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MagyarXiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 Laptop Review
For the original German review, see here.
To mention it right away: The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro is currently not (yet?) available in the German market, but you can purchase or import it through Chinese shops. However, then you have to deal with the concerns when importing hardware from China (risks, warranty, custom duties, etc.).
The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro is a slim multimedia notebook covered completely in aluminum. At a thickness of 16 mm (~0.63 in) and a weight of less than 2 kg (4.4 lb), it aims to compete directly against high-end racers such as Apple's MacBook Pro 15, Asus' ZenBook UX550, or the Dell XPS 15, in particular with its design. Our test unit comes into our test lab equipped with an Intel i5-8250U with four native cores together with a GeForce MX150 graphics solution by Nvidia, as well as 8 GB of RAM and a 256-GB SSD. The online price is about 900 Euros (~$1059), any import costs such as duties and taxes not included. (It will be available in the US starting from $860.)
Update 11/14/2017: our review has been finalized.
Below is a detailed test video of the Mi Pro by TechTablets.com (in English). You can find the complete review here.
Case
Like many of its role models, Xiaomi's Mi Notebook Pro also has an aluminum case. The case is visually pleasing overall, only the display lid looks a little bland without any logo. Xiaomi calls the color of its aluminum racer "Deep Gray," which is quite similar to the "Space Gray" of the Californians in our comparison. The stability and haptic are also compelling. The differences to much more expensive models only become obvious in the details, such as the bottom edge of the case which turns out to be slightly too sharp on the sides. This can be explained, for example, by the case construction. Xiaomi doesn't use a unibody concept here but works with form-pressed metal plates on a magnesium frame inside. However, considering the price range in which the Mi Pro notebook competes, the result is impressive.
Size Comparison
At a weight of about 2 kg (~4.4 lb) and a case thickness of 16 mm (~0.63 in), the Mi Pro laptop is one of the thinner, yet heavier models in our comparison field. Dell's XPS 15 is about 100 grams (~0.22 lb) heavier, and Apple's current completely redesigned MacBook Pro is almost 200 g (~0.44 lb) lighter and about 1 mm (~0.04 in) thinner. If you compare the XPS 15 with the current MacBook Pro 15, it becomes clear that the Dell XPS is already desperately waiting for an update, since by now the racer has become too thick and heavy in comparison. There are first rumors speaking about an update of the XPS series for the coming CES 2018. However, thanks to the slim Infinity-Edge display bezels, the advantages of the other dimensions of the XPS 15 still remain.
Below you'll find a few impressions compared to a current Apple MacBook Pro 15. Despite the fact that the MacBook is more than twice as expensive as the Chinese Mi Pro, the latter's quality is very satisfactory overall. However, we cannot make any claims in regard to longevity just yet. Given that we have already noticed scratches and marks on the lid after a few weeks already, we suspect that the metal surfaces are not the most robust specimens we have encountered. Neither the much longer used MacBook Pro nor an XPS 13 that has been in use for over two years show any signs of wear.
Connections
On the left side, the Xiaomi Mi Pro offers one HDMI-Port, two USB 3.0 connections, and a 3.5 mm port for a headset. On the right side, we can find two Type-C connections far in the back, one of which is also used for charging the device. Although charging is only possible through that port, unfortunately this is also the port that can be used for a high-resolution monitor (DisplayPort). In the test, we were able to connect a Dell U3415W with 3440x1440 pixels at 60 Hz. In this case, you would need an adapter to charge it at the same time.
According to Xiaomi, the Type-C ports are Gen. 1 connections with a transfer rate of 1.5 GB/s. In our test, we were annoyed about the distribution of the ports (no Type-A USB ports on the right side) and about the fact that the two USB Type-C ports are not similar and cannot both be used for charging or connecting a display.
SD Card-Reader
Positive: The notebook offers a full-size card-reader. However, the observed transfer rates are very low in comparison.
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD) (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD) (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
Communication
In the test, the WiFi transfer rates were satisfactory, even if they do not quite reach the values of the competitors. Compared to the other devices with the same WiFi module (Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi) we tested, the Xiaomi Mi Pro places in the bottom quarter. Probably the antennas were not placed optimally in the device.
