Who created Xiaomi and why it became a global phenomenon
If you’ve ever held a Xiaomi smartphone, a Mi Band smartwatch, or even a Mi Robot Vacuum vacuum cleaner, you’ve probably wondered: Who’s behind this brand? Xiaomi is not just “another Chinese company,” but one of the most innovative tech companies in the world. XXI It's a century that has gone from a startup to a global giant in 10 years, and today it sells in more than 100 countries, and has a market capitalization of tens of billions of dollars.
Xiaomi founder Lei Jun, entrepreneur with Kingsoft experience and dozens of investments IT-projects. 2010 In the year he assembled a team from 7 The co-founders, including Google China, Motorola and Microsoft Research Asia, had an ambitious goal: to create premium-quality smartphones at a price tag of just a few years. 2–3 It's less than Apple or Samsung, and they've done it. 3 After the foundation of Xiaomi entered the top-5 Global smartphone manufacturers have overtaken giants such as LG and HTC.
The secret to success lies in its unique business model: it sells almost at no margin, making money from an ecosystem of services (cloud storage, MIUI advertising, smart home), which has allowed Xiaomi to become an Apple for the Poor without sacrificing quality. But who actually owns the company, where its factories are located, and why Xiaomi products are so often confused with fakes – let’s look at it further.
Xiaomi’s Manufacturer Country: China and Not Only
Officially, Xiaomi Inc. is a Chinese company registered in Beijing, but to say that all the brand’s equipment is made exclusively in China would be wrong.
- 🏭 The main factories are located in China (Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hubei provinces), where flagship smartphones (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 3) and premium equipment are assembled.
- 🌍 Localized production started in India (factories in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu), Indonesia, Brazil and even Russia (since 2021, some models are assembled at the facilities). IXBT>).
- 🤖 Oh.EM-Xiaomi does not own all the plants itself – some of the devices are made by contractors such as Foxconn (a Taiwanese company that also assembles iPhones) and BYD Electronic.
In 2023, Xiaomi announced plans to move some of its production to Vietnam and Mexico to diversify its supply chains, owing to geopolitical risks and the trade war between the US and China, but more than 60 percent of its equipment is still assembled in Chinese factories, which is why most devices are labeled “Made in China” on their packaging.
⚠️ Note: If you see a “Xiaomi” on AliExpress or local stores that says “Made in Hong Kong” or “Assembled in” USA» — It's almost guaranteed to be fake. Official brand devices are only made in China, India, Indonesia, Brazil and Russia.
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To verify the authenticity of a Xiaomi device, enter its IMEI (indicated on the box) at mi.com/global/verify.
Who owns Xiaomi: ownership structure and key investors
Unlike many Chinese companies, Xiaomi has a transparent ownership structure: after the IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2018, the brand’s shares are publicly traded, but the majority stake remains with the founders and strategic investors.
| Owner | Share (%) | Role in the company |
|---|---|---|
| Lei Jun (Lei Jun) | ~15% | Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors |
| Lin Bin (Lin Bin) | ~8% | Co-founder, former president (left in 2019) |
| Morningside Group | ~7% | Hong Kong Investment Fund |
| Qualcomm | ~5% | Strategic partner (chip supplier) |
| Public shareholders | ~65% | Individuals and Institutional Investors |
Interestingly, Xiaomi’s investors include giants like Tencent (owner of WeChat) and Alibaba, but their stakes are minority, and the main difference from competitors like Huawei is the lack of government participation. Xiaomi is a private company that allows it to flexibly maneuver in global markets without facing sanctions, as happened with Huawei after the US bans.
Xiaomi was blacklisted by the Pentagon in 2021 as a “company associated with the Chinese army,” but was removed a year later, thanks to its transparent ownership structure and lack of direct ties to the Chinese government. However, all Xiaomi device user data is stored by default on servers in China (if not changed in the settings).
Why is Xiaomi not blocked in the US like Huawei?
Myths about Xiaomi: debunking popular misconceptions
There are many myths associated with the Xiaomi brand, from “they steal data” to “it’s just a copy of Apple.”
- 📱 «Xiaomi is a Chinese iPhone. In fact, the brand’s first smartphones (Mi 1, 2011) copied the design of Google’s Nexus, not the iPhone. Today Xiaomi has its own patent solutions, such as HyperCharge technology (charging in 8 minutes).
- 🔍 «Xiaomi is spying on users.In 2020, researchers discovered that the Mi Browser browser collects data about visited sites.However, after the scandal, the company added the option to disable telemetry. GDPR European users.
- 💰 «Xiaomi is cheap because it is bad. In fact, the savings are achieved by optimizing supply chains and eliminating expensive advertising. For example, the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra (2026) bypasses the iPhone 15 Pro in a number of ways, costing 30% cheaper.
