10 things you need to know about the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air


Xiaomi revealed the long-rumored Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air yesterday amid fanfare and hype. Naturally, there are things that you tend to miss with all the excitement going around… and thus, here are 10 things, you might or might not know, about the newly announced Xiaomi laptop.

1. This is the first ever Xiaomi laptop PC.

Mi Notebook Air_01

Agreed they already released devices with Windows 10 in the past (mobile), like the Mi Pad 2, the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air is first real fully-capable Windows machine from Xiaomi. And it comes with the specs of one as well, from the Intel Core i5-6200 and Nvidia Geforce 940MX to the 8Gb of DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD.

Xiaomi decided to come in with a bang, going against (or at least trying to) the laptop’s market giant Apple Macbook Air, along with a great design and materials choice. All of this at almost half the price!

2. The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air comes in two sizes and specs variants.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

Maybe you got so excited that you didn’t notice, but the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air comes in two different screen sizes and relative specs.

The bigger one, which sports a 13.3″ screen, comes with an Intel Core i5-6200U CPU (up to 2.7GHz), an NVIDIA GeForce 940MX GPU, along with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD storage.

The smaller one, on the other hand, rocks a 12.5″ screen, Intel Core M3 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD and no dedicated GPU. On the line of the 12-inch MacBook 2015, but with more USB ports.

3. The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air will have a backlit keyboard.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

If you use your laptop at night or in the dark, you sure will appreciate this feature. The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air sports a full-sized keyboard with individually backlit keys. The ultra-thin keyboard also has a merely 1.3mm keystroke depth.

4. …and a laminated Full HD display.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air comes with a fully laminated 1920 x 1080p display to drastically reduce glare against sunlight or any other source of light. An important factor if you’re used to bring your laptop wherever you go.

5. You can swap the SSD and/or add another one on the Mi Notebook Air.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

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One of the best features which separates the Mi Notebook Air from the competition (looking at you Apple), is the fact that the Xiaomi laptop lets you swap your SSD. But here comes the best part, you can also add an additional M.2 SSD and thus have even more storage!

6. Same screen, smaller size (compared to you-know-what).

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

As we’re comparing this to the MacBook Air throughout this article, not our fault though, they called it “Air”. You might like to know that the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air has an 11% smaller body compared to the MacBook Air at the same 13.3″ screen size.

This makes it ideal for people who really value portability.

7. The Mi Notebook Air unlocks with a Mi Band 2.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

Xiaomi decided to add a little perk with this laptop, it in fact, will unlock automatically if you’re to its proximity while wearing your Mi Band 2.

It works through Bluetooth 4.1, and it will probably give you an option on how close you need to get, before it unlocks your laptop.

8. And has edge-to-Edge glass protection.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook AirThe Mi Notebook Air has a glass coverage which extends to the edges of the display. It’s made of ultra-durable glass, rated with a hardness of 7 in Mohs scale. In few words, it’s supposed to be fairly scratch resistant.

9. Mi Notebook Air works with Mi Cloud Sync.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

Just like Apple, Microsoft and Google, also Xiaomi added their “sync everything” software portion. You can indeed sync your phone contacts, messages, gallery, notes and other data through WiFi (or mobile data).

This issimilarly to what happens with Apple’s Continuity or Microsoft and Google’s cloud services.

10. And of course, Pricing & Availability:

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

The 13.3″ screen Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air version will cost around $750, while the cheaper 12.5″ screen variant will be $520.

We still haven’t heard about their global release, what we know for certain is that it will launch in China August 2nd, and it’ll probably be available from online Chinese retailers soon after.

So what are your thoughts? Will Xiaomi shake up the laptop marketplace as they did in the smartphone industry?

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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78 Comments

  1. Adam Irvine
    July 28, 2016

    Personally I hate anything Apple but I’d love to see someone turn one of these into a fully blown Hackintosh running the latest OSX from boot just to stick the fingers good a proper up to Apple haha

    • Pierre
      July 28, 2016

      That would be sweet!

