Is Redmi a separate brand or part of Xiaomi? who owns and manufactures smartphones in 2026

The question, "Whose brand is Redmi?" is asked by thousands of users, especially those who are first encountering Xiaomi's smartphone line. On store shelves you can see gadgets with the logos of Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO - and it is not always clear how they are related. Some people think that Redmi is a subsidiary, others think that it is just a budget series inside Xiaomi, and some people confuse it with Meizu or other Chinese manufacturers.

In fact, Redmi’s story is intertwined with Xiaomi’s evolution as a global brand, and today it’s not just a sub-brand, but a full-fledged brand that runs Xiaomi Corporation but has its own strategy. In this article, we’ll look at who owns Redmi in 2026, how it’s connected to Xiaomi, where smartphones are made, and why the brand has become so popular.

Spoiler: Redmi is not a standalone company, but a standalone brand within the Xiaomi ecosystem that focuses on affordable yet tech-friendly devices.

1.A Brief History: How the Redmi Brand Came

Redmi was officially introduced in July 2013 as a budget-focused sub-brand of Xiaomi, with the first model being the Redmi 1 (also known as Hongmi in China), which cost just $130 but offered specs comparable to the flagships of the time.

Fun fact: Redmi's name comes from two words, "Red" (red, symbol of revolutionaryness) and "Mi" (short for Mobile Internet, part of the Xiaomi brand), and in China, the line was originally called Hongmi, which translates as "red millet" - a reference to accessibility and popular love.

By 2019, Redmi had become so popular that Xiaomi had decided to separate it from its own brand, and now Redmi operates as a standalone trademark, but is fully controlled by Xiaomi Corporation.

• 📱 Expand the range (not only smartphones, but also laptops, smart watches, accessories)
• 💰 Strengthen Positioning as a “Brand for Youth and Technology Enthusiasts"
• 🌍 Make it easier to enter global markets (in some countries, Xiaomi is associated with premium devices, and Redmi is associated with affordable devices)

Redmi is one of the world’s best-selling smartphone brands, especially in Asia, Europe and Latin America. According to Counterpoint Research, Redmi’s global market share was ~12% in 2023, overtaking giants like Oppo and Vivo.

2 Who owns Redmi in 2026: the brand structure

Legally, the Redmi brand is owned by Xiaomi Corporation (officially Xiaomi Inc., stock ticker: 1810.HK).

An important nuance: while Redmi is positioned as a separate brand, it is not a standalone company; it has no legal entity of its own, all financial and management decisions are made at Xiaomi’s headquarters in Beijing.

• 🔹 Own team of designers and engineers
• 🔹 Separate marketing and PR-strategy
• 🔹 Unique models that do not duplicate the Xiaomi line

In 2023, Xiaomi officially confirmed that Redmi and POCO would develop as “brotherly brands” under the same umbrella but with different target audiences, meaning that competition between them is minimal – they complement each other.

⚠️ Note: In some markets (e.g. India), Redmi is sold as a primary brand and Xiaomi as a premium brand, a marketing ploy to avoid confusion among customers.

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Redmi is not a separate company, but a brand within Xiaomi Corporation, which operates as an independent unit with its own product line.

3. Where Redmi smartphones are produced: countries and factories

Redmi smartphones are manufactured in factories owned by Xiaomi and its partners, with major production facilities in China and India, but there are other countries:

India plays a key role, with one in three Redmi smartphones being produced in the country, and is linked to the government’s policy of encouraging local production (the “Make in India” program), with the Redmi 12 5G being assembled in Chennai, for example, allowing Xiaomi to avoid high import duties.

Xiaomi also announced plans to open a new plant in Turkey in 2026 to strengthen its position in the European market, which is due to sanctions risks and logistical problems that have arisen after 2022.

⚠️ Note: If you buy a Redmi in Russia, there is a high probability that the smartphone was made in China or India, and models for the EEU often come from Vietnam, which affects the price and customs fees.

4. How Redmi differs from Xiaomi: Brand comparison

Many buyers confuse Redmi and Xiaomi, thinking they are the same thing, but they have different target audiences, price segments and philosophy.