Software
The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro comes with a Chinese version of Windows 10 Home preinstalled. In order to use the device with an English (or any other language) operating system you have to either provide your own license and reinstall the operating system from scratch, or upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. In most cases, the latter will likely be less of a nuisance and also cheaper to boot. A how-to on upgrading Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro can be found on Microsoft’s website, and this step will allow you to choose from a plethora of languages. Corresponding licenses can be purchased for around 20 Euros (~$23) already.
Maintenance
At the bottom, you can find eight Torx-TX5 screws, which can easily be removed with the corresponding screw driver. There is also a ninth screw hidden underneath the central rubber foot in the back. We also needed a plastic leverage tool to loosen the bottom plate from its anchoring without damaging it.
Inside, you can see the screwed-in battery, and access to the fan and the inserted SSD is also possible. We are a little surprised to find another M.2 slot which is unoccupied and an area on the motherboard labeled as "WLAN LTE 4G" which is also unoccupied. For testing purposes, we insert a Samsung PM951 NVMe SSD with 256 GB into the unoccupied M.2 slot and start the device. The additional storage is recognized immediately and works flawlessly. Thus you can equip the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro very cheaply with a large storage capacity on your own. You can find more information on the storage performance in the Performance section.
Safety
The large touchpad includes an integrated fingerprint-reader, and while it looks like a swipe reader from the outside it is actually a touch-and-hold reader. During our review period, logging into the device using the fingerprint-reader worked flawlessly and without a hitch.
Warranty
Let’s talk about the Mi Pro’s sore spot: warranty. Given that the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro is not officially available in Europe, the US, Canada, and many other countries, you have to import the device from China yourself. Consequently, customers outside of China are limited to seller-based warranties. Some sellers, such as Gearbest, offer a warranty package (DOA, 45-day money back, one-year warranty) but it remains to be seen whether or not this warranty will be claimable and if so how long the process is going to take. In addition, you will have to pay for shipping back to China yourself.
Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Input Devices
Keyboard
In terms of the looks, without a doubt you can see similarities between the built-in keyboard and the well-known devices from California. However, there are big differences in the typing experience. For example, the stroke of the individual keys, which are arranged in chiclet style and have a concave surface, is comparatively large. Xiaomi specifies the stroke at 1.5 mm (~0.06 in). Subjectively, the pressure point and resistance are well adjusted, and typing on the keyboard immediately succeeds without any problems.
The only keyboard layout available for the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro is the standard US QWERTY layout. While not a big issue for our readers on one side of the Atlantic, users used to different layouts might run into some trouble.
Touchpad
Xiaomi has equipped the Mi Pro notebook with an ample-sized touchpad of 8.4 x 12.8 cm (3.3 x 5 in). Due to the high scratch-resistance in the test, this is probably a pad with a glass surface. The haptic experience can be called excellent. The finger always slides across the pad flawlessly, and even multitouch gestures work well. The only negative: A fingerprint-reader inserted in the right top area of the touchpad mars the otherwise flawless experience. Because of the way it is constructed, mechanical clicks can be triggered easily only in the bottom half of the touchpad. The haptic and acoustic feedback turns out to be very good. Perhaps the force needed for this might be a tad too high for some users. However, at this point we can form a positive overall impression of the offered input devices.
