There had been a lot of arguments on the “correct” version of Mi products to buy, the so called “China Version” and the “Global Version”.
Is there such thing as China Version and “Global Version”?
Xiaomi is a China company, at the time of this write up, all Xiaomi products are made in China, logically all their products that are released in China for China market can all be used in China, and hence the “China Version”.
As a matter of fact, the terms “Global Version” only officially apply to Xiaomi Mobile handsets, where the Global Rom is basically the software variant that runs on your device. The Chinese ROM doesn’t come preloaded with Google Apps as it’s banned in China and it’s more stable while the Global ROM has Gapps installed.
So is there a Global Version or Malaysian Version?
If you Google around, there is no such thing as, say, Malaysian Version of Mi Air purifiers, or Mi Robot vacuum cleaner. It is more of Malaysian seller’s terms. The “Global version” are more for products that are released outside of China, with English manuals. They are mostly from India, which is a big market for Xiaomi.
As for “Malaysian Version”, we don’t think so, Malaysia’s market is too small for them to release a version just for Malaysia.
So Should I choose “China Version” or “Global Version”?
To differentiate, you’ll need to know about the variety of Xiaomi Products.
For Xiaomi, they have more than 300+ different products, and if you include those extended products under their Mi Ecosystem, it may be reaching a thousand products by now.
Under the Ecosystem label, Xiaomi partners with hundreds of Chinese companies to offer smart home products, fitness bands, smart shoes, robot vacuums, and even a rice cooker.
Over the course of the last few years, that partnership has extended to include everyday objects like backpacks, luggage, and screwdriver sets. Xiaomi sells these products under its own label, with the smart home products marketed under the Mijia sub-brand. For instance, the Mi Band is sold as a Xiaomi product, but it is manufactured by Huami. The brand’s smart shoes are also made by Huami, and are sold under the Mijia label. Then there’s the Mi Robot vacuum, which is made by Roborock.
Less than 10% of these products are released outside of China, as the so called “Global Version”
The Mijia / Mi Home App
To connect the Xiaomi smart devices and control by their Mijia / Mi Home App, you will first register a Mi Account, download the App, and log in. But before you can add any new devices, you will first decide which country you want your devices profile to be stored.
When you are buying “China Version” of Mi Products
You will need to choose “China” as country in your Mijia App, then all your connected devices and settings will be stored on Mi Clouds, where you can easily backup and retrieve. Simply sign-in to the Mi Cloud with your Mi Account on a mobile phones, and all the saved configurations and settings are all retrieved on the new Smart Phones.
Only “China Versions” of Mi Products can be added to your Mijia App if you choose “China” as the region, that will be close to almost 1,000+ of Mi Products.
You can’t add “Global version” Mi products to your Mijia device profile if you choose “China” as the Region.
When you are buying “Global Version” of Mi Products
You will need to choose “Malaysia” (or any country of your choice except China) as country in your Mijia App, then all your connected devices and settings will be stored on Mi Clouds under the “Malaysia” folder, where you can easily backup and retrieve. When you log-in, all the saved configurations and settings are all retrieved on the new Smart Phones.
You can’t add “China version” Mi products to your Mijia device profile if you choose “Malaysia” as the Region, as these products were never released in Malaysia.
Less than 10% of these products are released outside of China, as the so called “Global Version”
Can we have a mixed of “China Version” and “Global Version” Mi products under one Mijia account?
Yes.
But since all your “China Version” Mi products are store on China Mi Cloud, and “Global Version” Mi products are store in the respective country’s Mi Cloud. You will need to switch between Regions on your Mijia App, so that the respective saved configurations and settings are all retrieved on reload on to the new Smart Phones.
But you can only operate on one Region at a time.
What is the Pros and Cons of Choosing “China Version”
CONs
a) Languages – They only comes in Chinese Manual, and some labeling may be in Chinese, however, if an English manual is available from seller, this solves the problem. Mijia App is in English if your phone’s interface is in English
b) Power Plug – The device will come with either 2-pin flat or 3-pin China plug, but that is generally not a problem, you can easily get a UK 3-pin adapter from any electrical, and you can plug into the Malaysia wall socket.
PROs
a) Huge range of Mi Products – There are almost 1,000 Mi products out there that you can choose, and hundreds are release almost every year, including those under the Mi Ecosystem.
What is the Pros and Cons of Choosing “Global Version”
CONs
a) Limited range of Mi Products – with less than 10% of Mi or Mi Ecosystem products released outside of China as “Global version” you will have very limited range of product to choose from. You can’t migrate these “Global version” products to use the same Mijia cloud server under one unified account.
PROs
a) Languages – The Manual usually comes in English
b) Power Plug – The power cable usually comes in 2-pin Malaysia plug, or UK 3-Pin Plug
Comparing the Mi Air Purifiers
Currently there are 2 “Global Version” of Mi purifiers listed on Xiaomi’s International site – https://www.mi.com/global/index.html
These 2 “Global version” models are listed as Mi Air Purifier 2H and 3H, which is a mirror of the models released much earlier in China, as “China version” 2s and 3.
The following chart, with data extracted directly from Xiaomi’s official sites, gives the comparisons in specs
You can look at the 2 main specs, which is CADR and Applicable area, (in Red color above) both the equivalent “Global Versions” seem to have a lesser spec when compare with the “China versions”.
Why would Xiaomi want to product these “Global versions” with a lesser specs?
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