Xiaomi is one of the hottest smartphone companies out there. Just five years old, it has rapidly grown to become the world's most valuable tech startup, worth about $46 billion (£30.9 billion), which is more than Uber, Snapchat, or SpaceX.
Xiaomi, founded by CEO Lei Jun, is often referred to as the "Apple of China,"not least because of the famed devotion of its fans. The company holds worldwide flash sales for its customers and throws them parties in expensive nightclubs — and they love the company for it.
But Xiaomi is like Apple in another way. Many of its products have an awfully similar look to the Cupertino company's models, prompting Apple design chief Jony Ive to accuse the Chinese company of copying Apple's designs.
"I don't see it as flattery,"Ive told an audience last year. "I see it as theft. I have to be honest. The last thing I think is, 'Oh, that is flattering ...' I think it's theft and it's lazy. I don't think it's OK at all."
But is Ive's accusation fair?
Business is booming for Xiaomi. It's the biggest smartphone company in China and the third-largest in the world.
Founder and CEO Lei Jun is largely responsible for the smartphone maker's meteoric rise. He's a charismatic figure who introduces new products in carefully choreographed keynotes, often wearing his signature outfit — blue jeans and a black top.
Look familiar?
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