When it comes to pre-installed smartphone apps, Xiaomi is one name that's familiar with the game. From its budget Redmi-branded phones to its uber premium phones, every model comes loaded with bloatware. Now, it looks like instead of reducing, Xiaomi is doubling down on preloaded apps in 2026.
Xiaomi and Sei Labs partner for preloaded crypto app
In a new blog post, USA-based crypto and Web3 platform Sei Labs has announced a new strategic collaboration with Xiaomi. As part of this deal, every new and existing Xiaomi smartphone in 2026 will come preloaded with Sei Crypto Wallet in China and the USA. This makes it almost 160 million units globally.
For context, the app is a Layer 1 blockchain designed for the purpose of trading and transacting in crypto assets. It also enables Web3 services and peer-to-peer payments, access to decentralised apps and shop blockchain-based products.
Moreover, Xiaomi and Sei Labs will jointly introduce the ability to purchase Xiaomi products with stablecoins. To facilitate this, more than 20,000 Xiaomi retail stores in China and the EU will be equipped with USDC payment infrastructure.
Now, while on the surface this might look like a good initiative to empower millions of Xiaomi users with crypto payment abilities, it is not quite simple. To begin with, the Sei Crypto Wallet is just another bloatware app that no consumer has asked for.
Moreover, this move strips the rights of smartphone owners to choose what to have on their phones. Currently, there is no clarity as to how baked into the system the Sei Labs app will be. Will it be easy to uninstall? Will Xiaomi users need to mandatorily create an account with Sei? These are questions that remain unanswered at the time of writing.
As for India, there is a huge likelihood that this new crypto app addition will not show up in Xiaomi smartphones in the country. The Indian government does not mandate the pre-installation of private crypto apps on smartphones as per Finance Act 2022. However, it doesn't mean that the current bloatware situation with Xiaomi phones in India will stop anytime.
To recall, Xiaomi was the first brand in India to pre-install fantasy and betting apps, until the law prevented such occurrences. Even a smartphone brand like Nothing, which built its image and reputation based on a bloatware-free software experience, is backing out from its promise. Nothing OS 4.0 Lock Glimpse feature brought Ads to the Lockscreen and it received quite the backlash.
All in all, smartphone manufacturers at this point will do everything to maximise their profits while degrading the consumer experience considerably. The new Sei Labs and Xiaomi partnership is a prime example of how less consumer feedback and wishes matter in the grander scheme of things.
