 25, 2015

      but u can’t game on those :/

    • Guest
      September 25, 2015

      but u can’t game on those :/

    • balcobomber25
      September 25, 2015

      Lol nope just worked my butt off to get to a point where I have a lot of disposable income. Also don’t have kids or a mortgage so that helps.

    • Guest
      September 25, 2015

      wow … doesnt it feel a bit … incomplete to be without kids ?

    • Guest
      September 25, 2015

      wow … doesnt it feel a bit … incomplete to be without kids ?

    • balcobomber25
      September 25, 2015

      not for me. Neither me or my GF want them. We have nieces and nephews which are enough for us and we each have a dog.

    • Guest
      September 25, 2015

      well … not to be intrusive … and i really do respect you as a senior
      but i highly doubt a Dog can replicate the feeling of having an actual Baby.
      sorry but i don’t think one can replace the satisfaction of having an actual offspring with a pet which possesses a rather short and projected lifespan…

      again , this is just my perspective. I respect your opinions and choices.

    • balcobomber25
      September 26, 2015

      For me my dog is my best friend, nothing I wouldn’t do for my dog and nothing she wouldn’t do for me. The bond with a child is probably a lot greater but what I have is enough for me.

  9. Danny H.
    September 23, 2015

    Xiaomi is such a blessing for the consumers! Up till now, everything they touched have bring huge value to customers, especially the underprivileged one. Can’t wait for Xiaomi to enter the laptop industry and turn it up side down. If anyone can enter an entrenched industry and reinvigorate that industry, it’s Xiaomi.

  10. balcobomber25
    September 23, 2015

    Depending on the software this could be my next laptop. Ububtu with a custom MIUI environment would be ideal.

    Also this is a pet peeve of mine but Xiaomi is not the OEM, that term is used incorrectly often here. Inventec would be the OEM. OEM either builds the devices (Foxconn for instance ) or supplies parts for a device (Mediatek).

    • Guest
      September 23, 2015

      get your sh*t together dude, Ubuntu with MIUI?!

    • Airyl
      September 23, 2015

      Doesn’t matter, every laptop I get will eventually run Linux Mint.

    • balcobomber25
      September 23, 2015

      A MIUI looking Desktop Environment you idiot. I can create one in an hour using Gnome as a base.

    • Natsumi
      September 24, 2015

      better ubuntu or other distro.

  11. Merckel
    September 23, 2015

    “I expect Xiaomi’s entry into the notebook industry to bring something new to the market”

    Really? Xiaomi doesn’t do anything “new.” It copies. Period.

    • Yash Garg
      September 23, 2015

      I’m not talking about the specifications or even the design there. It’s the marketing model.

      I hope you aren’t expecting to be able to go your neighborhood electronics store one fine day and take home a Xiaomi laptop.

    • Airyl
      September 23, 2015

      “Xiaomi doesn’t do anything “new.” It copies. Period.”

      Hahahahahaha. Of course they make new stuff. There’s the Xiaomi Water Purifier for starters. Then there’s the Yeelight bulb and lamp, the Xiaomi Air Purifier, the Xiaomi power cord, the Xiaomi Pistons, Xiaomi’s shoes, the Xiaomi Yi infrared camera, the Xiaomi trolley bag, the Xiaomi Mi4, the Xiaomi Mi3, the Xiaomi Mi2, the Xiaomi Mi Phone, the Mi Note, the Redmi, the Redmi 1S, the Redmi 2, the Redmi Note, The Redmi Note 2, the Mi Band, the Amazfit, The Xiaomi Mi Box Mini, the Xiaomi MiTV 2, The Mi Band 2 and the like.

      But the most important thing that Xiaomi did that was new and instantly got adopted by many other companies was their pricing scheme. They were the first to offer a truly good and affordable device with their M1.

    • irebel
      September 24, 2015

      the air purifier is a copy of a japanese product, the yeelight is a copy of the mi light, the water purifier existed long before xiaomi made one.
      xiaomi yi camera? too bad it’s made by xiaoyi and not xiaomi. xiaomi just invested in the startup, not developed the product. same with the mi band, not their product but a company they invested in.

      you’re right about the price tho.

  12. Guest
    September 23, 2015

    This is a much tougher space but if Xiaomi can crack China’s stubbornly high-priced, meager-specced laptop market by selling near cost, then more power to them.

  13. Guest
    September 23, 2015

    Make with decent intel i3 and coreboot. Be open to all OS. Don’t make it like chromebook or android laptop because that is useless. But of course you won’t listen.

    • Natsumi
      September 24, 2015

      and no Spanish keyboard -.-

  14. Danny H.
    September 23, 2015

    Xiaomi is such a blessing for the consumers! Up till now, everything they touched have bring huge value to customers, especially the underprivileged one. Can’t wait for Xiaomi to enter the laptop industry and turn it up side down. If anyone can enter an entrenched industry and reinvigorate that industry, it’s Xiaomi.

  15. irebel
    September 23, 2015

    if they give it the same attention they did the mi pad i’m not going to buy one.
    also, the laptop market is not exactly a market where much money is to be made. with companies such as Lenovo and Acer, hard to see how Xiaomi can make any profit there.

  16. irebel
    September 24, 2015

    if they give it the same attention they did the mi pad i’m not going to buy one.
    also, the laptop market is not exactly a market where much money is to be made. with companies such as Lenovo and Acer, hard to see how Xiaomi can make any profit there.