Visitors experience the Mi 5 smartphones at the Mobile World Congress on Feb 24, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.[Photo by Liu Zheng/chinadaily.com.cn]

At the end of last year, Xiaomi partnered with MIA Group (Mobile in Africa), the local iPhone distributor, to sell its products to South African consumers. The MIA Group handles local sales, marketing, and support for Xiaomi.

More than 100 reporters, mostly from India, China and European countries participated in the media preview.

Xiaomi sold 64.9 million smartphones in China last year, taking a market share of 15 percent, defending its crown as the No 1 seller at its home market, according to data from research firm International Data Corp.