Xiaomi takes aim at Apple with a Macbook Pro rival priced from $858

Xiaomi is shooting a number of arrows at Apple today. Smartphones aside, it just launched an affordable take on the Macbook Air that ships with Windows.

The first Xiaomi laptop was a shot at the Macbook Air when it was unveiled in the summer of 2016, and the company is back with its take on Apple’s more expensive computer. The Mi Notebook Pro — because all comparisons start with the name — sports a 15.6-inch display and is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with up to 16GB RAM and an Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics chip. That combination makes it an apparent 40 percent times more powerful than the Mi Notebook Air from last year, Xiaomi said.

Elsewhere, the newest machine includes a fingerprint sensor inside the trackpad, three-in-one SD card support, USB-C and regular USB ports, a headphones jack and a full HDMI slot. Xiaomi wasted no time highlighting that this selection offers far more options than the latest in Apple’s own Macbook Pro series.

Last year’s Mi Notebook came in around the 3599 RMB mark, but the Pro version is a little pricier. Models start from 5599 RMB ($858) for an i5 chipset with 8GB. The i7 version comes with 8GB for 3699 RMB ($980) or 16GB for 6999 RMB ($1072).

Release-wise, it looks like another China-only product unless we hear otherwise from Xiaomi.

Those based outside of China can at least take heart in the release of two other devices today that seem certain for global availability. The new and impressive Mi Mix 2 smartphone, and the revamped Mi Note 3 phablet.

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