Mi Notebook Ultra: A Powerhouse Laptop with Impressive Features and Value for Creatives

The Mi Notebook models from 2021, known as the Mi Notebook Pro and Mi Notebook Ultra, do not serve as direct successors to the prior year’s Mi Notebook 14 lineup of ultraportables. Instead, they offer a higher-end experience and slightly larger dimensions, boasting additional features that may pique your interest for both productivity and leisure while on the move. They are positioned above the newly introduced Redmibook series that made its debut this year. Importantly, they address many of the weaknesses found in last year’s iterations, thus enhancing Xiaomi’s position in the Indian laptop market.

Presenting the new Mi Notebook Ultra, a premium 15.6-inch device designed for creative professionals and anyone seeking more robust performance than what entry-level models offer. Starting at Rs. 59,999, it may not be the sleekest or most portable laptop available, yet it provides a stylish design, good features, and solid performance. Let’s dive into our comprehensive review.

The Mi Notebook Ultra has a weight of 1.7kg and a thickness of 17.99mm.

 

Pricing of Mi Notebook Ultra in India

Positioned above the Mi Notebook Pro launched simultaneously, the Ultra variant is physically larger, featuring a bigger display and battery, although the specifications are quite comparable across both product lines. The entry-level model of the Mi Notebook Ultra starts at Rs. 59,999 and comes equipped with an 11^th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU along with 8GB of RAM.

Opting for the variant that includes 16GB of RAM will set you back by Rs. 64,999 – a slight increase from the Rs. 63,999 initially advertised by Xiaomi, but justifiable as the RAM isn’t upgradeable. The premium variant we are reviewing today features a Core i7 CPU with 16GB of RAM, priced at Rs. 76,999.

Design and Features of Mi Notebook Ultra

The casing of the Mi Notebook Ultra is crafted from Series 6 aluminum. Despite its weight of 1.7kg, which places it outside the ultraportable category, it remains fairly easy to transport on a daily basis. Additionally, it has a slim profile at 17.9mm. I have no complaints about the construction quality; the hinge feels robust, and the lid exhibits minimal flex. It can be opened using a single hand. There’s a large intake grille at the bottom for airflow, and hot air is expelled through vents located on the rear, cleverly concealed by the hinge barrel.

The metallic exterior has a sandblasted finish and presents a polished appearance, although the prominent black Xiaomi emblem marks a shift from the previous year’s completely minimalist design. Aside from that, the overall look is understated and doesn’t overly draw attention. The Mi logo beneath the display of last year’s models has been updated to align with the company’s recent branding initiative, though the product is still named Mi Notebook Ultra.

The keyboard is spacious, and the power button includes a fingerprint sensor

 

The highlight of the Mi Notebook Ultra is undoubtedly its 15.6-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The bezels are relatively narrow, yet there’s still sufficient room at the top for a 720p webcam — omitting a webcam was a significant oversight for Xiaomi in their previous Notebook series, particularly given the rising importance of remote work and video conferencing over the last year.

There’s ample space for a large, user-friendly keyboard on the lower half of the laptop. I was pleased to discover a column of paging keys on the right, and the arrow keys are adequately sized, free from crowding. You also receive a macro key in the top right corner, enabling quick launches of your preferred apps. Adjustable backlighting rectifies one of the major drawbacks of last year’s models, though it has only two brightness settings (Xiaomi counts “off” as one of them).

The power button integrates a fingerprint sensor for Windows Hello authentication. It registers your fingerprint upon the laptop’s startup, eliminating the need to touch it again for signing in after Windows boots – although you’ll need to get accustomed to using the pad of your finger on the button. The trackpad is spacious and comfortable, supporting Windows multi-touch gestures that function effectively. However, the physical click mechanism could be a bit stiffer.

On the left-hand side, you’ll find a USB 3.2 Gen1 (5Gbps) Type-C port, an HDMI output, a USB 3.2 Gen1 (5Gbps) Type-A port, and a Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port. DisplayPort output is solely available through the latter, but the Mi Notebook Ultra can be charged through either of these ports. The right side hosts another USB Type-A port, unfortunately limited to USB 2.0 speeds. Lastly, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack. Regrettably, this laptop lacks an SD card slot and does not include a physical Ethernet port.

All the ports located on the left and right sides of the Mi Notebook Ultra

 

Specifications of Mi Notebook Ultra

Internally, Xiaomi has selected Intel’s 11^th Gen H35-series CPUs, which are slightly more powerful iterations of the U-series chips designed for ultraportables, rather than the higher-end H-series meant for gaming and top-tier models. The H35 designation indicates a 35W TDP rating, which measures the maximum power a CPU can utilize for sustained performance over longer periods. Xiaomi has opted for integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, without any options for a discrete GPU.

Users can select between 8GB or 16GB of RAM when choosing the Core i5-11300H configuration; however, the Core i7-11370 is exclusively paired with 16GB. The RAM is soldered and thus not upgradable. All three configurations feature a 512GB NVMe SSD that can be swapped out if you consider upgrades later on.

