Does the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G provide the best user experience? Is it the top Core i5 laptop choice for 2022?
In 2020, Xiaomi revolutionized the midrange laptop market with its Mi Notebook series. These laptops gained recognition for their excellent build quality, impressive displays, powerful specifications, and affordable pricing. This prompted other competitors to raise their game in the sub-Rs. 90,000 price range. In the current year, Xiaomi has introduced the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G, which comes with some smart improvements. These changes collectively establish it as the best Core i5 Windows PC available today.
I’m not forming this opinion solely based on its attractive specifications. It’s a rare occurrence to find a midrange laptop that offers a genuinely pleasant user experience, and the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G is one of those exceptions. With a starting price of Rs. 69,999, it presents a compelling option for individuals in need of a Core i5 work laptop. However, it’s the version with the NVIDIA MX550 GPU, priced at Rs. 74,999, that truly captures our admiration. For those in search of a versatile Windows laptop under Rs. 80,000, I can hardly think of a better choice.
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Design:
Xiaomi is known for drawing inspiration from Apple, and this time around, the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G bears a striking resemblance to the MacBook Pro. Stick an Apple sticker on the lid, and most people would easily mistake it for one! In my opinion, this isn’t a bad thing, considering that the laptop, priced at Rs. 75,000, boasts exceptional build quality, as well as a sleek and well-crafted design. Its lightweight matte metal body in silver adds a touch of elegance. Additionally, I appreciate the spacious QWERTY keyboard and the generously sized trackpad.
For those concerned about connectivity, the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G offers a variety of ports, including a USB-Type A 3.1 Gen 1 port, a Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, an HDMI 2.0b port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The webcam is placed in the traditional top bezel location. Thankfully, Xiaomi has not yet adopted the notch seen in the MacBook Air M2.
Display:
The Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G features a 14-inch 2.5K IPS LCD screen, boasting a 120Hz refresh rate, full SRGB color spectrum, and precise color accuracy with dE<1.5. Notably, the 120Hz refresh rate enhances the overall smoothness of using Windows 11. Scrolling and animations are exceptionally fluid. The display itself offers vibrant colors, bright content, and wide viewing angles. While it may not match the quality of Asus’ VivoBook S15 OLED’s OLED display in the same price range, it’s more than satisfactory for most users. Additionally, the inclusion of an ambient light sensor ensures automatic brightness adjustment on this laptop, a feature I found quite appealing.
Performance:
Xiaomi laptops have consistently delivered speed, and the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G is no different. Beneath the surface, it boasts an Intel Core i5-12450H processor paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for storage. In the 120G version, you also get the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 GPU in addition to Intel HD Graphics. Windows 11 comes pre-installed as the standard operating system.
This combination of specifications makes it a capable machine for everyday work tasks. Whether you’re handling 10-12 Google Chrome tabs, working on MS Word, streaming music on Spotify, and keeping WhatsApp running simultaneously throughout the day, the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G handles these workloads effortlessly. During my usage, I didn’t encounter any stutters, lags, or unexpected app shutdowns.
The presence of the NVIDIA MX550 GPU proves useful when working on photo editing tasks in Photoshop and conducting light video editing. I also dabbled in some casual gaming on the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G, and the results were as expected. I could play F1 22 on low graphics at 720p resolution, achieving a frame rate of 50-60 fps, while switching to 1080p settings dropped it to 30-40 fps. Forza Horizon 5 defaulted to Low-Medium settings to maintain a steady 45-60 fps, which is quite impressive. It’s important to note that this isn’t a gaming laptop, so gamers should temper their expectations accordingly.
Despite some gaming sessions, the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G effectively managed temperature control during an hour-long session. Another noteworthy aspect of the experience is the speaker setup. It follows the standard stereo speaker configuration, but the audio quality is well-tuned, with sufficient low-end power and robust mids, offering decent highs for a laptop in this category. It would have been preferable if the volume could go a bit louder.
The keyboard stands out as one of the best in its segment. The keys offer a comfortable amount of travel, and the lower resistance allows for faster typing. The spacious layout also reduces the chances of key ghosting and mistyping. The added backlighting is a welcome feature. The macro key is a Xiaomi trademark, allowing you to map any application as its dedicated shortcut.
The responsive trackpad is also a positive point, working smoothly with Windows gestures. The generous surface area aids in workflow, but improved click-ability on the trackpad would have been appreciated.
In terms of the webcam performance, it delivers decent results as long as your surroundings are well-lit. Xiaomi has kept its pre-loaded apps to a minimum, but unfortunately, none of them worked as expected with my Xiaomi 12 Pro.
Battery Life:
The primary weakness of nearly all Windows laptops, including the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G, is its battery life. Despite having a well-optimized Core i5 processor and a 56Whr battery, it can provide a maximum of 6-7 hours of usage. When considering the 120Hz display, I managed to get around 5.5 hours on a typical workday with the same usage. If you lower the refresh rate to 60Hz, you can gain an additional two hours of battery life, but it would have been preferable if Xiaomi had included a larger battery.
Fortunately, the included 100W charger can charge the laptop up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes. Furthermore, you have the option to use USB-PD power banks for charging, which is another advantage.
Verdict:
Priced under Rs. 80,000, the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G proves to be a reliable midrange Windows laptop, particularly for work-related tasks. It boasts a well-crafted design, a compelling display with a 120Hz refresh rate, reliable and seamless performance, and a decent selection of I/O ports. The base model at Rs. 69,999 should suffice for most users, while the Rs. 74,999 version with an NVIDIA MX550 GPU is ideal for casual gamers and aspiring creatives.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider. The Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G struggles with battery life, requiring you to carry the charger in your backpack. The webcam’s quality could have been better, and the speakers could be louder.
Comparing it to the competition, the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G stands out as a solid choice. The Asus VivoBook S15, available at a similar price, offers a larger 15.6-inch OLED display but lacks a discrete GPU, making it a less appealing option for many users. This positions the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G as the top Core i5 midrange laptop of 2022.
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