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We visited Xiaomi’s first store in Barcelona

Xiaomi may have made its name by targeting emerging markets, but now it's making a move on Western Europe -- starting with Spain. Check out our video tour of their first store in Barcelona!

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This store in Barcelona is Xiaomi's third store in Spain
This article originally appeared on ABACUS
This store in Barcelona is Xiaomi's third store in Spain
This store in Barcelona is Xiaomi's third store in Spain

Xiaomi became a global smartphone player by focusing on large emerging markets like India and Indonesia. Now it’s pushing into Western Europe with stores in Spain -- and we visited their newest location in Barcelona.

At first glance, it’s hard to avoid comparisons to the Apple Store, because the Mi Store looks very similar. Phones are neatly arranged on wooden tables, all accessories are in white boxes, and large, bright product banners adorn the walls.

The store isn’t particularly big -- in fact, it’s much smaller than the Zara clothing shop right next to it. But what it lacks in size, it makes up with product diversity and low prices. The budget Redmi 5 smartphone is being sold for 129 euros (US$157), slightly more than its 799 yuan (US$126) price tag in China.

But Xiaomi always takes pains to remind everyone that they make more than just smartphones. The store also sells a wide variety of gadgets, including fitness wearables, headphones, VR headsets, scooters, toy robots and even bath towels.

They also had TV sets on display as well as Mi Box set-top boxes. But while Xiaomi is selling the Mi Box, they say the TVs aren’t available for sale until they find a local content partner.

Before joining the Post in 2018, Karen was a writer and associate producer at CNN International, where she contributed to the award-winning Asia flagship show News Stream. She is a graduate of Duke University and University of Hong Kong.
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