Another popular myth is that "Xiaomi and Redmi are different companies," and Redmi is actually a budget-focused sub-brand of Xiaomi, and the same goes for POCO (gaming smartphones) and Black Shark (gamers' devices), all of which are owned by the same corporation but are positioned for different audiences.
⚠️ Note: If you see a Xiaomi Pro Max Ultra 2026 on sale at 2 times below the market, it is 100% fake. The official model names can always be checked on mi.com. Fraudsters often use the prefixes Pro, Max or the current year to mislead customers.
Where and how to buy Xiaomi: official channels vs gray imports
One of the main problems when buying Xiaomi equipment is the abundance of fakes and “gray” suppliers.
Check out the IMEI at mi.com/verify
Pay attention to the packaging (hologram, fonts, quality printing)
Make sure that the MIUI firmware is original (the settings should include the "Mi Account" option).
Compare the price to the official website (too low price is a sign of fake)-->
Official sales channels in Russia and CIS:
- 🛒 Mi Store - branded stores in large cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, etc.).
- 🌐 Official website mi.com/ru (delivery).
- 🏬 Network retailers: “Svyaznoy”, “M. Video”, “Citilink” (check the availability of certificates).
As for gray imports (orders from AliExpress, Gearbest, etc.), there are risks:
- ⚠️ There is no guarantee in Russia (even if the seller promises an international guarantee»).
- ⚠️ The firmware version may be intended for another region (e.g., Indian). MIUI India without Google Pay).
- ⚠️ Frequency bands are possible (not all models support Russian networks). 4G/5G).
If you still decide to order a smartphone from China, use trusted sellers with a rating above 98% and the number of orders from 1000+. Pay attention to the global version (designated as Global ROM) – it supports Russian language and Google services.
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The safest way to buy is the official Xiaomi store in your country, and even if the price is 10-15% higher, you get a warranty, localized firmware and support for service centers.
Xiaomi Ecosystem: Why It’s Not Just Smartphones
Many people mistakenly think that Xiaomi is a smartphone manufacturer, and in fact, it has created one of the most extensive ecosystems of smart devices in the world under the Mi Ecosystem brand.
- 📺 TV: Mi series TV QLED, Redmi Smart TV (Supported by Dolby Vision).
- 🕒 Smart watches and bracelets: Mi Band 8, Watch S3 (sleep-monitored SpO₂).
- 🏠 Smart home: Yeelight light bulbs, Mi Home Security cameras, gas leak sensors.
- 🚗 Electric transport: Mi Electric Scooter electric bikes, gyroscooters.
- 📡 Network equipment: Mi Router routers AX6000, mesh-systems.
A key advantage of the ecosystem is that devices interact with each other, such as the Mi Home camera can automatically turn on Yeelight light when motion is detected, and the Mi Robot Vacuum vacuum cleaner integrates with smart locks, all managed through the Mi Home app (available on iOS and Android).
Interestingly, Xiaomi doesn’t make most of these devices itself, but invests in startups and gives them access to its brand and platform, such as Yeelight and Viomi, which were originally independent companies that entered the Mi Ecosystem ecosystem.
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To ensure that all Xiaomi devices work synchronously, use one Mi Account on all devices, which will allow you to manage them from one application and configure automation.
Xiaomi’s Future: Cars, Robots and the Struggle for Leadership
In 2026, Xiaomi ceased to be just an electronics manufacturer, it officially became an automobile company. In March 2026, the brand introduced its first electric car Xiaomi SU7, which is already called “China’s Tesla.”
- 🔋 Battery. 800V with a range of 800 km (standard) CLTC).
- ⚡ Acceleration of 0–100 km/h in 2.78 seconds (in Max version).
- 🤖 Xiaomi Pilot autonomous driving system (level 3 on the road) SAE).
- 💻 HyperOS operating system (the same as in Xiaomi 14 smartphones).
In addition to cars, Xiaomi is actively developing the direction of robotics, in 2023, the humanoid robot CyberOne was introduced, and in 2026 – CyberDog 2 (robot dog with AI), the company also invests in unmanned aerial vehicles and augmented reality technologies (glasses Xiaomi AR Glasses).
Xiaomi’s main goal for the near future 5 years to top-3 Global smartphone manufacturers (today they are in the 4-And it's going to be Samsung, Apple and Oppo:
- Increase the share of the European market (now ~20%).
- Develop your own HyperOS operating system as an alternative to Android.
- Reduce dependence on chip suppliers (possible release of own processor).
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The Xiaomi SU7 is not just an electric car, but part of a strategy to create an “ecosystem on wheels”; in the future, Xiaomi’s smartphone, watch and car will be synchronized via HyperOS, offering a single user experience.