Laptops

RedmiBook 15 review: Focused on Performance

Is it worth your while?

Published

June 28, 2022

Andre Ibarle

It is quite noticeable that more and more smartphone brands have been venturing into the laptop scene. This isn’t surprising. Since the pandemic, demand for laptops have seen a large increase for remote work and online classes.

Moving into this direction, it was just a matter of time for brands like Xiaomi’s Redmi to also take this on. Being one of the top brands offering the finest value-for-money smartphones, the question remains. Can they do the same with their laptops?

That’s what we’re finding out in this review of the newest laptop from Redmi — the RedmiBook 15.

Design and Build quality

The design of the RedmiBook 15 is pretty straightforward. You can tell that it gets its inspiration from the unibody design and looks rather basic. That said, it was still given much thought. With just a plain top lid engraved with a subtle Redmi branding, this fashion is surely one that minimalists will appreciate.

There’s no large sticker carrying the specs of the laptop and instead there are only two case badges placed on the palm rest.

Straight away you will feel that the body is indeed plastic with its smooth and flat finish. Fortunately, it’s not one that feels like it would break on you easily as it does seem like it can withstand daily use.

One handed opening of the top lid does open about 90 percent of the way and with practice, it is possible to get through entirely.

It also has a fairly slim footprint and weighs acceptably light as it even fits my bag which is designed for 14-inch laptops but without much headroom left.

For the ports, we do appreciate that we are getting a lot on this laptop but the selection could have done a bit better. There are three USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, RJ45 LAN port, 3.5mm combo audio port and a full size SD card reader. Sadly, there is no USB-C port.

Keyboard and trackpad

The RedmiBook 15 comes equipped with a full sized keyboard that looks a bit ordinary without any sort of backlighting or fancy features. The plastic keycaps feel relatively rough which is similar to what we would feel on other entry level laptops.

Thankfully, key spacing is pretty substantial and each key press feels satisfying. A bit of a surprise on my part but this indeed feels great to type on. I actually did write this review on it and I didn’t run into any issues that I was expecting to experience like hitting the power button accidentally.

People who don’t prefer connecting an external mouse are also likely to enjoy using the trackpad on the RedmiBook 15. The one we have here is huge and it tracks cursor movement nicely. Tap and swipe gestures are also responsive, making navigating the Windows user interface effortless.

Display

A 15.6-inch, Full HD display is what we’ll mostly be looking at on the RedmiBook 15. This display has a matte anti-glare coating and is wrapped around some fairly slim bezels with a 720p web camera on top.

It’s a pretty average display for an entry level laptop. However, colors on this display just leaves much to be desired. Oftentimes it looks washed out and it’s difficult to discern what color you are looking at as it suffers from undesirable viewing angles.

It took me a while to find the sweet spot but I discovered that the best way to view this is to push the display far back between 100 to 110 degree angle. And even that does not make the whole screen perfectly clear. To add, just getting slightly off axis would make it even harder for your eyes to see.

I couldn’t really suggest doing photo editing or color grading on this but web browsing and other non-screen dependent tasks would be okay.

Specs and Performance

The RedmiBook 15 comes in two variants. The one that we have is running on the 11th gen Intel Core i5 11300H processor with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB PCI-E SSD while the base model runs on the Intel Core i3 1115G4 with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SATA SSD storage

On paper, the Core i5 variant that we have has the upper hand over its competition in this price range. The Core i5 11300H being a high performance processor, this can presumably handle a fair amount of processor intensive software that the average person would use. This means everyday tasks, like Zoom meetings and online classes along with heavy web browsing, wouldn’t be a problem on the RedmiBook 15.

During our test, the performance we experienced was superb and everything was smooth as we had hoped it would be. This also comes preloaded with Windows 11 and I do appreciate that it doesn’t seem to have bloatwares installed.

Despite not having a discrete graphics card, I was still curious on how this laptop would perform running games. And to satisfy my curiosity, l went on to test some. Quite surprisingly, this is able to run Bioshock: Infinite at very high settings at very acceptable frame rates. It may not be a recent title, but keep in mind that this is still a AAA game. Running the game at high settings is still commendable.

