Talk about a great deal for the Redmibook Pro 14 in 2024!
Talk about a great deal for the Redmibook Pro 14 in 2024!
Regarding the charging, you mentioned not using the original charger. It seems the second port may only function with the original one.
Certainly possible, although no reason I can think of that would be the case. My charger supports all the charging standards needed for 100W, so unless they're proprietary in some way (Xiaomi phones? Not sure), I'd think probably not.
Actually, it was probably a bit more tiring than I preferred, but it was still completely understandable.
The laptop has arrived, and my first thoughts are: On the Linux environment (Ubuntu live CD), most functions appear normal at first, but audio detection fails completely—no audio outputs are recognized, even when using a USB-C DisplayPort hub. In the hub, I can connect two monitors successfully: one at 3440 x 1440 @ 120Hz and another at 2560 x 1440 @ 60Hz (which is the maximum resolution for that display). All controls, including keys, touchpad (two-finger scrolling and touch click), and wireless connections (WiFi and Bluetooth) are working properly. Charging via two USB-C ports also functions correctly. I haven’t started booting Windows yet; I’ll add more details later.
My Redmibook pro 14 came this week. Here are my thoughts on Linux:
- I chose the Chinese version, but could easily switch the BIOS to English (YouTube).
- Never started with Windows and directly installed Manjaro via live-USB. After adjusting the boot sequence in the BIOS, I downloaded the newest Cinnamon version from the site. I’m used to Mint but opted for the latest Linux kernel just in case the hardware was new, so I went with Manjaro.
- WiFi didn’t function during or after installation, so I connected the notebook using a dongle and Ethernet to my router.
- Once Manjaro was set up, I immediately upgraded to the latest non-beta kernel (6.9.2) and updated all software packages.
- After restarting, WiFi worked perfectly.
- Battery reports 30 hours when fully charged, but during use it shows around 12 hours, which seems realistic for a day or two.
- The display is bright enough. I ran at 40% brightness for a while before noticing it could be brighter.
- I’m happy the screen isn’t glossy.
- Quick benchmark: I built a Quarkus native app that took about 2 minutes on my Redmi but 9 minutes on my old XPS (i7, 8th Gen). The XPS was unusable during compilation and got hot. Manjaro didn’t overheat and remained usable (there’s nearly a decade between the two CPUs).
- I’m just a casual Linux user, no experience with advanced settings, so I’m relieved I didn’t run into major problems (except for WiFi).
- One thing I observe is that in the terminal, the keyboard has a noticeable delay. I don’t know why, but system load appears normal. Maybe I’ll try some adjustments later.
- For graphics, I can see my desktop and adjust brightness. Video playback works fine. Games are still unclear.
- Thanks to everyone who contributed to this post—it helped me decide and take a small risk.
Update: After installing Xfce, I noticed 'Cinnamon on Wayland' is marked as Experimental. It seems the default was 'Software Rendering'! That probably explains the lag.
Once I logged in with 'Cinnamon on Wayland', the interface responded quickly and smoothly (assuming rockets are fast and smooth). No more lagging.
I've been using this laptop for some time now and I want to share the positive feedback from others. The construction quality is excellent, with very few complaints. The design could appear somewhat bulky, but it feels lighter compared to my previous Asus Zenbook, which had more rounded edges.
I previously owned an older Asus Zenbook that was a bit bigger, but its more streamlined edges made it feel lighter.
Linux support (Ubuntu 24.04) is excellent. I successfully resolved a sound problem by editing a configuration file*. Right now, only the microphone and camera aren't functioning properly (or I'm not sure how to fix them), which isn't an issue for me since I don't use those features. I'm uncertain about activating the fingerprint reader either.
Performance-wise, it's outstanding. I haven't performed any benchmarks, but with multiple applications and Chrome tabs open, it runs smoothly even in power-saving mode (consuming 10-20 watts). During my usage—Chrome, VS Code, Docker, Office, etc.—the fans either stay off or are very quiet. It gets quite noisy during stress tests, though not immediately. I tested the game Anno 1800 and it played well at medium settings in performance mode.
Some Linux-related issues on laptops include:
- Hibernation – works
- Suspend to RAM – works
- Waking from an external keyboard/mouse – works
- WIFI – BT – works
- Brightness and auto brightness – works
- Palm rejection – works
- Power modes – works
All of these functions are present out of the box.
At first, I assumed it wasn't possible to disable secure boot in the BIOS, which can be an issue with Linux, but it became achievable after setting a BIOS password.
The BIOS is quite simple, offering only basic settings like boot order, passwords, secure boot, USB wake options, keyboard backlight control, and possibly other minor features I don't remember.
Charging and video output work through both USB-C ports.
I won't discuss the battery since I mostly charge it directly from the charger.
*Sound settings configuration:
options snd_hda_intel dmic_detect=0
options snd_hda_intel dsp_driver=1
in /etc/modprobe.d/disable_dmic.conf
Did you finally fix those issues? Have you checked the laptop? Does it have a second SSD slot? I’m more focused on the 16-inch version, which does have the second slot. After reading some Chinese reviews, the internal design seemed quite similar, so there’s a chance the 14-inch model also has a second slot. However, the 16-inch one has a slot number 2242 and the compatible drives are pricier and less common. Still, it was nice to see any expansion possibilities. I plan to buy this laptop and set it up for dual boot, using separate disks for both operating systems. I’m trying to decide between Windows and Linux, but I appreciate good Linux support. Based on reviews, both Redmibooks seem like solid laptops. They’re close to my “perfect laptop” in a reasonable price range, though I’m curious why Xiaomi hasn’t released them worldwide. The German store’s offer also looks appealing.
Hi,
I wasn't bother solving this problems because I don't need mic.
Now I've checked issues again an camera kinda works. Previously I've tried to run standard camera app in Ubuntu and it didn't detect any cameras. Now it's the same but in cli I get:
# v4l2-ctl --list-devices
XiaoMi WebCam: XiaoMi WebCam (usb-0000:00:14.0-8):
/dev/video0
/dev/video1
/dev/media0
In VLC i can run stream form camera but only @ 5fps.
I didn't open my laptop. I hope there is a second slot because I have already ordered the disk
In bios there is clear information like "Slot 1: not occupied", "Slot 2: <Model of current disk>" so i think there are two slots. I've bought 2230 disk + adapter. There are many more 2230 drives available on the market than 2242, so prices are better.
In 16 inch version there is two 2242 slots:
View: https://youtu.be/zEDAfvNsZcY?si=g-hzn210jIa7ExXM&t=142
How does the Windows license work? Is it possible to buy a laptop with a Chinese Windows version, install Windows Pro yourself and make it genuine? Or am I required to order a Windows Pro preinstalled, which costs extra? Honestly, installing Windows is quite simple, so paying an additional 40 euros doesn’t seem worthwhile. My main worries are about the license. Someone on the internet said they bought a Chinese version, logged into their Microsoft account, and received an Office license automatically because the laptop came with it—just need to link it to your account.