    • Muhammad Yasir
      July 29, 2016

      epic burn material…

      Apple be like “hey , someone ask the legal team if we can sue these copy-cat squint-eyed bastards ! “

  2. Yep
    July 28, 2016

    I would use the second M2 slot to install a 2nd SSD with OSX on it to troll Apple users even more

    • Pierre
      July 29, 2016

      Great idea! 😀

    • July 29, 2016

      anarch

  3. Xiaolu
    July 28, 2016

    Make it Linux compatible or… good bye.

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      It will work with nearly every Linux distro….

      • Xiaolu
        July 29, 2016

        I’m quite scared of Microsoft closeness and their agreements with Xiaomi (I bet MS is subsidizing themjust for being in millions of laptops across China). But I trust your expertise! 🙂

        • balcobomber25
          July 29, 2016

          There’s not much Microsoft could do to prevent you from using Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch or any of the other distros available. Intel chips have wide support in the Linux universe, the only problems you might run into are with wifi drivers. But it all depends on what they are using.

          • November 28, 2016

            Hi, I have Wifi problems after installing Ubuntu 16.04 LTS on my Mi Notebook Air 13″ Do know how to solve that?

            • balcobomber25
              November 28, 2016

              Go to the Ubuntu forums there are countless posts there about getting wifi to work.

            • November 28, 2016

              Will do so. Thanks

            • balcobomber25
              November 28, 2016

              Wifi is usually one of the top problems with Ubuntu but the folks on the forum should be able to help you.

            • December 12, 2016

              found it there. only one post with this topic. not much mi notebooks running on linux. 🙂
              thanks again

            • balcobomber25
              December 12, 2016

              ask a question from someone there they should be able to help you. There are other Linux forums for you as well just google it.

            • December 13, 2016

              as i said, i found it. had to block the second “acer” wireless driver. working like a charm. thanks mate

    • Muhammad Yasir
      July 29, 2016

      i find linux boring (maybe because i love video games … but im studying computer engineering and will have to work with Linux)

      so… wats with the love for linux ?? why do so many people want linux ??

      • Xiaolu
        July 29, 2016

        Actually, Linux is my daily driver for desktop (and well, Android as you know is related, so it’s all around us!), and I DO LOVE the fact that it is free software (‘as in freedom’). At least, in my case, most of it it’s free, and that’s important for all of us, even if we ignore or disagree. For more reasons, just take a look at ‘Free Software, Free Society’ here: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/fsfs/rms-essays.pdf

        • Shashank
          July 30, 2016

          Install it by yourself thats simple!

          • Xiaolu
            August 2, 2016

            It depends on drivers and boot options (MS is *not that friendly* with Linux after all).

  4. Lazar Prodanovic
    July 28, 2016

    Thanks but Lenovo really did better job for same money I do comment this truth user eyes where battery capacity & suport matters more than thin and slick fashion details. No this is not a work horse for me.

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      Personally I have dealt first hand with Lenovo support. Your warranty is about as useful as toilet paper. If a warranty matters you are much better off with an Asus or Dell.

      • Muhammad Yasir
        July 29, 2016

        lel?

      • Lazar Prodanovic
        July 31, 2016

        I really hope Samsung will make a comeback especially in cheaper segment as they were really best offering their, far better than Asus that actually come as second choice, now it’s probably the first.
        Dell I hate so much for many problems & problematic property shits that I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone ever. Would definitely stick to Lenovo for second choice for now & with a pure edition windows straight from M$ store at least until something better emerges & rises up to desirable lv.
        I like my paper in 3 layer’s & I can low suit Lenovo if they fuck up so Xiaomi comes as rugh newspaper & I can only blow my self when the damn thing brakes down & that is something I certainly ain’t redy to do concerning both my butt & 750$ laptop.

