Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 54 minutes ago
In the cutthroat world of Chinese smartphones, Xiaomi’s rise to dominance was built on a simple, effective formula: buy top-tier American processors from Qualcomm, wrap them in sleek hardware, and sell them at razor-thin margins. But then, Xiaomi watched its biggest domestic rival—Huawei—get completely decapitated overnight by United States export controls.
Realizing they were standing on a trapdoor that Washington could open at any moment, Xiaomi quietly executed a massive pivot. But rather than immediately trying to build a rival to the main Snapdragon processor, they are executing a "Trojan Horse" strategy.
Footage: Shutterstock
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
In the cutthroat world of Chinese smartphones, Xiaomi’s rise to dominance was built on a simple, effective formula: buy top-tier American processors from Qualcomm, wrap them in sleek hardware, and sell them at razor-thin margins. But then, Xiaomi watched its biggest domestic rival—Huawei—get completely decapitated overnight by United States export controls.
Realizing they were standing on a trapdoor that Washington could open at any moment, Xiaomi quietly executed a massive pivot. But rather than immediately trying to build a rival to the main Snapdragon processor, they are executing a "Trojan Horse" strategy.
Footage: Shutterstock
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
