A Xiaomi laptop could be coming our way as early as 2016 if a recent report turns out to be true. The potential device will be taking on the likes of Apple and Lenovo, starting a new turf war between the tech giants.
The China-based company’s massive success so far has relied on producing mid-range smartphones with high-end specifications. While Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed the news yet, it’s not a stretch to think the manufacturer would be making a laptop when it’s already extended its portfolio to TVs, water purifiers, smart shoes and headphones.
According to CNET, the Xiaomi laptop will most likely battle with the MacBook Air and ThinkPad series. Anonymous sources told Bloomberg that the company is currently in early talks with Samsung to provide memory chips, and may even broaden the deal to include building displays for the new device.
If the agreement goes through, it would boost Samsung’s components business and cut down on the company’s reliance on providing for its Galaxy lineup. The South Korean brand has had to face a slowing growth in sales of the series, leading to its 5th straight drop in quarterly profit.
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It’s been forced to contend with companies like Xiaomi, which has risen to become the fourth-largest smartphone maker in the world. The Chinese manufacturer is entering the laptop market at a time when computer sales are quickly shrinking. PC shipments have come down by 8.7%, with forecasters predicting the figures won’t rise till 2017.
Xiaomi is currently the top-selling handset brand in China, having pushed down Apple from its position at the top earlier this year. If its laptop follows the same principle as its smartphones, it could very well lead to the product being considered a worthy rival to the MacBook.