Xiaomi to strengthen its mid-segment growth, stay accessible in 2026, amid price hikes

Xiaomi’ India said it would strengthen its mid-segment focus and stay accessible in 2026, year where the broader smartphone industry anticipates price increases driven by the rollout of AI-integrated devices.

Sudhin Mathur, COO, Xiaomi India, told The Hindu that the brand entered the year 2026 with a clear intent to stay accessible to a large number of consumers in the country despite shifting market dynamics.

He indicated the company was moving away from chasing isolated sales volumes and instead was focusing on flagship-level experiences across multiple price tiers, specifically targeting the competitive mid-range segment.

Acknowledging that Indian consumers were holding onto devices longer, he said Xiaomi was increasing emphasis on extended software support, security updates, and battery health.

Non-smartphone categories, including tablets, wearables, and AIoT products, now contribute approximately 12% to 15% of Xiaomi’s India revenues. Over 90% of Xiaomi’s India portfolio, including tablets and wearables, is currently manufactured locally.

The launch of Redmi Note 15 and Redmi Pad 2 Pro earlier this year served as the foundation for this recalibrated approach, he said, adding that consumer feedback has shifted toward a preference for improved build quality and reliable after-sales service over raw specifications.

Under its “Human × Car × Home” vision, the company aims to use its HyperOS to bridge the gap between smartphones and other connected devices. While smartphones remain the primary revenue anchor, the 2026 roadmap included a more aggressive push into integrated multi-device hardware to capture a larger share of household technology spending, Mr. Mathur further said.