March 1, 2026, 7:56 am | Read time: 6 minutes
Xiaomi has been popular in this country for quite some time due to fair prices and good hardware. The company has been present in Germany since August 2019. TECHBOOK explains what consumers should watch out for with Xiaomi.
Overview
Xiaomi is a Major Player
The company was founded in 2010 and introduced its first smartphone in 2011. Since then, Xiaomi has successfully expanded its portfolio. The manufacturer offers not only smartphones but also various other tech products such as TVs, laptops, and wearables.
Smartphone Market Share
In 2019, Xiaomi temporarily became the market leader in its home country, China. Globally, Xiaomi ranks among the top three with Apple and Samsung, according to Statista (unless BKK, which includes Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus, is counted as a single manufacturer). Depending on the quarter and especially with Apple’s release of a new iPhone, positions may shift. Xiaomi’s smartphone brands once included Mi and Redmi. Mi was the name for Xiaomi’s high-end smartphones, while Redmi covered affordable entry-level and mid-range devices. Mi was discontinued, so new flagship models now only carry the brand name “Xiaomi” combined with a number. The Redmi designation is still in use.
Wearables Market Share
In wearables, the company ranks second, significantly behind Apple (Apple Watch), followed by Samsung and Huawei. The company has been particularly successful with its relatively inexpensive fitness trackers, the Mi Bands.
Xiaomi’s Portfolio
Xiaomi’s portfolio includes not only smartphones but also numerous other devices, gadgets, and software, such as apps, laptops, headphones, fitness bands, TVs, smart home and IoT products (Internet of Things), as well as razors, bags, and shoes. In the “Fortune Global 500” for 2021, a list of companies with the highest revenues worldwide, Xiaomi ranked 338th. In 2019, it was ranked 468th.
The company went public in July 2018 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Xiaomi described itself to TECHBOOK as “an open, transparent, publicly traded, independently managed and operated company listed on the HKEx.” The HKEx is the holding company of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Globally Positioned
The company is now active in more than 80 countries worldwide. Upon inquiry from TECHBOOK, Xiaomi stated that it is present in almost all key European markets, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The smartphones are sold online, in stores, and also through telecommunications providers. Since August 2019, the devices have been officially available on Amazon.de, at Media Markt, Saturn, and in the shops of providers like O2.
What Does “Xiaomi” Mean and How Is It Pronounced?
The name “Xiaomi” literally translates to millet and represents the company’s humble beginnings and attention to detail. According to Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi, millet is associated with a Buddhist wisdom that suggests a small grain can be as significant as a mountain. The brand name “Mi” also has a meaning: the abbreviation stands for “Mobile Internet.” Xiaomi also claims it means “Mission Impossible,” supposedly due to the company’s challenging early days.
We won’t delve into explanations for pronouncing Xiaomi. Instead, just listen to the clip. The emphasis on the last syllable is often missed in Germany.
Is Data Privacy a Concern?
Xiaomi’s Android smartphones run on its own user interface, MIUI, which has been developed since 2010 and has faced significant criticism. In 2014, it was reported that Xiaomi sent user data, logs, and contact information to its servers in China via its cloud messaging service. An update allowed users to disable the service, stopping the data transfer. In 2016, it was revealed that Xiaomi smartphones not only send personal data to China but also have a backdoor (archived) that allows the company to install apps on the smartphone without user permission.
According to Xiaomi, “Xiaomi devices create files for internal settings and some applications but do not collect personal user data.” Xiaomi assured TECHBOOK that data collected from users in the EU remains in the EU. This strategy has been in place even before the GDPR. Depending on the location, data is processed by cloud servers from Amazon, Microsoft, and Alibaba Cloud.
To reinforce this statement, Xiaomi refers to an examination of its smartphones by the BSI, the Federal Office for Information Security in Germany, which was completed in mid-January 2022. According to the report, the agency found no anomalies regarding security that would require further investigation or other measures. In particular, the BSI could not find the originally reported transfer of filter lists.
A Xiaomi spokesperson said in response: “Our customers are our top priority. It has been shown that we comply with all EU and national data protection and security laws as well as all applicable EU standards for devices. We welcome the exchange with users, regulators, and other stakeholders like the BSI, as we are committed to continuous improvement and innovation.”
Can the Xiaomi Mi 9 really do as much as a Galaxy S10?
Will Elon Musk Soon Take Over the US Division of TikTok?
What About the Warranty?
Devices purchased in Germany since August 2019 have after-sales services and warranty through Xiaomi, as the company informed us. The after-sales services are offered in partnership with third-party providers like Ingram Micro. Those who buy elsewhere must have services like repairs performed by the respective retailer. Devices purchased in the EU, according to the Xiaomi spokesperson, are not sent to China for repair but are handled locally.
Xiaomi does not offer an international warranty and does not cover physical or water damage. The company also does not provide a warranty for devices purchased through other sites and retailers, rather than directly from the company.
Connections to the Communist Party of China?
The company was founded by Lei Jun, who is also the CEO. With a fortune of approximately $42.7 billion in 2025, Lei Jun is one of the wealthiest men in China. In 2014, Forbes named him Businessman of the Year. Since 2013, Lei Jun has also been a deputy of the Chinese National People’s Congress, initially reportedly as non-partisan. Whether he is now a member of the Communist Party (CP) is unclear–but it is likely. For example, in 2019, he was recognized by the Chinese regime as an “Outstanding Builder of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.”
Moreover, most major Chinese companies have connections to the CP. Committees of party members are often established within companies to ensure their influence. Chinese companies are rightly under special scrutiny in many countries due to their relationship with the CP. The CP is a one-party system that leads the country authoritatively, suppressing opposition parties and denying them any power. Among the numerous atrocities for which the Communist Party is responsible are massacres of peaceful protesters, the death penalty for minors, and torture.