Display
The built-in 15.6-inch panel has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD). The display sharpness can be described as sufficient, but with a density of 141 pixels per inch, the panel cannot keep up with the crisp images we are used to from smartphones. Our measurements of the display with the model number BOE0747 NV156FHM-N61 provide basically good results. The brightness is almost 300 cd/m and the maximum contrast ratio is a good 925:1 (black/white). The brightness distribution only lags slightly in the left bottom quarter of the display, but this does not result in any visual effects.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 89 %
Center on Battery: 277 cd/m²
Contrast: 925:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.3 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
86.86% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
56.83% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.5% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.1
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 BOE0747 NV156FHM-N61, , 1920x1080, 15.60 | Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) APPA031, , 2880x1800, 15.40 | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD CMN15E8 (N156HCE-EN1), , 1920x1080, 15.60 | Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD) 3840x2160, 15.60 | Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz APPA027, , 2304x1440, 12.00 | Asus VivoBook Pro 15 N580VD-DM028T INNOLUX N156HGA-EAB, , 1920x1080, 15.60 | Huawei MateBook X Chi Mei CMN8201 / P130ZDZ-EF1, , 2160x1440, 13.30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 32% | 2% | 36% | 6% | -35% | 5% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 66.5 | 97.9 47% | 65.7 -1% | 89.7 35% | 66.8 0% | 39.92 -40% | 65.8 -1% |
| sRGB Coverage | 86.9 | 99.9 15% | 90.3 4% | 100 15% | 95.4 10% | 59.8 -31% | 96.2 11% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 63.5 | 85.9 35% | 65.9 4% | 100 57% | 68 7% | 41.27 -35% | 66.8 5% |
| Response Times | 149% | 19% | -44% | 12% | 28% | 30% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 47.9 ? | 48 ? -0% | 38.8 ? 19% | 57.2 ? -19% | 41.2 ? 14% | 44 ? 8% | 33 ? 31% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 33.7 ? | 33.8 ? -0% | 27.2 ? 19% | 39.2 ? -16% | 30.4 ? 10% | 13 ? 61% | 24 ? 29% |
| PWM Frequency | 21800 ? | 119000 ? 446% | 25910 ? 19% | 962 -96% | 25000 ? 15% | ||
| Screen | 39% | -2% | 2% | 18% | -29% | 22% | |
| Brightness middle | 296 | 545 84% | 335 13% | 370.1 25% | 387 31% | 247 -17% | 408 38% |
| Brightness | 288 | 523 82% | 313 9% | 356 24% | 358 24% | 224 -22% | 395 37% |
| Brightness Distribution | 89 | 86 -3% | 83 -7% | 87 -2% | 88 -1% | 85 -4% | 88 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.32 | 0.44 -38% | 0.27 16% | 0.37 -16% | 0.47 -47% | 0.48 -50% | 0.45 -41% |
| Contrast | 925 | 1239 34% | 1241 34% | 1000 8% | 823 -11% | 515 -44% | 907 -2% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.3 | 1.6 63% | 4.7 -9% | 5.3 -23% | 1.6 63% | 5.39 -25% | 1.55 64% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 8.7 | 3.8 56% | 8.1 7% | 9.9 -14% | 4 54% | 7.98 8% | 2.19 75% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3 | 1.9 37% | 5.8 -93% | 4.6 -53% | 1 67% | 5.25 -75% | 1.91 36% |
| Gamma | 2.1 105% | 2.26 97% | 2.06 107% | 2.31 95% | 2.26 97% | 2.48 89% | 2.34 94% |
| CCT | 7100 92% | 6834 95% | 6518 100% | 6284 103% | 6680 97% | 7609 85% | 6491 100% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 56.83 | 58.7 3% | 88.3 55% | 61.6 8% | 38 -33% | 61 7% | |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 86.86 | 90.1 4% | 100 15% | 82.2 -5% | 60 -31% | 96 11% | |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 73% /
61% | 6% /
3% | -2% /
-0% | 12% /
15% | -12% /
-20% | 19% /
20% |
* ... smaller is better
At a DeltaE of 4.3 and 3, the color and grayscale reproductions are sufficient in the delivery state. A slight shift towards the blue color space is noticeable with the naked eye. After calibration with our photo spectrometer, the average deviation of the Grayscales to sRGB is an excellent 0.7 DeltaE. The ColorChecker result can also profit minimally and is reduced to a DeltaE of 3.1. The icc color profile of the calibrated display is linked in the box with the measured values.
The observed reaction times are within the usual range for the display technology used. We also determined that PWM is used for controlling brightness beginning from a reduction to 99% of the brightness. However, at 21.8 KHz, the frequency is extremely high, so that we do not expect any effects on the user.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 33.7 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 19.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 14.5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 89 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 47.9 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 22.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 25.5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 80 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 21800 Hz | ≤ 99 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 21800 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 21800 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17924 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
The Mi Notebook Pro’s viewing angles are fairly wide because it is equipped with an IPS display. We have not encountered any problems, such as shifts in color representation, in everyday use. However, the glossy display surface can be too reflective and distracting sometimes, depending on the user’s relative position to light sources in their environment. The reflections were particularly annoying outdoors. Fortunately, the high display brightness battled them very efficiently and successfully.
