When it comes to Xiaomi, most of us are modern smartphones with bezel-less screens, powerful processors, and innovative cameras, but few people remember where the giant began: the Xiaomi 1 (also known as the Xiaomi Mi 1), launched in August 2011, which was not just the company’s first smartphone, but the manifesto of its philosophy of “innovation at an affordable price.”
The Xiaomi 1 was radically different from anything the market offered at the time. In the era of plastic cases and physical under-screen buttons, the brand went against the tide: metal frame, minimalist design and emphasis on software instead of hardware. Today, we're going to take a look at what this legendary gadget looked like — from the shape of the case to the location of the connectors — and compare it to modern standards. If you're a collector of retro equipment or just a love of the history of gadgets, this material is for you.
The design of the case: metal, plastic and “apple” motifs
The Xiaomi 1 case was made in the spirit of minimalism with premium notes.
Front panel: Gorilla Glass (first generation) with oleophobic coating.
- Rear cover: matte plastic with a texture "under metal", which visually resembled aluminum.
Side frame: Real anodized aluminum is a rarity for budget smartphones in 2011.
The dimensions of the device were 125 × 63 × 11.9 mm 130 For comparison: iPhone 4 (2010 d) was thinner (9.3 mm, but heavier (137 d), and most Android smartphones of that time weighed under 150 d and were thicker than 12 Xiaomi designers were clearly inspired by the “Apple” aesthetic, but added their accents:
Rounded corners (unlike the sharp edges of the iPhone 4).
- No physical Menu button - its functions were performed by the touch panel under the screen.
The Mi logo on the back cover was made in the form of an engraved metal insert, not a sticker.
- 🔹 Colors of the case: officially released only in black, but there were limited batches of white and orange (for developers).
- 🔹 Build: the back cover is removable (under it there was a battery and slots for SIM-maps), but fastened tightly - without backlashes.
- 🔹 Ergonomics: thanks to the rounded sides, the smartphone was comfortably in the hand, although due to the smooth back panel, it sometimes slipped.
Front panel: screen, buttons and touch panel
The front of Xiaomi 1 was organized on the principle of “less is better”; there was no front camera (yes, there was none at all!), no LED notification indicator, all the attention was focused on:
- 4-lens-screen 854×480 (pixel density — 245 PPI).
Three touch buttons under the display: Back, Home and Menu (the latter glowed white in active state).
- Speaking dynamics (right of the buttons) and light sensor (left).
The screen used technology. IPS LCD with good angles of view, but in brightness inferior AMOLED-Competitor displays (such as the Samsung Galaxy S) II). Fun fact: Xiaomi has abandoned physical buttons under the screen, even though in 2011 it was standard even for flagships. Instead, engineers implemented software backlighting touch keys, which saved space and added futuristicity.
⚠️ Note: If you buy Xiaomi 1 from hand, check the operation of touch buttons – their contacts were often oxidized due to moisture through microslits in the case.
| Characteristics | Xiaomi 1 (2011) | iPhone 4 (2010) | Samsung Galaxy S II (2011) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen diagonal | 4" | 3.5" | 4.3" |
| Permission | 854×480 | 960×640 | 800×480 |
| Screen type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD (Retina) | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Physical buttons | No (touch) | 1 Home button | 4 buttons (incl., menu, back, search) |
Back panel: camera, speaker and hidden details
The back cover of Xiaomi 1 has hidden several key elements:
- 8MP main camera with autofocus and LED-The lens was protected by a glass lens, but without the protruding "island" (like modern smartphones).
The speaker was located in the lower left corner – its sound was loud, but without bass (typical for smartphones of the time).
The Mi logo and the Xiaomi inscription are laser engraving, not paint, so they did not erase over time.
Under the lid were:
Removable battery capacity of 1930 mAh (according to the standards of 2011 - average).
Micro-SIM slot (no microSD support!)
Antenna lines integrated into a metal frame (like the iPhone 4, but without problems with signal reception).
- 📸 Camera: shooting video in resolution 720p@30fps, The photos were acceptable during the day, but in the dark, the noise was noticeable even on the small screen.
- 🔊 Sound: monophone speaker (stereo only appeared in Xiaomi Mi 2) 3.5mm headphone jack was located on the upper end of the headphone.
- 🔋 Battery: the time of operation with active use - up to 6 hours (by the standards of 2026 is catastrophically small, but then it was the average result).
How to open the back cover of Xiaomi 1 without damage?
