Xiaomi has a fully automated smartphone factory in Beijing that operates without human workers on its production lines. Often described as a “dark factory,” the facility runs around the clock without lights, relying entirely on robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision, and automated logistics to build smartphones at high speed and precision.
The factory is located in the Changping district on the northeastern outskirts of Beijing and covers around 80,000 square meters. It follows Xiaomi’s earlier pilot smart factory in Yizhuang, which produced about one million foldable smartphones per year. The new Changping site takes automation to a much higher level and represents a step forward in Xiaomi’s manufacturing strategy.
“There are 11 production lines,” Xiaomi Founder and CEO Lei Jun said in a short company video. “One hundred percent of the key processes are automated. We developed our entire production and manufacturing software to achieve this.”
The new factory produces Xiaomi’s foldable devices, including the MIX Fold 4 and MIX Flip. At full capacity, the facility can produce a smartphone roughly every three seconds. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Xiaomi says the factory can manufacture up to 10 million smartphones each year, averaging about one device per second.
Let me know in the comments what you're most curious about this Xiaomi Smart Factory. pic.twitter.com/5TU5ts9aMS
— Lei Jun (@leijun) July 8, 2024There are no workers assembling phones on the production floor. Instead, robots handle everything from component placement and soldering to inspection and packaging. A small number of employees work only in a central control room, sometimes called the “war room,” where they monitor systems and data. These staff members wear protective gowns and caps because the factory maintains a highly controlled clean environment.
According to reports, the facility uses micron-level dust removal, similar to medical operating rooms. This level of cleanliness is required to protect sensitive electronic components and ensure long-term device reliability. Xiaomi says such conditions help reduce defects and improve consistency across every unit produced.
Xiaomi’s manufacturing system is designed to diagnose problems, fix issues, and improve its own processes over time. Lei Jun said, “What’s most impressive is that this platform can identify and solve issues, while also helping to improve the production process. That’s really incredible.”
Step into the heart of our factory, the "War Room". Our Xiaomi Hyper IMP (Intelligent Manufacturing Platform) is the brain of the operations, proactively solving issues and optimizing production.😎 pic.twitter.com/6ZWhOm5wle
— Lei Jun (@leijun) July 9, 2024The core of the operation is Xiaomi’s self-developed intelligent manufacturing platform, often described as the brain of the factory. The system connects tens of thousands of sensors that track temperature, pressure, vibrations, and machine performance in real time. Using AI, the platform can adjust processes automatically, manage quality control, and oversee production from raw materials to final delivery.
Quality checks are fully automated. High-resolution cameras and AI-based visual inspection systems scan every device for flaws that a human eye might miss, especially during long shifts. Xiaomi also uses automated detection systems that measure accuracy down to the millimeter, ensuring uniform quality across smartphones, tablets, and home appliances.
More companies are moving toward lights-out production to increase efficiency, cut costs, and maintain consistent quality. By removing the need for lighting, heating, and large labor forces, factories can operate continuously with fewer interruptions.
