Xiaomi - whose brand? who owns the company and how it became a global giant

Xiaomi has been firmly established in the world’s top electronics manufacturers in the last decade, but many users still wonder: whose brand is behind this company, and why it is often confused with other Chinese giants like Huawei or Oppo? In this article, we will examine the history of the brand, its owners, key milestones and explain why Xiaomi is an independent company, and not a subsidiary of Samsung or Apple, as some people think.

The complexity of perception is compounded by the fact that Xiaomi actively cooperates with other brands (for example, Redmi, POCO, Black Shark, which creates the illusion of a family of companies, but it's actually a single ecosystem run by a single corporation, and then a detailed analysis of the facts, the numbers and the debunking of myths.

By the way, did you know that Xiaomi's name translates to "silence"? It's no coincidence that founder Lei Jun chose it because millet is a modest but useful culture that symbolizes the availability of technology for everyone, and the same approach the company takes to its devices: high performance at a minimum price.

Who founded Xiaomi and who owns it today?

Xiaomi was founded in April 2010 in Beijing by a group of 8 co-founders, among whom Lei Jun, the current chairman of the board of directors and the company’s CEO, played a key role. CEO. Before Xiaomi, Lei worked for Kingsoft (a Chinese software giant) and was even on Forbes’ list of China’s richest people. His personal wealth in 2026 is estimated to be in China. $$12.5 billion, making him one of Asia’s most influential tech moguls.

Xiaomi’s ownership structure today looks like this:

• 📊 Lei Jun – the largest shareholder (about 14% of shares through trust funds).
• 🏢 Institutional investors: Tencent, Qualcomm, Morningside Group (total) ~30%).
• 🌍 Public shares: since 2018, the company is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (code: 1810.HK).
• 🤝 Employees: part of the shares is distributed among top management (options program).

It's important to understand that Xiaomi is not a state-owned company, despite its Chinese roots. Unlike Huawei, which has historically been linked to the Chinese government, Xiaomi has always been a private business. IPO Hong Kong and transparent financial reporting.

⚠️ Attention: The myth that Xiaomi is owned by Apple or Samsung is common on the web. This is an absolute lie! the company is independent, although it cooperates with Qualcomm (a supplier of chipsets) and Samsung (displays for flagships).

Brand Evolution: From Startup to Global Giant

Xiaomi started its journey with the release of firmware MIUI And it was launched in 2010 for Android smartphones, and a year later, it introduced its first phone, the Xiaomi Mi 1, which sold 300,000 units in six months:

Today, Xiaomi is not just smartphones, but branded:

• 📺 Televisions (Mi) TV QLED, Redmi Smart TV)
• 💻 Laptops (Xiaomi Book Pro, RedmiBook)
• 🔋 Smart devices (Mi Band, Mi Robot Vacuum)
• 🚗 Electric vehicles (since 2026)

In 2023, Xiaomi ranked 1st in the world in terms of the number of patents for technology 5G and IoT (data) WIPO), This confirms its status as an innovative company, not just a Chinese copymaker".

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If you see a device with the Mi, Redmi logo or POCO — It is a 100% Xiaomi product, and other brands (like Realme or OnePlus) are not included in it, despite the similar design.

Why is Xiaomi often confused with other brands?

There are several reasons why users mistakenly attribute Xiaomi to other companies:

1. Similar sub-brand names:

Redmi (a subsidiary of Xiaomi) is confused with Realme (owned by Oppo).

- POCO (Xiaomi is also considered a separate company.

Copying the design:

Early Xiaomi models (such as the Mi 2) did resemble the iPhone, but today the company is developing a unique style (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra with a Leica camera).

Cooperation with competitors:

Xiaomi uses Qualcomm and MediaTek chipsets, Samsung Display screens, which creates the illusion of “belonging”.

Chinese origin:

Many people think that all Chinese brands are “the same thing.” In fact, Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo and Vivo are completely different companies with their own R&D centers.

Comparison of Xiaomi with its main competitors

To finally understand whose brand, let’s compare it with other giants of the market:

Xiaomi’s main difference from its competitors is the monetization model, where Apple and Samsung are making high margins, Xiaomi sells the devices at almost cost, offsetting losses by:

• 📱 Ecosystems of services (Mi Cloud, Mi Pay, advertising in the Internet) MIUI).
• 🏠 Smart home (routers, light bulbs, robot vacuum cleaners).
• 🚗 New directions (electric cars, drones).

