What connectors are used in Xiaomi smartphones: a complete guide to the ports

Owners of Chinese-brand devices often face the need to connect peripherals, charge or transfer data without knowing exactly what interface their gadget supports. The question of which connector on Xiaomi phones becomes especially relevant when buying new accessories, cables or adapters. Modern models and budget devices can differ significantly in the set of available ports, which directly affects the usability.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the evolution of ports in the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines, explain the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 standards, and touch on the topic of IR ports and audio outputs. Understanding the technical characteristics of your device will help avoid errors in choosing a charger and ensure maximum file transfer speed.

Evolution of Charging Ports: From Micro-USB to Type-C

At the dawn of the brand, most budget and mid-budget smartphones were equipped with a Micro-USB connector. This standard has been dominant in the industry for many years, providing basic charging and data functionality. However, its main drawback was asymmetrical design, which often caused users to spoil the connectors by inserting the plug on the wrong side.

Starting from 2016-2017, Xiaomi began an active transition to the universal standard USB Type-C. This connector was a real breakthrough, as it is symmetrical, withstands more connection cycles and supports higher charging currents. Now it is almost impossible to find a new phone with a Micro-USB port, except for some ultra-budget models of the Redmi A series or POCO C of the earliest revisions.

The switch to the new format has enabled Xiaomi’s HyperCharge and Quick Charge fast charging technology, which require more powerful contacts inside the port. Older Micro-USB cables are physically unable to pass current of this strength without the risk of overheating, so using the right cable has become critical to device safety.

⚠️ Attention: Using cheap thin-vein cables on fast-charging smartphones can cause the connector to melt and the power controller to fail.Always check the cable labeling.

Importantly, even within the Type-C standard, there are differences: In top flagships such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or 14 Pro, the connector can support the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard, which allows you to transfer video and data at speeds up to 10 Gbps. At the same time, mass models of the Redmi Note series often have a USB 2.0 port, which is externally identical but has limited bandwidth.

3.5mm audio connector: does the minijack disappear?

One of the most talked-about issues among fans of the brand is the preservation of the classic audio jack. For a long time, the presence of a 3.5 mm port was the hallmark of Xiaomi’s phones, distinguishing them from competitors who began to abandon it for the sake of moisture protection and saving interior space.

The current model range is ambiguous: The budget and mid-range segments represented by the Redmi Note series and the basic Xiaomi (without the Pro or Ultra console) still retain a “minijack”, which allows users to connect wired headphones without additional adapters and use external DACs to improve sound quality.

But flagship lines, starting with the Mi 10 and continuing with the Mi 11, Xiaomi 12/13/14 series, have lost this port, and engineers argue that the need to install larger vibrator modules, improved antennas and camera stabilization systems, in which sound is transmitted exclusively via the Type-C charging port or Bluetooth.

If you own a flagship without a connector, you will need a Type-C to 3.5 mm adapter. It is important to know that not all adapters are the same: to work, the cable must contain a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Cheap passive adapters that work on some other brands, on Xiaomi phones may simply not reproduce sound.

Infrared Port (IR Blaster): a unique feature of the brand

One of the most popular features of Xiaomi is the presence of an infrared port, which is a small black circle, usually located on the upper end of the case, turns the smartphone into a universal remote control.

With the built-in Mi Remote app, the phone can control TVs, air conditioners, set-top boxes, projectors, and even some audio system models. Unlike Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, the IR port does not require pairing and works with any technology that has an infrared receiver, even if it is not connected to the Internet.

Virtually all modern models, including the budget Redmi and the flagship Mi, are equipped with this module, an exception may be some global versions of devices focused on markets where this feature is less in demand, but in Russia and the CIS, the IR port is retained in the vast majority of models.

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To control the equipment through the infrared port, you do not need to point the phone directly at point-blank range. Infrared radiation has a wide angle of dispersion, so it is enough just to point the top of the phone towards the device.

Slot for SIM-memory-cards

The design of the SIM tray in Xiaomi phones has also been changing, with modern devices using a combined slot or a separate double/triple tray, and the size of the card is nano-SIM, which is the current industry standard.

Budget models often feature a hybrid slot where either a second SIM card or a microSD card can be installed in the second slot. Flagship models usually lack support for memory cards, offering instead enlarged versions of built-in storage. Installing a memory card in such devices is physically impossible due to the lack of a contact platform in the tray.

Care is important when installing cards: the tray is removed with a special paper clip (or a thin needle) through the hole next to it. Wrong location of the card or trying to shove two cards into the same socket can lead to a tray getting stuck or damage to contacts inside the phone.

Comparative table of connectors in different series

To organize information and quickly determine which interfaces are available in a particular line, we turn to comparative analysis, and the differences often lie not only in price, but also in the positioning of the device.

As you can see from the table, support for OTG (On-The-Go) technology is present in almost all modern smartphones of the brand, regardless of price, which means that through the charging port you can connect flash drives, keyboards, mice and even external hard drives (provided there is enough power).

The lack of an IR port in the POCO series and some sub-flagships is a conscious decision to optimize cost, since the target audience of these devices (gamers) less often uses a smartphone as a remote from a TV.

Technical nuances and support for video output

Many users are wondering if it is possible to connect Xiaomi’s phone to a monitor or TV via a Type-C connector. This is an important technical difference. Despite the external identity of the ports, not all models support video transmission via the charging port.

The DisplayPort Alt Mode feature, which allows you to display images over a Type-C to-HDMI cable, is available mainly in flagship devices with Snapdragon-level processors of the 8 Series. Budget MediaTek processors and the initial Snapdragon often do not have hardware support for video output, limited only to data transfer and charging.

Video support check:


1. Connect the Type-C to HDMI cable to the TV.




2.If the screen is not broadcast, the function is not supported at the hardware level.




3. Software-enabled this in models without support is impossible.

Also worth mentioning is waterproof. In IP68-rated models, the connectors are often additionally sealed, but that doesn't make them completely waterproof when used actively.Be sure to dry the port before charging a wet phone to avoid short circuiting and oxidizing the contacts.

⚠️ Warning: If the charging port has a message about moisture, the system blocks the current supply. Do not try to charge the phone with a hairdryer in hot mode - this will damage the adhesive seals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Knowing the exact type of connector and supported protocols of your Xiaomi smartphone will allow you to choose the right accessories and avoid damage to the device by incompatible peripherals.