Xiaomi has entered the Windows 2-in-1 segment with its Book S 12.4. Among the top features are a Snapdragon chip and a long-lasting battery.
After making traditional laptops for years, Xiaomi’s newest Book S 12.4 is a Windows 2-in-1 detachable computer, and it packs some pretty interesting specs. The 2-in-1 space is filled with several solutions that cut across different operating systems. Those who want a Chrome OS device have options like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 and the IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3.
For those who want Windows, there are even more options. Dell announced a new XPS 13 recently, the first in the series to utilize a detachable form factor. Microsoft and Huawei have the Surface Pro 8 and MateBook E, respectively, and Lenovo’s IdeaPad Duet 5i is expected to be available for purchase in July 2022 with a $750 starting price.
The Xiaomi Book S 12.4 takes on a different look from the Xiaomi Pad 5, the brand’s most recent Android tablet. Available in only a Dark Gray color, the Xiaomi Book S 12.4 is made from an aluminum-magnesium alloy and weighs 720 grams. It is also 8.95 millimeters thick, and this is understood to include the lone camera on the back. While the bezels around the display are moderately slim, they are of an unequal thickness as the left and right ones are slimmer. In addition, the device has five pins at the bottom for connecting to the detachable keyboard.
The Xiaomi Book S 12.4’S 13-Hour Battery
With its 12.35-inch LCD display, Xiaomi’s new Windows tablet is its biggest yet. Protected by Gorilla Glass 3, the screen has a WQHD+ (2560 × 1600) resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio, a 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, and a 178-degree viewing angle. It also supports 10-point multi-touch and has a brightness level of up to 500 nits. Sitting above the display is a 5MP 1080p camera flanked by dual microphones with support for Qualcomm Aqstic Echo Cancelation and Noise Suppression (ECNS) technology. On the back, buyers will find a 13MP sensor. The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 is the chipset powering the tablet and the octa-core 7nm chipset is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of storage.
Xiaomi has included a TF card slot so users can add more storage via a microSD card when needed, but there is no mention of the maximum capacity supported. Next to the card slot is a USB-C port that supports 4K UHD output and doubles as the charging port. There is also a headphone jack and stereo speakers. Those who pick up the Xiaomi Book S 12.4 should be able to get a full workday from it considering Xiaomi claims the battery offers up to 13.4 hours. It also ships with a 65W GaN charger to quickly top up the battery when running low on power. It connects via Bluetooth and charges wirelessly when attached to the side of the tablet. A full charge takes 18 minutes, while a 60-second charge will provide up to 20 minutes of use.
The Xiaomi Book S also has support for an optional stylus, the Xiaomi SmartPen, with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. The optional keyboard cover, which has a matching color as the tablet and stylus, is covered in PU leather. It attaches magnetically to the tablet and has an adjustable kickstand. Xiaomi has also included a backlight for nighttime typing as well as a dedicated row for function keys.
The tablet ships with Windows 11 S but users can switch to full Windows if they want. Xiaomi is asking for €699 in Europe for the Book S 12.4 while the SmartPen is priced at an additional €99. Those who do decide to pick up the keyboard cover will have to shell out another €149 (and €39 if they also want the magnetic case). Xiaomi has yet to reveal whether it will make its new Book S 12.4 available in other regions.
