Chinese tech company Xiaomi introduced its first official entry in the notebook market with the recent unveiling of the 4G version of the Mi Notebook Air last month.
Xiaomi actually partnered with China Mobile so the two main variants of the Mi Notebook Air 4G are pre-bundled with 4GB data plan per month for one year.
Tech analysts expected the Chinese tech company to launch its latest laptop offering at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2017 currently being held in Las Vegas, but Xiaomi decided to beat the rest to the draw.
Prior to its launching the Mi Notebook Air was given a preview by Xiaomi on July 27 and was even reported already as the company’s official entry into the notebook market, details the Windows Report.
However, the 4G version of the Mi Notebook Air that was unveiled by Xiaomi last month in China was bigger, and reportedly a better version of the originally-previewed Mi Notebook Air.
It remains to be seen if Xiaomi has plans to launch the 4G version of the Mi Notebook Air outside of China as reports are saying that the device shall be confined to the Chinese market.
What makes the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G unique compared to the other notebooks and laptops in the market today is that it offers a SIM card slot to allow users to connect to the internet without needing Wi-Fi, reports the Indian Express.
Price, features, and specifications
The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G comes in two main variants, a 12.5-inch version, and a 13.3-inch model.
The 12.5-inch version is being retailed for a price of US$680 while the 13.3-inch variant comes with a price of US1,012.
As its name implies, the laptop comes with 4G LTE connectivity support and is capable of delivering download speeds up to 150mbps.
The partnership with China Mobile also gives buyers 4GB of data per month with the Mi Notebook Air 4G.
The 12.5-inch variant is powered by an Intel Core M3 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of SSD storage and additional SSD expansion slot. There’s no dedicated GPU on the 12.5-inch version. The notebook comes in at 1.07kg. It is powered by a 37Wh battery, which should last 11.5 hours.
On the other hand, the 13.3-inch model features an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. Xiaomi has also provided 1GB DDR5 Nvidia GeForce GT 940MX GPU. Xiaomi also claims the 40Wh battery will last 9.5 hours on a single charge. It weighs 1.28kg.
Both models run on Windows 10 for its operating system and also come with a 1080p display, USB Type-C charging port, an HDMI port, backlit keyboard, and will be available in either Gold or Silver colors.
The two variants also come with built-in China Mobile 4G LTE network connection. Users need not buy another SIM card in order to go online. They can enjoy high-speed internet connection anytime, anywhere. The purchase comes with bundled access to a 48GB per year data plan.
Not an evolutionary upgrade
Despite claims that the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G features a lot of enhancement, critics are one in saying that it still does not seem to be an evolutionary upgrade.
Both variants of the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G have a lightweight, slim, and elegant metal body finish and run on the powerful Windows 10 operating system.
Mi Notebook Air 4G natively support the telecom operator’s networks without requiring a separate SIM card. The service is provided by China Mobile, one of the largest telecom service providers in China.