As a tech giant, the Chinese company Xiaomi has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a startup. Over the years, the company has evolved into a global force, offering a wide range of innovative tech products and services. With Xiaomi’s journey towards becoming a successful brand, the role of its logo cannot be forgotten. In fact, it has undergone a few changes over the years to reflect the company’s growth and ambitions. This article explores the history of the company and the evolution of its iconic logo over the years.
The Genesis of the Xiaomi Logo (2010)
Started in 2010, Xiaomi emerged as a disruptive force in the Chinese smartphone market. The initial logo of the company featured a striking orange-coloured square with a stylized “Mi” symbol inside. This simple yet bold design aimed to convey Xiaomi’s commitment to innovation and accessibility. The orange colour was chosen to represent vibrancy and warmth, and the square shape was chosen to convey the attributes of stability and solidity.
The letters “Mi” within the logo represents “Mobile Internet.” However, according to the company, the letters “Mi” also conveys “Mission Impossible.” This is to reflect the numerous challenges and hurdles that Xiaomi faced right from its founding days.
(2010–2014)
With Xiaomi rapidly expanding beyond the borders of China, a need was felt by the company to revamp its logo to appeal to international audiences. Thus, during the period, the logo was modified, which included changing the colour scheme and typography. For instance, the orange colour was softened to a more muted yet vibrant shade. And it contained the brand name in Chinese and the digital address of the website in English. Further, the “Mi” symbol was streamlined to render better legibility across various platforms.
(2014–2021)
As Xiaomi consolidated its footprint on the global stage, the logo underwent a more significant transformation. The “Mi” branding was introduced alongside the logo. The orange-coloured square was enlarged with rounded corners and graphic signs. This reinforced the identity of the company, and gave the logo a more sophisticated and modern appearance.
(2019–2021)
As Xiaomi’s position in the market became more entrenched as one of the leading global tech companies, the logo continued to evolve. It reflected the brand’s commitment to innovation and refinement. For instance, the current iteration of the logo features a simplified yet elegant design. It has a minimalist “Mi” symbol embedded within an orange-coloured square frame. Also, the company name was added to the logo’s visual identity. This streamlined approach allows for the seamless integration of the logo across the vast product lineup and branding materials of Xiaomi.
(2021-Present)
In this logo redesign, the previous logo variant was continued, albeit with some subtle changes. For instance, the orange and white Mi emblem was changed to a geometric figure with rounded ends, as opposed to the square earlier. Besides, the colour of the wordmark forming the brand name on the right was changed to a lighter grey shade from the black earlier. The typeface of the wordmark, too, was changed a bit by making the angles and lines smoother.
Products (2021-Present)
In 2021, Xiaomi launched the MIX 4 smartphone and, with it, dropped the “Mi” emblem from the branding. Instead, it began to feature only the brand name in a light grey shade. Using a custom sans-serif typeface, the logo appears only in the form of its brand name.
Consolidation of Brand Identity
In recent years, Xiaomi has focused on consolidating its brand identity across all digital touchpoints. This is done to ensure consistency and transparency. As a result, the logo has become a recognisable symbol representing the ethos of the company. It represents attributes such as cutting-edge technology, affordability, and user-friendly designs.
Innovation and Future Directions
With the global tech landscape continuing to evolve, Xiaomi is committed to pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers. So, even though the current logo design has proved to be effective, the company may consider making refinements or adaptations in the future. This will be done to ensure the company and its branding not only stay relevant but resonate with evolving consumer preferences as well.
The Elements of the Xiaomi Logo
Font
The logo of Xiaomi features the words “Mi” and “xiaomi” in bold lowercase letters. The futuristic-looking font is influenced by the stylized custom contours of the characters. The fonts used in the emblem include Geon Expanded Extra Bold or COBE Bold, although with certain modifications.
Colour
When it comes to the colours representing Xiaomi’s visual identity, a blend of orange and light grey holds centre stage. It is complemented by white accents to evoke a sense of trustworthiness and allegiance. The colour orange symbolises joy and vitality, while grey conveys professionalism and assurance. Both the colours show the brand as both earnest and steadfast.
The History of Xiaomi
The prominent Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer, Xiaomi, was founded in 2010. Since then, it has grown to become the world’s second-largest producer of smartphones, behind Samsung. In addition to mobile phones, Xiaomi has a diverse product lineup, which includes computer accessories, gadgets, and small home appliances. As a company, Xiaomi’s origin dates back to April 6, 2010, when Lei Jun and seven co-founders officially registered the company as Xiaomi Tech. And after four months, on August 18, they introduced the inaugural version of the MIUI shell, which was built on the Android 2.2 platform.
Initially, the founders did not think of developing their own system. In fact, they were quite happy with developing the analogues to Google services for the Chinese market. However, a change in thinking prompted the destiny of Xiaomi, as it went on to become the second-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world.
After one year of the initial OS version, Xiaomi unveiled its maiden phone, the Xiaomi Mi1. The breakthrough moment came with the release of the Xiaomi Mi2 on August 16, 2012. Surprisingly, the company saw its meteoric rise when the initial batch of 50,000 smartphones was sold out in just three minutes flat. Thereafter, in two years, over 25 million units of the Mi2 were sold. This solidified the presence of Xiaomi as a brand to reckon with in the global tech market.
Interesting Facts About Xiaomi
- Xiaomi stands for millet and rice in Chinese. It refers to a Buddhist concept about “starting from the bottom before aiming for the top.”
- Xiaomi is also called the “Apple of China” for its innovative smartphones and devices with user-friendly interfaces.
- Xiaomi is one of the five producers of smartphones in the world.
- Mitu Bunny is the mascot for Xiaomi.
- Xiaomi holds the Guiness World Record for selling 15,000 Mi3 smartphones in India in just 2 seconds. This record was broken by the company in 2014 by selling 2.1 million smartphones in one day.
- The “Mi” emblem in the Xiaomi logo means “Mobile Internet” and “Mission Impossible.”
- When turned upside down, the “Mi” emblem resembles a Chinese character, meaning “heart” in English.
- Xiaomi has a strong fan base called “Mi Fans.”
- Xiaomi started as a software company before venturing into the mobile business. It started by making its own version of the Android OS and called it MIUI in 2010.
- Xiaomi owns over 29,000 patents globally.
Finally
The evolution of the Xiaomi logo is a testament to the growth and adaptability of the company. The logo has undergone a remarkable transformation from its humble beginnings as a startup to its current status as a global tech giant. It reflects Xiaomi’s journey every step of the way. With the company looking to innovate and expand, its logo will undoubtedly remain a powerful symbol of its commitment to delivering cutting-edge products and exceptional user experiences.