When you see a Redmi smartphone in a store or in an online retailer’s window, the question naturally arises: who is behind this brand? Many people mistakenly believe that it is a stand-alone company competing with Xiaomi, Samsung or Realme. In fact, the history of Redmi is closely intertwined with the Xiaomi ecosystem, but with important nuances that affect pricing, technical specifications and even warranty service devices.
In this article, we will not only answer the question “Redmi – whose company?”, but also reveal Xiaomi’s unique strategy for managing sub-brands, which allowed the Chinese giant to capture a significant share of the global smartphone market. You will learn how Redmi differs from the main brand Xiaomi and other lines like POCO, why devices under this name are often cheaper than their counterparts, and what pitfalls can await the buyer.
1.A Brief History: How the Redmi Brand Came
Redmi was officially introduced in July 2013 as a sub-brand of Xiaomi, originally positioned as a budget line of smartphones designed to compete with devices from Meizu, Huawei and other Chinese manufacturers in the segment up to $ 150. The first smartphone — Redmi 1 — came with a price tag of just 799 yuan (about $ 130 at the time) and offered users a 4.7-inch screen, a MediaTek MT6589T processor and a removable battery.
Fun fact: The name Redmi is an acronym for Red (red, logo color) and Mi (short for Mobile Internet, which Xiaomi used in early smartphones). Thus, the brand was originally laid down as a "red" (more affordable) version of the main Mi line. By 2015, Redmi had become so popular that Xiaomi decided to allocate it to a separate sub-brand with its own development strategy, although legally it still belonged to the parent company.
- 📅 2013 – The first Redmi 1 (codename) HM1).
- 📈 2015 – split into Redmi (budget) and Mi (premium).
- 🌍 2018 – the beginning of global expansion (India, Europe, Russia).
- 🔄 2020 – Rebranding: Redmi becomes a separate direction within the Xiaomi ecosystem.
Today, Redmi is not just smartphones, but smartwatches, headphones, TVs, laptops, and even electric scooters, but the focus remains on mobile devices, which account for up to 40% of Xiaomi’s sales in some regions (such as India).
2. Redmi and Xiaomi: What's the difference?
The main misconception is that Redmi and Xiaomi are competing brands, but they are different segments of the same ecosystem that solve different problems:
| Criteria | Xiaomi (Mi line) | Redmi |
|---|---|---|
| Target audience | Premium and middle class | Budget and lower middle class |
| Price range | 300.$ 1,000$+ | From $100 to $400. |
| Case materials | Glass, metal, ceramics | Plastic, less glass |
| Processors | Snapdragon 8 series, Dimensity 9000 | Snapdragon 4/6 series, Helio G |
| PO Updates | 3–4 years of support | 2 years (sometimes 1) |
The key difference is the design philosophy. Xiaomi Mi devices often get flagship chipsets, AMOLED-While Redmi is betting on price/quality: 90Hz is here. IPS-screen AMOLED, Or MediaTek Helio. G99 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but for half the price.
Both brands use the same firmware, MIUI (with minor visual differences), and their devices are compatible with the Xiaomi Home ecosystem, Mi Fit (fitness trackers) and other services, which means that even the budget Redmi Note 12 can control a Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner or synchronize with POCO headphones.
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If you want maximum performance for a reasonable amount of money, look for the Redmi K lineup (like the Redmi K60) which gets more powerful processors than the standard Redmi Note, but costs less than the flagship Xiaomi 13.
3.Who really owns Redmi?
Legally, the Redmi brand is owned by Xiaomi Corporation (officially called Xiaomi Inc., ticker: 1810.HK).However, since 2019, Xiaomi has gradually started to allocate Redmi to its own division with its development team, marketing strategy and even individual social media accounts.
- 🎯 More flexible pricing (without reference to Xiaomi’s premium image).
- 📊 Logistics simplifications in regions where Xiaomi was not widely represented.
- 🔄 Accelerate device releases (Redmi can update lines more often than the main brand).
- 🌐 Localizations for different markets (e.g. Redmi for India and Redmi for Europe may differ in configuration).
In 2020, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun officially declared that Redmi is becoming an “independent brand” within the Xiaomi ecosystem.
⚠️ Note: Despite the "independence," all financial and production processes are still controlled by Xiaomi.Redmi is not a separate company - it is a strategic sub-brand, similar to how Toyota owns Lexus and Volkswagen owns Audi.
In practice, this is expressed as follows:
- 🏭 Factories: Redmi smartphones are assembled in the same production facilities as Xiaomi (for example, in Foxconn factories in India or Wingtech in China).
- 💻 Firmware: MIUI Redmi and Xiaomi are being developed by the same team, but may have different update dates.
- 🛠️ Service centers: Warranty service is carried out through one network (in Russia – Xiaomi Service).
Why Xiaomi doesn’t sell Redmi in some countries?
4.Where are Redmi smartphones made?
