Xiaomi for Kids: Which Devices to Choose and How to Set Up Security

Choosing the first gadget for a child is always a balance between the desire to give him access to modern technologies and the need to ensure safety.The Xiaomi ecosystem offers a variety of solutions, from budget smartphones of the Redmi series to specialized smart watches with a high-end smartphone. GPS-But just buying a device isn't enough, it's important to set it up properly.

In this article, we will discuss in detail which Xiaomi models for children are best suited, how to activate built-in parental controls and whether to install third-party software. You will learn how to turn a regular smartphone into a secure tool for communication and learning, eliminating access to unwanted content and excessive spending in applications.

We will look at the technical nuances of MIUI in the mode “for children”, the features of the Mi Bunny smart watch and how to block intrusive advertising, which is often found in free applications.

Choosing Xiaomi smartphone for a child

Not only are the gameplay characteristics paramount when choosing a device, but the body’s reliability and battery life are also important. Children often drop gadgets or forget to charge them, so battery capacity and the presence of durable glass are crucial. Redmi budget models often win over flagships due to massive batteries.

The second important aspect is the performance of the processor: for educational applications, YouTube and simple games, you do not need top-end hardware, but too weak a chipset will cause annoyance to the child because of the constant lag. The optimal choice will be mid-segment models with Snapdragon 600 or 700 series processors, or their counterparts from MediaTek.

Also worth paying attention to the presence of a headphone jack and support for two SIM-The first will allow you to listen to audio stories without discharging the speaker, and the second will allow you to use a separate SIM card for a child, controlling costs through the operator's tariff plan.

• 📱 Screen size: optimal 6.0-6.5 inches for comfortable reading and watching videos.
• 🔋 Battery capacity: at least 4000 mAh to keep the device alive until the evening.
• 🛡️ Materials: preferred models with spray protection or the possibility of installing a rugged case.
• 💾 Memory: At least 64GB of internal memory, as children quickly fill up the storage with photos and games.

Remember that the brightness of the screen in budget Redmi is often not enough for use in direct sun, so when choosing a model for an active child, this option should be paid special attention. IPS-matrixes in this regard are often safer for the eyes than cheap OLED, although inferior in contrast.

Review of popular models Redmi and Poco for schoolchildren

The Redmi Note line is traditionally considered a middle ground for teenagers. Models like the Redmi Note 12 or 13 offer excellent performance. AMOLED-It's a very high refresh rate screen, which makes scrolling social media feeds smooth, but for younger students, you might want to consider simpler options like Redmi. 12C or 13C, They are cheaper but can do basic tasks.

The Poco M and Poco X series are aimed at older children who are addicted to mobile gaming, with more powerful processors and improved cooling systems. If your child asks for a phone “for games”, then models like the Poco M5 or X5 will compromise between price and performance, allowing you to run popular projects on average graphics settings.

The software deserves special attention: the MIUI shell (or the new HyperOS) has a built-in Second Space Mode or Child profile that allows you to create an isolated environment, which can limit the list of available applications and the time spent behind the device without installing third-party blockers.

⚠️ Attention: Child Mode in the MIUI It can be hidden in new versions of the firmware. If you don't find it in your settings, use Google's Digital Wellbeing feature, which is built into Android by default and is more stable.

When buying a used device, be sure to check the status of the battery. For children who often forget to charge the phone, the residual capacity of the battery is critical. A worn-out battery can run out in 2-3 hours of active use.

Xiaomi and Mi Bunny smartwatches: location control

If a smartphone is too early for a child, a smartwatch is a great alternative.In the Xiaomi ecosystem, Mi Bunny (also known as Mi Bunny) devices are the most popular devices. MITU Children's Phone Watch. These are specialized gadgets with SIM-card, GPS-tracker and video call capability.

The main advantage of the watch is the ability to track the child’s movements in real time through an app on the parent’s smartphone, Geozone allows you to receive notifications if the child left school or yard, and the presence of an SOS button allows the child to instantly send an alarm to the numbers of trusted contacts.

Unlike the Mi Band fitness bracelets, which primarily track activity and notifications, the Mi Bunny children's watch has a full interface adapted for children, and a protected body. They are less prone to breakages when falling and do not require constant interaction with the smartphone screen.

• 📍 precision GPS: Modern models are used LBS, Wi-Fi and GPS for maximum accurate positioning.
• 📞 Communication: support 4G Provides fast connection and high-quality video communication.
• 🔊 Quiet Mode: allows you to remotely activate the clock microphone to hear what is happening around the child.
• 💧 Waterproof: Most models have a standard IPX7 or IPX8, handwashing or getting caught in the rain.

It should be noted that all the functions of the watch require the installation of a special application (usually Mi Home or specialized Mi Bunny), which may require selecting the region "China" at the initial setup.

Set up parental controls and digital well-being

When you buy a device, you need to start customizing it right away. Standard Android tools combined into Digital Well-being allow you to flexibly manage your time of use. You can set limits for specific applications, such as allowing YouTube to only 1 hour a day, and leave messengers unlimited.

For deeper integration into the Xiaomi ecosystem, you can use a Mi Account with family group features, which allows you to see the location of the device (if geolocation is enabled) and remotely lock the screen in the event of loss, but for full control of content, it is better to link the child’s device to your Google Family Link account.

An important step is to set up the Google Play Store, which allows you to enable mandatory authentication for all purchases in your account settings, which will prevent accidental or intentional spending of money from your linked card to your game currency or paid apps.

⚠️ Warning: Do not give your child your primary Google or Mi Account password, create a separate profile for them, which will protect your personal photos, correspondence and payment data from accidental deletion or access.

It is also recommended to set up Safe Search in Chrome and YouTube Kids instead of regular YouTube, which will filter out most of the inappropriate content, although it does not guarantee 100% protection, so periodic monitoring of browser history is still necessary.

Blocking Advertising in MIUI and Applications

One of the main problems with Xiaomi’s budget smartphones is the built-in advertising in system applications. This is especially true for children’s psyche and safety, since a child can accidentally click on a malicious link. Fortunately, MIUI has a hidden setting that disables most advertising recommendations.

To remove ads, you need to go to the settings of each system application (Music, Explorer, Downloads) and find the Receive Recommendations switch, but the global method is more effective through the developer menu or disabling the msa service (MIUI System Ads).

Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data → Find “msa” → Prohibit

After the service is turned off, wait 10 seconds and confirm the action. It is also worth turning off personalized recommendations in the Passwords and Security section → Privacy → Advertising Services → Disable Ad Personalization.

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Tip: Once you turn off the ads in your system applications, restart the device. Some services cache the banner ads, and the reboot will clear this temporary file.

To block ads inside third-party games and applications that the child downloads himself, you can use DNS-filtering. In network settings (Private) DNS) Write down the address dns.adguard.com. This will cut off most of the advertising requests at the network level, without requiring the installation of additional applications.

Comparison of characteristics of children's devices Xiaomi

To make it easier for you to choose, we have compiled a comparative table of popular devices suitable for children of different ages, which takes into account the key parameters that affect daily use.

As you can see from the table, for younger age, the best watch Mi Bunny, which combines the functionality of the phone and tracker. For schoolchildren who need a full-fledged computer in their pocket for Zoom lessons and, better suited smartphones Redmi Note series with high-quality screens.

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The main conclusion: the perfect device for all occasions does not exist. 5-7 years better than clocks GPS, a. 10+ Smartphone with a good screen and configured parental control.

Don't forget to update your device software regularly. Security updates close vulnerabilities through which attackers could access a child's gadget's camera or microphone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)