Performance
The selection of configurations offered by Xiaomi is limited. The Mi Pro can either be equipped with the current Intel i5-8250U or the i7-8550U, which are two native ULV quad-core processors with a TDP of 15 W, as well as with either 8 or 16 GB of working memory. The model with 16 GB of RAM requires the selection of the i7 CPU. In terms of the graphics, there is always a dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX150 with 2 GB of GDDR5 graphics storage. It is interesting that Xiaomi currently only offers an SSD with 256 GB, even though there are two M.2 slots. However, an upgrade on your own with suitable tools is not a problem.
Processor
Xiaomi already uses the newest, eighth generation of Intel processors in the Mi Notebook Pro. The performance of the i5-8250U in our test unit does not stand out in our comparison field. In the decision on the i5 or i7, the clock speed of the two chips is the deciding factor. While the i5 has a clock speed between 1.6 and 3.4 GHz, the i7 ranges between 1.8 and 4.0 GHz. This enables faster operations particularly in single-threaded applications. In the Cinebench R15 single test, our comparison chart shows an advantage of about 20% for the i7. In the multi-core test, the differences are negligible, since here it mainly depends on the cooling solution how well the developing heat can be diffused.
It is interesting that in the comparison with the well-liked i7-7700HQ 45W-TDP CPUs, which are often used in high-end multimedia notebooks (MacBook Pro 15, XPS 15, ZenBook UX550, etc.), the latter is still ahead by 20-30% in the multi-core test, while the results of the single-core test are very close together, depending on the device. Thanks to the high possible clock speeds, the new i7-8550U may win here.
The i7-7500U, which has often been used in slim notebooks until now, has about the same performance during single-core load, but it remains behind by a full 40% in the multi-core test. Here, the new native quad-core chip can fully use its advantage.
As usual, we also look at the performance of the CPU in the duration test. In our Cinebench R15 multi loop, the results are already by about 5% lower after the first measurement and then remain on this level. So during constant load scenarios, you should expect a slightly lower performance.
Our colleagues over at Techtablets.com have been kind enough to provide us with benchmark scores of a Mi Notebook Pro equipped with the i7-8550U and 16 GB of RAM. Surprisingly, the i7 model scored 539 points in Cinebench R15, and was thus significantly slower than the i5 reviewed and benchmarked by us. Our guess is that the i7 model reached the device’s TDP threshold much quicker than the i5 model and had to throttle as a result. Therefore, the processor’s higher clock speeds cannot be maintained for prolonged periods of time, and 539 points is very close to what our i5 model’s sustained load results. Running the Cinebench R15 Multi-Thread test repeatedly yielded the same result over and over again. Consequently, we highly recommend the i5 over the i7 model: Out of the box, the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro is incapable of utilizing the i7’s faster clock speeds to full capacity.
System Performance
In the PCMark benchmark comparison, our current configuration of the Xiaomi Mi Pro notebook (i5-8250U, 8 GB) places in the middle of the field of the current multimedia racers. The combination of quad-core ULV CPU, entry to mid-level graphics, and fast PCIe SSD is a solid platform for the productive and creative use of the notebook. Possible usage scenarios include image and video-processing and gaming with adjusted settings, in addition to simple office tasks and web-surfing.
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3766 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 5354 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4746 points | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 3686 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Solution
Xiaomi's specifications on the SSD used are a little confusing: "256 GB PCIe × 4 NVMe SSD, maximum read speed of 1.5 GBs." Yes, the built-in Samsung PM961 is indeed a very fast PCIe SSD, but its speed is reduced in the Mi Pro. In our tests, we measure a maximum read speed of 1838 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark 5.2. This is more than Xiaomi specifies, but it is much less than the storage is capable of. We have seen the Samsung PM961 with read speeds of above 3000 MB/s in various other notebooks in our tests.
The second, unoccupied M.2 slot probably has an identical connection (x2 lanes), and a PM951 we inserted for the test offered typical test results according to the high fill rate of 95% of the test unit.
