Review: No wonder Xiaomi accessories are heading west

Xiaomi recently announced plans to launch Mi stores in the US and Europe, but for the time being they will be limited to accessories rather than the Chinese company’s sleek smartphones. This got us thinking – we never actually tried out any Xiaomi accessories, so we decided to check some out. 

Xiaomi tests Window 10

Microsoft appears to be winning more Chinese smartphone makers over to its Windows platform.

But don’t expect them in western markets

Lenovo is said to be working on Windows 10 phones, which should launch in China later this year. 

Cheap 5.5-inchers are the new black

A number of phonemakers have rolled out very affordable phablets over the past couple of months, and the trend is spearheaded by Chinese brands. 

But no phones

Xiaomi has confirmed plans to launch a Mi store in Europe, although it won’t be flogging phones yet.

Opinion: Tablets were just the first step

The Android smartphone space may be on the verge of becoming highly commoditised, following in the footsteps of the Android tablet market. 

Earned $11.8 billion

Huawei’s smartphone sales rose by almost a third to $11.8 billion in 2014, according to figures leaked to the press.

Cheap is the way forward

Huawei has taken sales of its low-price Honor brand of smartphones to 20 million from 1 million in just one year by using the online-only strategy it copied from smaller upstart Xiaomi. 

Relationship still intact

UPDATED: MediaTek denies media reports