Xiaomi is no longer a budget brand?
5-7 years ago, Xiaomi was associated with affordable technology: smartphones for 10-15 thousand rubles, smart watches cheaper than Apple Watch 5 times, routers with support for Wi-Fi 6 at the price of budget models of competitors. K70 Pros are like mid-budget iPhones or Samsung Galaxy. What happened? Why did a brand that built a reputation for cheap prices suddenly start raising the bar?
In this article, we will analyze 7 key reasons for the price growth of Xiaomi equipment – from objective (inflation, sanctions) to subjective (change in brand strategy). Also compare the prices of popular models over the past 3 years, understand whether it is worth overpaying for the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chips or Leica cameras, and give practical tips on how to save on buying without losing quality.
Spoiler: It's not just about "producer greed," global crises, technology races, even geopolitics have played a role, but everything in order.
1. Global inflation and growth in the cost of components
The first and most obvious cause is pandemics. COVID-19 In 2020-2022, the world faced a shortage of chips, the closure of factories in China and increased logistics costs. $1,500 to $15,000 per container, and the manufacturers passed the cost on to the final customer.
But even after the coved restrictions were lifted, prices did not return to pre-crisis levels.
- 📈 The rise in the price of silicon, the main material for chips, increased by 30% between 2022 and 2023 due to demand from the automotive industry and data centers.
- 🔋 Lithium-ion batteries rose by 20% due to the growth in demand for electric cars (including from Xiaomi, which released its own battery). SU7).
- 🛠️ Salaries at factories in China and India have risen by 15-25% over the past 3 years, which also affects the cost of production.
⚠️ Note: If you see a Xiaomi smartphone 2020 year-end 2026-Go is either a fake or an overvalued balance. Compare prices on official sites (Mi Store, Wildberries, Svyaznoy) and check the serial number through the service mi.com/global/verify.
| Component | Price in 2020. | Price in 2026. | Growth, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 865 (chip) | $50 | $75 | +50% |
| AMOLED-screen 6.67, 120 Hz | $40 | $65 | +62% |
| Battery 5000 mAh | $8 | $12 | +50% |
| 108 MP camera (module) | $25 | $40 | +60% |
Sanctions and logistics problems: why Xiaomi is more expensive in Russia than in Europe
Russian buyers have felt the price rise on Xiaomi stronger than European buyers, owing to sanctions pressure and changes in supply chains, and the brand has faced several challenges since 2022:
- 🚢 Closing official shipments through Europe: In the past, some of the equipment for Russia was transported through German and Polish warehouses, now directly from China, which is more expensive.
- 💳 Restrictions on payment in dollars and euros forced Xiaomi to switch to settlements in yuan, which added 5-7% to the cost due to exchange rate differences.
- 📦 To circumvent sanctions, Xiaomi moved parts of the assembly to India and Vietnam, but the quality of control there is worse, and the marriage is higher (up to 3% vs. 1% in China).
The result is the same Redmi Note 12 Pro+ In Russia, it costs 20-30% more than in Germany or France, and often does not have chargers or documentation in Russian.
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Before buying, check if the model supports official Russian firmware, POCO F5 for India) sold in Russia with "gray" firmware, which is fraught with problems with updates and warranty.
3.The Technology Race: Why Xiaomi Can't Be Cheap Anymore
In the 2010s, Xiaomi was saving on everything from plastic cases, low-resolution screens, cameras without optical stabilization, and today the brand is competing with Apple and Samsung for the premium segment, which requires investment:
- 📱 Screens: Mi 14 received 2K AMOLED 120Hz and technology LTPO (Like the iPhone 15 Pro. The cost of such a display - up to $120 (25% of the cost of a smartphone).
- 🔭 Cameras: Collaborating with Leica costs Xiaomi millions of dollars annually.Optics for Mi 13 Ultra cost $50 per module (against) $15 at budget models).
- ⚡ Fast charging: Technology 210W HyperCharge (as in the Redmi Note 12 Turbo) requires an expensive power controller and battery pack with graphite anodes.
But chips are the most important thing. Xiaomi can no longer afford to put last year's processors into its flagships. For example, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (2026) is the only one that can be used in the world. $30 more expensive than the Snapdragon 888 (2021), but consumes 15% less power and runs 20% faster in AI tasks.
How much does it cost to develop a flagship?
4.Marketing strategy: Xiaomi wants to be the new Apple
In 2023, Xiaomi announced a change in positioning, with the brand now aiming to become “premium” rather than “budgetary.”
- 🎨 Design: glass cases, titanium frames (like in Mi Mix Fold 3), collaboration with design studios like Naoto Fukasawa.
- 🛍️ Packaging: flagships are now sold in boxes with magnetic locks and branded cases complete.
