Belarusian laptops powered by Intel processors briefly appeared for sale at a major Minsk venue, stirring curiosity about a local revival of PC production. The Horizont brand had introduced a line of notebooks at the Galleria Minsk shopping and entertainment center, with a temporary sales display that drew attention from tech enthusiasts and shoppers alike. Within a short window, the company announced the sale would end without offering a public explanation, leaving observers to wonder about the decision and future plans for these devices.
At present, there is no clear public timeline for resuming sales. The shopping center described the event as a completed sale but did not disclose whether there would be additional batches or a broader rollout. Mall representatives did not provide further details, contributing to ongoing questions about where Horizont’s laptops stand in the local market and whether the brand intends to reintroduce its products in Belarus.
The initial rollout began on December 22 and featured the H-book MAK4, a model based on Intel’s 11th generation Core i7 platform, available in Core i3 and Core i5 configurations. The devices were preloaded with Windows 11 Home, aligning them with contemporary consumer expectations for performance, security, and ease of use. The MAK4 line was positioned to appeal to users seeking a balance of power and portability for everyday tasks, media consumption, and light-to-moderate creative work, with pricing and availability framed to attract early adopters and curious buyers alike.
Following the initial in-store effort, information emerged that Horizont’s H-book MAK4 had appeared in the AMD.by online store, expanding potential access beyond the physical Minsk venue. The listing price at that platform was 1,599 Belarusian rubles, roughly equivalent to 55,000 Russian rubles in similar market scenarios, reflecting pricing strategies for regional markets and currency dynamics during that period. Separately, the RussianHorizont site indicated plans for Belarusian laptops to enter sales again in January 2023, with pricing details to be announced in tandem with the roll-out’s timing. These divergent signals underscored the evolving nature of the product’s availability and the company’s communications strategy as it navigated regional demand and distribution channels. (VG Times)
What this episode reveals is less about a single product and more about the broader questions surrounding technology manufacturing in Belarus and the challenges of sustaining a homegrown brand in a competitive, global market. Observers noted that if the MAK4 line were to return to shelves, it would likely hinge on factors such as supply chain stability, performance benchmarks relative to industry expectations, and the company’s ability to secure retailer partnerships that can maintain visibility beyond a one-off event. The situation also highlights how local retailers and online marketplaces can become crucial avenues for product testing and market feedback, even when official statements remain sparse. For consumers, the episode underscores the need to closely track official announcements and trusted retailer listings to gauge when and where such devices become accessible, and at what price points. (VG Times)
In summary, Horizont’s Belarusian laptops entered the market with a burst of activity that quickly settled into uncertainty. The combination of a brief in-store sale, ambiguous future plans, and multiple distribution channels created a narrative that left room for interpretation about the brand’s regional ambitions and the prospects for a broader return. While some information pointed toward possible January re-availability and online listings, the absence of clear, coordinated communications from the company and the shopping center meant that definitive guidance was not available at the time. As the landscape for Windows-based notebooks remains competitive, the Belarusian-made MAK4 model represented an intriguing case study in how a regional brand attempts to establish presence, test demand, and negotiate the realities of modern retail in a market that blends local demand with global supply dynamics. (VG Times)