Where to buy Chinese mobiles, trusted sites - November 2022
The amount and variety of smartphones that we currently have available on the market is enormous, so much so that when we want or need to change our terminal, it is common to get a real mess since the prices are very varied, however, the benefits of higher and lower quality are increasingly intermingled, and that line that separates the low, medium, high or premium range, is increasingly blurred.
For this reason, today in Androidsis we are not going to give you advice on how to buy the best Chinese phones or about which are the best smartphones, or the cheapest ones or those that offer a better value for money. Today it does not matter the type of mobile phone you need, nor the one you want nor the one that you will end up buying, because today what we are going to tell you is where to buy the best chinese mobiles market.
Debunking myths
When we talk about Chinese mobile phones, there are many people who still think simply of copies, counterfeits and devices of dubious quality, however, this market has evolved a lot and in most cases this is no longer the case. Let's think for a moment about brands like Meizu, Huawei, Vivo, Oppo or Xiaomi. All of them are firms that, although not yet available in many countries, are admired and desired by a growing number of consumers. The reason is simple: they have learned to manufacture quality devices but above all, have been able to combine good performance with much more advantageous prices than those offered by other more media brands such as Samsung or Apple.
On the other hand, talking about "copies" is a tricky business. It is clear that in the past, and still in the present, many brands are accused of copying others (one of the most recent and most prominent cases has been the OnePlus 5, which they say bears a "reasonable resemblance" to the iPhone 7 Plus from Apple) however, is the rectangular shape a copy? Is the arrangement of the icons a copy? Are the rounded edges a copy? Well, there I leave it.
Buy in Spain or buy in China?
When deciding where to buy the best Chinese mobiles, the big question is whether to do it in stores in Spain or in online stores in China. Basically, the difference between one or the other option affects the dimensions of the price and the guarantee, however, they are not the only aspects that we must consider:
In Chinese online stores we will find the lower prices market. On the other hand, when buying in Chinese stores we run the risk that our product will be detained in customs, which will mean a payment that can be around 40 euros. When buying in Spain or in any EU country we are covered by the legislation of the Consumer rights. The most important thing is that we will have a minimum period of 14 days to return the product free of charge, and at least two years of guarantee for problems derived from manufacturing defects. And directly related to the above is the After-sales service. Can you imagine having to contact a Chinese seller located thousands and thousands of kilometers away within eight months? When we buy in China, we will normally have to wait between thirty and even sixty days to receive the product at home; If we buy it in Spain, we can have the new mobile the next day.
Once you value these differences, only you make the decision but in any case, we are going to show you some of the best places where you can buy the best Chinese phones, both in Spain and abroad.
Stores in Spain with a European guarantee
As we said at the beginning, one of the main advantages of buying the best Chinese mobile phones in Spanish online stores (or located in any country within the framework of the European Union), is that we will have coverage of warranty for a minimum period of two years, as established by community consumer laws. In addition, we can make the return of a product at no cost and without having to give explanations within the first fourteen days of purchase (or the longer term established by the seller).
In return, prices are not usually that low How to buy on Chinese websites, however, we think that we already start from very advantageous manufacturer prices, we will have that guarantee that we have mentioned and also, we will receive our new mobile much earlier.
Some of the main stores in Spain where you can buy the best Chinese mobiles are the following:
The Amazon . Without a doubt, the internet sales giant is one of the best places to buy our new mobile phone. Their prices are usually the most advantageous on the market (almost always), you will have the Amazon guarantee and also, if you are a Prime user, you can have it at home for free the next day. In Amazon you can find the largest variety of the best Chinese mobiles, and that is why it is the store that we usually recommend you on most occasions.
. Without a doubt, the internet sales giant is one of the best places to buy our new mobile phone. Their prices are usually the most advantageous on the market (almost always), you will have the Amazon guarantee and also, if you are a Prime user, you can have it at home for free the next day. In Amazon you can find the largest variety of the best Chinese mobiles, and that is why it is the store that we usually recommend you on most occasions. Fnac is another one of the stores where you can acquire some of the best chinese mobiles. As with Amazon, if you are a member of this French chain you will have free shipping. On the contrary, its prices are not usually the best option on the market, nor does it offer as wide a variety of mobiles as Amazon. One of its latest news is that it has become an official Xiaomi distributor, so if you want a mobile from this brand, it is a good place to look.
is another one of the stores where you can acquire some of the best chinese mobiles. As with Amazon, if you are a member of this French chain you will have free shipping. On the contrary, its prices are not usually the best option on the market, nor does it offer as wide a variety of mobiles as Amazon. One of its latest news is that it has become an official Xiaomi distributor, so if you want a mobile from this brand, it is a good place to look. Media Markt It is another of the most important electronics, computer and telephony vendors. As well here! you will be able to find a generous variety of Chinese mobiles at a good price.
It is another of the most important electronics, computer and telephony vendors. As well here! you will be able to find a generous variety of Chinese mobiles at a good price. PC Components . Despite its name, this spanish seller based in Alhama (Murcia) it is one of the best known online stores in our country, and it also offers some Chinese mobiles that you will have at home the next day.
. Despite its name, this spanish seller based in Alhama (Murcia) it is one of the best known online stores in our country, and it also offers some Chinese mobiles that you will have at home the next day. Power Planet Online . And we still do not move from Murcia because in the towns of Alhama and Totana there is one of my favorite Chinese mobile phone sellers. They serve all of Spain, they have very advantageous prices, express shipping, their after-sales service is fantastic and they offer one of the largest varieties in Chinese mobiles and all kinds of accessories. I speak with experience. You can access directly from here!.
. And we still do not move from Murcia because in the towns of Alhama and Totana there is one of my favorite Chinese mobile phone sellers. They serve all of Spain, they have very advantageous prices, express shipping, their after-sales service is fantastic and they offer one of the largest varieties in Chinese mobiles and all kinds of accessories. I speak with experience. You can access directly from here!. Geek Life It operates from Spain so you will have a local guarantee and after-sales service. In addition, in your online store You have the option of choosing shipping from China (cheaper) or from Spain in 48 hours; You can even reserve products to be shipped to you as soon as they are available.
Buy direct from China
Buying the best Chinese mobiles directly from Chinese websites has a fundamental advantage that explains its success: in most cases, offer the best prices on the market. However, the disadvantages that we mentioned at the beginning are of such importance that we must be very aware of them. Therefore, I invite you to upload a few paragraphs again and review them carefully.
That said, some of the most popular Chinese stores where you can buy the best Chinese phones at the best price are:
AliExpress It is known as "the Chinese Amazon". In this Online store you will find practically any mobile phone (and almost everything you can imagine) at incredibly attractive prices. In addition, given their magnitude, they have gone to great lengths to offer security to buyers, although it is also true that many users would not share this opinion. But I do not want you to think that I am trying to insult these stores: on a personal basis, up to three times I have not received the product I had bought (including a Xiaomi router) and on all three occasions my money was returned without having to give further explanations.
It is known as "the Chinese Amazon". In this Online store you will find practically any mobile phone (and almost everything you can imagine) at incredibly attractive prices. In addition, given their magnitude, they have gone to great lengths to offer security to buyers, although it is also true that many users would not share this opinion. But I do not want you to think that I am trying to insult these stores: on a personal basis, up to three times I have not received the product I had bought (including a Xiaomi router) and on all three occasions my money was returned without having to give further explanations. Light In The Box It is another of the most popular Chinese online stores; ships to almost any country, including Spain, and your catalog it is really wide.
It is another of the most popular Chinese online stores; ships to almost any country, including Spain, and your catalog it is really wide. Deal Xtreme is a Chinese online store very similar to the previous one, with a wide variety of mobiles and accessories at very attractive prices.
is a Chinese online store very similar to the previous one, with a wide variety of mobiles and accessories at very attractive prices. Each Buyer , another option for buy your new mobile online the best price.
, another option for buy your new mobile online the best price. Igogo it is page in spanish and with a good after-sales support that distributes products to a large number of countries, including Spain.
it is page in spanish and with a good after-sales support that distributes products to a large number of countries, including Spain. Bang Good, a shop who usually launch incredible offers, many of which we have announced here. Without a doubt, it is one of the best options to buy the best Chinese mobiles if you decide to do it abroad. In addition, it has several warehouses in Europe so, if they have it in stock, you can have your new mobile at home sooner than expected.
Buy the best Chinese mobiles directly on the websites of their manufacturers
This is one of the safest options we have however, it is also one of the most difficult since still few Chinese manufacturers sell their terminals directly abroad, and those that do, are present in a very limited number of countries. Despite this, it is a good option, especially to access possible promotions or in case of requiring technical support.
At present, some of the Chinese manufacturers that already have this service are the following:
Huawei . China's largest manufacturer has a european online store where we can buy most of their products. In addition, you will be able to contact the after-sales service and even make returns within the stipulated terms and conditions.
. China's largest manufacturer has a european online store where we can buy most of their products. In addition, you will be able to contact the after-sales service and even make returns within the stipulated terms and conditions. As well Meizu makes shipments to practically everyone, although their stock is not always the best.
makes shipments to practically everyone, although their stock is not always the best. Another of the largest Chinese manufacturers, Oppo , has a Online store from which it makes shipments to different countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and also Spain.
, has a Online store from which it makes shipments to different countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and also Spain. You can also buy most terminals ZTE at their Online store in Spain.
at their Online store in Spain. With respect to Xiaomi , one of the most popular and internationally known Chinese manufacturers, at the moment only makes shipments to France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The main reason for this limitation is the patent problems that you might encounter in other regions.
, one of the most popular and internationally known Chinese manufacturers, at the moment only makes shipments to France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The main reason for this limitation is the patent problems that you might encounter in other regions. Ulefone, a Chinese firm that stands out with mobile phones with very good performance and prices that are surprisingly low, also has page in spanish (and English) from which it serves different countries, including Spain.
Now that you know the main advantages and disadvantages when it comes to buying the best Chinese mobiles directly from Chinese online stores or in Spain, the decision is yours alone: Do you prefer guarantee and speed of delivery or do you prefer a more advantageous price and are you able to arm yourself with patience?
TOP 5 CHINESE SMARTPHONES FOR UNDER $200
It is developing quickly in Smartphone Marketing! More and more high-cost-performance smartphones you can currently select from Chinese Brands. And here, I will recommend a list of great phones under $200 for you! If you want to buy a new smartphone, you can refer to this article.
Top 5 Chinese Smartphones for Under $200
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Coupon: GB$MPnote32 $153.99
Let’s get the ball rolling with one of the best bang-for-the-buck phones you can currently get from China for less than $200 – the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5. Xiaomi’s mid-ranger is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (also available in 4GB/64GB). The hardware will push a large 5.99-inch LCD IPS display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160px (FHD+).
The Redmi Note 5 is then equipped with a main 12MP rear shooter accompanied by a 5MP secondary sensor to create photos with a shallow depth of field effect; meanwhile, a 13MP front camera will be snapping your selfies.
The smartphone packs a big 4000mAh battery runs MIUI based on Android 8.0 Oreo and supports a wide selection of 4G networks in its Global version.
2. Nubia Z17 Lite
Another really interesting handset that flies under the radar of most people is the Nubia Z17 Lite. Albeit not too recent, Nubia’s phone is a great mix between specs, camera quality, and design. The handset is indeed equipped with a nice 5.5-inch Full HD display and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 octa-core CPU, paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
Camera-wise, we find a 13MP dual rear camera setup accompanied by a dual-LED flash and 4K recording capability, along with a high-resolution 16MP shooter for selfies.
The Nubia Z17 Lite comes with a good-sized 3200mAh capacity battery and supports 4G LTE connectivity.
3. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus
Coupon:GB$MP5P32 $153.99
Another really interesting handset that flies under the radar of most people is the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus.
Equipped with a high 5.99-inch FHD + big screen, Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 4G Phablet gives you the ultimate visual experience. It uses a Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor with 2.0GHz frequency, which makes you play big games and watch videos smoothly. 12.0MP and 5.0MP cameras let you take sharper and more vibrant photos anywhere and anytime. Besides, adds a fingerprint sensor and a massive 4000mAh battery.
4. HUAWEI Y7 Pro 2018
If you really want a Huawei phone but your budget is limited to $200, the latest HUAWEI Y7 Pro (2018) might be what you’re looking for. The Y7 Pro comes with a simple design and a full metal body within which we find a large 5.99-inch 1440 x 720 display with an 8.0MP front shooter above it. On the back we instead find a 13.0MP + 2.0MP camera combo to snap photos with a shallow depth of field effect.
The smartphone is powered by a power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (expandable). On the handset, we also find EMUI 8.0 based on Android Oreo and a 3000mAh capacity battery.
5. HUAWEI Honor 9 Lite
Another great handset coming from Huawei’s sub-brand – Honor – is the HUAWEI Honor 9 Lite. Honor’s mid-range phone comes with a 5.65-inch FullHD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, and it’s fueled by a powerful Huawei HiSilicon KIRIN 659 along with 3GB of storage and 32GB of internal storage that is expandable via microSD.
The smartphone also packs a main 13MP rear shooter accompanied by a 2MP B&W secondary camera and a dual-LED flashlight. On the front, we instead have a 13MP selfie snapper.
An averagely sized 3000mAh battery then keeps the lights on, while it runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box
Above all, there are all the great smartphones which under $200, I hope they can help you to choose an affordable phone if you are looking for your next handset.
Xiaomi's Mi Mix 2 is the most luxurious Chinese phone ever made—and it works in the US
Mashable Choice is a badge of honor, reserved for the absolute best stuff you can see, use, or do. If it's Choice, it's worth your time.
Apple's iPhones and Samsung's Galaxy phones dominate worldwide, but in Asia -- and specifically in China -- homegrown brands like Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi are rapidly closing in on them.
Xiaomi, the fifth largest smartphone maker worldwide, in particular is ready to lead, not by repeatedly copying the iPhone, but with industrial design that dazzles. The company started down this path last year with the gorgeous bezel-less Mi Mix, and now it's following it up with the Mi Mix 2, a ceramic sliver from the future that I can't stop fawning over.
Xiaomi didn't just launch another nice-looking premium phone with the Mi Mix. It put a stake in the ground and stepped out of Apple and Samsung's shadows.
The Mi Mix was a concept phone that pushed the boundaries of smartphone design and innovation. It used ceramic, came with a huge bezel-less screen, and eschewed a traditional earpiece and unsightly proximity sensors for ultrasound technology to hide these things underneath the screen.
Its designers even convinced Google to change Android's Compatibility Definition Document (CDD) to allow for screens with aspect ratios larger than 16:9 (Mi Mix had a 17:9 ratio) and with rounded corners -- two features that are present on many 2017 flagships and wouldn't have been possible if not for the Mi Mix's pioneering.
The Mix Mix collected critical acclaim, but there were just two problems: It wasn't sold in the U.S. and it didn't support U.S. 4G LTE networks. You could only drool over it from afar, and even if you managed to import the phone, you'd be constrained to Wi-Fi.
Xiaomi's new Mi Mix 2 still won't be sold in the U.S., but at the very least it now comes works with U.S. 4G LTE networks like AT&T and T-Mobile, making an import actually worth it. The phone's available in select markets on Sept. 15.
The 64GB will cost for 3,299 RMB (about $506); 128GB for 3,599 RMB (about $552), and the 256GB variant costs 3,999 RMB (about $614). These prices are unreal for a phone of this caliber, especially when Apple and Samsung are pushing prices into the $1,000 range.
Forces of attraction
The back is made of scratch-resistant ceramic. Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
I'm fortunate enough to have held almost every premium phone ever made, but nothing prepared me for the Mi Mix 2. It's in a luxury class of its own.
As much as I love my Jet Black iPhone 7, the glass-and-metal Galaxy Note 8, and even the titanium and ceramic Essential Phone, the Mi Mix 2 just feels so polished.
The glass display and ceramic back spills flush into the aluminum frame with zero gaps. The Mi Mix 2's materials are as luxurious as a Swiss-made watch, and there really is nothing about it that feels cheap.
The standard Mi Mix 2 comes with an aluminum frame. Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
Xiaomi's paid careful attention to all the details -- all of the lines and ports and speaker holes are perfectly symmetrical -- and I appreciated it every moment I held it in my hand. It's truly one of the most elegant phones ever made.
Ceramic, as you may already know, is virtually scratch-proof, but it's not an easy material to work with. Even though ceramic is so difficult to mass produce (yield rates are notoriously low for ceramic-based products), Xiaomi decided it needed to master it to stand out.
I can't stress enough how nice the standard Mi Mix 2 looks and feels.
Donovan Sung, Xiaomi's Director of Product Management and Marketing, explained to me during a briefing how over 200,400 tons of pressure is applied to ceramic in its raw, mushy, pounded down state. Then, the material is baked in an oven at nearly 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 days. After that, you wait up to 12 hours for it all to cool down and shrink to the right volume, see if it meets quality assurance, and then apply CNC techniques to further shape it.
It's an excessive amount of work for a phone, but it's worth it Sung says. "After every 3-4 samples, the blades [used to cut ceramic] get so dulled you have to replace them because it’s just a really, really hard material to work with."
The screen's 5.99-inches, but the whole phone feels so small because of the virtually non-existent bezels. Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
I've handed the Mi Mix 2 to several colleagues and they all were awestruck by how dense, and solid it felt. There's just something about the slightly cold-to-the-touch ceramic back that just feels better than glass or metal.
Xiaomi also says it applies an anti-fingerprint coating to the ceramic, but honestly they're still quite visible on the mirrored finish. Another downside to ceramic: It's incredibly slippery. I dropped the phone and dented a corner while photographing it. But putting a case over the Mi Mix 2 defeats the point of its design.
The Special Edition, all ceramic model, feels even better. Credit: raymond wong/mashable
Still, I can't stress enough how nice the standard Mi Mix 2 looks and feels. Better yet, there's going to be an even better model, the Mi Mix 2 Special Edition with a unibody ceramic case in place of the aluminum. I only had a few minutes to hold the SE model and it's even more luxurious. The all-ceramic version will cost more than the aluminum/ceramic version, but Xiaomi didn't say by how much.
Death to the "notch"
You won't find a "notch" on the Mi Mix 2. Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
Stunning design aside, the Mi Mix 2 has a bezel-less edge-to-edge screen that sucks you in the second you power it on.
Like the original Mi Mix, the phone's display stretches to the edges on three sides, with a single narrow bezel below the screen. It's a design I've seen before on Sharp's Aquos Crystal, but is all the more magnetic because the corners are rounded and there's no notch that cuts into the display.
Not that the notch is a problem -- I quickly stopped noticing it on the Essential phone -- but it's just aesthetically more pleasing without one.
You're basically holding just the screen. Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
The Mi Mix 2's 5.99-inch screen is not OLED, and its resolution is only 2,160 x 1,080 (FHD+), but it never bothered me at all during my first week of testing. It's still plenty bright and colors are vibrant thanks to DCI-P3 wide color gamut. While it's no Note 8 display, it's still better than the Essential Phone, which looks rather dim in comparison.
The display specs might disappoint the hardest-to-please of geeks, but it also means one perk: excellent battery life. I easily got up to 1.5 days of usage on a single charge from its 3,400 mAh battery. And besides, it comes with Quick Charge 3.0 so you can always top it off quickly if you need to.
Flagship features and specs
The fingerprint sensor might be the fastest I've ever used on a phone Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
The phone still uses ultrasonic proximity sensors in lieu of those ugly black dots found on all other phones, but the earpiece is now a regular one. Sung says Mi Mix users didn't like how the piezoelectric speaker that vibrated sound off the glass display and into your ears dispersed sound in all directions instead of directly forward.
On the bottom "chin" bezel, you'll find a selfie camera (more on that below) tucked in the bottom right corner. And around the back, there's a fingerprint sensor that's one of the fastest I've ever used (it seriously unlocks almost too fast) below the camera.
Sadly, you won't find a headphone jack or a memory card slot for expanding the internal storage. The Mi Mix 2 comes with 6GB of RAM and either 64, 128, or 256GB of storage, and the Mix 2 Special Edition with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. But why no headphone jack or card slot?
Do you see the selfie camera tucked into the lower right corner? Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
Sung says they dropped the headphone jack because most of its users have already gone wireless. As for why there's no storage expansion, he blames it on poor compatibility, the same reason why OnePlus's phones don't have them. "We feel memory cards are very prone to error and they’re one of the largest source of customer service complaints. So we don’t put memory card slots in our flagship phones."
On the plus side, the Mi Mix does come with dual SIM card slots, if you really need to juggle two numbers and networks.
3D games are buttery smooth and look incredible. Credit: raymond wong/mashable
All of these features mean nothing if the phone's slow and performance stinks. Fortunately, that's not the case on the Mi Mix 2. It's just as fast and smooth as any flagship Android phone. Underneath the hood, it's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip and 6GB of RAM.
Xiaomi's still crazy about its MIUI (version 9.0 now) interface that sits on top of Android 7.1.1 Nougat. I didn't like it as much years ago when I reviewed the Mi Note and Mi 5, mainly because it looks like an iOS knockoff, but I can tolerate it now.
The Recent Apps UI looks like an old version of iOS's App Switcher. Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
MIUI 9 has a minimalist design with nice flat icons, and some of the Xiaomi customizations like Quick Ball, a little floating onscreen button that resembles iOS's onscreen accessibility button gives you shortcuts for things like opening the Recent Apps window and taking screenshots. There are a bunch more very small, tiny things you can turn on within the Settings app, but overall, I like how MIUI doesn't slow anything down.
LTE speed is also solid so you're definitely not getting gimped cellular antennas. I popped in my T-Mobile SIM card and ran the Speedtest app and got 27.92 Mbps download and 28.77 Mbps upload speeds. It's about as fast as my iPhone 7, which 28.23 Mbps downloads and 29.64 Mbps uploads. An Essential Phone managed 27.76 Mbps downloads and 30.91 Mbps uploads. And the Galaxy Note 8 managed 31.19 Mbps download and 23.02 Mbps upload.
Some sharp, pretty photos
The back camera has 12 megapixels with an f/2.0 aperture. Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
The Mi Mix 2's cameras are good, but not what I'd call great. The 12-megapixel sensor is fast to shoot and autofocus is pretty quick, but I noticed details are a little soft and not as crisp as on an iPhone 7 or Samsung Galaxy S8 or Note 8. Colors are also on the muted side and not as vibrant. HDR processing is also slow and low-light photos have some noticeable image noise.
These things aren't really as noticeable if you're posting to Instagram, but on a computer screen, you can see the difference. If anything, perhaps a software update can fix these things.
CARD ID: 261988
I'm a little disappointed there aren't dual cameras -- this is a flagship phone, after all -- but Sung says they would rather have a really great single camera than a dual camera that is half-baked. There are many kinds of dual camera systems, and he thinks anything less than a wide-angle + telephoto, like on the iPhone 7 Plus or Note 8, is inferior.
That said, if you really want dual cameras, then maybe get its Mi 6 phone instead.
Now, about those selfies. As I mentioned earlier, the selfie camera is located in the lower right corner. You can totally take a photo from that angle, but you probably won't. I found my inner palm always blocked the lens (you won't have this problem if you're a leftie) and the angle (looking up into your nose) was always unflattering.
The age guesser within the camera app is a Xiaomi classic. It thinks I'm 15 with a hat on. I'll take it! Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
Instead, the phone actually recommends flipping the phone upside down before taking selfies. It's a minor annoyance, but once you get used to it, the camera's up top and the angle's correct again. (This is one reason why the Essential Phone has a notch for the selfie camera and the company wasn't willing to move it to the bottom bezel.)
Xiaomi's finally making moves
I Credit: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
In Asia, Xiaomi products are hugely popular and getting more so as the company expands into more countries (it now sells phones in 40 countries compared to seven just two years ago).
Its phones continue to sell out almost immediately. The Mi Note sold out in three minutes and the first batch of Mi Mix in 10 seconds. You may not have heard of Xiaomi in the U.S., but you will soon.
While the company still hasn't officially started selling its phones in the U.S. -- it's dipped its toes in with fitness trackers, accessories, and the Mi Box, to name a few non-phone devices -- it still plans to in the future. Xiaomi's already selling phones in Mexico and some South American countries.
So what's taking so long when its so popular worldwide? Sung says it comes down to resources. He says the U.S. phone market is extremely saturated compared to India, Indonesia, and Russia, three countries it's expanded to and is quickly rising to the top in.
Supporting U.S. 4G LTE bands is a baby step, but an important one if ever wants to play in the U.S.
"When we look at a new market to enter, we look at a couple of things. The first thing we look at is the population of the country so it helps us understand the total addressable market. Obviously the U.S. is a very large market. We also look at the number of internet users and how fast that’s growing. Then, we look at how many of those users already know about Xiaomi and the Xiaomi brand."
At seven, Xiaomi's still pretty young. It doesn't need to enter the U.S. to become a global tech superpower. There are plenty of big lakes to fish at, and that's where it's concentrating its efforts on.
But the U.S. is a market it can't ignore forever. "We will enter the U.S. at some point in the future. Just not right now. We really want to make a big splash," Sung says.
Xiaomi's been towing this line for years, but it's finally making the right moves. The Mi Mix 2 may not be sold through the company's online store in the U.S., but if you really want it, it won't be hard to find find it online some other way. Supporting U.S. 4G LTE bands is a baby step, but an important one if ever wants to play in the U.S.
I've reviewed several of Xiaomi's previous phones, but I could never whole-heartedly recommend them because you couldn't use them in the U.S., but now I can with the Mi Mix 2. It's just so beautiful and unlike any other phone.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
The Good
Ceramic back feels incredible
Flagship specs and performance
Finally supports U.S. 4G LTE networks
Sharp bezel-less display
Great battery life
The Bad
No water resistance
No headphone jack
No dual cameras
Camera takes soft photos
The Bottom Line
Xiaomi's Mi Mix 2 is a ceramic sliver from the future, and best of all, finally works in the U.S. even if it's not sold here.
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