Xiaomi to invest $2.8b to expand its tech ecosystem

Xiaomi plans to double its investment to €2.4 billion (US$2.82 billion) over the next five years, targeting growth across devices, EVs, and smart home projects, according to Lu Weibing, president of Xiaomi’s smartphone division.

The announcement at MWC 2026 coincides with the launch of the Xiaomi Tag, the company’s first entry into the personal item tracker category. Priced at roughly €14,9 (US$17,57), the device works with both Apple’s Find My and Google’s tracking networks.

To further bolster its ‘Human x Car x Home’ strategy, the Chinese tech giant also showcased the Xiaomi 17 Series co-developed with Leica, the Hypercar Concept Vision GT, and the Xiaomi Pad 8 tablet.

🔗 Source: Chosun Daily

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Xiaomi’s new tracker is part of a deliberate strategy to court Apple users

Xiaomi is leaning into Apple ecosystem support as a steady plan, not a single test tied to the new Tag.
The SU7 electric sedan works with Apple CarPlay. xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said more than half of domestic SU7 orders came from iPhone owners 1.
The Tag works because Apple and Google backed an industry specification. The spec began as a way to curb unwanted tracking. It also supports alerts for unauthorized Bluetooth trackers on iOS and Android when devices are compatible 2.
If the standard spreads, accessory makers like Xiaomi can sell gear that runs across major device platforms. Interoperability can help move more units.

Xiaomi’s low-cost tracker introduces a new battleground over data trust

With a tracker priced around half of an AirTag in China, Xiaomi steers the contest toward trust in how location data gets handled.
Apple says Find My network traffic uses end-to-end encryption. Apple says it cannot view the location of offline devices or the devices that report them. Third-party trackers add more uncertainty 3.
Questions also surround uncertified CarPlay hardware. Such devices could in theory read or save phone data such as contacts or messages 4.
Regulators have also stepped in. Germany is probing whether Apple enforces its privacy rules evenly on third parties and on itself 5.