Xiaomi’s smartphone business has been burgeoning but mostly in growing markets like India. The Chinese upstart was all set to step foot into new geographies earlier this year but curbed its plans due to faster than stipulated growth. It has since been mulling over its decision to launch its devices in the U.S and has today taken a small step in that very direction.
In its first official presentation in Mexico, Xiaomi has announced that it will launch a couple of its latest budget smartphones in the country later this month. The company is bringing the Redmi Note 4 and Redmi 4X to the market, which will be made available via both the online, as well as offline channels. The devices can be purchased from offline retail stores, including Coppel, Best Buy, and Sam’s Club stores. The online e-tailers, on the other hand, include Amazon, Best Buy, Soriana, Elektra, and Walmart.
As for the pricing, which is surely one of the most important things to notice before buying a smartphone, the Redmi Note 4 will cost you 5,499 MXN (approx $285). The Redmi 4X that was launched earlier this very year will see you shell out 3,999 MXN (approx $210). It was already present in Mexico, which has over 44 million phone users, via third-party sellers but has now officially made its entry in the market.
In addition to the two devices, Xiaomi has also launched its fan-focused MiCommunity LATAM platform in Mexico. This platform is meant for the company’s fans to interact with each other and participate in multiple contests. Active participants of the community are offered exclusive access to offers and other fan or device launch events. The constant engagement with its device owners is surely an important strategy for Xiaomi to gather feedback and build a community around them. It will be available on the Google Play Store in Mexico — later in the whole of Latin America — by end of May.
Currently, Xiaomi has launched only two devices in Mexico but sees this debut as a launch-pad for its entry into the burgeoning Latin American. It will then be followed by long-awaited budget/premium device launches in North America as well. It doesn’t want to feel the heat of a failed expansion, like its counterpart LeEco, who stepped foot into the U.S last year.
The Chinese hardware maker has, however, been losing ground in its own home grounds for a while now. Once called the ‘Apple of China,’ Xiaomi has now been beaten by its counterparts, namely Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo — who’re playing the consumer’s instincts by providing better selfie cams, sound, and other similar features.
Recent numbers reveal that it has slipped from its top position in the sales chart to the fourth, courtesy of bombastic sales of Huawei devices in the country. There is also the concern of the company not being able to meet its revenue targets due to a staggering drop in hardware sales — which it says does not make them money. It is performing exceptionally well in India though, where Redmi Note 4 has been sold in record numbers. It is now planning to open offline retail experience stores in the nation to attract more users to its brand.
