
Xiaomi’s new Mimoji reminds people of Apple’s Memoji
Chinese blogger posts comparisons, sparking heated discussion online
Xiaomi has long faced accusations of copying Apple. The most famous critic of them all is perhaps Jony Ive. When the soon-to-depart Apple design chief was once asked about the Chinese gadget maker’s designs, he put it harshly: “I think it’s theft, and it’s lazy.”
Xiaomi has repeatedly denied it’s cloning designs from the Californian giant. But even today, criticisms are showing no signs of abating. The latest incident concerns Xiaomi’s animated avatars named Mimoji, which look similar to Apple’s Memoji.


Under the original blog post featuring comparisons between Memoji and Mimoji, there seems to be plenty of Xiaomi fans defending their beloved brand.
“This isn’t copying,” said the top comment, which has been liked more than 1,900 times. “Apple’s [Memoji] can be manually adjusted to look like Xiaomi’s [Mimoji].”
But while Apple users can indeed personalize their Memoji, they are still choosing from a fixed set of hairstyles, facial features and accessories, all designed by Apple.
For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.
