Xiaomi: Who is it, what does it do, and why it is called the “Chinese Apple”

If you've ever been interested in modern electronics, Xiaomi (or Xiaomi in Russian) has caught your eye, and it's gone from being a niche Chinese startup in a few years to being a global giant that can be found in every other home, from budget smartphones to robot vacuum cleaners to electric scooters. But what's really behind that name? Who founded the company, how did it outperform many competitors, and why is it often compared to Apple?

In this article, we will analyze Xiaomi’s history, analyze its key products, reveal the business model that allowed the brand to become one of the market leaders, and answer the main question: should we trust Xiaomi’s technology or is it just a cheap fake for well-known brands? You will also learn how the company works with customers in Russia, what it has hidden “chips” in firmware. MIUI And why some users abandon Xiaomi after the first experience.

Who founded Xiaomi and how did it become global?

Xiaomi Inc.’s story began in 2010 in China, when a group of engineers and entrepreneurs led by Lei Jun decided to create a company that would combine Apple’s innovation with the accessibility of Chinese brands. Lei Jun, by the way, is often called “China’s Steve Jobs” – not only for the superficial similarity (he really copied the style of Jobs’ presentations), but also for the ability to create a cult hype around products.

The company's first product was the Xiaomi Mi 1, released in 2011. It ran on customized firmware. MIUI (It was based on Android, and it cost half the price of Samsung or Apple flagships at comparable performance, and it immediately attracted attention, with 300,000 units sold in the first 12 hours, a record for the Chinese market at the time.

• 📅 2010 – Founding of the company in Beijing.
• 📱 2011 – release of the first smartphone Mi 1.
• 🌍 2014 – Entering international markets (India, Indonesia, Russia).
• 💰 2018 — IPO Hong Kong Stock Exchange (company valuation — $54 billion).
• 🏆 2021 – Xiaomi becomes the second largest smartphone manufacturer in the world (after Samsung).

Xiaomi today is not just smartphones, it owns hundreds of patents, produces technology under sub-brands (POCO, Redmi, Black Shark, invests in startups (e.g. electric car maker XPeng) and even plans to launch its electric car (a project Xiaomi has launched). EV). The business model remains the same: minimum iron markups + monetization of services (advertising in the MIUI, Cloud services, sale of accessories).

What Xiaomi does: The main business areas

Xiaomi used to be associated only with smartphones, but today it is an ecosystem of more than 400 product categories, from toothbrushes to drones, and it divides its business into three main segments:

1. Smartphones and tablets (brands Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO, Black Shark).
2. Smart technology and IoT (robot vacuum cleaners, lamps, cameras, sensors).
3. Household electronics (laptops, TVs, headphones, fitness bracelets).

While smartphone sales still generate more than 60 percent of the company’s revenue, the most interesting is the IoT segment: according to 2023, Xiaomi has more than 629 million connected devices in the ecosystem (including smart homes, wearable electronics, etc.), the second largest IoT platform in the world after Apple.

Xiaomi’s feature is vertical integration: the company not only develops software (firmware). MIUI, Mi Home, but also controls the production of components (such as Surge chips for smartphones or sensors for smart devices), which keeps prices low, but sometimes leads to quality problems (we’ll talk about this later).

Pros and cons of Xiaomi technology: honest analysis

Xiaomi’s technology has long since ceased to be a Chinese nouneime — today it is a full-fledged competitor to Samsung and Apple. But there is a downside to the coin. Let’s analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the brand, based on user feedback and independent tests.

✅ The pluses of Xiaomi

• 💰 Price/quality: smartphones and gadgets are often cheaper than their counterparts by 30-50% with similar characteristics.
• 🔄 Frequent updates: Xiaomi supports smartphones longer than many competitors (for example, Xiaomi) 11T 3 major Android updates received).
• 🏠 Ecosystem: All devices (from light bulb to vacuum cleaner) are controlled from one Mi Home app.
• 📦 Package: The box often has a case, film or charger (unlike Samsung).

❌ Xiaomi's Cons

• 📱 MIUI and advertising: firmware is overloaded with unnecessary services, and in budget models there is advertising (you can disable, but not completely).
• 🔧 Build quality: reliability sometimes suffers in the pursuit of price (for example, the Redmi Note 10 is known for a problem with the display).
• 📡 Localization: Some features (e.g., Xiao voice assistant) AI) They only work in Chinese.
• 🔒 Xiaomi has been accused of transferring user data to servers in China (the company denies, but remains).

💡

Before buying a Xiaomi smartphone, check if it supports global firmware (Global) ROM). Chinese versions (CN ROM) Often deprived of Google Services and limited.

Xiaomi promises 4 years of Android updates for flagships and 3 years for the mid-range, but in practice, budget models (Redmi A-series) sometimes go without patches after a year.