• 💰 Price: Redmi focuses on budget (from the $100), while Xiaomi offers devices from $300 (flagships up to) $1500).
• 🛠️ Materials: Redmi more often uses plastic and aluminum, Xiaomi - glass, ceramics, metal.
• 🔋 Performance: Redmi gets mid-range processors (Snapdragon) 6/7 Xiaomi – flagship chips (Snapdragon) 8 Gen 3).
• 📸 Xiaomi is using sensors from Sony IMX8xx Leica optics, Redmi – simpler modules (Samsung) ISOCELL).
• 🔄 Updates: Xiaomi guarantees 4 years of updates, Redmi – 2-3 years (depending on the model).

Both brands use the same firmware, MIUI, but in different versions, for example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro runs on MIUI 14 with a focus on optimization for budget hardware, and the Xiaomi 14 gets advanced features like MIUI HyperOS.

Another key difference is the geography of sales:

• 🌏 Xiaomi is moving more actively in Europe, China and developed markets.
• 🌍 Redmi dominates in India, Africa, Latin America and CIS countries.

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If you want a smartphone with long-term update support, you should go with Xiaomi. If you want a price-performance balance, Redmi is perfect.

5. Who really owns Xiaomi (and, by extension, Redmi?)?

Xiaomi Corporation is a publicly traded company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX: 1810) with the largest shareholders for 2026 being:

• 👤 Lei Jun (founder and founder) CEO, proprietor ~14.
• 🏦 Institutional Investors (including BlackRock, Vanguard) — ~40%.
• 🤝 Staff and management — ~10% (under the option program).
• 🇨🇳 Chinese state funds — ~5%.

Interestingly, Xiaomi is not controlled by one person or family (unlike Samsung or Huawei).Lei Jun has the biggest influence, but key decisions are made by a board of directors that includes top managers and independent experts.

Xiaomi’s financial performance in 2023:

• 💵 Revenue — $28.5 billion (up 4% compared to 2022).
• 📱 Sales of smartphones – 150 million units (including Redmi and the Redmi). POCO).
• 🌍 Global market share – 14% (3rd place after Samsung and Apple).

V 2023 Xiaomi has entered the top-500 The largest companies in the world according to Fortune, ahead of such giants as Lenovo and LG.

⚠️ Warning: If you see news that Redmi is being 'buyed by another company', it's fake.The brand is fully controlled by Xiaomi Corporation and there are no plans to sell it.

🔹 Make sure the box has a hologram and serial number.

🔹 Check it out. IMEI site mi.com/verify

🔹 Buy only from official dealers (list on Xiaomi website)

🔹 Avoid “grey” shipments from China without warranty-->

6.The future of Redmi: what to expect in 2026-2026

In 2026, Redmi continues to increase its presence in the budget segment 5G-Smartphones and devices with artificial intelligence. among the key trends:

• 🤖 AI-New models (Redmi Note 13 Pro)+, Redmi K70E) There are tools based on Xiaomi HyperOS, such as: 📝 Automatic text referral 🎨 Generating wallpaper with AI 🔊 Voice assistant with support for neural networks
• 🔋 Large-capacity batteries: Redmi plans to release a smartphone with a battery of 7000 mAh (Redmi Power series).
• 📱 Foldable smartphones: In the development of a budget folding Redmi Fold (price) ~$600).
• 🌐 Global Expansion: Advances in Africa and Latin America.

Xiaomi also announced that by 2026, all Redmi smartphones will be equipped with fast charging of at least 67 watts (now it is available only in top models).

However, there are risks:

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Redmi will actively develop AI-function 5G-The system will face increased competition in the budget segment.

7. Frequent misconceptions about the Redmi brand

There are many myths around Redmi, and we'll look at the most popular ones.

1. "Redmi is a Chinese nouneum, and Xiaomi is a premium brand" ❌ Redmi is the same official Xiaomi brand as the POCO. It is not inferior in quality, just focused on another segment.
2. "Redmi smartphones are assembled in basements" ❌ All the devices are made in Foxconn factories, BYD and other certified partners.
3. "Redmi and POCO — It's the same thing" ❌ No. POCO Focuses on performance (Snapdragon 8 chips), and Redmi on price and performance balance.
4. "Xiaomi will soon close Redmi" ❌ Unlikely.Redmi brings Xiaomi ~40% of revenue from smartphone sales.
5. "Redmi does not support updates" ❌ Yes, support is shorter than Xiaomi, but even budget models get 2-3 years of updates. MIUI.

If you hear other “facts” about Redmi, check them out on the official mi.com website or on the brand’s social media accounts.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions