When it comes to celebrity smartphones, most people immediately imagine the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy in the hands of stars. But few people know that many famous personalities - from Hollywood actors to global athletes - actively use Xiaomi devices. The Chinese brand, which gained popularity thanks to a combination of high technology and affordable prices, has become a choice even for those who could afford any device.
In this article, weโve gathered up-to-date 2026 data on celebrities spotted with Xiaomi phones, from Xiaomiโs flagship 14 Ultra models to the budget Redmi Note. Youโll learn not only the names of the stars, but also the reasons for their choice, as well as what features of the devices attracted them.
Why Celebrities Choose Xiaomi: 3 Key Reasons
Before we get to specific names, weโll figure out what attracts the stars in Xiaomi smartphones, because they have access to any gadget, but they deliberately stop at this brand.
The first and most obvious reason is price-performance. Even Xiaomi's flagship models stand in the same category. 1.5-2 It's less expensive than Apple or Samsung, with comparable hardware. 13T Pro with Dimensity processor 9000+ And the Leica camera costs in 2-2.5 cheaper than an iPhone 15 Pro with similar specs. For celebrities who change gadgets often (sometimes monthly!), it's a big savings.
The second reason is unique features that competitors do not have:
- ๐ Fast charging up to 210 watts (Redmi Note 12 Turbo) โ full charge in 9 minutes!
- ๐ธ Cooperation with Leica โ the cameras of Xiaomi flagships are not inferior to professional DSLRs
- ๐ฎ Gaming technologies like LiquidCool to cool the processor
- ๐ MIUI With enhanced privacy settings โ important for public figures
The third, non-obvious reason is exclusive versions. Xiaomi regularly releases limited editions for celebrities. MIX The gold-clad Fold 3 was presented to several Chinese actors, and the Black Shark 5 Pro with the football club logo was presented to the players of the Spanish national team.
Hollywood actors with Xiaomi: from Iron Man to Deadpool
Many people think Hollywood stars only use iPhones, but that's not the case: Several famous actors have been spotted with Xiaomi devices - and it wasn't always a fluke for filming.
The most striking example is Robert Downey Jr., who plays Iron Man. In 2022, he was photographed with Xiaomi. 12S Ultra while on holiday in Malaysia.According to his assistant, the actor switched to Xiaomi after trying out a camera with a Leica lens - she let him take professional shots for his Instagram without a separate DSLR. Robert especially appreciated the Night Mode mode, which saved footage in low light on the set.
Another unexpected fan of the brand is Ryan Reynolds.In an interview with Wired magazine in 2023, he admitted that he uses Xiaomi. POCO F5 It's like a work phone for social media and instant messengers, and the reason is simple: "I like it's not standing like a wing of an airplane, but it doesn't slow down with my 50 Chrome tabs and constant notifications." Interestingly, Ryan specifically ordered a version with 12 GB of RAM โ so as not to โthink about closing apps".
Among other actors spotted with Xiaomi:
- ๐ฌ Gal Gadot โ Xiaomi 13 Lite (pink) for everyday use
- ๐ญ Tom Holland โ Black Shark 4 Pro for gaming, especially Call of Duty Mobile)
- ๐ฅ Zendaya - Xiaomi 12T Supcase case (seen with him at the premiere of Dunes")
๐ก
If you want to repeat the choice of stars, pay attention to the models with the suffix "Ultra" or "Pro" - they are most often chosen by celebrities for top characteristics.
Musicians and Xiaomi: from rappers to classical performers
The music industry is another area where Xiaomi has gained popularity, and while rappers often choose devices for their cool design, classical musicians value the quality of sound and the ability to record.
One of the brand's most famous fans is Post Malone, who has bragged about his Xiaomi Mix 4 in interviews and even mentioned it on the track "Motley Crew" ("Got a Xiaomi, yeah, it's lit"), which Post says he chose because of:
- ๐ค Hi-Res Audio support for listening to tracks in the studio
- ๐ Fast charging (120 watts) โ I often forget to charge my phone, and here it is ready for the whole day in 15 minutes"
- ๐จ Unique design without a cutout (camera under the screen)
Xiaomi is popular among classical musicians for its high-quality microphones, such as Lang Lang, a famous pianist, who uses the Xiaomi 13 Pro to record rehearsals. In an interview with Classical Music Magazine, he noted, "I want the phone to accurately convey the sound of the piano. Xiaomi does this task as well as the specialized recorders I used before."
Other musicians from Xiaomi:
- ๐ค Dua Lipa - Xiaomi 12S (purple
- ๐ธ Ed Sheeran โ POCO X5 Pro as a "tour phone" (cheap and reliable)
- ๐น Yiruma (Korean pianist) โ Xiaomi Civi 3 for live performances
How do celebrities protect their Xiaomi from hacking?
Athletes and Xiaomi: From Footballers to Olympic Champions
In the world of sports, Xiaomi is valued for its strength, long-term autonomy and specialized features for training. Many athletes choose the Redmi Note series or the Redmi Note series. POCO for their resistance to impact and moisture.
The most famous example is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been an ambassador for the brand for several years and regularly appears with new models. In 2026, he was spotted with the Xiaomi 14 Pro in a gold case engraved with his logo, according to Ronaldo, he chose this model for:
- โฝ Football Manager mode, which tracks real-time match statistics
- ๐ Heart rate sensor for monitoring loads
- ๐ Supporting two SIM-Cards (important for international travel)
Another famous footballer โ Lionel Messi โ prefers Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro. This gaming smartphone he uses not only for games, but also for the analysis of videos of his training thanks to:
- ๐ฎ 144Hz screen for smooth viewing of slowed-down repetitions
- ๐ Battery 4650 mAh, which is enough for the whole game day
- ๐ง Liquid cooling system to prevent overheating
Among other athletes:
- ๐ LeBron James - Xiaomi 13T (Used to film the training process)
- ๐พ Novak Djokovic โ Xiaomi 12 Lite (lightweight and compact for travel)
- โท Mikaela Shiffrin (alpine skier) โ Xiaomi 11T Pro with OtterBox case for extreme conditions
| Athlete | Xiaomi model | Feature of use |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Xiaomi 14 Pro | Golden case with personal engraving, "Football Manager" mode |
| Lionel Messi | Black Shark 5 Pro | Uses video training analysis thanks to 144 Hz screen |
| LeBron James. | Xiaomi 13T | Filming training in 8K followed by installation in CapCut |
| Novak Djokovic | Xiaomi 12 Lite | Compact (173 g) and Tennis Match mode for pitch analysis |
Bloggers and ticktokers: Why they choose Xiaomi for content
For content creators, camera quality and editing capabilities are key criteria for choosing a smartphone, and Xiaomi is out of competition here thanks to its collaboration with Leica and built-in shooting tools.
One of the most popular tick-tokers, Habi Lmei (150 million subscribers) has been using Xiaomi 13 Ultra for a year to shoot his videos. In one video, he showed how, using Cinematic Mode mode and manual settings, the exposition achieves โcinematicโ quality directly from a smartphone. Habi noted that he used the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but switched to Xiaomi because:
- ๐ฅ More dynamic range in video (especially in dark scenes)
- ๐ Telephoto lens with 5x zoom for long-range shooting
- ๐ฐ Prices are 2 times lower with similar quality
Another well-known blogger, MrBeast, uses Xiaomi. POCO F5 In one of his vlogs, he said he bought 10 of these smartphones for his team because they were so expensive:
- ๐ They keep the charge all day, even when shooting intensively. 4K
- ๐ฅ Not afraid of falls (aluminium and gorilla glass 5)
- ๐ฌ 3.5mm connector for professional microphones
Among other bloggers:
- ๐ธ Dude Perfect (Josemi) โ Xiaomi 12T Pro for shooting tricks (using 960 fps slow shooting)
- ๐ James Charles โ Xiaomi Civi 3 for selfies (front camera 32 MP with autofocus)
- ๐ฎ Pudipay โ Black Shark 5 for streaming (uses physical triggers on the body)
๐ก
Most bloggers choose Xiaomi not because of the brand, but because of specific technical characteristics: high quality video, long autonomy and strength.
Unexpected Celebrities With Xiaomi: Politicians, Writers and Scientists
Xiaomi is popular not only among media personalities, but also among people who donโt usually advertise their gadgets, in this category are politicians, writers and even scientists.
One of the most unexpected fans is Barack Obama, who was spotted wearing a Xiaomi Mi 11 while on holiday in Hawaii in 2022, and Obama praised:
- ๐ Enhanced data protection (special version) MIUI without Chinese services)
- ๐ Vision-protected reading mode (important for his hobby of reading books)
- ๐ eSIM support for travel
Xiaomi is popular among writers for its text-reading convenience, such as Stephen King, who told The New Yorker that he writes drafts of his books on the Xiaomi Pad 6 and then transfers them to a computer.
