Though the laptop market below the INR 30,000 range is dominated by bigger names, Micromax has posed a serious challenge in that segment with the launch of the Alpha laptop series. The LI351568W laptop which is the first in the series, comes with a reasonable INR 26,990 price tag, but some seriously notable features like Windows 10 pre-installed Windows 10, the 5th generation of Intel i3 processor, and also a large 6GB of RAM, which should strike a chord with anyone using multiple heavy programmes simultaneously. In other words, if you are a serious gamer, do video-graphics editing, or simply are in the habit of using multiple applications at the same time, this is one laptop which should be on the shopping list.

The Micromax Alpha LI351568W laptop has a 15.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels, scoring a point for those looking for a standard sized viewing experience. With a majority of the mid-segment of laptops running the i3 processor, this was expected, but the addition of the 5th generation of the processor should allow greater flexibility to work with.

Though this may not be the latest generation of processors from Intel, for the everyday use and even moderate users of laptops, it should let them get over with most tasks without a hitch. With the 6GB of RAM, it should help with multitasking as well, including heavy games or editing software, for example. Connecting the laptop for presentations or data transfer to another medium should not be in a problem, with options like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI , Ethernet port , DC-in, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

In terms of handling, the LI351568W laptop weighs a decently portable 2.1kg, which is not the lightest, but handy. On the interior, there is the 500GB built-in HDD, which can be expanded to 1TB for storage. The only shortfall, which might actually have a practical implication, is the 4.45-hour battery life which the company claims for this Alpha laptop. With 6 to 8 hours being the industry standard, the choice of this 4-cell battery may not have been the best option to choose and a power source may be needed after every few hours.  

In terms of the competition, the main visible one (phone brand turned electronics manufacturer) will come from Xiaomi. Earlier this year, it was announced that Xiaomi Air would be on the market as well. But when one looks at the closer view, the products just might be in different categories, though price bands may be nearer than estimated. While the Micromax LI351568W is placed at sub- INR 27,000 range, the estimate for the Xiaomi Notebook Air is pegged closer to INR 35,000, for the lower end model. But when it comes to aesthetics, Xiaomi finds more competition with Apple, whose design cues seem to match quite a bit. Micromax seems more generic but compact and utility based in its form factor.

Here are some specifications of the Micromax Alpha laptop and the Xiaomi Notebook Air, which set them apart:

Body Weight: 1.28 Kg for the Xiaomi Air Vs 2.1kg for the Micromax Alpha. The Xiaomi Air wins in terms of ease of carry, due to the lighter body weight. Hence, people with limited carry schedules, could be opting for the Micromax Alpha.

Processor Specifications: For the Xiaomi Air notebook: Intel Core i5-6200U processor (dual core, base frequency at 2.3GHz, turbo up to 2.7GHz) plus an NVIDIA GeForce 940MX GPU (with 1GB GDDR5 RAM), along with 8GB DDR4 RAM. For the Micromax Alpha, there is a 5th generation Intel Core i3-5005U processor (clock speed of 1.6GHz, 3MB Cache) coupled with 6GB of LPDDR3 RAM. This is coupled with Intel HD Graphics 5500 graphics card. Here too, the Xiaomi Air wins in terms of fire power, though it has fewer cores than the Micromax Alpha laptop. With the extra 2GB of RAM Xiaomi is one-step ahead.

Battery back-up: The Xiaomi Air has a total of 9.5 hours of battery backup, and can charge upto 50 per cent within 30 mins. Micromax Alpha on the other hand has a 4-cell battery that can go on till 4.45 hours, which signals towards users who do not use their laptops on the move for very long. Xiaomi on the other hand, is meant for users on the go, giving them fast charging within just 30 minutes of plugging in via the USB C-type port.

Display: Xiaomi Air has a 13.3-inch full-HD display with 1920x1080 pixels resolution, 165 ppi pixel density, laminated display and edge-to-edge glass protection. Micromax Alpha laptop has a 15.6-inch HD display with 1366x768 pixels resolution. Comparing the data, Xiaomi scores due to a high and more defined screen resolution and viewing experience.

Price: Micromax Alpha laptop comes with a price tag of INR 26,990. The price for the Xiaomi Air has not been revealed for the Indian market yet, but some sources peg it at INR 35,000+.

Comparison Verdict: The Xiaomi Air notebook and the Micromax Alpha laptop, cater to a diverse demographic of users. While Xiaomi is targeted more towards users looking for an alternative to the Macbook Air, Micromax targets more of budget and first time users, and partly moderately heavy users of laptops, who do not travel for long durations of time. This is the reason, why most of the features and their specifications are putting the Xiaomi Air ahead. However, given the capacity of the Micromax Alpha, a tighter budget user, who is looking for another sub INR 30,000 option could opt for it.

Tags : Micromax Alpha, Xiaomi Notebook Air, comparison