If you first heard the word โxiomiโ and wondered what it was, itโs probably the popular Chinese brand Xiaomi (Xiaomi), which is often pronounced โxiomiโ or โxiaomiโ on the Russian-language Internet, and is simply an adaptation of the original Chinese pronunciation. Xiaomi is one of the largest manufacturers of smartphones, smart appliances and electronics, which has become a firmly established top global brand in the past 10 years.
But why "xiomi"? It's about transliteration: the Chinese word ยซยป (Xiวomว) It literally translates as "mellet," but when adapted to Russian, spelling options have emerged, from "shaomi" to "xiomi," the latter being particularly common in spoken language and forums. In this article, we will discuss what Xiaomi is, what devices it produces, how to distinguish the original from a fake and why the brand has become so popular.
Are Xiomi and Xiaomi the same thing?
Yes, Xiomi is an informal but widely used name of Xiaomi Corporation in the Russian segment, officially called Xiaomi (pronounced โXiaomiโ), but because of the pronunciation features in the Cyrillic alphabet, variations have appeared:
- ๐น Xiomi is the most common variant in spoken language (especially in southern Russia and Ukraine).
- ๐น Xiaomi is a less popular, but also common variant.
- ๐น Xiaomi is the correct pronunciation from Chinese, but is less commonly used in everyday life.
- ๐น Mi is an abbreviated name (for example, in the Mi logo or in the Mi 11 series of smartphones).
The company itself does not use the name Xiomi in official documents or marketing, but does not object to this pronunciation, and in some CIS countries even advertising materials are adapted to local perceptions, mentioning โXiomi phonesโ or โXiomi smart watchesโ.
It is important to understand that under the brand Xiaomi is released not only equipment with the Mi logo, but also devices of other sub-brands:
- ๐ฑ Redmi - budget smartphones and accessories.
- ๐ป POCO โ gaming and productive smartphones.
- ๐ Mijia โ Smart home and home appliances.
- ๐ Black Shark โ gaming smartphones (acquired by Xiaomi in 2021).
Xiaomiโs Brand History: From Startup to Giant
Xiaomi was founded in 2010 by Lei Jun, a Chinese entrepreneur who previously worked at Kingsoft and Google China, and initially positioned itself as a software company developing customized firmware. MIUI But a year later, the brand released its first smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 1, which became a hit in China.
Key milestones in the development of Xiaomi:
| Year | Event | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Founding of the company | Lei Jun assembled a team of 8 co-founders, including former Google and Microsoft employees. |
| 2011 | Release of Mi 1 | The first Xiaomi smartphone sold 300,000 copies in 6 months. |
| 2014 | Entering the international market | Start of sales in India, Indonesia, Russia and other countries. |
| 2018 | IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange | Xiaomi is the fourth largest technology company in China. |
| 2021 | Black Shark Purchase | Strengthening positions in the gaming smartphone market. |
Today Xiaomi is in the top-3 The worldโs largest smartphone manufacturers (along with Samsung and Apple) and its ecosystem includes more than one smartphone. 400 Smart devices range from robot vacuum cleaners to electric scooters, and the brand remains one of the most innovative, with Xiaomi being the first to launch a smartphone with a new smartphone. 200-Megapixel camera (Xiaomi) 12T Pro) and developed HyperCharge technology for ultrafast charging (up to the current level) 200 Watt).
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Xiaomi is not just smartphones, but it controls more than 200 ecosystem companies that make products under the Mijia, Yeelight, Viomi and others brands.
What devices does Xiaomi (Xiomi) release?
Xiaomiโs range covers almost all categories of electronics, and here are the main areas:
๐ฑ Smartphones and tablets
- ๐น Mi series โ flagship models (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra).
- ๐น Redmi series โ budget and mid-budget smartphones (Redmi Note 13 Pro)+).
- ๐น Series POCO โ Devices for gamers and enthusiasts (POCO F6 Pro).
- ๐น Tablets: Xiaomi Pad 6 and Redmi Pad SE.
๐ป Laptops and computers
- ๐น Xiaomi Book โ ultrabooks with Intel processors and AMD.
- ๐น RedmiBook โ budget laptops for study and work.
- ๐น Xiaomi Mi Desktop โ Compact PCs (e.g. Mi Computer Host).
๐ Smart home and home appliances
- ๐น Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro.
- ๐น Smart Lamps โ Yeelight and Mijia.
- ๐น Air conditioners and air purifiers - Mi Air Purifier.
- ๐น Kitchen appliances - multicookers, kettles, blenders Mijia.
โ Wearable devices
- ๐น Smart watches โ Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and Redmi Watch 3.
- ๐น Fitness bracelets - Mi Band 8 (the most sold gadget in the world).
- ๐น Headphones: Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and Redmi Buds 5.
๐ Electric transport
- ๐น Electric Scooter: Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Pro.
- ๐น Electric bikes - Mi Electric Bike.
- ๐น Electric Cars - Xiaomi SU7 (released in 2026).
Xiaomiโs ecosystem integration features: All of the brandโs devices can be managed through one app, Mi Home (or Xiaomi Home in newer versions), creating automation like โif the robot vacuum cleaner is finished cleaning, turn on the air purifier.โ
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Before buying a Xiaomi device, check its compatibility with Russian frequencies (for example, smartphones for China may not support the device). LTE The list of supported bands is usually listed on the Kimovil or GSMArena website.
