Redmi’s Gaming Laptop Flop: A Missed Opportunity for Affordable Innovation

Redmi, the brand known for delivering impressive value and cost-effective devices in the smartphone industry, has long been lauded for its ability to pack premium features into affordable packages. So, what would happen if Redmi applied that same approach to the world of laptops? We got a glimpse in 2022 with the Redmi Gaming Book, and unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. Here’s why it flopped:

A Stunning Display That’s All Style, No Substance

The first thing you’ll notice about the Redmi Gaming Book is its stunning 2.5K display—sharp, vibrant, and impressive in terms of resolution. And, to make it even more eye-catching, the company threw in a 165Hz refresh rate. On paper, this sounds like a win, right? After all, if Redmi can offer this kind of display at a competitive price, it would be a major selling point. However, in practice, the high refresh rate doesn’t necessarily translate into a better experience for this type of laptop.

While a high refresh rate is certainly nice, it’s not the sole factor that makes a great laptop. Unfortunately, beyond this flashy display, the rest of the laptop is either mediocre or outright disappointing. Let’s break it down.

Mediocre Build Quality That Falls Short

While the lid of the laptop is made from metal, the rest of the build is plastic—and not high-quality plastic, at that. The material feels heavy but cheap, putting it on par with lower-tier laptops like the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming Book, or perhaps even a notch below. This isn't the kind of premium feel you expect, especially when you're paying around $900 for the Ryzen 5 version. At this price point, consumers expect more than just a flashy display; they want solid build quality and attention to detail.

A Disastrous Keyboard Experience

As someone who uses laptops extensively, I can confidently say that the keyboard on the Redmi Gaming Book is one of the worst I’ve encountered in recent memory. The key travel is uneven, making it frustrating to type on. Some keys require significantly more pressure to register, while others feel unresponsive. The worst offender? The backspace key. It’s absurdly narrow—roughly the same size as the numeric keys, which is uncomfortable and impractical for everyday typing.

For a laptop that’s marketed as not just a gaming device but also a tool for creators, this lackluster keyboard is a major letdown. Typing should be a smooth, natural experience, especially when the laptop is being sold to professionals and creatives. But this keyboard feels more like an afterthought.

Lackluster Port Selection That Misses the Mark

Port selection is another area where the Redmi Gaming Book fails to impress. While it includes the basics—HDMI, RJ45 Ethernet, and mini HDMI—the overall port setup leaves much to be desired. There’s only one USB-C port, and it’s located at the back of the laptop. For a gaming and creator-focused laptop, that’s a huge limitation.

On top of that, there are four USB-A ports, but no more than one on each side, and two at the back. In an ideal world, at least one or two of these USB-A ports could’ve been swapped out for an additional USB-C port. USB-C is quickly becoming the standard for modern devices, and its absence here feels outdated. The lack of forward-thinking connectivity options makes it harder for users to future-proof their setups.

The Worst Network Interface Card (NIC) I've Experienced

Let’s talk about connectivity—the laptop’s Network Interface Card (NIC) is, without a doubt, one of the worst I’ve encountered in a modern device. Not only is it painfully slow, but it also has serious range issues. During video calls and meetings, I noticed that the laptop struggled to maintain a reliable connection unless it was very close to the router. Meanwhile, my Samsung Galaxy Book was running smoothly from the same distance. This is a glaring issue for anyone who relies on stable internet connectivity, especially in a work-from-home or gaming environment. For a laptop marketed as “gaming” and “creator-friendly,” this is an unforgivable flaw.

Battery Life That’s More 2005 Than 2022

With a dedicated RTX 3050i GPU in tow, you’d expect a laptop with good performance—and, typically, that comes with a decent battery to match. Unfortunately, Redmi equipped this laptop with a 55Wh battery. To put that into perspective, many budget laptops without dedicated graphics cards come with at least a 60Wh battery. The result? Absolutely terrible battery life.

Under moderate use, you’ll be lucky to get two hours. And under intensive usage, like gaming or heavy creative work, expect to see the battery die in under an hour. In short, this laptop needs to be plugged in most of the time to be even remotely useful. For a device that costs nearly $900, this is a major drawback.

No Charging Indicator? Seriously?

It seems like an incredibly basic feature, but the charging indicator is missing entirely from the Redmi Gaming Book. For such a simple and low-cost addition, it’s baffling that Redmi decided to skip this in the name of cost-cutting. The only way to know whether the laptop is plugged in is to turn it on. Given that many people use their laptops while they’re charging, not having a clear visual cue for charging status is a major oversight.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

While some of the laptop’s features—like the webcam, audio, and microphone—are on par with what you'd expect from laptops in this price range, they aren’t outstanding by any means. They won’t blow you away, but they also won’t make you want to pull your hair out. The real problem is that Redmi seems to have focused on a couple of flashy specs without addressing the core components that actually matter.

Suggestions for Redmi’s Next Move

If Redmi is serious about creating a strong contender in the laptop market, here are a few suggestions that could improve the next iteration:

Prioritize Battery Life and Charging Indicators: Reduce the display’s refresh rate to 90Hz, add a larger battery (80Wh or more), and include a charging indicator to improve the overall experience.

Port Reconfiguration: Swap some of the USB-A ports for a couple of USB-C ports. USB-C is the future, and having only one is simply not enough for a gaming/creator laptop in 2022.

Upgrade the Keyboard and NIC: A better typing experience and a more reliable network card should be non-negotiable for a device aimed at creators and professionals.

Display Adjustment: Consider downgrading the resolution to 1080p. While a 2.5K display is nice, it’s more important to balance the display with the overall usability of the laptop. Improving other aspects, like the keyboard and NIC, should take precedence over a high-resolution display.