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) Apple SSD SM0256L | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP | Asus VivoBook Pro 15 N580VD-DM028T Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN | Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7 Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6 | 16% | 40% | -53% | 32% | |
| Read Seq | 1074 | 1572 46% | 1878 75% | 493.8 -54% | 1884 75% |
| Write Seq | 1057 | 1473 39% | 1378 30% | 413.3 -61% | 1112 5% |
| Read Seq Q32T1 | 1838 | 2993 63% | 3267 78% | 525 -71% | 3400 85% |
| Write Seq Q32T1 | 1283 | 1546 20% | 1587 24% | 430.7 -66% | 1255 -2% |
| Read 4K Q32T1 | 441 | 573 30% | 583 32% | 213.5 -52% | 446.8 1% |
| Write 4K Q32T1 | 429 | 470.5 10% | 516 20% | 245.1 -43% | 747 74% |
| Read 4K | 36 | 23.33 -35% | 48.96 36% | 25.89 -28% | 44.19 23% |
| Write 4K | 150 | 86.7 -42% | 187 25% | 82.8 -45% | 142.1 -5% |
Graphics Card
The Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card used in the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro is an independent graphics chip of the entry-to-mid-level. It tops the 3D performance of the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 by a full 150%, and even the sometimes still used GeForce 940MX can be beaten by about 50% in 3DMark 11. However, your expectations in terms of 3D performance and games should not be too high. A GeForce GTX 1050 adds about another 75% performance on top of the MX150, and a GTX 1060, which is recommended as entry into the gaming world, more than triples the 3DMark result of the MX150.
The comparison with other notebooks equipped with the same GPU turned out to be particularly interesting. Depending on what device we compare it to and what benchmarks in particular we are looking at, the difference between the Mi Pro and the competition in 3DMark was between 4-13%. As before, abovementioned TDP limits will highly likely be responsible for this result.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 4521 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 13662 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 2954 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 1084 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
We’ve also put the Mi Notebook Pro through some real-world gaming benchmarks, and the results were as expected: The Mi Pro was unable to keep up with similarly equipped notebooks. In particular, the MSI PL62’s combination of MX150 GPU and powerful i7-7700HQ processor (45 W) was up to 30% faster than the Mi Pro. Acer’s Aspire 5 A515 and A517, equipped with Intel’s i5-7200U and i7-8550U, respectively, were 5-10% faster in most tests. That said, the effects on actual gaming experiences were negligible and no more than a few frames per second on average. Gaming with the Mi Pro will require a reduced resolution as well as reduced details (1366x768 and medium details recommended). With these settings, the highly demanding PUBG only managed an average of 38.2 FPS (15 FPS minimum, 47 FPS maximum) and was barely playable.
Less demanding games, such as FIFA 18, Farming Simulator 17, or Overwatch ran much smoother. Games like these can even be enjoyed in the panel’s native FHD resolution and high details.
| Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) | |
| 1280x720 Very Low Preset | |
| Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E | |
| MSI PL62 MX150 7700HQ | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) | |
| Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9 | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE | |
| Asus F555LF-XO029H | |
| Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-566U | |
| 1366x768 Medium Preset | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Asus F555LF-XO029H | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset | |
| Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E | |
| MSI PL62 MX150 7700HQ | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset | |
| Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE | |
| Overwatch | |
| 1280x720 Low (Render Scale 100 %) AA:FX AF:1x | |
| MSI PL62 MX150 7700HQ | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 | |
| Asus F555LF-XO029H | |
| Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-566U | |
| 1366x768 Medium (Render Scale 100 %) AA:FX AF:2x | |
| MSI PL62 MX150 7700HQ | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 | |
| Asus F555LF-XO029H | |
| Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-566U | |
| 1920x1080 High (Render Scale 100 %) AA:SM AF:4x | |
| Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD) | |
| MSI PL62 MX150 7700HQ | |
| Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-566U | |
| 1920x1080 Epic (Render Scale 100 %) AA:SM AF:16x | |
| Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD) | |
| Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 | |
| MSI PL62 MX150 7700HQ | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| FIFA 18 | |
| 1280x720 Low Preset | |
| Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE | |
| Asus F555LF-XO029H | |
| 1366x768 Medium Preset | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Asus F555LF-XO029H | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AA:2xMS | |
| Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4xMS | |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 | |
| MSI PL62 MX150 7700HQ | |
| Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE | |
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 55.6 | 34.5 | 19.3 | 10.9 |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) | 63.2 | 37 | 19.9 | 16.8 |
| Overwatch (2016) | 141.8 | 97.2 | 46 | 29.8 |
| Deus Ex Mankind Divided (2016) | 41.2 | 29.8 | 15.5 | 6.6 |
| Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) (2017) | 69.7 | 21.3 | 14.8 | |
| FIFA 18 (2017) | 135.6 | 73.2 | 72.3 | |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017) | 53 | 23 | 14 | 11 |
Emissions
Noise Emissions
In the first days of our test, we mostly observed a silent operation during non-demanding office tasks and web-surfing. When the two fans started, they remained at a low speed and in an unobtrusive low-frequency range in terms of their noise level. During 3D operation, the 40-dB mark was breached, and the laptop became clearly audible. But even then, the noise can be described as more of a low-frequency whirring, which is also visible in the frequency diagram of our measurements.