Xiaomi in Russia: official support and service centers

Xiaomi has been officially represented in Russia since 2015, and today it is one of the most popular brands in the smartphone market. MTS, In 2023, Xiaomi’s share was ~However, after 2022, the situation has become more complicated:

• 📦 Official deliveries are suspended, but the equipment is still sold through parallel imports.
• 🔧 Service centers are working, but spare parts may be delayed.
• 💳 The warranty is valid, but only if the device is purchased from official retailers (for example, Svyaznoy, M.Video).
• 📱 Firmware: Global updates come with a delay (sometimes months later than in Europe).

The main problem for Russian users is the lack of official sales of new models, for example, the flagship Xiaomi 14 in Russia can only be bought in the “gray” way, which means:

• There is no guarantee from the manufacturer.
• There may be problems with Google Pay and banking applications.
• The firmware can be Chinese (without Google Services).

💡

If you are buying Xiaomi in Russia, check it out. IMEI site mi.com/verify — This will help to avoid counterfeiting.

On the other hand, Xiaomi service centers in Russia continue to operate (for example, in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg), repairs under warranty are possible, but only if the device was purchased from an official partner.

• Replacement of the Redmi Note 12 display — ~8 000 ₽.
• Xiaomi battery replacement 11T — ~5 000 ₽.
• Diagnostics — ~1 500 ₽.

MIUI: What is this firmware and why is it so criticized?

MIUI — It is the proprietary shell of Android, which Xiaomi installs on all its smartphones (except for the Android shell). POCO It's also known for its unusual design (no desktop apps, just widgets) and its abundance of features, but it's also famous for its flaws.

The main advantages MIUI:

• 🎨 Flexible customization: you can change everything from fonts to animations.
• 🔒 Built-in tools: for example, Second Space (dual OS for work / personal life) or Game Turbo for gamers.
• 📱 Theme support: thousands of free themes in the Mi Theme Store.

But there are some serious downsides:

• 📢 Advertising: In budget models (Redmi), advertising is built into system applications (for example, in File Manager or Music).
• 🐌 Slowdown: over time MIUI It starts to slow down, especially on weak smartphones.
• 🔄 Updates: Even after the release of the new version of Android Xiaomi may not adapt it for months.

One of the most controversial issues is data collection, and in 2020, researchers at Forbes found that MIUI It sends browser and application usage data to Xiaomi servers even if the user has disabled all permissions.The company said it is an "anonymous statistic" but stayed. MIUI There is a Privacy option → Usage & diagnostics, where you can limit data collection, but you can not completely disable it.

Disable "Recommendations" in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Advertising

Remove unnecessary system applications (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music)

Install an alternative launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher)

Update MIUI Up to the latest version (newer versions of ads are less than the previous version)

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Should you buy Xiaomi in 2026?

The answer to this question depends on your priorities and budget, so let’s look at who will suit Xiaomi’s hardware and who is better off looking at the competition.

✅ Buy Xiaomi if you need to:

• 💰 Maximum features for minimal money (e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro)+ 200MP camera-by-camera ~30 000 ₽).
• 🏠 Smart home "turnkey" (all devices are controlled from Mi Home).
• 🔄 Frequent updates (for flagships – 4 years of Android support).
• 📦 Good equipment (charging, cover, film in a box).

❌ Don’t buy Xiaomi if you’re worried:

• 🛡️ Privacy (data collection, Chinese servers).
• 🔧 Reliability (in budget models, there may be problems with the assembly).
• 📱 «Clean Android (MIUI Not everyone likes it because of the clutter).
• 📡 Local support (in Russia there are no official deliveries of new models).

If you do decide to buy a Xiaomi device, here is a checklist for a safe purchase:

1. Check it out. IMEI on the official website of Xiaomi.
2. Make sure that the firmware is global (Global) ROM), Not Chinese.
3. Buy from an official retailer (for example, Svyaznoy, M. Video), so that there is a guarantee.
4. For smartphones, check the support of Russian LTE-The range (especially for the Redmi and POCO).

💡

Xiaomi is a great choice for those who want modern appliances at an affordable price and are willing to put up with small drawbacks. If you care about premium and durability, consider Samsung or Apple.

Xiaomi alternatives: who to choose instead of Xiaomi?

If for some reason Xiaomi is not suitable for you, there are several worthy alternatives in different price segments:

If you care about the camera, look at the Samsung Galaxy A-series or Google Pixel. ASUS ROG Phone or Black Shark (which, incidentally, also belongs to Xiaomi, POCO X6 Pro or Realme GT The Neo 5 will be as good as the Redmi.

For a smart home, an alternative to Xiaomi can be Aqara (also a Chinese brand, but with better localization) or Samsung SmartThings (expensive, but more reliable).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi