Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 Review: Return of the Exotic

As previously reported three different models of the 2019 edition of Xiaomi’s Mi Gaming Laptop will be available. A base model equipped with a Core i5-9300H with 8 GB of RAM, a mid-range model based on the Core i7-9750H with 16 GB of RAM, and last but not least a flagship model equipped with a GeForce RTX 2060 instead of a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. The latter might not be that much slower than the former, but it lacks its raytracing capabilities. All units are equipped with a 144 Hz IPS FHD and a 512 GB NVMe SSD.
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As with its predecessor Xiaomi’s exclusive target audience for the Mi Gaming Laptop are Asian markets, which is why it's almost impossible to tell you how much exactly the device is going to cost. By default, it ships with a Chinese version of Windows. However, some retailers offer an English Windows 10 at a premium.
Its main competitors are other 15-inch notebooks with Core i7-9750H and GeForce RTX 2060, such as the MSI GL65 9SEK, Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH, Asus Strix GL531GV, or Acer ConceptD 7.
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Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
82.3 % | 11/2019 | Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.6 kg | 21 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
80.8 % | 10/2019 | MSI GL65 9SEK i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.3 kg | 27.5 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
85.7 % | 08/2019 | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.3 kg | 26 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
84.4 % | 08/2019 | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.4 kg | 25.9 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
87.3 % | 11/2019 | Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.2 kg | 17.9 mm | 15.60" | 3840x2160 |
Since Xiaomi has left the case mostly unmodified, except for the unfortunate omission of a previously available USB-C port, we are not going to cover case, connectivity, and input devices in great depth as part of this review. Instead, we would like to refer you to our review of the 2018 model.
Top 10 Laptops
Multimedia, Budget Multimedia, Gaming, Budget Gaming, Lightweight Gaming, Business, Budget Office, Workstation, Subnotebooks, Ultrabooks, Chromebooks
under 300 USD/Euros, under 500 USD/Euros, 1,000 USD/Euros, for University Students, Best Displays
Top 10 Smartphones
Smartphones, Phablets, ≤6-inch, Camera Smartphones
SD Card Reader | |
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
Average of class Gaming (48.5 - 209, n=93, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
Average of class Gaming (72 - 269, n=84, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) |
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
Average of class Gaming (450 - 1580, n=69, last 2 years) | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
Average of class Gaming (90 - 1700, n=69, last 2 years) |
Display
The FHD display has been upgraded significantly. Gone is the previously installed 60 Hz panel. Instead, the 2019 model features a blazingly fast 144 Hz display.
|
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 279 cd/m²
Contrast: 1374:1 (Black: 0.23 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.84 | 0.55-29.43 Ø5.1, calibrated: 1.64
ΔE Greyscale 3.66 | 0.57-98 Ø5.4
92% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
66.4% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
65.2% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.62
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 NV156FHM-N4G (BOE0867), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | MSI GL65 9SEK AU Optronics B156HAN13.0, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH BOE NV156FHM-N4G (BOE084D), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 Panda LM156LF-GL02, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N AU Optronics AUO31EB, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | -42% | -1% | -37% | 30% | |
Display P3 Coverage | 65.2 | 36.63 -44% | 64.5 -1% | 40.13 -38% | 85.7 31% |
sRGB Coverage | 92.1 | 55 -40% | 91.6 -1% | 60.3 -35% | 100 9% |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 66.4 | 37.85 -43% | 65.9 -1% | 41.48 -38% | 99 49% |
Response Times | -175% | 9% | -154% | -304% | |
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 8.8 ? | 26.4 ? -200% | 8.8 ? -0% | 26 ? -195% | 49 ? -457% |
Response Time Black / White * | 12 ? | 30 ? -150% | 10 ? 17% | 25.6 ? -113% | 30 ? -150% |
PWM Frequency | |||||
Screen | -49% | -8% | -65% | 28% | |
Brightness middle | 316 | 277.3 -12% | 284 -10% | 290.1 -8% | 365 16% |
Brightness | 295 | 256 -13% | 277 -6% | 274 -7% | 357 21% |
Brightness Distribution | 87 | 86 -1% | 87 0% | 86 -1% | 84 -3% |
Black Level * | 0.23 | 0.2 13% | 0.3 -30% | 0.54 -135% | 0.275 -20% |
Contrast | 1374 | 1387 1% | 947 -31% | 537 -61% | 1327 -3% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.84 | 5.25 -37% | 3.53 8% | 5.16 -34% | 0.99 74% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.69 | 19.43 -241% | 6.11 -7% | 18.09 -218% | 1.89 67% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.64 | 4.39 -168% | 1.81 -10% | 4.35 -165% | 1.01 38% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3.66 | 3.5 4% | 3.56 3% | 4.4 -20% | 1.29 65% |
Gamma | 2.62 84% | 2.1 105% | 2.47 89% | 2.1 105% | 2.2 100% |
CCT | 7165 91% | 6895 94% | 7257 90% | 7362 88% | 6548 99% |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 60 | 35 -42% | 59 -2% | 38.1 -36% | 88 47% |
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 92 | 55 -40% | 91 -1% | 60 -35% | 100 9% |
Total Average (Program / Settings) | -89% /
-63% | 0% /
-5% | -85% /
-71% | -82% /
-13% |
* ... smaller is better
Our measurements indicate significantly reduced response times that decreased from around 41.6-53.2 ms to just 8.8-12 ms. This should make for an image free of ghosting and artifacts even when playing fast-paced shooters. Unfortunately, Xiaomi has opted not to include support for G-Sync, most likely a cost-cutting measure (re: license costs). Instead, the Mi Gaming Laptop supports Optimus in order to maximize battery life.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
12 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 6.8 ms rise | |
↘ 5.2 ms fall | ||
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 23 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (22.2 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
8.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 4.4 ms rise | |
↘ 4.4 ms fall | ||
The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 14 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (35.1 ms). |
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM not detected | |||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 19210 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. |
Performance
The flagship SKU can definitely be considered a high-end gaming notebook. A hexa-core CPU combined with a GeForce RTX 2060, a 512 GB SSD, and 16 GB of RAM should offer more than enough gaming and processing oomph for many years to come.
