Xiaomi's first '2-in-1 laptop' delivers Snapdragon power and Windows 11

Xiaomi Book S 12.4
(Image credit: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi introduced its Xiaomi Book S 12.4, a 2-in-1 device running Windows 11 and powered by a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 processor. It also comes with a Smart Pen and keyboard, but it's a tablet first rather than a 2-in-1 laptop.

The 12.4-inch tablet is equipped with a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution LCD touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and up to 500 nits of max brightness. While there's a compatible stylus and keyboard, these are sold separately — meaning the Xiaomi Book S is only a "2-in-1 laptop" if customers purchase the added accessories.

Regardless, we're big fans of the Xiaomi Pad 5, and the Book S 12.4 aims to be a step up with its Snapdragon power and Windows 11 OS. 

Xiaomi Book S 12.4

The Xiaomi Book S 12.4 will be available in select markets, including the UK, for £649 on Xiaomi's website. It supports the Xiaomi Smart Pen and Keyboard, which are sold separately. This makes the Books S 12.4 more of a tablet à la iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil if you don't add optional accessories. 

(Image credit: Xiaomi)

The tablet's 12.4-inch (2,560 x 1,600) LCD touchscreen is encased in an aviation-grade aluminum-magnesium alloy, with the display offering a 16:10 aspect ratio, 500 nits of max brightness, and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. This is similar to the Xiaomi Pad 5, which delivered excellent brightness and rich colours.

Under the hood, you can expect a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 processor that runs Windows 11 OS, meaning users will get a full PC experience rather than using Xiaomi's MIUI for tablets. It's equipped with an octa-core Qualcomm Kryo 495 CPU and Qualcomm Adreno 680 GPU, and comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

You'll also find a 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, along with built-in Qualcomm Aqstic audio technology.  Battery-wise, expect a 4,920mAh battery capacity and 65W fast charging. Xiaomi claims it can last 13.4 hours before needing a charge.

It also comes with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, with a single USB-C port and a handy 3.5mm headphone jack. With dimensions of 11.5 x 7.7 x 0.35 inches and weighing 1.5 pounds, it's slightly bigger and heavier than the Xiaomi Pad 5, but makes for a slim and lightweight 2-in-1 laptop.

We're interested to see how the Xiaomi Book S 12.4 performs as a tablet and a 2-in-1 laptop with its stylus and keyboard. In the meantime, check out an Android tablet that's worth the cost, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Darragh Murphy
Editor

Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it's connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.