Many smartphone users, smart TVs and ecosystem users often wonder: Xiaomi, who is the developer of this popular technology? The brand has become so ubiquitous that its logo is found everywhere, from the subway to kitchen gadgets. However, behind the global success is a particular corporation and a team of engineers who have changed the mobile electronics market.
The company’s founder and key figure is Lei Jun, often referred to as “China’s Steve Jobs,” who founded a company in 2010 that aimed to create high-quality gadgets at affordable prices, and who is at the helm helps to better understand the brand’s philosophy and software products.
In this article, we will examine in detail the history of the corporation, ownership structure, and also consider the evolution of software from MIUI to the new HyperOS. You will learn not only the names of the founders, but also the technical details that hide behind the Mi logo.
Founder of the company and history of creation
The central figure in the brand's history is Lei Jun, who founded the company on April 6, 2010 in Beijing with a group of seven like-minded people. IT-He worked for Kingsoft, where he was CEO, and his software experience was key to shaping the new company's DNA.
The team didn't originally plan to make their own smartphones. The first product was MIUI, based on Android, but with a deeply redesigned interface and additional features. Enthusiasts from around the world appreciated the flexibility of the system, which allowed the company to quickly gain popularity without cost of production. Only a year after its inception was the first Xiaomi Mi 1 smartphone introduced.
The company’s philosophy was based on three pillars: high quality, innovation and fair price. Lei Jun insisted that hardware margins should be minimal and that the main revenue would come from the ecosystem and software services. The key to success was the direct online sales model, which eliminated retailers’ margins.
Today, Lei Jun continues to lead the company as chairman and CEO, and his influence on the company’s growth strategy remains critical, especially in terms of integrating artificial intelligence and building Xiaomi’s own SU7 car.
Legal structure and ownership
When we say “Xiaomi developer,” it’s important to understand the legal structure, the company’s official name is Xiaomi Corporation, headquartered in Beijing, in the Haidian district, often referred to as China’s Silicon Valley, and a publicly traded company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2018.
The company's ownership structure is distributed among founders, institutional investors and shareholders; Lei Jun retains a significant stake, giving him control over strategic decisions; however, thousands of engineers and designers are involved in product development, divided into different departments.
It is important to note that Xiaomi is actively investing in other companies through its Xiaomi Industry Investment Fund.Many of the ecosystem's devices (robot vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, electric scooters) are manufactured by partners such as Ecovacs, Dreame or Ninebot, but are developed and controlled by Xiaomi engineers.
The company’s global footprint spans more than 100 countries, with regional divisions that adapt products to local requirements and communication standards, making Xiaomi truly a global player, not just a Chinese manufacturer.
Who develops the software
The software development issue deserves special attention. The operating system and interface are the responsibility of the unit. MIUI (Mobile Internet User Interface. It's this team that is introducing new features, optimizing power consumption and creating a visual shell style. 2023-2026 The company has started a large-scale transition to the new HyperOS platform.
HyperOS was a response to the need to network disparate devices, and engineers rewritten the code to ensure that they could work consistently on smartphones, tablets, TVs, and even cars, requiring the involvement of Linux kernel and microservice architecture specialists.
The software update process is strictly regulated. Before the global release, the firmware is tested on closed user groups (Mi Pilot), which allows you to identify critical errors and bugs. Users can track the status of updates through the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version.
Why are updates delayed?
- 📱 MIUI Team – the team responsible for interface, design and user functions.
- ⚙️ Android Base – working with the source code of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
- 🌐 Global ROM Division – Localization and Adaptation for markets outside China.
Evolution of operating systems
The company's software journey has been long, with early versions of MIUI radically different from stock Android, offering unique navigation and no app menu. Over time, the system has become heavier, overgrown with features, sometimes affecting performance.
With MIUI 12 and beyond, developers have been focusing on visuals and privacy, privacy management, animation, and the transition to HyperOS marks a paradigm shift: lighter and faster.
The new OS uses a microkernel, which allows you to run the system even on devices with low RAM, which is especially important for IoT devices such as smart lamps or security cameras. For smartphones, this means more stable work in the background.
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HyperOS is not just a new shell, but a single operating system for all devices in the ecosystem, from toothbrush to car.
Ecosystem and manufacturing partners
Many people are surprised to learn that Xiaomi doesn't make all its gadgets on its own, and that it has created an ecosystem model where it develops standards, designs and software, and the production is given to partners, and that allows for rapid scaling.
For example, popular robot vacuum cleaners are often made by Dreame Technology or Roborock. Power bank is developed in conjunction with Zimi, but all of these devices have the Mi or Mijia logo, and they are controlled through a single Mi Home app.
This approach allows Xiaomi to focus on key competencies: smartphones and TVs, delegating the production of specialized products to experts in their niches, while the user receives a quality guarantee and a single management platform.
In the Mi Home app, you can see a list of connected devices. If you click on the device icon and select General Settings. → Information can often be seen as real. OEM-The manufacturer, which confirms the partner model.
Technical specifications and developments
The company’s engineering teams are constantly working to improve hardware, with a special focus on cameras, and the collaboration with Leica has created unique photo processing algorithms used in the flagship Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14 series.
There's also a lot of rapid charging going on. HyperCharge technology allows you to charge your smartphone completely over the counter. 20-30 It requires complex solutions in battery chemistry and thermal management.
Below is a chart showing the evolution of key technologies in the company’s products:
| Year | Key technology | Example of device | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Ceramic corps | Mi MIX | The first mass smartphone with a screen without frames and a ceramic case. |
| 2019 | 108 MP camera | Mi Note 10 | Implementing a high-resolution sensor to detail images. |
| 2021 | Recharging 120 watts | Mi 11 Ultra | Record charging speed that changed industry standards. |
| 2026 | HyperOS Connect | Xiaomi 14 Series | Uninterrupted connection between phone, tablet and car. |
Developers are also focusing on modularity, with some models using LiquidCool technology to remove heat, especially for the Black Shark series of gaming smartphones (formerly part of the ecosystem) and Redmi K.
💡
When buying accessories, pay attention to the logo "Works with Mi". This is a guarantee that the device is officially certified and will work in the Mi Home application.
Security and confidentiality
Data security is a big concern for any user, and Xiaomi has implemented a number of security mechanisms, and there's a special Privacy Protection section in the system where you can see which apps are accessing the microphone, camera or geolocation.
The company has been certified ISO 27701, which confirms compliance with international standards for information management, and user data is stored on servers located in different regions (Singapore, Germany, USA), depending on the region of registration of the account.
⚠️ Warning: When you first start your smartphone, be sure to create a Mi Account and enable two-factor authentication.
But as with any system, there are vulnerabilities: the company releases security patches regularly, it's important to monitor notifications and install promptly updates, and you can enable automatic downloading of security patches in the update menu.
For enterprise users, there is a Second Space mode that allows you to isolate work data from personal data, which creates a virtual copy of the system with a separate set of applications and passwords.
☑️ Checking the security of the smartphone
Future plans and the automotive project
Lei Jun's most ambitious project was the Xiaomi SU7, which has been in development for over three years with billions of dollars in investment, and is not just a car, but part of the human-car-home ecosystem.
The car uses a modified version of HyperOS, which allows you to stream an image from your smartphone to your car’s display, use your phone as a key, and control your smart home from the cabin.
The company’s future is to fully integrate Xiao AI into all devices, with voice assistants as the central control element that understands context and anticipates user action, requiring enormous computing power and the development of new neural networks.
⚠️ Note: HyperOS automotive features are currently only available in China and require specific hardware.