Processor
It runs at a base clock speed of 2.6 GHz and can turbo boost up to 4.5 GHz. Unfortunately, the Mi Gaming Laptop is incapable of fully utilizing the CPU’s turbo boost potential. In single-threaded load the CPU runs at 4.0 to 4.3 GHz while multi-core turbo boost is limited to just 3.3 to 3.8 GHz.
Like most other gaming laptops performance drops by around 10 % in our CineBench loop after the first iteration. Overall, the Core i7-9750H performed as expected.
Cinebench R15 | |
CPU Single 64Bit | |
Average of class Gaming (79.2 - 312, n=244, last 2 years) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
CPU Multi 64Bit | |
Average of class Gaming (400 - 5663, n=243, last 2 years) | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N |
Cinebench R20 | |
CPU (Single Core) | |
Average of class Gaming (169 - 825, n=240, last 2 years) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
CPU (Multi Core) | |
Average of class Gaming (930 - 13769, n=240, last 2 years) | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N |
System Performance
System performance was also at a level expected of this system. With a score of 5,681 the Mi Gaming Laptop sits right in between its competitors albeit the differences are marginal. Subjectively, the device booted up very quickly and felt fast and snappy.
PCMark 10 - Score | |
Average of class Gaming (4477 - 9331, n=196, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N |
Storage Devices
NVMe SSD is a staple of pretty much every 2019 high end notebook, and Xiaomi opted for a 512 GB NVMe SSD by Toshiba. Sequential read and write speeds top out at a superb 3,000 MB/s in Crystal Disk Mark, and the M.2 SSD was also very fast in random access scenarios. Given that the Mi Gaming Laptop features a free secondary M.2 slot as well as a free 2.5-inch slot the upgrade options are plentiful.
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 Toshiba XG6 KXG60ZNV512G | MSI GL65 9SEK WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8 | Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6 | -3% | 10% | -16% | 14% | |
Write 4K | 110.3 | 150.2 36% | 131.7 19% | 121.9 11% | 109 -1% |
Read 4K | 47.17 | 43.46 -8% | 48.06 2% | 53.6 14% | 41.33 -12% |
Write Seq | 1381 | 1412 2% | 1234 -11% | 967 -30% | 2535 84% |
Read Seq | 1327 | 1340 1% | 973 -27% | 1461 10% | 1538 16% |
Write 4K Q32T1 | 404.7 | 482.2 19% | 576 42% | 431.4 7% | 396.6 -2% |
Read 4K Q32T1 | 437.2 | 535 22% | 655 50% | 337.3 -23% | 603 38% |
Write Seq Q32T1 | 2960 | 1454 -51% | 3012 2% | 972 -67% | 2542 -14% |
Read Seq Q32T1 | 3278 | 1744 -47% | 3481 6% | 1727 -47% | 3324 1% |
GPU Performance
The GeForce RTX 2060 is Nvidia’s most affordable raytracing-capable laptop GPU. This particular DirectX 12 chip is based on the Turing architecture and features 1,920 shader units with access to 6 GB of GDDR6 video RAM.
3DMark 11 Performance | 18262 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 35196 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 15004 points | |
3DMark Time Spy Score | 6209 points | |
Help |
The Mi Gaming Laptop performed very well in our GPU benchmarks. It scored first place within our test group in 3DMark 11 and 3DMark 13, which attests to a good turbo-boost utilization.
3DMark | |
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics | |
Average of class Gaming (781 - 53059, n=242, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics | |
Average of class Gaming (224 - 22547, n=242, last 2 years) | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
2560x1440 Port Royal Graphics | |
Average of class Gaming (280 - 14457, n=154, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
MSI GL65 9SEK |
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
Average of class Gaming (1029 - 72070, n=235, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH |
We were able to verify the latter during our 60-minute long "The Witcher 3" loop (1920x1080, Ultra), and the resulting core frequency of 1,500 MHz is much higher than the GPU’s base frequency of just 1,110 MHz. We did not notice any sudden drops in performance.