After laptops, Xiaomi was preparing to enter the mini-PC market with two ultra-compact models that would compete with the Apple Mac mini, Intel NUCs and brands specializing in miniature computers.
How far will Xiaomi go? In just twelve years of existence, the Chinese manufacturer has managed to impose itself brilliantly on the tech market by offering products with impressive value for money in all kinds of areas: smartphones, of course, which still constitute its largest showcase, but also tablets, connected watches and bracelets, Wi-Fi routers and repeaters, wireless headphones and speakers, screens, televisions, surveillance cameras, TV boxes, robot vacuum cleaners or even electric scooters, to name only the main ones! An abundance of often very attractive devices, which is accompanied by a clear ambition to position itself as a key player in several markets, and which has earned it the reputation of being a “Chinese Apple”. And the manufacturer does not intend to stop in such a good way according to several sources like wwfctech Where GSMArenaXiaomi was preparing to enter the desktop PC market with ultra-compact computers that could be direct competitors of the famous Intel NUCs and Mini-PCs from specialized manufacturers, but also of the famous Mac mini Apple.
Xiaomi Mini-PC: a classic model and a bolder design
We know little about it in France, but Xiaomi already manufactures PCs, in particular the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air and Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro. However, these are only laptops, reserved for the Asian market. Alas, because, according to all those who have been able to try them, these models have nothing to be ashamed of when faced with competition from prestigious brands, whether in terms of finish, display or performance – including in the face of MacBook Apple – it is also not recommended to use them in France because of their non-AZERTY keyboard. So it’s not really surprising that Xiaomi is looking to offer desktop stationary computers. But rather than risking classic towers, which are only of interest to a few specific users – notably gamers –, the manufacturer would bet on the mini PC category, much more adapted to current uses – compactness, silence, economy, energy, etc. – as we pointed out during our tests of the Geekom models – see our articles on the MiniAir 11 and the Mini IT8 –, a specialist in this format.
The most compact model would adopt a fairly classic format – a fairly flat square block – with a design which, according to wwfstech and GSMArena, would be very similar to that of the Mac mini. We don’t yet know anything official about its technical characteristics, but rumors suggest the integration of a “mixed” AMD Ryzen 7 6800 type processor combining a CPU and a GPU – equivalent to a Radeon 680M RDNA2 – associated with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of SSD storage. Enough to ensure, on paper, excellent performance and reduced consumption, and even to be able to run games in good conditions. On the price side, we are talking about a price of around 550 dollars excluding tax.
More innovative, the second model would adopt a larger case with an angular design allowing both to accommodate a 100 W power supply and a real graphics card occupying two slots – and therefore much more powerful than the integrated GPUs. Of type barebones, this compact PC could be delivered naked – and therefore to be completed – or already partially or totally equipped with all the necessary components – motherboard, processor, Ram, etc. Again, no official information allows you to know more, not even to have an estimate of the price.
According to the sources, these two products should have been unveiled on Thursday 1er December 2022, on the occasion of the presentation of the Xiaomi 13, the brand’s brand new high-end smartphone. But the day before, the event was canceled – postponed without date – probably following the death of Jiang Zemin, the former Chinese president. It will be necessary to wait a few days or weeks to have a conformation and precisions, as well on the characteristics and the prices as for the possible availability in France.