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Xiaomi's smartphones and smart home devices and no longer just inferior cheap alternatives to the more prestigious brands. In many cases, their features are equal to, if not better, than more expensive, but otherwise comparable, devices. This has obviously impressed customers, as Xiaomi has recently risen to become the second most popular smartphone brand in the world. It makes sense then to put their brand name, and not Mi, front and centre. The first Xiaomi branded smartphone will be the China-only Xiaomi MIX 4.
This change applies only to Xiaomi, while its sub-brands will still carry their branding. POCO will continue making entry-level to mid-range smartphones, Black Shark will remain on smartphones aimed at gamers. There will be no Xiaomi POCO or Xiaomi Black Shark.
However, Redmi smartphones will be just that, and no longer sold as Xiaomi Redmi devices. Instead, the shared Mi logo will represent the parent company. As Xiaomi puts it:
Xiaomi products represent the pinnacle of technology and offer a premium experience. Redmi products bring big innovation at a more accessible price point and are aimed at [a] younger audience.
The one branding that will have confused many in the smart home space is Mijia. I am still not quite sure what distinguishes Mijia from Xiaomi products. I hope this change will also clarify future smart home products and have them either marketed as just Xiaomi or Mijia products.
About Liam Alexander Colman
Liam Alexander Colman is an experienced Home Assistant user who has been utilizing the platform for a variety of projects over an extended period. His journey began with a Raspberry Pi, which quickly grew to three Raspberry Pis and eventually a full-fledged server. Liam's current operating system of choice is Unraid, with Home Assistant comfortably running in a Docker container.With a deep understanding of the intricacies of Home Assistant, Liam has an impressive setup, consisting of various Zigbee devices, and seamless integrations with existing products such as his Android TV box. For those interested in learning more about Liam's experience with Home Assistant, he shares his insights on how he first started using the platform and his subsequent journey.