Xiaomi (a Chinese smartphone brand) has just inked a deal to sell its products exclusively through Three in the UK, meaning you’ll be able to get its phones on contract and through high street stores for the first time.
You may not have heard of Xiaomi, but the company could make a big splash here, as it’s already the fourth biggest smartphone maker globally and you’ll soon be able to easily buy its products, which include high-end and mid-range handsets that are often priced lower than the competition.
Those lower prices don’t mean they’re inferior products though, in fact they often have top specs, and phones like the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 impress with their striking, bezel-free design.
It’s not known exactly when we’ll start seeing Xiaomi’s phones on Three, or which models will be offered, but we expect to hear more soon.
And it might not just be smartphones that this opens the door to, as Xiaomi also makes a range of other products, including fitness trackers and smart home devices, and Three has expressed an interest in those too, as Tom Malleschitz, chief digital officer at Three UK, told The Guardian that:
"We have been watching Xiaomi’s success from afar and impressed with the huge range of connected devices that they currently offer. This partnership provides us with another leading brand in our smartphone range and also opens the door for innovative new connected products that we can provide to Three customers in the future. So watch this space!"
We certainly will be watching, as Xiaomi’s affordable handsets could be the perfect partners for Three’s network, where savvy shoppers are already enjoying extras like Go Binge and free roaming.
Of course, Xiaomi will have competition from the likes of the Honor range - another cheap Chinese brand - but competition is no bad thing for consumers.
