Xiaomi: The world’s largest smartphone maker – mobile phones and other technology products
Xiaomi is currently the world’s largest smartphone maker. The company is based in Beijing, China, and manufactures not only mobile phones but also other technology products.
Beijing – Founded in 2010, Xiaomi initially focused on the Asian market. Since then, the company has become one of the world’s leading smartphone manufacturers and has expanded its product range by founding subsidiaries and acquiring other companies. In addition to smartphones, Xiaomi now also develops laptops, activity trackers, smartwatches and many different smart home and lifestyle products.
Xiaomi: the history and founding of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer
Xiaomi Technology was founded in April 2010. The main founding members include entrepreneur Lei Jun, who is the main investor and still CEO of the company, and Lin Bin, the company’s president. The other five founders are vice presidents of Xiaomi. The brand name is made up of the two characters for “small grain” (小米), which together also mean “small grain”. The name is derived from a Buddhist saying: “A single grain of rice may be small, but it can carry a mountain.” Just two years after its founding, the Xiaomi brand was firmly established in the Chinese market, with annual smartphone sales of over 10 million units.
Thanks to its financial success, Xiaomi is on the path to large-scale growth. On the one hand, further companies have been founded to expand the brand portfolio. On the other hand, Xiaomi has acquired well-known brands and integrated their knowledge and technology into the further development of its own products. In 2017, Xiaomi turned its attention to the European market for the first time and opened its first official Xiaomi store here. Until then, Xiaomi products were only sold online. Since 2019, Xiaomi stores have also been opening in various German cities.
Xiaomi smartphones: Xiaomi, Redmi and Pocophone – successful models
With its first smartphone, the Xiaomi 1, the company caused an international stir in the mobile industry. This model was comparable to the current market leaders in terms of its technical features, but at a significantly lower price. Over time, Xiaomi has consolidated and expanded its reputation as a brand for affordable high-end devices.
The Xiaomi product range currently includes three different smartphone series, each of which usually includes several models:
Xiaomi Mi series: smartphones in the mid- to upper-range with several sub-series
Xiaomi Mi Note: models with an excellent camera and a larger display
Xiaomi Mix: special-edition smartphones with an innovative design
Xiaomi Mi A: Android One smartphones with easy upgrades
Poco: mid- to high-end smartphones sold exclusively online, making them more affordable
Over time, the naming of the smartphone model series has changed: the main series will no longer have the “Mi” suffix and will be sold exclusively under the Xiaomi name. Redmi and Pocophone are sold as independent brands with only a loose connection to the parent company. With the exception of the special model Mi A, all Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with the Android-based operating system MIUI.
Xiaomi User Interface: Xiaomi’s smartphone operating system
The Xiaomi User Interface (MIUI for short) is a heavily customized version of the widely used Android operating system from Google. Visually, the design and interface are very similar to iOS or TouchWiz from Samsung. Since MIUI version 5, there have been significant differences between the operating system versions in China and other countries: Since the internet giant Google does not meet some of the Chinese government’s requirements, the Android developer’s services are not available in China. Therefore, these services have no longer been installed on Xiaomi devices in China since mid-2014.
Instead, Xiaomi has launched its own services to offer users appropriate services and generate profits. These services are now included in the installation of MIUI in and outside of China and cannot be deleted. Similar to Gmail, Google Maps or Google Pay, Xiaomi also has its own services for checking emails, navigating or paying for digital content such as themes and games. In addition, a proprietary browser is included in the operating system. Outside of China, using Xiaomi’s apps is an option, but there are many other possibilities.
Xiaomi: smartphone accessories, smartwatches and other tech products from China
Like most smartphone manufacturers, Xiaomi is quickly moving beyond the devices themselves. Instead, the brand is expanding its range to include accessories that help smartphones reach their full potential and make users’ lives easier. For example:
Chargers: ordinary chargers for home or car use and wireless chargers
External batteries: portable storage batteries that can be used anywhere to charge smartphones or other devices
Wearables: fitness trackers that record daily activity and sleep quality
Smartwatches: fitness trackers with advanced functions similar to those of smartphones
Bluetooth speakers: portable speakers that can be used anywhere to listen to music
Headphones: Bluetooth headphones for use with Xiaomi smartphones
Many products in the smartphone accessories segment are reminiscent of the designs and functions of the competitors Samsung and Apple. Xiaomi seems to want to position itself as the third major competitor. Compared to the two market leaders, Xiaomi products are often cheaper but offer slightly less functionality. However, for most customers, Xiaomi products are very cost-effective and a strong alternative to the top two suppliers in this segment. Xiaomi is increasingly positioning itself as a supplier that can provide customers with a one-stop service.
Xiaomi: from smartphones to electric toothbrushes and air purifiers
With the growing success of its smartphones and its own operating system, the company has steadily expanded its ambitions and goals: for example, in 2016, it launched its first robot vacuum cleaner in collaboration with Roborock. Since May 2018, the brand has also been selling other home automation products and solutions via the global online retailer Amazon. These products are aimed at everyone.
In the field of home automation, Xiaomi offers similar functions and a comfortable control experience as its competitors, but usually at a slightly lower or even lower price.
Xiaomi: more than just a smartphone manufacturer: technology from China
Xiaomi’s current product portfolio in the field of home automation and lifestyle includes the following products and product categories:
- various robot vacuum cleaners and floor cleaners
handheld vacuum cleaners
air filters, purifiers and fans
Surveillance cameras and camera systems
Smart lights
Door and window sensors and motion sensors
Thermometers, humidity and temperature sensors
WiFi routers and amplifiers
Smart electric shavers, hair dryers and toothbrushes
Backpacks, suitcases and fingerprint locks
Tools such as electric or battery-powered screwdrivers
Xiaomi smart home products can be controlled via the Xiaomi Home app. The app allows different sensors to be connected to each other and rules to be set up in connection with intrusion alarms.
Xiaomi: criticism, controversy, product sustainability and data protection
Like most large technology groups, Xiaomi’s products have also raised some questions. In the past, disagreements over patents or licensing arrangements have caused a stir, but these issues have now been resolved without exception. In its 2017 sustainability report, Greenpeace ranked Xiaomi poorly across a range of areas, from the environmental friendliness of electricity use to material reuse and the use of hazardous chemicals. However, this is not a problem unique to the Chinese manufacturer, but rather a general trend across the industry.
In addition, data protection advocates have repeatedly expressed concerns about Xiaomi. The reason is that Xiaomi devices automatically transmit personal data to the company’s servers in China or elsewhere. Xiaomi itself claims that it collects this user data anonymously and therefore complies with the corresponding data protection directives. In early 2022, Xiaomi smartphones were also accused of having a built-in filter and censorship list that can be activated remotely. However, the German Federal Office for Information Security and Technology was unable to confirm this information provided by Lithuania and Taiwan after extensive investigations.