We have an overall impression that is positive in this area. The Xiaomi Mi Pro often remains silent, and even when the fans are active, they operate in a frequency range that is unproblematic.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 31 / 31 / 32.6 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 41.6 / 44.7 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 31 dB(A) | ||
Temperature
If you put load on the Xiaomi Mi Pro notebook, it warms up mostly in the central area in the back. After opening up the back, you can easily see the cooling system of the laptop: two fans in the back, left and right, cool a heat pipe which leads across the central main components, the CPU and GPU. There is also a large metal plate to dissipate the heat from other components. In the infrared images, you can easily see the positions of the computing components through the case, as well as the fan openings on the back which lead the warm air to the top across the display.
In our test, we measure a maximum surface temperature of almost 45 °C (113 °F) at the bottom in the central back area. Considering the built-in components, this is quite high. However, this should not lead to any direct limitations, in particular since the top warms up still slightly less.
In our real-world gaming-load scenario simulated with The Witcher 3, surface temperatures were comparable overall. Only at the rear center bottom did the notebook get warmer than 40 °C. Internal temperatures eventually settled down to around 55 °C for both CPU and GPU, and they were thus far from critical. Accordingly, additional tuning via Intel’s XTU Tool should be possible. We suspect that Xiaomi was keen on keeping temperatures and resulting noise levels at a minimum rather than squeezing out every last bit of performance.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.8 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 44.9 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.1 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 33.9 °C / 93 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 29.2 °C / 84.6 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-0.4 °C / -0.8 F).
Speakers
Our first impression of the built-in speakers is good throughout. Only in the direct comparison to a MacBook Pro 15, the current reference in terms of notebook audio, can we hear any quality differences. The MacBook produces a higher volume overall and audibly more power in the lower frequency ranges. The analysis of the frequency diagram shows the weakness particularly in the mid-highs.
However, this is a complaint at a very high level overall. Considering the price-range which the Mi Pro is part of, the produced sound is more than okay. The laptop is quite suited for playing music and filling small rooms with sound.
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 7.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | reduced highs - on average 5.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 10% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 87% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 5% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 94% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (7.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 94% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 1% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 99% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Frequency comparison (checkboxes are selectable!)
Power Management
Power Consumption
If you compare the measurements of the Xiaomi Mi Pro notebook to the current multimedia racers, you can immediately see an advantage in the power consumption. Using the 8250U 15-W CPU and the smaller MX150 can reduce the power consumption in particular during load by half compared to the other devices. As a reminder: In terms of performance, the i5-8250U is about 20% behind the 7700HQ in the Cinebench multi-core test, and the GPU is about 40% behind the stronger GTX 1050 in 3DMark 11. You can easily see the power-consumption advantage of the devices that have a Full HD display compared to those with higher-resolution displays.
| Off / Standby | 0.9 / 1.1 Watt |
| Idle | 3.7 / 7.5 / 8 Watt |
| Load |
49 / 55.2 Watt |
   
| |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) i7-7700HQ, Radeon Pro 555, Apple SSD SM0256L, IPS, 2880x1800, 15.40 | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD) i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11, IGZO IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60 | Asus VivoBook Pro 15 N580VD-DM028T i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, TN, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Dell Inspiron 15 7570 i5-8550U, GeForce 940MX, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -53% | -61% | -131% | -61% | -5% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 3.7 | 3.4 8% | 5.05 -36% | 11.9 -222% | 4.7 -27% | 3.6 3% |
| Idle Average * | 7.5 | 13.9 -85% | 8.2 -9% | 17.1 -128% | 7.7 -3% | 6.7 11% |
| Idle Maximum * | 8 | 17.6 -120% | 12.2 -53% | 17.3 -116% | 10.9 -36% | 9.2 -15% |
| Load Average * | 49 | 71.1 -45% | 82 -67% | 94.7 -93% | 82 -67% | 59 -20% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 50.6 | 57.9 -14% | 93.1 -84% | 104.8 -107% | 109 -115% | |
| Load Maximum * | 55.2 | 88.5 -60% | 120 -117% | 122 -121% | 120 -117% | 58 -5% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
Considering the power consumption observed, the signs for a good battery life are very positive. Since Xiaomi does not skimp on the battery capacity either, using a 60 Wh lithium-polymer battery, the notebook can convince in the first test. In our practically relevant WiFi-surf test (150 cd/m2), the Mi Pro lasts for a full 10 hours.