Side faces: connectors, buttons and engineering solutions
Xiaomi 1’s side was minimalistic but functional.
Right side: Power button and volume rocker, and the buttons had a metal coating and a clear tactile response.
Left face: empty (no memory card slot or additional buttons).
Upper end: 3.5 mm headphone jack and infrared port (yes, in 2011 it was important for the control of equipment!).
Lower end: micro-USB (version 2.0) and microphone.
Interesting: Xiaomi has refused to HDMI-The output, which was popular in the flagships of the time (for example, in the Samsung Galaxy S). II). Instead, the brand has made a bet on wireless technology – the smartphone supports Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA multimedia streaming.
⚠️ Note: The micro-USB connector in Xiaomi 1 does not support OTG — It was impossible to plug a flash drive or keyboard, and that restriction was only fixed in the Mi 2.
On and Volume buttons (must not be triggered)
The ability of touch keys under the screen
Integrity of the camera glass (often cracked when falling)
Charging via micro-USB (the port was often loosened)-->
Comparison with modern Xiaomi smartphones: what has changed?
If you put Xiaomi 1 next to Xiaomi 14 (2026), the difference is striking:
- Screen: 4" vs. 6.36", 480p against 2K, LCD against AMOLED 120 Hz.
Cameras: one 8 MP against a system of three modules (up to 50 MP).
Materials: Plastic and aluminum versus glass and ceramics.
- Connectors: micro-USB and 3.5 mm vs. USB-C (audio-free).
But there are commonalities:
Minimalism: Xiaomi still avoids unnecessary elements on the body (for example, there are no physical navigation buttons even in budget models).
- Emphasis on software: as in Mi 1, modern smartphones of the brand are optimized for the brand shell MIUI.
- Price policy: Xiaomi 1 was worth it ~$300 in 2011 (equivalent to the ~$400 in 2026 adjusted for inflation – similar to today’s Redmi Note series.
| Parameter | Xiaomi 1 (2011) | Xiaomi 14 (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm MSM8260 (1.5 GHz) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (3.3GHz) |
| RAM/ROM | 1 GB/4 GB | 12–16 GB/256–1024 GB |
| Battery | 1930 mAh (removable) | 4610 mAh (non-removable) |
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 1, no certification IP | Gorilla Glass Victus 2, IP68 |
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Xiaomi 1 laid the foundation for all future smartphones of the brand: minimalist design, emphasis on software and affordable price for top features (at the time of release).
How to distinguish the original Xiaomi 1 from a fake?
The iconic status of the Xiaomi 1 has seen a lot of copies on the market (especially in 2012-2014).
- Serial number: must be engraved on the back cover under the battery (format: 11xxxxxxxxxx first-party).
- Mi logo: on fakes it is often pasted rather than engraved.
- Firmware: The original worked on MIUI V4 (The fakes usually had "naked" Android.
Camera: Copies often had 5MP or 2MP modules instead of 8MP.
To verify authenticity, you can enter the command in the engineering menu:
##4636##The original will show information about Qualcomm MSM8260, a in fakes – data about MediaTek or unknown chips.
- 🔍 Verification IMEI: The original Xiaomi 1 had a IMEI, Counterfeiting often used repeated combinations.
- 🛠️ Disassembly: inside the original was a metal plate to protect the board, and the copies it was replaced by plastic.
- 💰 Price: If the device is sold cheaper $50, it's almost certainly a fake or non-working instance.
💡
Before you buy, ask the seller to take a photo of the inside of the back cover (which contains the serial number) and a screenshot from the About Phone menu, which will help avoid most counterfeits.
Where can I see Xiaomi 1 today?
New Xiaomi 1 models are not on sale for a long time, but the device can still be found:
- Auctions: eBay, AliExpress (price varies from one to the next) $100 to $300 depending on the condition).
Technological museums: for example, in the Xiaomi Museum in Beijing or private collections (for example, at blogger Marques Brownlee).
- Collectors' Forums: XDA-Developers, 4PDA (They sometimes sell devices in “as new” states).
If you want to buy Xiaomi 1 for the collection, pay attention to:
- Battery status (after 10)+ He must have swollen in years).
- Sensor performance (many specimens suffer from "ghost" touches).
- The presence of the original box and accessories (charging, cable, headphones).
⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi 1 Does not support modern communication standards (4G, VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5/6). It can only be used as a museum exhibit or for retro gaming (e.g. emulators). PS1).