Xiaomi's Smart Storage NAS Arrives via Crowdfunding

Picture a compact box in your router closet, quietly keeping every photo, video and backup safe — Xiaomi wants that box to be theirs. The company has unveiled its first network-attached storage device in China, branded simply as Xiaomi Smart Storage, and it’s taking a familiar route: crowdfunding rather than a standard retail roll-out.

The campaign runs from July 1 to July 8, and the product will proceed only if the funding threshold is met. It’s a cautious move. Xiaomi reduces inventory risk and gauges real-world demand before committing to mass production. For a brand that ties hardware into a broader smart-home ecosystem, this feels both experimental and strategic.

Concrete technical specifics are still thin on the ground. What Xiaomi has confirmed is the form factor: a dual-bay NAS offered in three capacity tiers, positioned for home users and small offices who want local media storage or self-managed backups. The crowdfunding prices are noticeably lower than suggested retail, which should entice early adopters.

• Beginner: 4TB (2TB x 2) — crowdfunding ¥2,299 (~$338), retail ¥3,499 (~$514)
• Advanced: 8TB (4TB x 2) — crowdfunding ¥2,899 (~$426), retail ¥4,499 (~$661)
• Professional: 16TB (8TB x 2) — crowdfunding ¥4,699 (~$690), retail ¥6,999 (~$1,028)

A dual-bay design is telling. It usually means options for redundancy, such as RAID 1, or flexible configurations for capacity-first setups. In plain terms: one drive can mirror the other, or you can combine them for more space. That versatility is what makes dual-bay units practical for media streaming, network backups and small-team file sharing.

What remains unknown are the OS, app ecosystem and connectivity details — whether Xiaomi will include native media server features, support for third-party apps, or which network speeds and ports it will offer. Those elements will decide if this is a simple storage appliance or a more capable home server that integrates with Xiaomi’s existing lineup.

There’s another question floating above the launch: will Xiaomi bring the Smart Storage overseas? The company has kept the announcement China-focused, so international availability and pricing are still up in the air. If the device delivers solid software and competitive performance, it could nudge established entry-level NAS makers by undercutting them on price while leaning on Xiaomi’s brand reach.

The crowdfunding discounts make the proposition tempting for early backers who want a cheap, local cloud. But buyers who need advanced NAS features should wait for full specs and hands-on reviews. Either way, the crowdfunding page opens July 1 — and if Xiaomi clears this threshold, expect more of its smart-home ambitions to include local storage, not just cloud services. Keep an eye on the campaign; it may quietly reshape how Xiaomi thinks about home data.