If you've ever been interested in Xiaomi, you've probably encountered a cute white rabbit in a signature orange T-shirt, a character that has become more than just a mascot of the company, but a full-fledged symbol that is associated with innovation, accessibility and friendliness of the brand. But what is the name of this rabbit, and why was it chosen as a mascot?
In this article, we will not only examine the official name of the Xiaomi rabbit, but also reveal the history of its appearance, symbolic meaning for the company, as well as little-known facts that will make your acquaintance with the Xiaomi ecosystem even more interesting.
You'll also learn where to meet this rabbit in real life (yes, it doesn't just exist on logos!), how his image has evolved over the years, and why his name is sometimes confused with other tech mascots. Ready? Then dive into the story of the world's most eared gadget messenger!
Xiaomi’s official rabbit name: Midjorn or Midjo?
To start with, Xiaomi’s rabbit is called Mi Bunny (pronounced “May Bunny”), but the company’s official sources often refer to it as Mijorn, a word game that combines two key brand elements:
- 🔹 Mi is short for Mobile Internet, which is the basis of the name Xiaomi.
- 🔹 Jorn (derived from the English journey – “journey”) – symbolizes the path of development of the brand and its users.
But in the Russian-language segment of the Internet, Mijo is a common variant, an unofficial but well-known nickname among fans. Xiaomi itself does not use it in official materials, but it does not deny it. Interestingly, in China, the rabbit is sometimes called a rabbit (Xiǎomǐ Tù), It literally translates as “Siaomi Rabbit».
Why did the name get confused? Xiaomi has long been silent about the mascot's official name, preferring to use it without verbal mention, and it wasn't until 2018 that founder Lei Jun confirmed in an interview that the character's internal name was Mijorn.
The history of the appearance of the rabbit: from the logo to the living mascot
The first appearance of a rabbit in the branding of Xiaomi dates back to 2011 – then it was part of the logo. MIUI (However, as a full-fledged character, he debuted only in 2014 during the presentation of the Mi 4. Initially, the rabbit was styled as a minimalist flat design, but over time his image became more detailed and “live».
Lei Jun, founder of Xiaomi, explained the rabbit's choice as a mascot in a blog post:
⚠️ Attention: The rabbit in Chinese culture symbolizes speed, agility and adaptability, which are the qualities we wanted to put into our company. In addition, this animal is associated with the moon (in Chinese mythology, the moon rabbit pushes the elixir of immortality), which reflects our mission to create “smart” devices that make life easier.
Interesting fact: the prototype for the design of the rabbit was a real pet of one of the Xiaomi employees — a white Angora rabbit named Lun (which translates as “cloud”). Her photos inspired the designers to create an eared mascot.
| Year | Event | How the image of the rabbit has changed |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Appearance in the logo MIUI | Schematic silhouette without details |
| 2014 | Debut at the presentation of the Mi 4 | Flat design, orange T-shirt with logo |
| 2017 | Launch of Mi Bunny Accessories line | Volume 3D-Design, expressive eyes added |
| 2020 | Xiaomi rebranding | Simplification of lines, emphasis on minimalism |
| 2023 | AI-chatbot version | Digital Avatar with Animation |
💡
If you see a Xiaomi rabbit wearing a black T-shirt, this is a limited edition, released for the company's 10th anniversary in 2020, and these figures are now a collectible rarity.
Rabbit Symbolism: What is Its Design Hiding?
Xiaomi’s image of the rabbit is imbued with symbolism that reflects the brand’s values, and let’s take a look at the key elements of its design:
- 🟠 Orange T-shirts – the color is associated with energy, innovation and accessibility (key principles of Xiaomi.
- 👓 Round glasses symbolize "smart" and technological. In some versions, glasses are replaced by glasses. VR-Glasses, highlighting the company's focus on virtual reality.
- 🐰 Long ears represent the ability to “hear” the needs of users (one of the slogans of Xiaomi: “We listen to every fan»).
- 📱 Smartphone in its paws – in early versions, the rabbit held the gadget, but the element was removed to emphasize the universality of the brand (now it is associated not only with smartphones).
Lei Jun once joked that the rabbit is always depicted with its left paw raised upwards, a reference to Chinese tradition, where the left side symbolizes innovation (as opposed to the right side, which is associated with conservatism).
In 2022, the rabbit’s design was redesigned to fit Xiaomi’s new brand style, with an emphasis on smooth shapes and “airyness,” and now its ears are a little shorter and its T-shirt more fitting, giving the image a more dynamic feel.
The Hidden Meaning of Rabbit Eye Color
Where can I find a Xiaomi rabbit in real life?
Xiaomi Rabbit has long since ceased to be just a logo, it has become part of the brand ecosystem.
- 📦 Packaging devices: on the boxes of smartphones Mi and Redmi often flaunts the silhouette of a rabbit (for example, on limited editions).
- 🎮 Gaming accessories: Xiaomi gamepads and keyboards often come with stickers or keychains in the form of a rabbit.
