Xiaomi President Lu Weibing has revealed that the company was much closer than expected to releasing an ultra-thin smartphone similar to Apple’s iPhone Air. Speaking during an ongoing livestream, Lu said Xiaomi had already completed planning, early research, and was even nearing mass production before the company decided to cancel the project at the last minute.
According to Lu, the decision came down to user experience. Xiaomi found that creating an extremely thin and lightweight phone required too many compromises in areas like battery life and performance. While the design looked appealing, the company felt the final product would not meet the standard experience Xiaomi wanted to deliver to users.
Lu explained that the thinner the device becomes, the harder it is to include large batteries, proper cooling systems, and high-performance hardware without affecting daily usability. Instead of launching a product that looked impressive but made sacrifices in real-world use, Xiaomi decided to abandon the idea entirely.
No Air, But Max
The comments also help explain why Xiaomi is focusing more heavily on larger “Max” devices in its upcoming lineup. Lu said the Xiaomi 17 Max is not being branded as a “Plus” model because the company sees the two categories differently. Traditionally, Plus phones mainly offer a larger display compared to the standard version. In Xiaomi’s case, however, the Max branding represents more than screen size alone.
Lu said the Max series is expected to include upgrades in areas such as imaging, performance, and battery life alongside the larger display.
The livestream comments arrive at a time when many smartphone brands are experimenting with thinner and lighter devices. However, Xiaomi’s decision suggests the company believes consumers still prioritize battery endurance and consistent performance over ultra-slim designs.
It also aligns with Xiaomi’s recent messaging around flagship devices, where the company has emphasized larger batteries, advanced camera systems, and higher-end hardware rather than chasing the thinnest possible form factor.
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(Via)
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