It’s also nice to know that running games didn’t raise the temperatures too high as the laptop only managed to reach a peak of 84 degrees celsius in game.

Sound Quality

For the sound, we are getting two 2W down firing speakers below the device that come with DTS tuning. Sound quality wise, I find that these speakers sound tinny especially with music playback but it does sound alright for spoken dialogue.

It’s more on the quieter side of the spectrum but the panning of the sound from left to right when playing games is noticeable.

Battery and Charging

Running on battery, I was able to reach approximately six hours on balanced battery mode. I think this is a pretty okay result for a laptop this size. But we could probably squeeze in around an hour or more if we ran on power saving mode or if we held back on some tasks but that would depend on your use case.

For its charging, the included 65W charger was able to juice up the RedmiBook 15 from 11 percent to 22 percent in 15 minutes. While the whole charging time took two hours and forty six minutes which is also nothing out of the ordinary.

Is the RedmiBook 15 your GadgetMatch?

Despite some of its flaws, I think the RedmiBook 15 gets a lot of things right. The minimalist design plus the large trackpad, good keyboard and the powerful performance are, no doubt, its main selling points.

I can easily see professionals like app developers, writers, teachers and even students really appreciating this. It almost has most of the things it takes to be a powerful and affordable contender for creative work that it’s just unfortunate that it is greatly held back by its display.

At the price it’s going for, there are other options with less powerful hardware that have better displays which I personally would be more inclined to choose.

Then again, if your priorities fit in the categories we mentioned, I think the RedmiBook 15 will still perform well for you.

The RedmiBook 15 is priced at PhP 37,999 for the Intel Core i5 11300H, 8GB, 512GB SSD variant and PhP 26,999 for the Core i3-1115G4, 8GB, 256GB SSD variant.

Computex 2026

The new NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops are AI PCs on steroids

Published

June 2, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

“Useful AI has arrived,” NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang proclaimed in his monumental keynote speech to kick off COMPUTEX 2026, essentially admitting to the state of AI prior to today. But don’t let the past mess with how you view the present. AI today, according to the graphics-turned-AI company, will now serve everyday users, rather than procuring abstract and intangible benefits. For us normal people, it all starts with the new RTX Spark.

Rarely does a new product claim to reinvent the entire industry. Confident in its own abilities, that’s just what the RTX Spark wants to do. But what is it exactly?

Think of it like Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs but on AI-powered steroids. NVIDIA wants to bring the power of a supercomputer into the hands of regular consumers, just like how the personal computer (PC) brought gigantic computers to the comfort of everyone’s homes.

Co-engineered with Microsoft, RTX Spark will run autonomous AI agents the entire day. The agent is tied to you and your intent but will orchestrate all your devices under one roof.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The new series will leverage a Blackwell RTX GPU and a 20-core Grace CPU from MediaTek. It can also support up to 128GB of unified memory, delivering several of the most powerful (and most expensive) PCs available to consumers today. With the capabilities comparable to an RTX 5070, the series can supposedly play modern games with ease.

Inside, it will come with CUDA, the trove of information that powers AI technology today. Finally, despite how slim NVIDIA promises the series will be, the RTX Spark should come with a battery that lasts the entire day.

The first NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops will launch later this fall with six premium laptops for various brands. This, along with the 30 models launching soon after, will include Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI. No word yet on how much these will cost, though.

Laptops

Acer unveils Swift Air 14 and Swift Spin 14 AI with Intel’s latest processors

Thin, light, AI-powered laptops

Published

May 30, 2026

GadgetMatch

Acer has expanded its Swift laptop lineup with the launch of the new Swift Air 14 and Swift Spin 14 AI. The new Windows 11 laptops combine slim designs, dedicated AI hardware, and long battery life for users who want productivity on the go.

Swift Air 14 focuses on portability

Leading the announcement is the new Swift Air 14. Powered by Intel Core Series 3 processors, the laptop delivers up to 40 platform TOPS and up to 17 TOPS from its dedicated NPU for AI workloads. Acer says users can expect up to 19 hours of battery life, with fast charging capable of reaching 50 percent in around 30 minutes.