- 🏠 Smart home: Some Mi Home devices (such as lamps or sensors) display animations with a rabbit when connected.
- 🛍️ Branded stores: The Mi Store often sells plush toys, figurines and even clothes with a rabbit print.
- 🤖 AI-Assistant: Xiao Voice Assistant AI In China, it is sometimes turned into a rabbit in a virtual chat.
Most unexpectedly, in 2019, Xiaomi released a limited edition of Mi 9 Transparent Edition smartphones, on the back of which a silhouette of a rabbit was engraved with a laser, which instantly became the object of the collectors’ hunt.
Did you know that Xiaomi has a two-foot statue of a rabbit at the entrance in Beijing, and the company believes it brings good luck before important presentations.
Check the screensaver when turning on the smartphone|Look at the settings about the phone → Logo. MIUI|Look at the box from the device (especially limited editions)|Update the firmware – sometimes the rabbit appears in the animation update-->
Midjorn vs. Other mascots: who's cooler?
Xiaomi Rabbit isn't the only beast mascot in the tech world. Let's compare it to other popular mascots to see why Midjorn stands out:
| talisman | Brand | Symbolism | What's the second to Midjorn? |
|---|---|---|---|
| android | Robot symbolizing the openness of Android | Too cold and technological, no friendliness | |
| Lunatic (Lunatik) | Samsung (Bixby) | The alien personifying AI | Too futuristic, not associated with life |
| Rover Dog. | Amazon (Alexa) | A dog that symbolizes loyalty to the user | Less versatile (associated with voice assistant only) |
| Nyan Cat (Nyan Cat) | Internet meme | Rainbow Cat as a Symbol of Viral Content | Not related to a specific brand or values |
Midjorn’s main advantage is its versatility. Unlike Android, which is associated only with the OS, or the Rover, which is tied to Alexa, the Xiaomi rabbit epitomizes the entire ecosystem of the brand, from smartphones to vacuum cleaners to electric scooters. In addition, his image is less aggressive than, for example, an Apple apple with a bitten piece, which makes it more friendly to a wide audience.
In 2021, Xiaomi conducted a survey among users asking which mascot they considered the most memorable: Midjorn came second behind Nintendo's Mario, overtaking even Disney's Mickey Mouse!, proving that the rabbit has become a true pop culture icon.
💡
Midjorn is the only mascot of the tech brand that is both associated with innovation (like Android) and friendliness (like Disney characters).
Myths and misconceptions about the Xiaomi rabbit
Like any popular symbol, the Xiaomi rabbit is overgrown with myths.
⚠️ WARNING: If you find information somewhere that a rabbit's name is "Mia" or "Bunny" - it's a mistake! these names are often used by unofficial souvenir sellers, but they have nothing to do with the original Xiaomi branding.
- 🚫 Myth 1: "The rabbit was copied from Sony" In fact: Midjorn's design has been in development since 2013, and Sony's mascot (Kuma dog) didn't appear until 2018.The overlap in style is explained by a common trend for "cute" mascots in Asian companies.
- 🚫 Myth 2: “Rabbit symbolizes charging speed” Reality: Although rabbits are associated with speed, Xiaomi has never associated a mascot directly with charging technology.
- 🚫 Myth 3: “Rabbit figures bring good luck” True: in China, people do believe that the mascot of the brand can attract success, but the company itself does not position it as an “amulet.
Another common misconception is that Xiaomi and Mi Bunny are different characters, but Mi Bunny is actually a commercial name, and the rabbit is the same Midjorn, just in a different context.
Interestingly, in 2020, a fake “liquid” appeared online claiming that the rabbit was named “Misha” after Mikhail Gorbachev (because of the similarity to the forehead spot on an early version of the mascot), which is absurd, but the meme quickly spread on social media.
How does Xiaomi Rabbit affect device design?
Few people know, but the image of Midjorn inspired Xiaomi designers to create several iconic devices.
- 📱 Mi 6 (2017): The back of the smartphone had rounded edges resembling rabbit ears.Lei Jun even joked at the presentation: "Now your phone can 'hear' you better than you do».
- 🎧 Mi Bunny Headphones (2018): Rabbit-Ear-shaped headphones that became a hit with kids.Their design was patented by Xiaomi.
- 💡 Mi LED Desk Lamp: The base of the lamp is a silhouette of a rabbit when viewed from the side.
- 🚀 Mi Drone (2016): The drone propellers, when folded, form a shape resembling rabbit ears (this is seen in promotional materials).
In 2023, Xiaomi released a limited edition Redmi Note 12 Pro+ These devices were sold only in China and sold out in 3 minutes!
The company's designers admit that the rabbit has become a test of attention to detail: if you can see a reference to Midjorn in the device, then the product is worked out to the smallest detail. TV 5 button is positioned so that its contour resembles the head of a rabbit.
- The shape of the holes in the covers
- Logos on chargers
- Animation of download in MIUI
- Design of limited edition packaging-->