What Xiaomi does itself: analysis of its own developments and production

When it comes to Xiaomi, many people see the company as a maker of gadgets from other people’s components. However, over the past 10 years, the brand has transformed into a technology giant that not only designs but also independently manufactures critical components. From its own Surge processors to innovative sensors in fitness bracelets, Xiaomi is gradually reducing dependence on suppliers, allowing you to control prices and quality.

In this article, we will look at exactly what technologies and devices Xiaomi develops without the participation of third parties, where their factories are located, and why this is important for the end user. You will learn about little-known facts – for example, that the company produces its own microphone arrays for smart speakers, as well as how vertical integration affects the cost of Redmi and POCO smartphones.

Own processors: the Surge series and its evolution

Xiaomi’s first and most ambitious hardware project was the Surge processor, which launched its first Surge S1 chip in 2017 in the Mi 5C, but was not widely adopted due to poor performance.

• 🔹 Surge S2 (2021 – the first processor with support 5G, It was used in the Mi 11 Lite. 5G NE.
• 🔹 Surge G1 (2023 – a tablet gaming chip optimized for HyperOS.
• 🔹 Surge T1 (Announced in 2026 – a flagship processor with architecture ARMv9 neural coprocessor.

All Surge chips are manufactured at the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) factory in China, commissioned by Xiaomi, which allows you to bypass sanctions restrictions on products from TSMC and Qualcomm. For example, the Surge T1 is positioned as an alternative to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for the domestic market of China.

⚠️ Note: Surge-based smartphones are not officially shipped to Europe and Russia, but can only be purchased through gray channels, which can cause warranty and update issues.

2. Screens and display technologies: AMOLED and MiniLED

Xiaomi not only orders panels from Samsung Display or BOE, but also independently develops key technologies for screens.

• 📱 E4 AMOLED — own modification of the matrix with a peak brightness of 1500 nits, debuted in Xiaomi 12 Pro.
• 🔦 MiniLED lighting for Mi TVs TV Master (developed in conjunction with the TCL CSOT, But the patent belongs to Xiaomi).
• 🎨 TrueColor technology – color calibration algorithm implemented at the hardware level.

In 2023, Xiaomi opened its own factory for the production of flexible products. OLED-30,000 panels per month in Wuhan, China, are used in the Mix Fold 3 and Redmi smartphones. K70 According to DigiTimes, by 2026, the company plans to increase production to 60% of domestic needs.

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If your Xiaomi smartphone screen has become dim after a year of use, check the settings → Settings → Display → Autobrightness → Adaptive backlight. Often the problem is solved by resetting the calibration.

Batteries and fast charging systems

Xiaomi is one of the few manufacturers that develops its own solutions for batteries and chargers.

• ⚡ HyperCharge – charging technology up to 210 watts (in Redmi Note 12 Turbo).
• 🔋 Silicon-Oxygen Battery - battery with silicon anode (energy density) +10% compared to Li-Po).
• 🔌 Surge P1 — First proprietary power management chip (2022).

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi doesn’t make the battery cells themselves (they are supplied by ATL and Sunwoda), but develops battery architectures and charging algorithms. For example, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra uses a dual battery (two cells of 2500 mAh), connected in parallel to reduce heat.

⚠️ Note: Using non-original chargers with HyperCharge technology could cause the cooling system in the smartphone to fail. Xiaomi blocks fast charging if detects an uncertified adapter.

4.Cameras: from lenses to processing algorithms

Unlike most brands, Xiaomi is not limited to buying modules from Sony or Samsung, but is actively involved in their development.

• 📸 Leica Summicron – Optics with Aperture f/1.6, It was developed in collaboration with Leica, but with its own autofocus algorithms.
• 🔍 Phone lenses for Xiaomi 13 Ultra (increase 5)× 10×) Designed by Xiaomi engineers in partnership with Sunny Optical.
• 🤖 Neural Engine – an image processing processor integrated into Surge chips.

Moreover, in 2023, Xiaomi filed a patent for a periscope camera with a liquid lens that allows you to change the focal length without mechanical moving parts. This technology will debut in Xiaomi 15 Ultra (expected in 2026).

5.Smart Technology and IoT: From Sensors to Robots

Xiaomi is a leader in the smart home market, and many of the Mi Home ecosystem devices are developed entirely within the company.

• 🏠 Mi Sensor Set – motion, door opening and gas leak sensors with their own microcontrollers.
• 🤖 CyberDog – a robot-dog based on the NVIDIA Jetson, but with Xiaomi Robotics proprietary software OS.
• 🔊 Mi AI Speaker – smart speakers with XiaoAI processor developed by Xiaomi.

Xiaomi is particularly interesting in making its own microphone arrays for voice-controlled devices, for example, the Mi Smart Speaker uses 6 noise-canceling microphones designed by Xiaomi engineers in Shenzhen.

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All Xiaomi devices with the prefix "Mi" (e.g. Mi Band, Mi Robot) contain the company's own designs, while products under the Redmi or POCO brand are more often assembled from third-party components.

6.Software: from MIUI to HyperOS

Although Xiaomi uses Android as its foundation, its proprietary shells are completely independent developments:

• 📱 MIUI — More than 500 million users, own algorithms for memory optimization.
• 🚀 HyperOS (2023) – a new system that combines smartphones, laptops and IoT devices.
• 🔒 Mi Security Center – antivirus kernel with a threat database updated every 2 hours.

It is important that Xiaomi does not depend on Google for key services, for example, in China, the company’s smartphones work without Google Play Services, using their own analogues: Mi App Store, Mi Cloud and Mi Pay, which allows you to bypass sanctions restrictions and save on licensing fees.

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If your Xiaomi smartphone is slowing down after upgrading to HyperOS, try turning off animation: go to Settings → Special features → Delete animations. This will speed up the interface by 15-20%.

Plants and production facilities

Xiaomi owns or controls 7 of its own plants in China, India and Indonesia, where up to 40% of its products are produced.

• 🏭 Plant in Changsha (China) – Assembly of smartphones Redmi and POCO (capacity of 1 million devices/month).
• 🏭 Noida, India, the largest factory outside of China, produces Mi TV and powerbank and.
• 🏭 Jakarta plant, Indonesia – specializes in smart machinery for Southeast Asia.

Interestingly, Xiaomi uses a modular production system: the same line can assemble both smartphones and robot vacuum cleaners, allowing flexibility to respond to demand. For example, in 2023, the Changsha plant was repurposed from the release of the Redmi Note 11 to the Xiaomi Pad 6 in a record 3 weeks.

⚠️ Note: Smartphones assembled at Xiaomi’s Indian factory (marked “Made in India”) often have a simplified cooling system compared to the Chinese versions, due to the climatic features of the region.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s self-development