Leaked screenshots show the updated features that will be coming on to the MIUI 9, Xiaomi’s own user interface based on Android Oreo. They also happen to have aspects similar to Android-P beta. Therefore, it could be assumed that when the MIUI 10 rolls out, it will also have a lot of these features because it will be based on Android P.
At the Google I/O 2018, we already saw how Android P beta is rolling out on numerous brands and devices, one of them being Xiaomi’s Mi MIX 2S. On the other hand, the MUI 9 v8.5.11 Nightly Build shared by FunkyHuawei.club on XDA Forums is meant for the Mi MIX 2.
Even though the build is currently based on Android Oreo, it provides users with a sneak peek of the new features that will be rolling out in the coming months. The screenshots show how the new MUI build has a notification shade with rounded toggles that turn blue when a certain service is enabled. In fact, the entirety of the user interface (UI) has a more rounded design to it.
Another change is how the volume slider comes in from the side instead of from on top now. The multitasking window also displays the recently opened apps via tabs similar to the Android-P design.
One feature visible on the MIUI 9 build is the ‘Clear All’ button, something that’s lacking in Android P beta.
Once Android P officially rolls out, Xiaomi will probably launch MIUI 10 soon afterwards. It will be out-of-box for smartphones that launching thereafter.
Corporate vice president of Cortana, Javier Soltero, has admitted that Microsoft was too late to the virtual assistant market with its own offering, which led to its rivals getting an upper hand.
In an interview with ZDNet, Soltero talks about how “this new market around ambient devices in the home has been shaped differently [to what] we expected”, and that Microsoft realized the growing virtual assistant market was important, but “didn’t jump quickly [enough] on.”
So, while people are chatting away to Alexa and Google Assistant via their Amazon Echo and Google Home devices, people are having less to say to Cortana. That doesn’t mean Microsoft is giving up, however.
Go your own way
As Soltero explains to ZDNet, Microsoft is looking to forge its own path with Cortana, rather than attempting to play catch up. As it said at its recent Build 2018 conference, Microsoft is “starting to tell a different story” about Cortana.
This involves turning Cortana into an ‘assistive’ aid, rather than just an ‘assistant’. What this means is that Microsoft doesn’t want people to think of Cortana as a separate app, or voice inside a device, that handles simple tasks via individual skills that rarely interact with other skills, like with the Echo. Instead it will be able to provide assistance with completing tasks more easily, or by acting proactively for users.
So, Microsoft is “looking at things people do at home, work and in between,” according to Soltero. “We are looking for ways to help.”
That doesn’t mean just setting a timer for someone who is sitting near a smart speaker, but travelling with people no matter where they are, moving from home to work, or even while they are on the go. In a classic piece of Microsoft jargon, Cortana will be “situationally appropriate”.
Cortana is also more likely to play nicely with other digital assistants, as shown by Microsoft’s collaboration with Amazon to make Cortana and Alexa work together.
As this year’s Build conference shows, Microsoft still has lots of plans for Cortana. “Cortana’s not going away,” Soltero insisted to ZDNet. “There’s nothing further from the truth. Our target is still to build Cortana as an assistant, too. Our intent is to remain coherent. But the result people want is the assistance. We think the one thing can carry the other.”
With Microsoft falling behind Google and Amazon in the digital assistant market, trying something new and innovative may well be its best bet to keep Cortana relevant.
A great cheap laptop deal can be hard to find with so many options on the net. That’s where we come in. Our team of dedicated deal hunters are on the lookout every day to find the best laptop deals from the most reliable retailers on the net. So, for the best value cheap laptops, with genuine discounts over the trumped up fake ‘deals’ take a look below.
This week we’ve found a cheap laptop offer for under £140 for a 10-inch laptop and a Google-friendly Chromebook for under £200. Or how about a bundle with a laptop, security package and bag for under £300? Looking for something more powerful? We have lots to show you here too with a fine selection of models with SSDs, plenty of RAM and powerful processors for well under £500 from some of the best laptop brands in the business. We’ve even found a pair of powerful gaming laptops for under £650.
We’re looking for cheap laptop prices all year round so you don’t necessarily have to wait for the sales. We’re always on the lookout for the best up-to-date laptop voucher codes too.
If you’re after a cheap laptop for web browsing and other simple tasks, or you need a new laptop for school or work, or you simply need a really powerful laptop for as little money as possible, we have options for you.
At the top of the page you’ll find our selection of the very latest and best cheap laptop deals of the week followed by a selection of popular quality laptops that retailers like to discount on a regular basis. Underneath those laptop deals you’ll find our pick of the latest best laptops and the best available prices.
