We explore Xiaomi phones' trade-offs: HyperOS ads, stubborn preinstalled apps, confusing model names, flash-sale stunts, and the Leica tie-up's real impact.
© A. Krivonosov
Xiaomi has long built a broad fan base on the mix of strong hardware, advanced technology and prices that stay within reach. Its phones often stand out as the best value in their class, yet they also come with quirks that stir mixed reactions. Many owners concede that the impressive bang for the buck arrives with brand habits that can test even devoted followers.
One of the most debated traits is the presence of ads embedded in HyperOS. They surface in system apps and within settings, chipping away at the sense of privacy and control. Officially, these integrations help keep prices down; in practice, users feel their phone partly turns into an ad space. The option to switch the banners off does exist, but it’s buried deep in the menus, leaving a sense of deliberate friction and highlighting the fine line between affordability and hidden trade‑offs.
Almost every new Xiaomi handset greets its owner with a pile of preloaded software. The initial excitement can fade when the home screen arrives already stuffed with games, partner services and system “recommendations.” Even after removing some of it, the same apps may quietly return after an update. For Xiaomi, it’s a way to shave costs; for users, it often feels like an intrusion into personal space. The enthusiast community pushes back by building tools to safely strip the extras, a reminder of how resilient the brand’s fan base can be.
Xiaomi’s lineup has long been a running joke. Even seasoned reviewers sigh while explaining the differences between Redmi Note, the Xiaomi T‑series and POCO. The approach breeds confusion yet lets the company ship essentially the same phone under different names depending on the market. For most buyers, that practice turns into a puzzle: a device sold under one label in China may appear in Europe under a completely different one. At times, even store staff struggle to quickly decode what a new index actually hides.
As Xiaomi moved into global markets, it leaned heavily on time‑limited promotions to create a sense of scarcity. The strategy worked brilliantly at first, but its reputation later took a hit. A particularly memorable case unfolded in the United Kingdom, where a high‑profile £1 sale offered only a handful of phones. For shoppers, the episode became shorthand for demand manipulation. The company has since used such stunts more sparingly, yet the memory still clings to the brand’s image.
Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica marked a bold bid to elevate mobile photography and give its flagships a distinct voice. The cameras did start producing more expressive, artful images, yet debates over how much Leica actually contributes have not subsided. Skeptics point to the irony that Leica’s LUX app is available exclusively to iPhone users, a contrast that is hard to overlook. Even so, the collaboration signals Xiaomi’s ambition to move beyond the “budget” label.
Xiaomi remains a brand adept at balancing attainable prices with impressive capability. Its phones are still among the strongest value propositions on the market, but that allure often comes bundled with traits that can irritate even patient users. What happens next will hinge on whether the company can prove that high value doesn’t have to come with compromises to convenience—or to a buyer’s sense of fair dealing.