Who invented Xiaomi: the history of the creation of the brand and its founder Lei Jun

From Idea to Global Brand: How Xiaomi Came to Be

When it comes to revolutionary technology companies XXI Xiaomi has consistently been at the top of the list, with the Chinese giant, which started with smartphones, now offering more than 200 categories of smart devices, from robot vacuum cleaners to electric vehicles. But who is behind this phenomenal success? Who invented Xiaomi and turned it into a global player?

The company’s founder, Ley Jun, is a business-oriented entrepreneur who started out not as a hardware manufacturer but as a software developer. In 2010, when the smartphone market was just starting to take off, Lei Jun and his team set an ambitious goal: to create premium-quality devices at affordable prices, and “innovation for all” became the cornerstone of the brand’s philosophy.

Xiaomi is not just a company today, it's a whole ecosystem of smart devices that connects millions of users around the world, but how did a small startup in Beijing win consumer trust and outperform many of its competitors? Let's take a look at how the brand evolved and what decisions led to its success.

Lei Jun: From programmer to founder of a technological empire

Born in 1969 in Hubei Province, Lei Jun has been interested in technology since childhood, graduated from Wuhan University in computer science in 1992 and began a career at Kingsoft, where he quickly moved from a lay programmer to CEO, and his talent for management and strategic thinking helped Kingsoft go public in 2007.

But Lei Jun came to prominence after founding Xiaomi in 2010, and together with seven co-founders, including Google, Microsoft and Motorola, he created a company that initially focused on developing MIUI firmware for Android smartphones. A year later, in 2011, Xiaomi launched its first smartphone, the Mi 1, which became a sensation in the Chinese market.

Fun fact: Lei Jun is often compared to Steve Jobs for his charismatic presentation style and his ability to inspire the team. He is known for his phrases: "We want everyone to be able to afford the technology of the future" and "Quality is not a luxury, but a standard," which formed the basis of Xiaomi's business model.

• 🎓 Education: Wuhan University, specialty "Computer Sciences"
• 💼 Career to Xiaomi: 16 years at Kingsoft, the company’s release on the stock exchange
• 📱 Xiaomi’s First Product: Firmware MIUI (2010, followed by the Mi 1 smartphone (2011)
• 🌍 Global recognition: Included in the list of the most influential people in the world according to Time and Forbes

How Xiaomi Conquered the World: Key Development Milestones

Xiaomi’s history is one of rapid growth, and in just a few years it has gone from being a niche smartphone maker to a global technology conglomerate.

Xiaomi’s strategy has been characterized by a combination of aggressive marketing and a direct online sales model, abandoning its traditional retail network, which has reduced prices by 30-40% compared to competitors, and another secret of success is active interaction with the brand’s fans (Mi Fans), who are involved in testing products and promoting the company.

Xiaomi is now the third-largest smartphone sales company in the world (after Samsung and Apple) and the leader in smart home devices, with sales in more than 100 countries and annual revenues of more than $30 billion.

Xiaomi philosophy: why the brand became popular

Xiaomi’s success cannot be explained by low prices or technical specifications alone, and it is based on a unique business model that Lei Jun called the “Three Iron Principles”:

1. Innovation for all: premium technology should be available to a wide range of users.
2. Direct sales: Minimize intermediaries to lower prices without compromising quality.
3. Device ecosystem: All Xiaomi gadgets are integrated and managed through one app, Mi Home.

Another distinguishing feature is the device + services + Internet model, which Xiaomi does not make money on the devices themselves (their margin is only 1-5%), but monetizes the ecosystem through subscriptions, advertising and cloud services, for example, the MIUI firmware contains pre-installed applications that bring additional revenue to the company.

💡

If you buy a Xiaomi device, sign up for it in the Mi Home app – this will open up access to advanced features and warranty service.

Critics often accuse Xiaomi of over-orientating itself to the Chinese market or copying Apple’s design, but Lei Jun responds simply, “We’re inspired by the best, but we’re making it better and more accessible.” And judging by the company’s growth rate, that strategy is working.

Myths and Truths About Xiaomi

There are many myths surrounding Xiaomi's history. Let's take a look at the most common ones.

⚠️ Note: Many people think that Xiaomi is “Apple of China” and that the company never really positioned itself as a copy of Apple, although it did borrow some design elements and presentation approaches. Lei Jun openly admitted that he was inspired by Steve Jobs, but always stressed: We want to be better, not just like you".

