Xiaomi is one of the most popular smartphone brands in the Philippines. Many Filipinos love Xiaomi phones because of their price-to-performance ratio. They offer good specs and hardware for a reasonable price. But are Xiaomi phones worth it?
Here are some things you should know about Xiaomi phones before you buy one.
They are affordable, but not the cheapest
Gone are the days when Xiaomi phones are called flagship killers. Their devices have good specs and hardware for the price, but they are no longer the lowest-priced options in the market.
You can find other brands that offer similar or better features at lower prices, such as Redmi, Poco, or realme. Don’t get me wrong, though. Xiaomi phones are still a good value for money, but they are not the best bang for your buck anymore.
They run on MIUI on top of Android
MIUI is probably the most divisive OS of any smartphone. Some people love it for its customization options and extra features, while others hate it for its heavy skin and bloatware. MIUI is based on Android, but it looks and feels very different from the stock version.
It also has its share of bugs and issues that may affect the performance and reliability of your phone. If you are used to pure Android or other skins, you may find MIUI hard to get used to or frustrating to use.
They show ads and have bloatware
One of the ways Xiaomi keeps its prices low is by showing ads on some of its apps and services. These ads can be annoying and intrusive, and they may consume your data and battery. You can disable some of them, but not all.
Xiaomi also pre-installs a lot of apps that you may not need or want, such as games, shopping apps, and social media apps. These apps take up space and resources, and some of them may be hard to uninstall or disable.
They are hit or miss
Based on comments we see around the web, Xiaomi phones seem to be either great or terrible. Some users get a flawless device with no issues, while others get a faulty one with a lot of problems.
Some of the common issues and bugs reported by Xiaomi users include deadboot, connectivity problems, performance issues, and poor after-sales service. Some of these issues can be fixed or remedied by tinkering with the settings or flashing a custom ROM, but that will void your warranty or cause more problems.
If you are lucky, you may get a perfect Xiaomi phone that works well for years. If you are unlucky, you may get a lemon that gives you headaches and regrets.
They are from a Chinese company
Some people don’t like Xiaomi because it is from a Chinese company, and they have concerns about privacy, security, or politics. Whether or not this is an issue will entirely depend on your preferences.
However, keep in mind that there are a lot of great phone brands from China, such as realme, vivo, and Huawei, and they have proven their quality and innovation in the global market. Xiaomi is no different. It is a reputable company that follows international standards and regulations, and it has millions of satisfied customers around the world. There is no reason to avoid Xiaomi phones just because they are made in China.
Remarks
Despite all these drawbacks, Xiaomi is still popular among Filipinos because of its affordable price and powerful hardware. Many people are willing to overlook or tolerate its flaws for its benefits. Personally, I’m not a fan of Xiaomi phones, but I do appreciate what they offer. In some ways, they have brought premium features to the masses without breaking the bank, and have pushed other brands to raise their standards.
If you are interested in buying a Xiaomi phone (or any phone, for that matter), you should do your research well and weigh the pros and cons carefully. Xiaomi phones are not for everyone, but they may be for you if you know what you are getting into.
What do you think about Xiaomi phones? Let us know in the comments below.
