Xiaomi developed a prototype e-reader last year and it was shelved as the company started to focus on smart home accessories. It looks like they might be doing something e-reader related sometime in 2019, as they are trying to work out publishing deals, so they can sell ebooks right on the device.
Many executives a Xiaomi have responded recently on various forums and Twitter threads, verifying that they have plans for an e-reader. In the past few years the company has strengthened their sales and marketing teams all over the world and they have a recognizable brand.
Xiaomi is no stranger to E Ink products. They have released a few products over the years, such as a Digital Thermometer Hygrometer. An e-reader would make sense, as the industry has made a comeback in the past twelve months and sales are booming for everyone involved.
One of the added benefits of creating an ebook ecosystem is that they could create Android e-reading software and a retail experience for all of their phones, which would lead to increased monetization.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.