• 🔍 Myth 1: “Xiaomi is a state-owned company” Truth: Xiaomi is a private company, although it works closely with the Chinese authorities on government initiatives (e.g., “Made in China 2026").
• 💰 Myth 2: "Xiaomi sells devices at a loss." Truth: The margins on hardware are minimal, but the company compensates for this with revenue from services and accessories.
• 📱 Myth 3: "The first Xiaomi smartphone was a copy of the iPhone." True: Mi 1 did have similarities to the iPhone 4, but it ran on Android with unique firmware. MIUI.

Another common misconception is that Xiaomi came out of nowhere. In fact, Lei Jun and his team spent years analyzing the market before launching the first product, for example, MIUI was designed with feedback from Android users who complained about the inconvenience of the standard shell.

Xiaomi’s Secret Technology: What Makes Its Devices Unique

Despite the affordable prices, Xiaomi often innovates in ways that even its flagships don’t. Here are some examples:

• 🔋 Fast charging: HyperCharge technology (200W) allows you to charge your smartphone in 8 minutes.For comparison, the iPhone 15 charges in 1.5 hours.
• 📸 Cameras: Xiaomi 13 Ultra uses a Leica lens with variable aperture – as in professional cameras.
• 🏠 The Mi Home system supports more than 4,000 devices from different manufacturers, making it one of the most versatile.
• 🚗 Electric cars: Xiaomi SU7 — The first electric car of the company, which competes with Tesla in terms of technical characteristics.

One of the most revolutionary developments was the Surge processor technology: In 2017, Xiaomi introduced its first chipset, the Surge S1, which was used in the Mi 5c smartphone. Although the project was closed in 2019, it demonstrated the company’s ambition to build its own components.

Another know-how is the Loop LiquidCool cooling system, which is used in gaming smartphones Black Shark (a brand owned by Xiaomi), which allows you to maintain high performance without overheating, which is critical for mobile gaming.

💡

Xiaomi doesn’t just copy competitors’ technology — it often outpaces them. For example, the Mi Mix (2016) became the first mass-produced device with a bezelless display, two years before the iPhone X.

Competitors and Critics: Why Xiaomi Doesn't Like Everyone

Despite its success, Xiaomi faces criticism and competition.

1. In 2020, Xiaomi was accused of transferring user data to servers in China, and the company denied the allegations, but reputational damage was done.
2. Building quality: Budget models sometimes suffer from cheap materials (like plastic cases instead of metal).
3. Not all devices receive long-term support – some models stop updating after 2-3 years.

Xiaomi's main competitors:

• 📱 Samsung is the leader in smartphone sales, strong in the premium segment.
• 🍎 Apple dominates ecosystems and services.
• 🤖 Realme and Oppo compete aggressively in the budget and mid-segment.
• 🏭 Huawei is a strong player in the Chinese market despite sanctions.

⚠️ Note: If you buy a Xiaomi device for sensitive data, look for models marked "Global Version" that are further certified and have fewer pre-installed Chinese services that can collect data.

Despite criticism, Xiaomi continues to build a presence: In 2023, the company entered the electric car market with the SU7 model, which received high marks for design and performance. This proves that the brand is not going to stop there.

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

Xiaomi is on the cusp of a new phase of development, with Lei Jun announcing that the company will invest $10 billion in electric vehicles and artificial intelligence.

• 🚗 Electric cars: Xiaomi SU7 It has already received over 100,000 pre-orders in China, and is scheduled to enter the European market by 2026.
• 🤖 Artificial Intelligence: Developing your own AI assistant Xiao AI, This will be integrated into all ecosystem devices.
• 🌍 Global expansion: Active advances in Africa, Latin America and Europe (including Russia, despite sanctions).
• 🔧 Own chips: Resume work on Surge processors to reduce reliance on Qualcomm.

Lei Jun sets an ambitious goal: to 2026 Make Xiaomi one of the top of the year-3 The world’s tech companies (along with Apple and Samsung) are planning to do so:

1. Increase market share of premium smartphones (currently ~5%).
2. Expand the line of smart devices for the home (robots, security systems, household appliances).
3. Create a full ecosystem of services (cloud, payments, entertainment).

One key project will be the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), which Xiaomi already offers more than 500 smart devices – from light bulbs to refrigerators – and plans to increase that number to 1,000 by 2026, all managed through a single Mi Home app, making the ecosystem one of the largest in the world.

FAQ: answers to popular questions about Xiaomi