What is the name of Xiaomi: the official name of the brand and devices in Russian

Introduction: Why Xiaomi’s name is confusing

Xiaomi is one of the world's largest electronics manufacturers, but even after years of being in the Russian market, its name continues to be questionable, with users stumbling over pronunciation, transliteration confusion, and dozens of spellings available online: "Xiaomi," "Shaomi," and even "Ziaomi." Where does this confusion come from?

It’s about Chinese, where characters (literally “little millet”) are Latin-language like Xiaomi, but don’t have a direct Russian sound equivalent, and the brand uses acronyms (like Mi or Redmi) to confuse newcomers even more. In this article, we’ll look at how to call Xiaomi in Russian, what options are acceptable and what are wrong, and why the company is to blame for the name confusion.

Spoiler: the official "Russian" name of the brand is not, but there are recommended options for transliteration, which are used in documentation and marketing. But with phones, smartwatches and other devices, it's even more interesting, because Xiaomi likes to play "rebranding" by changing their names to new ones. POCO Black Shark is also a subsidiary of Xiaomi?

The official name of the brand: how is it right – Xiaomi or Xiaomi?

According to the rules of transliteration from Chinese, the characters are transmitted in Latin as Xiaomi. In Russian, there is no single standard for the transfer of Chinese names, but the company itself has fixed the version of "Xiaomi" in official documents and on the website.

• 📄 Russian-language website mi.com/ru, footer"© Xiaomi. The text uses "Xiaomi".
• 📦 Documentation in boxes with devices - in Russian they always write "Xiaomi".
• 🗣️ Voiceover in commercials and presentations - announcers pronounce it "Xiaomi" (with emphasis on the first syllable).

However, alternative options are common in the media and among users:

Important: official documents (guarantee cards, instructions) always use the spelling "Xiaomi." If you fill out a warranty card or contact customer support, it is better to stick to this option to avoid confusion.

How to pronounce Xiaomi: the placement of stresses and phonetics

Even if you know the spelling right, many people get it wrong, so let's figure out how to say "Xiaomi" in Russian.

• 🔊 The emphasis falls on the first syllable: Xiaomi (not "Xiaomí").
• 🗣️ The sound "X" is transmitted as soft "S" (as in the word "sit"), not as "X" or "Sh".
• 🎵 Intonation: the word is pronounced together, without pauses between syllables.

Here is what the original Chinese pronunciation (Xiaomi) sounds like:

• 🇨🇳 Xiao is the first syllable, it sounds like "Xiao" (soft" +"ooh").
• 🇨🇳 Mi is the second syllable, sounds like "Mi" (as in the word "world").

In English, the name is pronounced “Shaomi” (with emphasis on “a”), which has led to a common mistake among Russian-speaking users, but in Russian, the company insists on the “Xiaomi” variant.

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If you doubt the pronunciation, listen to Xiaomi’s official YouTube videos with Russian subtitles – announcers always say “Xiaomi”.

Xiaomi Sub-Brands: Mi, Redmi, POCO, Black Shark - Who's Who?

The confusion with the names is compounded by the fact that there are several sub-brands under the auspices of Xiaomi, each of which specializes in different types of devices.

Until 2021, Mi and Redmi were liners within the Xiaomi brand, but then the company rebranded:

• 📱 Mi became associated only with flagship devices (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro instead of Mi 13 Pro).
• 💰 Redmi remained a budget line, but now written separately from Xiaomi (for example, the Redmi Note 12, not the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12).

Why does it matter? When looking for firmware, accessories or parts, you need to specify the sub-brand exactly. For example, a case for Xiaomi Mi 11 will not be suitable for the Redmi Note 11, although both devices are from the same company.

How to call Xiaomi models: the rules of writing and abbreviation

Even if you know the right brand name, users often mislabel specific models.