- 📺 Advertising: Marketing budgets have increased in 3 For example, Xiaomi became a sponsor of the world Cup football. 2022 and the Olympics-2026.
But the big change is pricing, where Xiaomi used to sell flagships at near-cost, making up for losses through accessories and advertising, and now the margins on premium models are as high as 40 percent (like Apple's).
| Model | Price in 2020. | Price in 2026. | Growth, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi 10 (flagship) | 45 000 ₽ | 89 990 ₽ (Mi 14) | +99% |
| Redmi Note 9 Pro (Middle Segment) | 18 000 ₽ | 32 990 ₽ (Note 13 Pro+) | +83% |
| POCO X3 (budget) | 12 000 ₽ | 21 990 ₽ (POCO X6 Pro) | +83% |
Xiaomi is actively curtailing budget lines, for example, in 2026 did not release a new model Redmi. 9A (price ~8 000 ₽), But Redmi came along. A3 $12,000 ₽ — 50% more expensive.
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Xiaomi no longer wants to be the cheapest — now the brand wants to associate with innovation and premium.If you want the most budget smartphone, look at sub-brands. POCO Redmi (but prices have increased by 30-50% in 3 years).
5.Ruan exchange rate and taxes: why Xiaomi in Russia is rising faster than in the world
While Xiaomi prices have risen 30-40% in Europe since 2020, they have risen 80-100% in Russia, not only because of sanctions, but also because of:
- 💱 The collapse of the ruble: from 2022, the yuan to the ruble rose from 11 to 14 ₽ (on +Since Xiaomi buys components for dollars, and sells in Russia for rubles, the buyer covers the difference.
- 📑 New taxes: from 2023 in Russia introduced a fee for the disposal of electronics (up to 5% of the cost of the device).
- 🚚 Logistics through third countries: due to sanctions, some equipment is transported through Kazakhstan or Belarus, which adds 10-15% to the price.
Example: Xiaomi 13T stands €600 (≈55 000 ₽ in Russia, and in Russia - 69 990 ₽. 15,000 difference ₽ — These are taxes, logistics and retailer margins.
⚠️ Note: Buying Xiaomi in Russian stores, check the manufacturer country in the settings (Settings) → The phone. → If the name is “India” or “Vietnam”, the warranty may differ from the Chinese or European version.
Make sure the serial number on the box and settings match|Check it out. IMEI via imei.info|Compare the price with the official Mi Store website|Ask the seller to show the work of all cameras and sensors-->
6.Alternatives: Where do buyers who are dear go
Not everyone is willing to pay 70-90 thousand rubles for a Xiaomi smartphone.
- 📱 Used market: Demand for used Mi 11 or Redmi Note 10 Pros has grown by 40% over the year. Avito and Yula can find devices from 2021-2022 in excellent condition for half the original price.
- 🔄 Sub-brands: POCO M6 Pro or Redmi A2+ cost 12-15 thousand rubles, but the characteristics are not inferior to the flagships of 2020.
- 🏭 Chinese analogues: Realme, Infinix and Tecno offer smartphones with Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 and 120 Hz screens for 20-25,000 rubles.
- 🍎 Switching to iPhone: Paradoxically, some users prefer to buy an iPhone 12 (40-45,000. ₽) Instead of the new Xiaomi for 70 thousand. ₽ — Because of better support for updates.
If you want to stay in the Xiaomi ecosystem but save money, pay attention to:
- 🛒 Sales on AliExpress (especially during 11.11 or Black Friday).
- 🔄 Trade-in in communication salons (you can hand over an old smartphone and get a discount of up to 10 000) ₽).
- 📦 Global versions from Europe (cheaper by 15-20%, but check compatibility with Russian versions) LTE-net).
7. Forecasts: Will Xiaomi become cheaper in 2026-2026?
The short answer is no. Long-term trends are telling us that electronics prices are going to keep going up.
- 🤖 AI revolution: Neural network chips (like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4) will be 20 to 30 percent more expensive due to the complexity of manufacturing.
- 🌍 US-China trade war could lead to new tariffs on electronics (up to 25%).
- ♻️ Environmental regulations: EU obliges manufacturers to use recycled materials, increasing costs by 5-10%.
But there is good news:
- ⚡ Competition between Xiaomi, Realme and Samsung will force brands to keep prices at an average level (growth of no more than 10% per year).
- 📉 Demand slump: Smartphone sales fall 5% in 2023 - manufacturers could go for discounts to spur purchases.
- 🔋 Modular smartphones: Xiaomi is testing devices with replaceable modules (cameras, batteries), which can reduce the cost of an upgrade.
If you are planning to buy, the best time to save is November-December (sales before the New Year) or June-July (seasonal discounts in the summer).
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Xiaomi won’t be cheaper, but you can save money by choosing a model from last year, using a trade-in or buying a device in a global version.