The Mi 11 is Xiaomi’s latest flagship smartphone launched late last year. It packs impressive tech like the Snapdragon 888 chip, a 6.8-inch 2K 120Hz display, a 108MP camera, and 55W fast charging. Many stores in Vietnam require customers to pay extra if they want the charger included.
One hot topic among users is Xiaomi’s decision to remove the charger from the Mi 11 box, following Apple’s lead with the iPhone 12. Xiaomi says most users already have chargers, and removing it helps “protect the environment.”
However, to avoid backlash, Xiaomi offers a free 55W GaN charger option if users request it. By default, the Mi 11 doesn’t include a charger, but buyers can choose a version with the charger packed separately at no extra cost.
Buyers can select the 55W GaN charger option at no extra charge
But in Vietnam, this choice isn’t available. Instead, buyers must pay an additional fee (around 300,000 to 400,000 VND) if they want the charger. In other words, Vietnamese customers are forced to “protect the environment” by paying extra when buying the Mi 11 through unofficial channels.
Many stores in Vietnam require extra payment for the charger
A Xiaomi phone shop owner in Hanoi told us that Xiaomi does provide the free charger option. But once the phones arrive in Vietnam, sellers separate the charger to create a pricing advantage or boost profits.
“Instead of seeing it negatively as the phone missing a charger, users can look at it positively because stores are giving them a choice. If they skip the charger, they get a better price,” the shop owner explained.
Free 55W GaN charger Xiaomi offers with Mi 11
Currently, the Mi 11 sells on the gray market in Vietnam for about 16 million VND, roughly 1.5 million VND higher than the official price. This is common for new Xiaomi products due to limited supply when they first arrive.
Prices are unlikely to drop before the Lunar New Year because of strong demand and shipping challenges during the holiday. Rumor has it that Xiaomi will launch a higher-end Mi 11 Pro after the New Year, which could also impact the Mi 11’s pricing.
