Xiaomi announces new affordable MacBook Pro rival powered by Intel Panther Lake

In March 2026, the updated Xiaomi Book Pro 14 launched in China as the company's first Panther Lake laptop. It's touted to have a premium build that's paired with up to the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H. Now, the company has announced the Redmi Book Pro 2026 series, and it's expected to be a bit more affordable but with similar spec sheets.

Xiaomi revealed that there will be two models: one with a 14-inch display and the other with a 16-inch display. Both will be available with up to the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, and the company notes that they will come with a compact form factor but with a large battery for their size.

While Xiaomi didn't share any specifics on the size, it confirmed that the Redmi Book Pro 16 2026 will feature a 99 Wh battery. As for the smaller 14-inch model, it gets a 92 Wh battery, which is larger than the one powering the newly launched Xiaomi Book Pro 14 (338H configuration curr. $1,658.20 on TradingShenzhen).

The company adds that the smaller Panther Lake laptop can offer up to 37 hours of local video playback. A 90 W fast charging support has also been confirmed for the 2026 Redmi Book Pro 14, but it's unclear whether the 16-inch model will feature the same rating.

All these specs are making the 2026 Redmi Book Pro series stand as an affordable rival to the Apple MacBook Pro M5. Entry-level configurations are also on the cards, with one coming with the Core Ultra 5 325, which could even be positioned as a MacBook Neo competitor. A configuration with Core Ultra 5 338H is also expected.

As for the launch, there's no exact date yet, but Xiaomi has disclosed that the Redmi Book Pro 2026 line will launch alongside the K90 Max. That flagship phone is set for a Chinese debut later in April 2026.