When the first Xiaomi came out: release date, features and value for the market

When it comes to disruptive brands in the smartphone world, Xiaomi has always been at the center of the business, and a company that started out with the ambition of making high-tech devices accessible to everyone is now known around the world, but few people remember that its first step was more than a decade ago with the launch of a model that laid the foundation for future success.

If you're wondering when Xiaomi first came out, the answer is simple: the brand's debut smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 1, was officially unveiled on August 16, 2011, a date that has been a reference for the company that has since revolutionized the concept of value for money in the mobile industry. But the story of Xiaomi's first device is much more interesting than just the release date. In this article, we'll look at how the Mi 1 was created, what technology it carried, and why it was an event for the Chinese and global markets.

It's important to understand that the Mi 1 wasn't just another smartphone, it was a statement of intent: a young company challenged giants like Apple and Samsung by offering flagship specs at a price several times lower. But how exactly did that happen? And what is known today about the first Xiaomi smartphone, which has long been a rarity?

The official release date of the first Xiaomi: the chronology of events

Xiaomi’s first smartphone was announced on August 16, 2011, at a press conference in Beijing, but it wasn’t just a presentation — it was a show designed to have a big impact. Founder Lei Jun personally introduced the device, positioning it as a “smartphone for tech fans” with a focus on high performance and affordable price.

Interestingly, the Mi 1 didn't start selling immediately after the announcement, and it didn't go on sale until October 2011, and it was exclusively through Mi.com, an online platform that was innovative at the time, with Xiaomi abandoning traditional distribution channels by betting on direct sales over the Internet, reducing costs and offering the device at a price that shocked competitors.

• 📅 August 16, 2011 – Xiaomi Mi 1 official announcement in Beijing.
• 🛒 October 2011 – the beginning of sales of the first batch (300,000 devices).
• 📉 December 2011 – Mi 1 price reduced from 1999 yuan to 1,499 yuan (~$235) due to high competition.
• 🔄 March 2012 – release of the updated version of Xiaomi Mi 1S with an improved camera and processor.

The first Xiaomi was only available in the domestic Chinese market, and international sales began much later, when the company had already established its position in China, yet even without global adoption, the Mi 1 became a cult device that was discussed around the world.

Specifications Xiaomi Mi 1: what was under the hood?

At the time of the release, the Xiaomi Mi 1 offered features that could rival the flagships from Samsung and HTC, but cost significantly less.

Particularly impressive was the Snapdragon S3 processor, which was used in top-end devices like the HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S II. However, Xiaomi was able to integrate it into a device that cost less than half the price of competitors. Another feature was the MIUI firmware, a customized shell based on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which offered unique design and features that were absent in the stock Android.

Of course, the Mi 1 had its weaknesses, too: for example, the 854×480 screen looked modest against Apple’s Retina displays, and the lack of a memory card slot limited users to just 4GB of internal storage, yet for most buyers, those flaws were offset by incredible performance at such a price.

Xiaomi Mi 1 vs Mi 1S: What’s the difference?

Six months after the original Mi 1 was released, the company released an updated version, the Xiaomi Mi 1S. It was not just a cosmetic upgrade, but a major upgrade that corrected many of the shortcomings of the first model.

• 🔧 Processor: Snapdragon S3 clock speed of 1.7 GHz (vs. 1.5 GHz in the original).
• 📷 Camera: Improved 8MP sensor with better image processing and video recording support 1080p.
• 🔋 Battery: capacity increased to 1930 mAh (originally 1900 mAh).
• 🎨 Design: minor changes in the location of buttons and body materials.

Importantly, the Mi 1S is already running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a major step up from the original Gingerbread, and the updated MIUI V4 firmware also brings a host of new features, including improved multitasking and power optimization.

Interestingly, the Mi 1S was Xiaomi’s first smartphone to officially go on sale outside of China — though only in some Asian countries — marking the company’s first step on a global expansion path.

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The Mi 1S became a transitional model between the first Xiaomi and future flagships of the Mi series. His successes proved that the company is able not only to produce cheap devices, but also to quickly improve them based on user feedback.

