Xiaomi's latest Mi Notebook 14 model brings back the webcam

Xiaomi first entered the laptop space in India last year with the launch of the Mi Notebook 14 series. Granted, the duo had their issues, but they showed plenty of promise. Now, the company has announced the Mi Notebook 14 IC, a device that’s largely tasked with addressing the previous models’ flaws at an affordable price point.

Thankfully, a number of the Mi Notebook 14 series’ strengths are retained. The machine employs an aluminum and magnesium alloy body that weighs around 1.5 kg. Wedged into it is a 14 inch 1,920 x 1,080 IPS panel. This means the Mi Notebook 14 IC should remain fairly portable and hardy.

Internally, Intel’s i5-10210U chipset features with a boost clock of 4.2GHz. It’s paired with an optional NVIDIA MX250 GPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and up to 512GB of SATA 3-based SSD storage. A 46Whr battery powers the lot for up to 10 hours between charges, and can be topped up using a 65W charging brick.

Review: Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition — A design-focused machine with drawbacks

But the biggest improvement over the initial Mi Notebook 14 offerings is the inclusion of a web camera. A modest 720p unit now sits atop the Mi Notebook 14 IC’s display. Xiaomi explains that the addition was made chiefly to serve those in work-from-home setups that rely on regular communication with their teams.

Beyond this, I/O remains plentiful. There’s a duo of USB 3.1 A ports, a single USB 2.0 port, an HDMI out, and a 3.5mm combo jack. Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5 support completes the wireless options.

As for pricing, Xiaomi’s putting a slight premium on that webcam. The original Mi Notebook 14 started at Rs 41,999 (~$573). The Mi Notebook 14 IC will begin at Rs 43,999 (~$601) and will be available in silver from major Indian retailers.