Xiaomi latest tech product won’t have Apple fans baying and cursing about patents. That’s because it is an air purifier.
If you live in Beijing or other parts of China/Asia/the world that have major pollution problems, then Xiaomi wants to have you (and your lungs) covered.
Its Mi Air Purifier is a China-only product at this point, as is the case with a lot of Xiaomi tech when first launched. If you’re on the mainland, it will set you back 899 RMB, that’s just under US$150, although there’s no release date at this point. [Xiaomi tells us pre-orders for the product open at 6pm in China today — full sales will begin December 16. It confirmed there is no plan for a global release at this point.]
As purifiers go it looks pretty sleek. Xiaomi says the dual fan and four air duct system can produce 10,000 liters of clean air per minute, while it can filter out 99.99 percent of the dangerous PM2.5 air particles.
As you’d expect, it comes with an accompanying remote control app which also sends alerts to your phone. For example, it will remind you when a replacement filter (199 RMB / US$32) is needed.
Diversifying Its Product Line
Smartphones are what Xiaomi is best known for, it is the third largest in the world based on shipment numbers, but the company has a growing line of other products too.
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
In addition to this air purifier, it offers $20 routers, a blood pressure measurement kit, a smart TV, a tablet device, battery packs, and a fitness band among others tech gizmos. It seems likely we’ll be able to add ‘smartwatch’ to that list too, sometime soon.
That expansion is no coincidence or mere dalliance. The company is very much out to diversify its product range and reuse its business formula in other areas.
Our partner site Technode reported recently that Xiaomi wants to mimic its success with its Mi smartphones with other hardware. It has already invested and partnered with a range of companies — including U.S. hardware startup Misfit most recently — and it reportedly has the funding and interest to pursue other strategic investments and acquisitions outside of smartphones.
So, Xiaomi is like Apple? Or Amazon? Or perhaps someone else…?
Xiaomi: "We're not like Apple, we're like Amazon!"
Actually, it kind of looks like you're like Samsung: https://t.co/NQwWWhEcVQ
— Ben Thompson (@benthompson) December 9, 2014