One of the most common myths is that all Redmis are "made in China," and actually, they're distributed across several countries, depending on their model and their market, and here's the actual data for 2026.
| Country. | Plant/Partner | Models (examples) | Share of production |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Foxconn, Wingtech | Redmi K70, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | ~50% |
| India | Foxconn (Chennai), DBG Technology | Redmi 12, Redmi A2 | ~30% |
| Vietnam | DBG Technology | Redmi Note 12 (export to Europe) | ~10% |
| Indonesia | PT Sat Nusapersada | Redmi 10A (for local market) | ~5% |
| Brazil | Foxconn (Jundiyai) | Redmi Note 11 (Latin American version) | ~5% |
It is important to understand that the country of production does not always coincide with the market, for example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, sold in Russia, could be assembled in Vietnam, and the Redmi A2, bought in India, is made in a local factory, while all components (processors, memory, screens) are still purchased from global suppliers:
- 🧠 Processors: Qualcomm (USA), MediaTek (Taiwan).
- 📱 Screens: Samsung Display (Korea), BOE (China).
- 🔋 Batteries: ATL (Hong Kong), Sunwoda (China).
⚠️ Warning: If you see the product label "Assembled in China" in the product specifications, it doesn't mean low quality. Most of Apple's and Samsung's flagships are also manufactured in China (at the same Foxconn plants), the main thing is quality control, not geography.
5.Why is Redmi cheaper than Xiaomi?
Pricing Redmi is based on several key principles that allow you to keep prices 20-50% lower than the main line of Xiaomi Mi:
- Constituent savings: 🖥️ Use of the IPS-screen-in AMOLED. 🔌 Plastic case instead of glass/metal. 📷 Simpler cameras (for example, 48 MP instead of 200 MP flagships).
Mass production
Due to large volumes of production (for example, Redmi Note 12 sold 50 million units), the cost of one device is reduced.
Localization of assembly
Assembling in India or Brazil allows you to avoid import duties (for example, in India, the tax on finished smartphones is 20%, and on components – only 10%).
Simplified logistics
Redmi often comes in minimal configuration (such as no charge), which reduces weight and shipping costs.
However, cheapness has the opposite side:
- ⏳ Short support life: Redmi gets updates MIUI 1-2 years less than the Xiaomi Mi.
- 🔄 Fewer branded chips: For example, budget models may lack an infrared port or wireless charging.
- 🛠️ Limited service: In some countries (e.g. the U.S.) there is no official support for Redmi at all.
Compare prices in the official store and partners (Wildberries, M. Video)|Check stock availability (e.g., AliExpress sales)|Note the last year’s models (Redmi Note 12 is cheaper than Note 13)|Check the package (sometimes the charging is sold separately)-->
6.Redmi vs POCO vs Black Shark: Who's Who in Xiaomi's Ecosystem
In addition to Redmi, Xiaomi has several sub-brands, each of which solves its own problems, and let’s analyze their key differences:
| Brand | Foundation year | Specialization | Examples of models | Target audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi | 2013 | Budget and medium-budget smartphones | Redmi Note 13, Redmi A2 | Buyers looking for the maximum return for the minimum money |
| POCO | 2018 | Smartphones with a focus on productivity | POCO F5, POCO X6 Pro | Gamers, enthusiasts, fans of “pure” Android |
| Black Shark | 2017 | Gaming smartphones and accessories | Black Shark 5 Pro, Black Shark Joypad | Professional gamers, streamers |
| Mi (main line) | 2011 | Flagship and premium devices | Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | Users willing to pay for innovation and brand |
POCO was originally part of Redmi (the first model, the POCO F1, was branded Pocophone as a sub-brand of Redmi), but in 2020 it became completely independent, although still using the MIUI platform (but with the POCO Launcher shell), the main difference between POCO and Redmi is the focus on performance: there are more powerful processors (for example, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the POCO F5 Pro), cooling systems and high-frequency screens.
Black Shark, in turn, is a gaming division that Xiaomi bought out in 2021, and its devices feature physical triggers, active cooling, and even built-in fans (like the Black Shark 5 Pro).
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If you need a smartphone for gaming, but don’t want to overpay for Black Shark, look for the Redmi K lineup (like the Redmi K60) – it offers similar specs at a lower price.
7.How to distinguish the original Redmi from a fake?
The popularity of Redmi has led to the emergence of a large number of counterfeits, especially in the markets of Africa, the Middle East and the post-Soviet space. Here are 5 key signs that can be recognized by the original:
- Packaging: 📦 The original box has a holographic sticker with a serial number that can be checked on the website. mi.com/global/verify. 🏷️ The inscriptions on the box are made in a clear font, without typos (forgeries often contain errors in the model name).
Firmware
Original devices run on MIUI with branded wallpaper and apps (Mi Store, Mi Community), and fakes often use custom firmware based on Android Go.
IMEI
Check the IMEI by *#06# and check it against the number on the box. You can also check the IMEI via imei.info.
Assemblance quality
Original ones don't have backlashes, buttons are pressed clearly, and the screen doesn't move away from the body, and fakes often have gaps and uneven seams.
Price.
If a smartphone sells 30-50% cheaper than the average market price, this is a reason to be wary.+ It's not worth 15,000. ₽, if the official price is 35,000 ₽.
⚠️ Attention: Especially often fake models of the Redmi Note and Redmi A. If you buy the device with your hands, be sure to ask the seller to show the work. NFC, fingerprint scanner and camera – in fakes, these features often don’t work or fail.
Also worth paying attention to branded accessories:
- 🔌 The original Redmi chargers have the inscription MDY-12-... (for example, MDY-12-EU European version).
- 🎧 Headphones in the set (if any) must have the Mi or Redmi logo on the plug.