The Swift Air 14 weighs just 1.25kg and measures as thin as 12.9mm. Its all-aluminum chassis comes in Sage Green, Frost Blue, Blossom Pink, and Lilac Purple. A 180-degree hinge allows the laptop to lie flat when collaborating or sharing content.

For visuals, Acer equips the laptop with a 14-inch WUXGA display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and 100 percent sRGB color coverage. Quad speakers with DTS:X Ultra complete the entertainment package.

The Swift Air 14 also includes a 1080p IR webcam with a privacy shutter, Windows Hello facial recognition, Acer PurifiedVoice noise cancellation, Intel Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a USB-A port.

Swift Spin 14 AI adds convertible flexibility

Acer also introduced the Swift Spin 14 AI. The new convertible features a 360-degree hinge that lets users switch between laptop, presentation, display, and tablet modes.

Inside is up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor. The system delivers up to 50 TOPS from its dedicated NPU and up to 100 platform TOPS overall. Acer claims battery life can reach up to 26 hours on a single charge.

The Swift Spin 14 AI features a 14-inch WUXGA IPS touch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also supports the optional Acer Active Stylus with Wacom AES 2.0 technology. The stylus supports shading and 4,096 pressure levels, making it useful for drawing, note-taking, and document signing.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, dual USB-A ports, and HDMI 2.1. Security features include a 5MP IR camera, fingerprint reader, human presence detection, and Acer User Sensing technology.

Acer brings AI features to both laptops

Both devices include a dedicated Copilot key for quick access to Microsoft’s AI assistant. Acer also bundles its own AI-powered software suite, including AcerSense and Acer Intelligence Space.

The suite includes tools such as Acer QR Capture, Acer AI Image Generator, and Acer Video Speed Controller. Acer says these features are designed to improve productivity, creativity, and day-to-day usability.

Acer has not yet announced local pricing or availability. The company says details will vary by market.

Laptops

MSI announces new Raider, Crosshair gaming laptops

Redesigned for better power

Published

May 19, 2026

GadgetMatch

MSI has unveiled its latest generation of high-performance gaming laptops, introducing comprehensive updates to the Raider, Crosshair, and Cyborg series.

The updated product lines include redesigns, as well as up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series laptop GPUs.

MSI Raider 16 HX: Flagship power

The premium tier is led by the redesigned MSI Raider 16 HX, which establishes a maximum total power delivery threshold of up to 300W of combined CPU and GPU output via MSI OverBoost technology.

This extreme performance is made possible by a newly designed Cooler Boost Trinity with Intra Flow thermal system. With up to three fans, six heat pipes, and an exclusive five-exhaust vent design, the laptop delivers exceptional cooling performance while keeping noise below 50 dBA.

It has a 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS display with up to 240Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.

With two DDR5 memory slots, it can support up to 128GB of RAM, alongside dual M.2 slots for ample storage.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX: Mainstream performance realignment

Meanwhile, the mid-tier MSI Crosshair 16 HX receives a structural redesign that slims down the overall chassis depth while boosting overall thermal ceiling performance by 30W over the prior model.

It comes with a similar Cooler Boost thermal solution and quad-vent exhaust, while delivering up to 200W total system power.

Gamers can fully tap into that performance with a QHD+ 240Hz display. Connectivity gets an upgrade too, as the new I/O layout features three USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and repositioned HDMI and RJ-45 LAN ports.

The look is completed by the iconic RGB Crosshair aesthetic, with a more dynamic RGB backlit keyboard.

MSI Cyborg 15 Max: Major upgrades in performance, display

Lastly, the newly redesigned MSI Cyborg 15 series arrives with major upgrades. Particularly, the entry-level Cyborg 15 Max marks a substantial performance update for the budget tier.

It now has up to a 140W total system power, thanks to an Intel Core 200H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 GPU. This sets a new benchmark in the entry-level gaming segment.

The performance is likewise powered by a Cooler Boost thermal system. Overall, the Cyborg 15 Max achieves an impressive 122% increase in TGP.

The entire series is equipped with an FHD 144Hz display with 100% sRGB color gamut. Even connectivity is upgraded, with three USB-A ports and one USB-C port.