Back in 2018 and 2020, Xiaomi was pushing its action cameras — compact, inexpensive and with decent functionality. Models like the Mijia 4K or Xiaomi Yi 4K+ competed with GoPro for price, offering 4K@30fps, stabilization and waterproof housing. But today, the brand’s official website does not find any fresh models, and only old stores are left. Where did Xiaomi’s action cameras go, and why did the company abandon this segment?
In this article, we’ll look at 5 key reasons for the line-up’s disappearance, analyze which models are still available (and whether to buy them), and find worthy alternatives from other brands — taking into account budget, shooting quality and additional chips. If you were looking for a new action camera from Xiaomi and did not find, here you will learn what to do next.
1 Why Xiaomi has stopped producing action cameras: official and unofficial reasons
The company has never given a direct answer to the question of the line-up closure, but experts and insiders have singled out several factors: the main one is the change in brand priorities. After 2020, Xiaomi focused on the development of the Mi Home ecosystem, smart devices for the home and flagship smartphones. Action cameras, despite their popularity, did not bring the same margins as, for example, the Mi Band or Roborock.
The second factor is fierce competition, and by 2021, the action camera market was divided amongst itself.
- 🏆 GoPro – Leader in Quality and Brand Loyalty (Hero Models) 11/12).
- 💰 DJI — It offers more affordable but technological solutions (Osmo Action). 3/4).
- 🔥 Inst360 — snatched a 360 niche°-cameras and modular systems (Inst360 X3).
- 💸 Akaso and Apeman are Chinese brands with budget copies of GoPro.
Xiaomi simply couldn’t offer anything unique in the race: their latest models (Yi 4K+) were losing to competitors in stabilization, video bitritol and the accessory ecosystem, and the attempt to release the Mijia 360° in 2019 failed due to weak software and bugs.
⚠️ Note: If you see a “new” action camera Xiaomi 2023-2026 is either a fake or a re-labeled model from Yi Technology (former partner of Xiaomi.
2. Xiaomi's Latest Models: Should You Buy in 2026?
You can still find remnants of old models online, but check before you buy if you're overpaying for obsolete iron.
| Model | Year of release | Max, permission. | Stabilization | Price (2026) | Should I buy it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mijia 4K | 2018 | 4K@30fps | There's a 6-axis. | 12 000–15 000 ₽ | ❌ No, it's a weak battery, no. HDR |
| Yi 4K+ (with Xiaomi) | 2019 | 4K@60fps | EIS. | 18 000–22 000 ₽ | ⚠️ Only if you find it cheaper than $15,000. ₽ |
| Xiaomi Mijia Mini | 2017 | 1080p@60fps | No. | 8 000–10 000 ₽ | ❌ It's totally obsolete. |
A critical problem for all of these models is that they don’t have firmware updates after 2020, which means they may have security vulnerabilities, bugs with connections to modern smartphones (e.g., Bluetooth 5.0+), and compatibility issues with new memory cards (exFAT).
If you still need a Xiaomi camera, look for Yi 4K+ only in trusted stores (for example, on AliExpress from official Yi Technology sellers), but be prepared for the fact that in a year or two it will finally fail – spare batteries and accessories are no longer released.
3. What to buy instead of Xiaomi: top-5 Alternatives to any budget
If you are looking for a replacement for Xiaomi action cameras, follow the following criteria:
- 🎥 Permission: minimum 4K@30fps, perfectly — 5.3K or 4K@120fps slow-mo.
- 🤸 Stabilization: hypersmooth (HyperSmooth in GoPro) or analogues.
- 🔋 Autonomy: from 90 minutes of recording in 4K.
- 📱 Ecosystem: availability of mobile application for installation.
With these options in mind, we have selected the 5 best alternatives:
💰 Budget up to 15,000 ₽: Akaso Brave 7 LE
Best for beginners: 4K@30fps, 6-axis stabilization and waterproof housing up to 30 meters. Minus is weak editing software, but for the money you can't find better.
🏆 The best choice: DJI Osmo Action 4
Flagship from DJI sensory 1/1.3", shooting 4K@120fps And it's a unique feature of night photography (it works well in low light (~40 000 ₽), It is the best camera for professional content.
🎬 For bloggers: Inst360 X3
Not only are you looking for classic videos, but you also need 360.°-shoot, Inst360 X3 — It's the perfect choice. 5.7K, It has a removable display and built-in AI editing (~50 000 ₽).
🔥 For the extremes: GoPro Hero 12 Black
Legendary reliability, best stabilization in the market (HyperSmooth) 6.0) And accessory support. 5.3K@60fps and 4K@120fps. The price starts from 45 000 ₽, But the camera will last years.
🤖 For a smart home: Insta360 GO 3
A compact camera with magnetic mounting, gesture control and automatic editing, perfect for everyday shooting, but not for extreme sports.
Compare prices in 3-4 stores|Check the availability of guarantees in Russia|To clarify compatibility with your smartphone|Buy a spare battery and memory card-->
4. How to distinguish the original Xiaomi from a fake (if you still decided to buy)
The secondary market is full of clones of Xiaomi action cameras that pass off as originals. Here are 4 signs of fake:
- Packaging: The original Xiaomi box has a hologram with a logo and serial number that can be checked on the site.
- Firmware: The original camera settings will have MIUI Camera or Yi Action. Fakes often run on raw Chinese software.
- Video quality: Original models are shot in 4K without artifacts, and fakes often have soapy images and loud noises.
- Price: If the camera costs less than 10 000 ₽ — It's 100% fake.
To avoid cheating, buy only from official retailers:
- 🛒 Mi Store (if there are any leftovers).
- 🌍 AliExpress (only for sellers with a rating of 98%+ and reviews in Russian).
- 🏢 M. Video or Connected (if available).
⚠️ Fakes often pose as Xiaomi’s “new models” 2023–2026 It's actually repackaged. SJCAM Or Akaso with firmware that mimics the interface MIUI. Check the serial number on the site mi.com/verify.
5. The future of Xiaomi action cameras: will the brand return to the market?
According to insiders, Xiaomi has no plans to return to the action camera segment in the next 2-3 years.
- 📸 Smartphones with advanced cameras (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra with Leica optics).
- 🤖 Robot vacuum cleaners (Roborock and Mi Robot).
- 💡 Smart home (sensors, lamps, video surveillance cameras).
However, there is a chance that Xiaomi will release an action camera under a different brand – for example, through Redmi or POCO. In 2023, there were patent applications for a compact camera with a modular mounting system, but official confirmation is not yet available.
What can save Xiaomi’s action cameras?
6. Frequent questions about Xiaomi action cameras
❓ Can I update the firmware on the old models Xiaomi Mijia 4K?
❓ Where to buy accessories for Xiaomi Yi 4K+?
❓ Why my Xiaomi Mijia is not connected to my phone?
❓ Which memory card is suitable for Xiaomi 4K?
❓ Does Xiaomi have plans to release a new action camera?
7.Conclusion: Should Xiaomi return to the action camera market?
No. Even if Xiaomi suddenly released a new camera, it would be unlikely to compete with GoPro or DJI in terms of technology.
- 💰 Budget up to 15,000 ₽: Akaso Brave 7 LE.
- 🎥 Optimal Price/Quality Relationship: DJI Osmo Action 4.
- 🏆 For the professionals: GoPro Hero 12 Black.
If you really need a Xiaomi camera, look for a Yi 4K+ in the secondary market, but be prepared for limitations.
💡
Xiaomi action cameras are a thing of the past due to low profitability and fierce competition, and instead choose DJI, GoPro or Inst360 – these brands are actively developing and offer the best technologies.