For comparison: the strong-endurance MacBook 13 with a 54-Wh battery and a 7360U CPU with Intel Iris graphics can barely last a little more than an hour longer in our WiFi test (with the MacOS).
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5 i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 60 Wh | Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555) i7-7700HQ, Radeon Pro 555, 76 Wh | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 73 Wh | Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD) i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 97 Wh | Asus VivoBook Pro 15 N580VD-DM028T i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 47 Wh | Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 i5-7360U, Iris Plus Graphics 640, 54.5 Wh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -14% | -24% | -22% | -37% | -5% | |
| H.264 | 632 | 511 -19% | 465 -26% | 352 -44% | 683 8% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 597 | 644 8% | 535 -10% | 434 -27% | 392 -34% | 681 14% |
| Witcher 3 ultra | 83 | 87 5% | 68 -18% | |||
| Load | 122 | 60 -51% | 70 -43% | 103 -16% | 82 -33% | 78 -36% |
| Reader / Idle | 1061 | 831 | 609 |
Verdict
Pros
Cons
Overall, we have to admit that we were positively surprised by the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro. The case is reminiscent of the iconic design of a certain Californian computer-maker. The good-looking high-quality aluminum case feels sturdy and well-made. Only upon closer inspection were we able to detect sharp edges at the bottom of the device or the tendency to wear out much quicker.
In regard to connectivity, the lack of Thunderbolt 3 is somewhat disturbing, and the fact that only one of the two USB-C ports can be used for charging can get very annoying. Frustrating, even, given that both USB-A ports are on the left-hand side and both USB-C ports are on the right-hand side. As usual, this depends on individual circumstances, and you might find this perfectly fitting for your situation. The SD card-reader was very slow and WiFi performance was decent overall. In theory, the Intel WiFi modem used should be capable of higher speeds, though. The optional secondary SSD storage was very welcome. Unfortunately, both M.2 slots are only connected with 2 PCIe lanes each and thus comparatively slow.
The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro is a well-made piece of hardware. Too bad it cannot be purchased officially outside of China.
The keyboard and touchpad were very decent. Typing felt comfortably nice and quiet, and the touchpad’s superb gliding properties were accompanied by the fast and reliable fingerprint-reader. The only downside was the QWERTY keyboard layout, but again: this depends on individual circumstances. The display was decently bright and rich in contrast. Color accuracy wasn’t half bad but left room for improvement through calibration. While Xiaomi uses PWM for display brightness adjustment, the frequency is extremely high and unlikely to cause any trouble.
Intel’s ULV quad-core processor paired with Nvidia’s MX150 GPU is a powerful combination. That said, the Mi Pro was incapable of getting the most out of its more than potent components and lagged behind our expectations. It almost seems as if Xiaomi’s focus was on low temperatures and system noise even after long periods of sustained load rather than high performance. Given that only a handful of less demanding games will run smoothly in FHD resolution and on high details, gamers should look elsewhere: The Mi Pro is not a gaming notebook.
With more than 10 hours in our WiFi test at a normalized display brightness of 150 nits, battery life was decent. The two Harman Infinity speakers were very good as well.
According to our measurements, Xiaomi did many things right in the Mi Pro notebook. The device would really deserve a recommendation, but because of the unclear situation in case of a defect for example, we do not want to give this. However, things appear to have started moving at Xiaomi, and the Chinese manufacturer recently opened a branch in Madrid, Spain. So we hope that sometime in the future, the hardware supply and warranty cases will be handled inside Europe. This would remove a weighty concern in the case of the Xiaomi Mi Pro notebook.
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i5
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02/08/2018 v6(old)
J. Simon Leitner
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