How to distinguish the original Xiaomi from a fake?
The brandโs popularity has led to a huge number of fakes, from cheap Mi Band copies to Redmi clones, here are 5 key features of Xiaomiโs original hardware:
- ๐ท๏ธ Packaging โ the box must be made of dense cardboard with a clear logo stamp, barcodes and a hologram (on smartphones). IMEI (for smartphones or SN (serial).
- ๐ Logo โ on original devices, the Mi or Redmi logo is laser-engraved (not in paint!) and is often erased or blurred on fakes.
- ๐ฑ Firmware โ the original Xiaomi smartphones work on MIUI (Fakes usually have "naked" Android or custom firmware with errors.
- ๐ Charger โ Xiaomiโs original power supplies are labeled MDY-XX-XX (for example, MDY-12-EU) Supports fast charging technologies (Quick Charge, Turbo Charge).
- ๐ Place of purchase โ official Xiaomi dealers in Russia: Svyaznoy, M. Video, Wildberries (marked โOfficial sellerโ). Avoid shopping on AliExpress from unverified sellers.
โ๏ธ Checking the originality of Xiaomi
โ ๏ธ Attention: Mi Band fitness bracelets and Redmi AirDots headphones are especially common.The original Mi Band 8 has a slew of fakes:
- ๐น Display. AMOLED (fake โ TFT worst-angled).
- ๐น Pulsemeter with green lighting (fakes often red or blue).
- ๐น Branded strap with a metal fastener (in copies - plastic).
How to verify IMEI authenticity?
Xiaomi's popular models (Xiomi) in 2026
In 2026, Xiaomi released several iconic devices that are of note:
๐ฑ Smartphones
- ๐น Xiaomi 14 Ultra โ flagship with a Leica camera, screen 2K 120 Hz and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.
- ๐น Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G โ Best mid-budget with 200MP camera and 120-watt charging.
- ๐น POCO F6 Pro โ a gaming smartphone with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and LiquidCool cooling system.
โ Smart watches and bracelets
- ๐น Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro โ Watches on Wear OS s AMOLED-Display and support for Google Assistant.
- ๐น Mi Band 8 โ fitness bracelet with 160+ Training regimes and 16-day autonomy.
๐ Smart home.
- ๐น Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra โ robot vacuum cleaner with auto-shifting water and laser navigation.
- ๐น Mi Smart Air Fryer - air grill with control through Mi Home.
โ ๏ธ Note: When buying Xiaomi smartphones in 2026, pay attention to support 5G Some models (e.g. Chinese versions of Redmi) K70) They may not work with local operators due to different frequency ranges.
Where to buy Xiaomi (Xiomi) equipment in Russia?
Xiaomiโs official sales channels in Russia:
| Type of seller | Examples | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official shops | Mi Store (offline and online) | 100% original equipment, warranty 12+ months | Prices higher than retailers |
| Major retailers | The Connection, M. Video, Eldorado | Frequent discounts, convenient points of issue | Limited range |
| Marketplaces | Wildberries, Ozon (marked "Official Seller") | Quick delivery, customer reviews | Risk of getting into unofficial sales |
| Foreign websites | AliExpress, Banggood (Verified sellers only) | Below the price, a wide range | Long delivery, possible problems with the guarantee |
๐ก Tip: Before buying, check if the device supports Russian and local frequencies. For example, Xiaomi smartphones for India often do not have Russian on the menu, and models for China may not work with the Russian language. LTE Russia.
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If you buy Xiaomi on AliExpress, choose sellers with a rating of at least 98% and reviews in Russian, CE or RoHS) in the description of the goods.
Frequent problems with Xiaomi equipment and how to solve them
Despite the high quality, Xiaomi devices sometimes face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
๐ต Communication problems (no network, no catch) 4G/5G)
- ๐น Reason: Incorrect settings APN Incompatibility with Russian frequencies.
- ๐น Solution: Go to Settings โ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ Access points (APN) You can select your operator's settings manually, and if the problem persists, check your model's frequency support on FrequencyCheck.
๐ Fast battery discharge
- ๐น Reason: Background processes, unoptimized firmware or battery wear.
- ๐น Solution: Disable auto-run of unnecessary applications in Settings โ Battery โ If the phone is older than 2 years, consider replacing the battery (original Xiaomi batteries are labeled as โbatteryโ or โbatteryโ MB-XX).
๐ Sound problems (not working speaker or microphone)
- ๐น Cause: Clogged connectors, software failure or hardware breakdown.
- ๐น Solution: Clean the headphone and speaker jack with compressed air. If the problem persists, reset (Settings) โ The phone. โ Resetting settings).
๐ฑ Hanging and lag in MIUI/HyperOS
- ๐น Reason: Overloaded memory, outdated firmware, or application conflict.
- ๐น Solution: Clear the cache in Settings โ Warehouse โ Clean up. Update the firmware through Settings. โ Update. If you have lags, try to roll back to a stable version. MIUI via Mi Flash Tool.
โ ๏ธ Note: If your Xiaomi smartphone stopped turning on after updating the firmware, do not try to sew it yourself through Fastboot - this can lead to a bootloader lock.