If you’re from the States or Down Under, be sure to check out our selection of the top laptop dealsin the USorin Australiain our always-updated guides.
Cheap laptop deal of the week
Acer Aspire 3 laptop bundle £299.99 at Argos Argos is back again with another cheap laptop deal bundle that includes a McAfee security package and laptop bag. The Aspire 3 itself packs 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, which is plenty for solid performance of standard work/school/uni tasks like document editing, web browsing and media streaming. You can get this cheap laptop in black, red or blue. View Deal
More great cheap laptop deals
Fusion 10.6-inch laptop £139.97 at Amazon Amazon has knocked £60 off this tiny laptop. It won’t be the fastest of machines with just 2GB of RAM, but if you’re looking for a small model for casual use like web browsing, emails and a bit of work, then this could work for you. Surprisingly for such a low price you’re also getting a Full HD 1080p screen, so this will be pretty good for movie content too. View Deal
Lenovo IdeaPad 11.6-inch notebook £149.99 at Amazon This cheap laptop comes with a full year’s access to Office 365 for the most up-to-date version of Microsoft’s handy programmes like Excel, Word and more. The laptop itself comes with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage, enough for you basic work needs. View Deal
Gemini TC10 10.1-inch 2-in-1 laptop £179.97 at Amazon This is a mega cheap 2-in-1 laptop/tablet convertible with some decent bang for your buck. 4GB of RAM, a HD screen (nice for streaming!) and 64GB of storage make this a very handy device for basic work needs with casual browsing and Netflix sessions catered for too. View Deal
Linx 12X64/BUN 12.5-inch 2-in-1 Laptop £199 at AO 2-in-1 convertible laptop/tablet hybrids can be very handy if you’re on the move a lot and don’t want to carry a heavy laptop around all day. The cheap ones like this aren’t particularly powerful or quick but if you need something to take notes on and do a bit of online research out of the house they’re certainly worth a look. If portability isn’t big on you’re most wanted list, we’d stick with a regular laptop or maybe a Chromebook. View Deal
Acer Spin 1 2-in-1 laptop £199 at AO Want to go with a more recognisable brand? Then about this Acer convertible? You’re getting Windows 10, a HD screen, Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM. Very respectable spec for this low price. 32GB storage isn’t ideal, but plenty if you’re mainly looking at documents and casual work – you could always take a look at our guide to the best external hard drives to expand your storage. View Deal
ACER CB3-131 11.6-inch Chromebook £199.97 at Currys If you’re happy to say goodbye to Windows and take advantage of the very capable Google/Android ecosystem services for basic laptop needs this 11.6-inch Chromebook comes with a respectable 9-hour battery life. Shame about the small 16GB hard drive, but you can always expand with a portable drive or USB. View Deal
HP 255 G6 15.6-inch laptop £199.97 at ebuyer Compared to the other cheap £200 laptops this week, this HP 255 G6 is an absolute beast. We don’t expect much on laptops this cheap, but you’re getting a 15.6-inch screen, 4GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. Note: It comes with FreeDOS as an operating system instead of Windows. You could always load up Linux instead or pick up acheap Windows 10 keyonline. View Deal
Asus Chromebook C300SA £225 at Amazon Chromebooks use the Chrome OS instead of Windows. If you’re already a Chrome fan using Gmail, Google Docs and the like this is tempting at this price despite the small 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. View Deal
Acer Aspire 1 A114-31 14-inch laptop £229 at Amazon If you don’t fancy one of the cheap Chromebooks around this price how about this Acer model that comes with Windows 10 instead? 4GB of RAM should be plenty for day-to-day activities but the 64GB of storage won’t be great if you enjoy downloading lots of video and music content. View Deal
HP 255 G6 laptop £249.99 at ebuyer This is a seriously cheap laptop considering you’re getting a 128GB SSD for increased performance. 4GB of RAM is plenty for your standard day-to-day laptop activities too. If you need a larger SSD, you get get the 256GB model for just £30 more. Both versions come with free next day delivery. View Deal
Acer Chromebook 14-inch CB3-431 £250 at Amazon It’s not just the bling that caught our eye with this champagne gold Chromebook deal. Actually, it’s mainly that, but this is actually quite a capable model too and a great price considering this is a larger 14-inch Chromebook and we usually only find great discounts on the 11-inch ones. This Chromebook deal comes with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage but should be fine for basic browsing, emails, document editing and streaming movie content. The silver version is on offer at just £250 too. View Deal
Lenovo V110 15.6-inch laptop £279.99 @ ebuyer Lenovo is one of today’s most respected brands and this is a solid performer for day-to-day tasks like email, browsing the net, watching videos and editing documents. 4GB of RAM is plenty for such activities and the 500GB hard-drive is much more than you’d get on the cheap Chromebooks we mentioned earlier. View Deal