The 15.6-inch display distinguishes itself in this category for several reasons. With a resolution of 3200×2000 pixels, it offers a comfortably extended 16:10 aspect ratio. Additionally, it boasts a 90Hz refresh rate, which is quite rare among laptops, and Xiaomi claims it covers 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut. Brightness is rated at only 300nits, however. This panel excels for productivity tasks and multitasking. It is quite sharp and bright; although colors may lack vibrancy during video playback, the anti-reflective surface is beneficial for work.

The Mi Notebook 14 is equipped with stereo speakers and an integrated microphone. Xiaomi hasn’t disclosed the battery capacity but asserts that the battery life can support up to 12 hours of local video playback. With a 65W Type-C charger included, you should achieve a 50 percent charge within 45 minutes. The laptop is also compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

It comes with Windows 10, which is upgradable to Windows 11. Additionally, Xiaomi provides a full license for Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019, along with a utility named MIUI+, designed for seamless file sharing with MIUI-based smartphones, reminiscent of Apple’s AirDrop.

The 16:10 display ratio is excellent for productivity, and the uncommon 90Hz refresh rate adds to its appeal

 

Performance of Mi Notebook Ultra

The Mi Notebook Ultra performed admirably during daily operations. I successfully managed tasks involving multitasking across 20 or more web applications in various browser tabs. The high-end model I’m reviewing possesses sufficient power for routine productivity, as well as light content creation tasks. Typing felt comfortable due to the adequate key travel, although I would have preferred a slightly more responsive mechanism.

The large, high-resolution display is delightful to work with, especially if you typically use more compact laptops. It’s also somewhat suitable for watching shows and movies. However, audio quality is lacking due to the bottom-mounted speakers, which offer mediocre volume and fullness.

Benchmark tests provide insights into device capabilities under settings that mimic intensive real-world usage. In PCMark 10, the Mi Notebook Ultra scored 4,680 and 4,195 points for the standard and Extended tests, respectively. These scores are marginally higher than those achieved by last year’s Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition featuring a 10^th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU. SSD performance recorded sequential read speeds of 2378.7MBps and write speeds of 1508.2MBps, with random reads and writes at 1171.2MBps and 458.5MBps, representing solid performance.

Cinebench R20 yielded scores of 548 in the single-threaded and 2,014 in the multi-threaded tests. A POVRay render benchmark took 2 minutes, 45 seconds. Compressing a 3.24GB folder of various files with 7zip required 2 minutes, 29 seconds, while transcoding a 1.3GB AVI to H.265 in Handbrake took just 1 minute — both substantial enhancements compared to the previous version.

The Unigine Superposition graphics benchmark averaged 15.96fps at the 1080p Medium preset, with 3DMark’s Time Spy and Time Spy Extreme tests delivering scores of 1,363 and 576, respectively. The Night Raid scene recorded 14,209, and the Fire Strike Extreme test yielded a score of 1,555. Interestingly, some previous models performed better due to their entry-level discrete Nvidia GeForce MX350 GPU.

While casual gaming should be feasible, 3D games may struggle for smooth performance. Many games recognize 16:10 displays, allowing scaled settings without dealing with distortion or letterboxing. In the built-in benchmark of Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1280×800 with Medium quality, only 23fps was averaged, while Far Cry 5 managed around 30fps. Neither game was visually appealing at these settings, suggesting that the Mi Notebook Ultra is better suited for older or less demanding titles.

In terms of battery life, you could expect to navigate a full workday on a single charge, assuming your activities primarily consist of browsing and productivity tasks. The demanding Battery Eater Pro 3D test lasted for 2 hours, 8 minutes, which is a commendable result. During more intensive operations like gaming and benchmarking, the left side of the device, including the wrist rest, became notably warm. The cooling fan remains inaudible, with noise only noticeable under heavy stress.

The Mi Notebook Ultra presents a subtle design, complemented by good build quality

 

Final Thoughts

The Mi Notebook Ultra stands out with its features and performance. It offers excellent value when compared to the entry-level Redmibook series, which has also been recently launched. The highlights of this laptop are its display and keyboard. Battery life is satisfactory for a work-oriented machine, and the hardware should remain capable for several years to come. Nevertheless, aspects like the speakers, trackpad, and port availability could benefit from improvements.

Xiaomi has successfully achieved a balance of price, features, and performance. While it’s not the most portable laptop on the market and certainly not targeted at gamers, it can still be used effectively for daily tasks. It’s a solid choice for students, freelancers, remote workers, and home users alike. The tested Core i7 variant is worth considering if your budget can extend to Rs. 80,000.

The mid-range version with a less powerful CPU is also likely adequate for most users. This could represent even better value since it retains the same high-resolution 90Hz 16:10 display, comfortable keyboard, and Thunderbolt port at a significantly reduced cost, given that the CPU specifications are quite similar. However, the base variant is not advisable due to its non-upgradable 8GB of RAM, as the cost savings over the laptop’s lifespan may be minimal.

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