Example: Smartphone Redmi Note 12 sold cheaper than the cost of components, but the user then buys Mi Band, subscription to Mi TV+ And accessories – this is how the company pays for losses.

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Xiaomi is the only top manufacturer that openly declares “iron” profits in the world. 1-3% All the others are making extra money. 20-50%.

Myths about Xiaomi: debunking popular misconceptions

Let’s break down the most enduring brand myths that keep users from understanding whose Xiaomi brand is actually.

🔹 Myth 1: Xiaomi is a Chinese spy"

- Reality: In 2020, the Pentagon blacklisted Xiaomi for companies associated with the Chinese army, but after 3 months the court overturned this decision for lack of evidence, POCO F5 Amazon US).

🔹 Myth 2: “Xiaomi is copying Apple"

- Reality: In 2011-2014, this was partly true (interface) MIUI It was like iOS, but today Xiaomi has unique technologies:

Cameras with Leica (in Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

- Wireless charging 80W (In Mi Mix 4).

- Hypersonic speakers (in Redmi) K60).

🔹 Myth 3: “Xiaomi and Redmi are different companies"

- Reality: Redmi is a sub-brand of Xiaomi, created in 2013 for the budget segment, POCO (Founded in 2018) is also owned by Xiaomi, although it is positioned as a “brand for enthusiasts".

🔹 Myth 4: Xiaomi doesn’t produce anything by itself"

- Reality: The company owns 3 plants in China and India, and invests in R&D (in 2023, the research budget was made up of a new report). $2.5 billion). For example, Surge processors (used in Mi 5C) They were developed by their own engineers.

⚠️ Warning: If you see news like "Xiaomi bought Samsung" is fake.In 2026, Xiaomi's capitalization is on the rise (~$50 billion) 10 times less than Samsung Electronics (~$450 billion) Chinese startups can't take over Korean giant.

How to verify the authenticity of Xiaomi devices?

The popularity of the brand has led to a lot of fakes, so you should follow this instruction to avoid getting into a fake.

Make sure the box has a hologram with the Mi or Redmi logo.|Check the serial number on the site www.mi.com/verify|Download the official software MIUI And compare it to the firmware of the device.|Buy only from official dealers (list for the list) mi.com/where-to-buy)|Pay attention to the price – if the discount is higher 30%, it's a fake.-->

Additional features of the original:

• 🔋 The battery is labeled Xiaomi or Redmi with QR-code.
• 📦 In the kit is a corporate cable with the inscription 5V/2A Or Quick Charge.
• 🔊 The sound of the inclusion is a unique melody MIUI (Fakes often have standard Android sound).

If you have already bought a device and doubt its authenticity, follow the command in the engineering menu:

##4636##

In the original Xiaomi smartphones will display information about MIUI For fakes, this menu is either missing or contains errors.

Xiaomi’s Future: Electric Cars, AI and Global Expansion

In 2026, Xiaomi announced three key areas of growth:

Electric vehicles:

- Xiaomi model SU7 (HyperOS-based sedan should compete with Tesla Model 3.

- Investment in the project: $10 billion to 2026.

Feature: integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem (e.g., control of the machine through Mi Band).

Artificial intelligence:

- Developing your own Xiaomi AI Assistant (similar to Siri or Google Assistant).

- Implementation AI In cameras (for example, automatic retouch in Xiaomi 14).

Global expansion:

Focus on Europe (opening of R&D center in Paris) and Latin America.

- Partnership with Leica for premium segment (cameras in Xiaomi) 13/14 Ultra).

Lei Jun's quote (2023):

“Our goal is to be the second Apple, but with Chinese roots and a global mindset: We don’t pursue profit for profit, we build an ecosystem that improves people’s lives.”

Ambitious plans are confirmed by the figures: in 2023, Xiaomi spent on research $2.5 billion (for comparison, Apple — $26 billion, but its capitalization is 20 times more).

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Xiaomi is the only brand that successfully competes with Apple and Samsung at the same time in the budget (Redmi), the average (POCO) and premium (Xiaomi Ultra) segments.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Brand