HP 250 G6 laptop £449.99 at ebuyer An i5 processor is more than enough for most users and big savings can be made over i7 laptops. You’re still getting 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD making this laptop deal one of the best from ebuyer. All in all, a very tidy bundle at just £449.99. View Deal
Acer Aspire 3 laptop – now only £499.99 at Argos If the Lenovo model above isn’t quite packing enough punch for you, try this Acer model with a serious 8GB of RAM – more than enough for most multi-taskers out there. It’s no slouch elsewhere too with an i5 processor and a roomy 1TB hard drive. View Deal
Acer Aspire 6 laptop now £499.99 at Currys Currys has just knocked £200 off this Acer laptop deal. It’s very similar to the model above with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. However, it’s a slightly newer version, with the i5-8250U processor. This is the one we’d go for today while they’ve both the same price to be honest. View Deal
HP 250 G5 i7 laptop £519.97 at Laptops Direct If the cheaper laptops in this list aren’t quite packing enough spec for your liking, this one from specialists, Laptops Direct, comes with an i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, HD screen and a 1TB hard drive. If you’re looking for a new uni laptop that will last a few years, we think this is a super choice for just under £530. View Deal
Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop now £649.99 at Currys Here’s another excellent gaming laptop deal, this time from Acer and Currys. We’re a lot lower than the original £999 price here and you’re getting some great spec for the price. The Nitro 5 has a GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and an i5 processor. View Deal
We’ll continue adding the best laptop deals in the latest sales as we find them. Up next, you’ll find the latest prices on some of the most popular laptops around, followed by the best deals on TechRadar’s favourite laptops.
Where to find more cheap laptops:
Amazon: retail giant is often the cheapest in the UK.
Currys: the retailer that’s seemingly always having a sale.
Argos: home delivery or pick up a cheap laptop locally today.
AO: lots of cheap laptops at this growing electronics specialist.
John Lewis: models come with at least two-year guarantee.
Very: often has plenty of voucher codes or ‘buy now pay later’ options.
Tesco: bag some extra Clubcard points on a cheap laptop.
Laptops Direct: specialist UK store has a huge selection of laptop deals.
There have been some generous offers lately for this popular Lenovo laptop series. Any choice between the 4GB and 12GB RAM options should run multiple applications at once. Hard drive sizes vary from 256GB SSD to 1TB in regular form. Some options also include dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 940MX graphics.
2. HP Stream 14
Big and colorful for cheap
CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 14-inch HD (1,366 x 768) SVA BrightView WLED-backlit | Storage: 32GB eMMC
Larger than most budget options
Free 25GB of Dropbox for 1 year
Barely HD screen
At around £200, the HP Stream 14 is decent value if you’re after something to cover the basics like web browsing or document editing. It’s competitively priced again the cheaper Chromebooks out there despite the 14-inch screen and Windows 10 operating system.
3. HP 250 G4 / G5
Big specs, small cost
4GB/8GB RAM
Windows 10
Intel Pentium processor
There’s some hefty grunt under the shell of these HP 250 G4 and G5 models and there are some great prices this week. The Intel Pentium processor and 4GB/8GB of RAM mean this laptop will whip through pretty much any day-to-day activity you can throw at it without the juddering performance of cheaper laptops. Hell, it’ll even have a decent crack at playing a few of the less demanding games out there.
A sturdy choice for a study laptop for school/college/uni. The HP Pavilion 15 has more power that the average pupil needs while keeping the costs sensible. If you’re not needing extra power of an expensive laptop for video/photo editing, this is more than enough for web browsing, playing some tunes on Spotify and editing coursework.
5. Asus X555LA
A great all-rounder laptop
i3/i5 processors
1TB hard drive
Stylish finish
From afar, this laptop might be mistaken for a MacBook Pro which tells you a lot about its level of quality. Don’t expect a full metal chassis at this price, but this is probably one of the best looking plastic bodies in its category. There are plenty of ports (old and new), 4GB of RAM and a massive 1TB hard drive. The cheapest models have a respectable i3 processor, but you can get the more powerful i5 versions for not much more if you need that extra kick. Asus saw it fit to include a DVD writer as well as a 15.6-inch full HD screen. Despite this large display and the presence of a numeric keypad, it’s just a tad thicker and heavier than an Ultrabook.
This is the newer version of the Asus Transformer Mini series. This upgrade includes a fingerprint sensor and double the RAM at 4GB for speedier performance. For your money, this is one of the most impressive two-in-one transformer models out there.