        • balcobomber25
          July 31, 2016

          Samsung and Sony used to be my two favorites for laptops. Now I go with Asus pretty much.

  5. Adam Irvine
    July 28, 2016

    Personally I hate anything Apple but I’d love to see someone turn one of these into a fully blown Hackintosh running the latest OSX from boot just to stick the fingers good a proper up to Apple haha

    • Pierre
      July 28, 2016

      That would be sweet!

    • Guest
      July 29, 2016

      epic burn material…

      Apple be like “hey , someone ask the legal team if we can sue these copy-cat squint-eyed bastards ! “

  6. _jack_
    July 28, 2016

    An ultra portable notebook with 12″ and acceptable specs for 500$, and I’m in! Just after sales service bothers me. And that it’ll sell definitely for more than the 520$ abroad.

  7. Yep
    July 28, 2016

    I would use the second M2 slot to install a 2nd SSD with OSX on it to troll Apple users even more

    • Pierre
      July 29, 2016

      Great idea! 😀

    • Yash Garg
      July 29, 2016

      anarch

  8. Xiaolu
    July 28, 2016

    Make it Linux compatible or… good bye.

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      It will work with nearly every Linux distro….

    • Guest
      July 29, 2016

      i find linux boring (maybe because i love video games … but im studying computer engineering and will have to work with Linux)

      so… wats with the love for linux ?? why do so many people want linux ??

    • Xiaolu
      July 29, 2016

      Actually, Linux is my daily driver for desktop (and well, Android as you know is related, so it’s all around us!), and I DO LOVE the fact that it is free software (‘as in freedom’). At least, in my case, most of it it’s free, and that’s important for all of us, even if we ignore or disagree. For more reasons, just take a look at ‘Free Software, Free Society’ here: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/fsfs/rms-essays.pdf

    • Xiaolu
      July 29, 2016

      I’m quite scared of Microsoft closeness and their agreements with Xiaomi (I bet MS is subsidizing themjust for being in millions of laptops across China). But I trust your expertise! 🙂

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      There’s not much Microsoft could do to prevent you from using Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch or any of the other distros available. Intel chips have wide support in the Linux universe, the only problems you might run into are with wifi drivers. But it all depends on what they are using.

    • Shashank
      July 30, 2016

      Install it by yourself thats simple!

    • Xiaolu
      August 2, 2016

      It depends on drivers and boot options (MS is *not that friendly* with Linux after all).

    • frank
      November 28, 2016

      Hi, I have Wifi problems after installing Ubuntu 16.04 LTS on my Mi Notebook Air 13″ Do know how to solve that?

    • balcobomber25
      November 28, 2016

      Go to the Ubuntu forums there are countless posts there about getting wifi to work.

    • frank
      November 28, 2016

      Will do so. Thanks

    • balcobomber25
      November 28, 2016

      Wifi is usually one of the top problems with Ubuntu but the folks on the forum should be able to help you.

    • frank
      December 12, 2016

      found it there. only one post with this topic. not much mi notebooks running on linux. 🙂
      thanks again

    • balcobomber25
      December 12, 2016

      ask a question from someone there they should be able to help you. There are other Linux forums for you as well just google it.

    • frank
      December 13, 2016

      as i said, i found it. had to block the second “acer” wireless driver. working like a charm. thanks mate

  9. Lazar Prodanovic
    July 28, 2016

    Thanks but Lenovo really did better job for same money I do comment this truth user eyes where battery capacity & suport matters more than thin and slick fashion details. No this is not a work horse for me.

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      Personally I have dealt first hand with Lenovo support. Your warranty is about as useful as toilet paper. If a warranty matters you are much better off with an Asus or Dell.

    • Guest
      July 29, 2016

      lel?