How did Xiaomi change the smartphone market?

The Xiaomi Mi 1 was a watershed moment for the entire mobile industry, and the smartphone market was divided into two distinct categories:

1. Premium devices from Apple, Samsung and HTC with prices from $600 and above.
2. Budget smartphones with weak specs that could barely compete with flagships.

Xiaomi offered a third way: flagship specs at a budget price, which forced competitors to rethink their strategies, for example, after the success of the Mi 1, brands like Meizu and Oppo also began to produce high-performance devices at affordable prices.

Another key innovation is the sales model, where Xiaomi has abandoned its traditional retail chain by betting on:

• 🌐 Direct online sales via Mi.com, which reduced markups.
• 📢 Viral marketing through social media and forums.
• 🤝 User Feedback That Impacted Firmware Updates.

With this approach, Xiaomi was able to build a loyal community of fans who not only bought the devices, but also actively promoted the brand, an experience that many other companies, including OnePlus and Realme, have adopted.

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If you’re looking for the first Xiaomi to be a collection, look for models with original packaging and documentation. At eBay, these can cost 5-10 times the original price.

Where can I find the first Xiaomi and how much is it worth?

The original Xiaomi Mi 1 has long been discontinued, but it can be found in the secondary market.

• 🛒 eBay is an international marketplace where rare devices are often introduced. $50 $300 depending on the condition.
• 🇨🇳 Taobao – Chinese auction, where sometimes sold devices in perfect condition with original accessories.
• 🤝 Thematic forums (e.g, XDA Developers or 4PDA), where collectors exchange rare models.

The cost of the Mi 1 today depends on several factors:

If you are planning to buy for a collection, pay attention to the following points:

With outdated hardware and no support for modern apps, it’s almost impossible to use it as a mainstream smartphone in 2026, but for fans of the brand or fans of retro technology, it’s an invaluable artifact.

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The first Xiaomi today is not so much a working gadget as part of the history of the mobile industry. Its value lies in how it changed the market, not in technical capabilities.

Can you install the first Xiaomi in 2026?

Technically, yes, but with a number of caveats. Xiaomi Mi 1 supports custom firmware installations such as LineageOS (based on the old Android), however, there are a few critical points:

⚠️ Note: Installing unofficial firmware on the Mi 1 can cause permanent damage to the bootloader.The device does not support modern versions of Android (above 4.4 KitKat), and most custom firmware has not been updated for a long time.

If you want to experiment, here are the basic steps:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (if it still supports Mi 1).
2. Install custom recovery, such as TWRP (the version must be compatible with Mi 1).
3. Download the appropriate firmware (for example, LineageOS 11 based on Android 4.4).
4. Sweat through recovery by following the instructions for the specific firmware.

Before you start, however, consider:

• ⚡ Most of today’s apps (including Google Play Services) won’t run Android 4.4.
• 🔋 Mi 1 battery in 13 years of operation is likely to be worn out, and the device will quickly discharge.
• 🌐 No support for modern communication standards (e.g, 4G or Wi-Fi 5).

If your goal is just to ponostalgize, perhaps it is better to consider an Android emulator on a PC with the image of MIUI for Mi 1. This will allow you to evaluate the interface without risking damage to the rare device.

Why Xiaomi is important even today

The Xiaomi Mi 1 was not just a smartphone, it was a manifesto of a new era in the mobile industry. The company proved that it was possible to combine high technology, affordable prices and direct sales over the Internet. This approach was subsequently copied by dozens of brands, but Xiaomi remained a pioneer.

Today, with the market flooded with fold-screen smartphones and AI cameras, the first Xiaomi looks modest, but it laid the foundation for devices like the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi Note series, which continue the tradition of offering maximum features for minimal money.

If you're a tech fan or collector, the Mi 1 definitely deserves a place in your collection, and for everyone else, it remains a symbol of how a small Chinese company was able to challenge the giants and change the rules of the game.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the First Xiaomi