7. Acer Chromebook 15
This Chrome laptop is super cheap
CPU: Intel Celeron 3205U 1.5GHz (dual-core) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels | Storage: 32GB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p | Weight: 4.85 pounds | Dimensions: 15.08 x 9.65 x 0.95-inches
Very capable Chrome OS
Great display
Excellent battery
This is one of the larger Chromebook experience out there for someone looking for a full-sized laptop with an excellent screen at a super low cost. The 4GB of RAM running the Chrome OS is super fast and will allow you to really pile up tabs and apps without slowing down. The battery will easily last the best part of a day for most users too.
The best deals on our favourite laptops
We’ve reviewed loads of laptops over the years: we’ve seen the good ones, the great ones and the ones to avoid. Sometimes the best laptops pop up online at some truly deal-tastic prices. So in this section, we list the very best laptops out there and the best deals on each one.
1. Dell XPS 13
Dell’s latest Ultrabook is simply the best laptop in the world
The Dell XPS 13 is, bar none, the best laptop you can buy today. It features a revolutionary design that’s astonishingly thin and light. Fitting a 13.3-inch screen into such a small frame means Dell has created a nearly borderless Infinity display. It’s a powerful and long lasting machine even by today’s Ultrabook standards. The XPS 13 comes outfitted with Intel’s latest Skylake processors plus lighting, quick storage and memory, all while coming in at a very affordable starting price. For these reasons, it easily takes the top slot as the best Ultrabook, the best Windows laptop and the best overall laptop.
Looking for a quality gaming laptop but want to keep things under that unappealing £1000 mark? Then Dell has you covered with the Inspiron 15 Gaming range.
3. Asus Chromebook Flip
A flipping premium Chromebook for almost nothing
CPU: Rockchip 3288-C | Graphics: ARM Mali T624 | RAM: 2GB – 4GB | Screen: 10.1-inch, WXGA (1280 x 800) IPS multi-touch | Storage: 16GB eMMC
Fully metal construction
Terrific value
Excellent battery life
The Asus Chromebook Flip isn’t perfect, but it’s an impressive little piece of kit. Plus, it’s so affordable that you might want to pick one up just to have a Chromebook on hand – even if you already own a MacBook or Windows laptop. Aside from the budget price tag, the Flip is one of the best-built Chromebooks to blaze the trail onward for more convertibles. Touchscreen functionality feels more logical, with a screen that actually rotates. The Flip meets all the core tenants of an ideal Chrome OS device.
4. HP Pavilion x2
The most affordable Windows 10 touchscreen convertible laptop
CPU: 1.44GHz Intel Atom x5-Z8300 | Graphics: Intel HD graphics | RAM: 2GB | Screen: 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 WXGA WLED IPS touchscreen display | Storage: 32GB eMMC
Long battery life
Absurdly affordable
Detachable keyboard
This 10-inch hybrid comes packing a surprising amount of goods considering its small size. It’s outfitted with an HD screen and more than enough power to get you through a simple day of web browsing and even image editing. When you’re ready kick back with some media streaming, you can pop off the 10-inch tablet.
The Asus Strix GL502 is undoubtedly one of the best gaming laptops around for gaming in 1080p. It’ll run with the settings cranked with games like Overwatch not dipping below 60fps. The battery life isn’t the best, but the display, performance and built-in sound system more than make up for it.
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6. Lenovo Yoga Book
Is this the netbook of the future – the ultra netbook?
Insanely thin and light
Halo Keyboard surprisingly accurate
Excellent display
Clever Create Pad
Lenovo has crafted a brilliant, forward-thinking device that could very well create a subcategory in computing all of its own. The modest specs hold it back from taking on the big boys in terms of raw power, but the innovative digital touchpad keyboard and drawing surface look like trendsetters to us. The Android version is currently about £100 cheaper than the Windows one.
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 4
The tablet that can replace your laptop
Weight: 766g/786g | Dimensions: 292.10 x 201.42 x 8.45mm | OS: Windows 10 Pro | Screen size: 12.3-inch | Resolution: 2736 x 1824 | CPU: Various | RAM: 4GB/8GB/16GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery: up to 9 hours | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 5MP
Larger, sharper screen
Vastly improved Type Cover
Built in kickstand
Can a tablet really replace your laptop or home PC? That’s still up for debate, but the best tablet trying to make that happen is the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 – and it does a fine job with the full blown version of Windows 10, an integrated kickstand and optional keyboard attachment. Great for for creative professionals, students and everyday folks alike – it’s only the premium price that push it down the list, but if you’re willing to pay for it, you’re getting a lot of power. A LOT.