    • Lazar Prodanovic
      July 31, 2016

      I really hope Samsung will make a comeback especially in cheaper segment as they were really best offering their, far better than Asus that actually come as second choice, now it’s probably the first.
      Dell I hate so much for many problems & problematic property shits that I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone ever. Would definitely stick to Lenovo for second choice for now & with a pure edition windows straight from M$ store at least until something better emerges & rises up to desirable lv.
      I like my paper in 3 layer’s & I can low suit Lenovo if they fuck up so Xiaomi comes as rugh newspaper & I can only blow my self when the damn thing brakes down & that is something I certainly ain’t redy to do concerning both my butt & 750$ laptop.

    • balcobomber25
      July 31, 2016

      Samsung and Sony used to be my two favorites for laptops. Now I go with Asus pretty much.

  10. _jack_
    July 29, 2016

    An ultra portable notebook with 12″ and acceptable specs for 500$, and I’m in! Just after sales service bothers me. And that it’ll sell definitely for more than the 520$ abroad.

  11. F
    July 29, 2016

    What can be said about the warranty?

  12. batman
    July 29, 2016

    Is the battery crap like most chinese phones?

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      …..? What Chinese phones are you using. Every Xiaomi phone I have ever had has had a very good battery usually from LG or Sony.

  13. Muhammad Yasir
    July 29, 2016

    This is a BRILLIANT DECISION by XIAOMI !
    i love it ! (in the voice of Frank Drebin , police squad)

  14. Natsumi
    July 29, 2016

    the battery can’t be replaced.

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      Most new Ultrabooks have batteries that can’t be replaced.

      • Natsumi
        July 29, 2016

        That’s the issue.

        • balcobomber25
          July 29, 2016

          Most used sealed battery chambers, depending on how it’s sealed there are ways to replace it but it’s only if you really know what you are doing and don’t care about voiding your warranty.

          • Natsumi
            July 31, 2016

            That’s how they have us trapped. Thanks for the info.

            • balcobomber25
              July 31, 2016

              It depends on the quality of the battery they use. I have an Asus Ultrabook that was one of the first ones made around 2012 and four years later I haven’t had any issues with the battery.

            • Khalid Salim
              July 31, 2016

              i can confirm this, i bought my Asus UX31a ultrabook in 2012 and have it for 4 years now and battery life still going quite good.

  15. Guest
    July 29, 2016

    What can be said about the warranty?

  16. Guest
    July 29, 2016

    Is the battery crap like most chinese phones?

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      …..? What Chinese phones are you using. Every Xiaomi phone I have ever had has had a very good battery usually from LG or Sony.

  17. Guest
    July 29, 2016

    This is a BRILLIANT DECISION by XIAOMI !
    i love it ! (in the voice of Frank Drebin , police squad)

  18. Natsumi
    July 29, 2016

    the battery can’t be replaced.

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      Most new Ultrabooks have batteries that can’t be replaced.

    • Natsumi
      July 29, 2016

      That’s the issue.

    • balcobomber25
      July 29, 2016

      Most used sealed battery chambers, depending on how it’s sealed there are ways to replace it but it’s only if you really know what you are doing and don’t care about voiding your warranty.

    • Natsumi
      July 31, 2016

      That’s how they have us trapped. Thanks for the info.

    • balcobomber25
      July 31, 2016

      It depends on the quality of the battery they use. I have an Asus Ultrabook that was one of the first ones made around 2012 and four years later I haven’t had any issues with the battery.

    • Khalid Salim
      July 31, 2016

      i can confirm this, i bought my Asus UX31a ultrabook in 2012 and have it for 4 years now and battery life still going quite good.

  19. Guru Ram
    August 14, 2016

    750 $ is just a show.. actually they are selling it for 999$ in official website & other retailers selling it from 3400$ to 4500$.. Its like lottery. Mi delebratly creating a demand. Sales tactics

  20. Guru Ram
    August 15, 2016

    750 $ is just a show.. actually they are selling it for 999$ in official website & other retailers selling it from 3400$ to 4500$.. Its like lottery. Mi delebratly creating a demand. Sales tactics