- โจ๏ธ Convenient keyboard in DeX Mode (connection to the monitor)
- ๐ Support for ePub formats and PDF markable
- ๐ Autonomy 10+ continuous-printing
Other surprising personalities with Xiaomi:
- ๐งช Neil deGrasse Tyson (astrophysicist) โ Xiaomi 13 (used for astrophotography)
- ๐จ Banksy (artist) โ Xiaomi POCO X4 Pro (according to his team, he chose the anonymity of the brand)
- ๐ Emmanuel Macron - Xiaomi 12S (official telephone for non-official correspondence)
Study the reviews about the model in the forums (4PDA, XDA-Developers)|
Check compatibility with your countryโs operators|
Look at the Global Market Version (Global) ROM)|
Clarify the possibility of installing custom firmware (for additional protection)|
Choose a model with support 5G, if you travel often-->
How celebrities customize their Xiaomi: secrets and life hacks
Simply buying a flagship model isn't enough for celebrities - they deeply customize their devices for security, performance and convenience. Here are some interesting life hacks they use.
1. Data protection is a top priority for public figures. Most stars:
- ๐ Installation MIUI without Chinese services (version for the global market)
- ๐ก App Lock is used for all messengers and social networks
- ๐ Enable automatic backup encryption in Mi Cloud
- ๐ฑ Separate work and personal data using Double Apps or Island Mode (sandbox)
2. Performance optimization. For example, Post Malone on its Xiaomi Mix 4 disabled:
- ๐ซ All animations in Settings โ Special facilities โ Delete animations
- ๐ด Background activity of social networks through Settings โ Battery โ Background restriction
- ๐ Vibration when typing (saves up to 5% of charge per day)
3. Film chips. Bloggers like Habi Lmey use hidden camera features:
- ๐ฌ Mode "Cinema Camera" with manual setting ISO and excerpts
- ๐ฆ Double video (simultaneously shoots with the main and front camera)
- ๐ Rule of Thirds grid lines for professional composition
4. Exclusive accessories. Many celebrities order custom cases and gadgets:
- ๐ฑ Ronaldo uses Spigen Thin Fit case with his logo engraved
- ๐ง Post Malone wears Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro in gold (limited edition)
- ๐ MrBist carries a portable charging Xiaomi 20000 mAh with solar panel
How do celebrities circumvent regional restrictions?
Where celebrities buy Xiaomi: official and non-obvious ways
Unlike regular users, celebrities often get Xiaomi for free or through special channels, but some still buy devices themselves - and here's where.
1.Official partnerships. Xiaomi is actively partnering with the stars, providing them with:
- ๐ Free flagships in exchange for mention in social networks
- ๐ง Personal technical support 24/7
- ๐ฆ Exclusive configurations (for example, with additional lenses for the camera)
That's how the phones are made by Cristiano Ronaldo, Post Malone and Gal Gadot.
2.Buying through trusted dealers Stars who want to avoid advertising obligations buy Xiaomi through:
- ๐ Official stores in Dubai or Singapore (no regional restrictions)
- ๐ฆ Services like SSense or Farfetch that sell limited editions
- ๐ง Local service centers (sometimes selling test devices)
That's how Ryan Reynolds and Emmanuel Macron buy phones.
3.Auctions and gifts.Some celebrities get Xiaomi in unusual ways:
- ๐จ Banksy got his hands on it. POCO X4 Pro as a gift from a fan via anonymous mail
- โฝ Lionel Messi wins Black Shark 5 Pro at charity auction
- ๐ฌ Zendaya bought his Xiaomi 12T On eBay by a collector (limited series)
4. Custom orders. Some stars order Xiaomi with unique modifications:
- ๐ฑ Robert Downey Jr. ordered Xiaomi 12S Ultra with sapphire glass instead of gorilla glass
- ๐จ Lang Lang uses Xiaomi 13 Pro with a notet wall engraving on the back
- ๐ LeBron James orders Xiaomi 13T with the logo of his I Foundation PROMISE
๐ก
If you want to buy Xiaomi as a celebrity (no advertising obligations), look for global versions labeled โGlobalโ ROM" and check for frequency support LTE/5G your operator.
โ ๏ธ Note: Many celebrities use Xiaomi firmware with Chinese services disabled and additional encryption, which is not available to ordinary users, but you can install custom firmware like Pixel Experience or LineageOS to improve privacy.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Xiaomi by Celebrities
๐ค Why Celebrities Choose Xiaomi Over iPhone?
๐ฑ What Xiaomi model is most often chosen by celebrities?
๐ How Celebrities Protect Their Xiaomi From Hacking?
๐ฐ How much are the "star" versions of Xiaomi?
๐ธ Can you replicate the quality of the shooting of celebrities on Xiaomi?
โ ๏ธ Note: If you decide to buy Xiaomi after this article, look at the firmware version.For maximum compatibility, choose devices with global firmware (Global) ROM) โ They support all languages and frequencies of mobile communication in your country. ROM), They may have restrictions on Google language and services.