1. Gaps and hyphens: ✅ Right: Xiaomi 13 Lite, Redmi Note 12 Pro+. ❌ Wrong: Xiaomi13Lite, Redmi-Note-12-Pro.
2. Register of letters: ✅ Right: POCO F5 (not "Poco" or "poco"). ✅ Right: Mi Mix (not"MI MIX" or "mi mix").
3. Abbreviations: 🚫 Don’t shorten Xiaomi to Xi or Xiao – that sounds unprofessional. ✅ Mi 11 instead of Xiaomi Mi 11 (if the context is clear).

Pay special attention to models with suffixes:

• 📱 Pro, Pro+, Ultra – indicates improved versions (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro vs Xiaomi 13).
• 🔋 Lite, SE — Lightweight versions (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Lite).
• 🎮 Gaming - Gaming models (e.g. Black Shark 5 Pro Gaming).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi device names never use Russian letters, even in unofficial sources.Spelling "Xiaomi Mi11" or "Redmi Note 10" is a gross mistake that can lead to confusion when searching for firmware or spare parts.

Common Mistakes When Writing Xiaomi Names

Even in the major online stores and media, there are errors in the names of Xiaomi devices.

• 🔤 Confusion with "Mi" and "Redmi": ❌"Xiaomi Redmi Mi 10 is nonsense, as Mi and Redmi are different lines. ✅ Right: Xiaomi Mi 10 or Redmi Note 10.
• 📛 Wrong suffixes: ❌"Xiaomi Note 12 Pro Max – there is no such model (there is a Redmi Note 12 Pro)+). ❌"POCOPhone F1" — Older name (now just a little bit of a name) POCO F1).
• 🔢 Errors in numbers: ❌"Xiaomi 12T Pro is the right Xiaomi 12T Pro (without space before "Pro"). ❌"Redmi 9T Pro - no such model (there is a Redmi Note) 9T Redmi Note 10 Pro).

To avoid errors, always check the official name of the model:

1. On the website mi.com/ru under “Devices".
2. On the box or in the device documents.
3. In the Mi Community app (the official Xiaomi community).

⚠️ Note: If you buy accessories (cases, glass, charging) for Xiaomi devices, always check the full name of the model. For example, the case for the Redmi Note 11 is not suitable for the Redmi Note 11 Pro, their sizes may seem the same.

How to call Xiaomi in different contexts: media, documents, conversational speech

Depending on the situation, the brand name may sound different, and here are recommendations for different cases:

Social media and forums often use abbreviations:

• 📱 Mi - for flagship smartphones (for example, "Mi 13").
• 💰 RN — For the Redmi Note series, for example,"RN12 Pro").
• 🎮 BS — for Black Shark (for example,"BS 5 Pro").

However, in official channels (e.g., support) it is best to use full names to avoid misunderstandings.

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In technical matters (firmware, repair) always use the Latin spelling of the model - this will help to avoid errors when searching for information.

Why does Xiaomi change names and brands so often?

One of the reasons for the name confusion is Xiaomi’s frequent branding change, which has been a regular rebranding experience that has baffled even experienced users, and here are key changes in recent years:

• 📅 2019: POCO It became an independent brand (previously a lineup within Xiaomi).
• 📅 2021: Mi disappears in flagship names (e.g. Xiaomi 12 instead of Mi 12).
• 📅 2022: Redmi began to release devices without mentioning Xiaomi in the title (for example, just Redmi Note 12).
• 📅 2023: The emergence of the Xiaomi brand SU7 (Electric cars, which further expanded the ecosystem.

According to Xiaomi founder Lei Jun, such changes are related to:

1. Audience differentiation: Redmi for budget segment, Xiaomi for premium, POCO — enthusiastic.
2. Global expansion: Simplifying names for the international market (e.g. Mi 11) → Xiaomi 11).
3. Legal reasons: In some countries, the Mi brand has been registered by other companies.

⚠️ Warning: If you see a model called Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 and Xiaomi Mix 4, it's the same device. After the 2021 rebranding, the company removed the "Mi" from the names, but some stores still have old designations.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi names