As Xiaomi launches the new Redmi Note 15 5G and Redmi Pad Pro 2 in India, its leadership spoke about the company’s priorities to Financial Express. In a crowded smartphone market, Xiaomi talked about its cautious approach to AI, and why tablets are finally finding their moment in India. India’s smartphone market has always been fiercely competitive, and Xiaomi believes that is precisely what makes it exciting. Addressing questions around Xiaomi’s current focus, the company made it clear that competition is not a concern but a sign of a healthy, evolving market.
The brand has seen multiple phases of competition since entering India in 2014, when hundreds of phone brands were active. While the number of players has reduced today, the intensity has not. Xiaomi’s approach, however, is not limited to chasing market share or short-term profitability. Instead, the company is executing a multi-year transformation strategy focused on innovation, user experience, and ecosystem depth, Anuj Sharma CMO Xiaomi India said.
“I have been extremely interested in the tablet market. My first stint with tablets was back in 2010–11, when the first devices were coming out, and I’ve been following the segment ever since. Tablets initially started off as just larger screens, and by around 2015–16, people realised they didn’t really want them, leading to a complete crash in the consumer tablet market,” noted Sharma.
“In 2022, we revisited tablets and realised they had finally reached a point where they could become the next computing device. That changed everything. When you compare older tablets with the current generation, the use cases have evolved significantly. If I had to define a tablet in a single sentence, I would say it is the future of computing,” he added.
Innovation beyond specifications
At the core of Xiaomi’s philosophy remains “innovation for everyone.” The company stressed that innovation is no longer just about packing higher specifications into devices but about delivering meaningful experiences across price points. Xiaomi aims to bring features seen on premium global devices to mass-market smartphones priced between $100 and $150, ensuring wider adoption rather than keeping innovation limited to niche segments.
A key differentiator for Xiaomi continues to be its ecosystem strategy what the company defines as “human × car × home.” While Xiaomi’s electric vehicle ambitions are still evolving globally, its smartphone, wearable, audio, power, and smart home categories are already deeply integrated. This ecosystem approach is tied together through HyperOS, which is now entering its third generation.
Xiaomi claims this tightly connected ecosystem allows users to move seamlessly between devices, positioning the brand as one of the largest ecosystem players globally.
Why the mid-premium segment matters most
When it comes to smartphone sales, Xiaomi acknowledged that India’s buying behaviour has changed significantly over the last five years. The market has steadily shifted from the Rs. 7,000–Rs.10,000 price band to an average selling price of Rs.20,000–Rs.25,000.
This segment, the company believes, now forms the core of the Indian smartphone market. Any innovation meant for mass adoption must reach this price band. While Redmi continues to anchor this segment, Xiaomi has also seen steady momentum in its premium flagship journey. The Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, launched earlier this year, reportedly received a strong response, reinforcing the brand’s long-term commitment to the premium space.
With Redmi, Xiaomi, and Poco operating under one umbrella, the company says it is well-positioned to cater to different consumer profiles without overlapping expectations.
“For a long time—for example, during the COVID period—the market ASP was around Rs 11,000. As a result, a large share of sales came from the Rs 6,999 to Rs 9,999 price range, which is where most of the country was buying. That segment was extremely important. Over the past five years, those consumers have gradually moved up. Today, the market ASP stands between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000, which has now become the core of the market,” Sharma said.
A cautious, user-first approach to AI
On artificial intelligence, Xiaomi drew a clear line between hype and utility. The company is deliberately avoiding what it calls “AI for the sake of AI,” especially in generative features that may look impressive but offer limited real-world value.
Instead, Xiaomi is focusing on AI-assisted features that enhance daily usage without replacing core human experiences. In smartphone photography, for instance, the brand sees AI as a tool to preserve memories—not generate artificial images. Its long-standing partnership with Leica has influenced this philosophy, keeping the focus on authentic imaging rather than synthetic creativity.
Features like AI Erase, reflection removal, live translation, and text tools are positioned as assistive technologies that simplify workflows and improve outcomes, rather than altering reality. Xiaomi believes generative AI, if unchecked, can quickly move from being helpful to becoming counterproductive.
Why Xiaomi is bullish on tablets?
Perhaps the strongest conviction came around tablets. Xiaomi believes the tablet market in India is not just growing but transforming. After an early boom and subsequent crash, tablets are now re-emerging as serious productivity tools rather than oversized smartphones.
According to the company, modern tablets are overcoming traditional laptop limitations through better battery life, mobility, 5G connectivity, and flexible input methods. With accessories like keyboards and stylus support, tablets are increasingly positioned as laptop alternatives—especially for students, professionals, and frequent travellers.
The Redmi Pad Pro 2 is designed to sit in what Xiaomi calls the “sweet middle ground”—offering productivity-focused features without becoming prohibitively expensive. The first-generation Redmi Pad Pro reportedly outperformed even the base Redmi Pad, proving that Indian consumers are willing to pay for better workflows, not just lower prices.
Xiaomi also highlighted strong demand for premium tablet features such as nano-texture displays, which reduce glare and enhance usability in real-world conditions.
HyperOS 3 and what lies ahead
Looking ahead, Xiaomi confirmed that HyperOS 3 will focus on core fundamentals—fluidity, stability, and performance—while expanding interconnectivity across devices. The company acknowledged that no operating system is ever complete, but believes continuous refinement is key to long-term success.
Beyond smartphones and tablets, Xiaomi hinted at expanding its smart device and home entertainment portfolio in 2026. With changing viewing habits and rising demand for premium display technologies like QLED and OLED TVs, the brand is preparing to introduce more advanced home entertainment solutions.
