Xiaomi banks on retailers, dual camera to capture new users

Lei Jun, CEO and founder of Xiaomi, takes a selfie with Wu Xiubo, an actor, using the Redmi Pro at the launch ceremony of the handset on July 27, 2016 in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Xiaomi, which once overturned China's smartphone market and gained world fame with its affordable and online-sold-only smartphones, is now catching up in boosting its presence in bricks-and- mortar stores.

The company launched a new handset named Redmi Pro featuring dual rear cameras on Wednesday in Beijing, which founder Lei Jun claimed could produce professional photos.

It also announced that the new smartphone will be available in more than 2,000 retail outlets, including Gome and Suning, across the country – a major departure for a company that once sold products exclusively online.

Di Jin, Research Manager of IDC China, said that there is an actual unmet need for better photos as smartphones are used very often to take photos in the country and this new Redmi Pro will help Xiaomi gain more customers.