Xiaomi remained one of China’s leading home networking brands in May 2026, securing the second-highest online router market share as consumers increasingly upgraded to higher-performance networking hardware. According to the latest report from market research firm RUNTO Technology, Huawei, Xiaomi, TP-Link, and ZTE continued to dominate China’s online router market, while the average selling price increased as more users adopted Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7, and multi-gigabit networking solutions.
Router prices rise as consumers upgrade
RUNTO’s latest online retail report shows that China’s mainstream online router market recorded 872,000 units sold during May 2026, representing an 8.8% year-over-year decline. Revenue reached 220 million yuan (approximately $30.7 million), down 6.7% compared to the same period last year.
Despite lower shipment volumes, the average online selling price climbed to 255.4 yuan (approximately $35.60), increasing 2.2% year over year and 9.3% month over month.
The report attributes the higher average selling price to growing demand for premium networking technologies, including:
- Wi-Fi 6 routers
- Wi-Fi 7 routers
- 2.5Gb Ethernet ports
- Multi-gigabit home networking
- More stable whole-home wireless coverage
Consumers are increasingly prioritizing long-term network performance over entry-level pricing as connected devices continue to multiply.
Huawei leads, Xiaomi secures second place
Huawei remained the market leader in China’s online home router segment with a 27.6% sales volume share.
Xiaomi followed in second place with a 20.7% market share, maintaining its strong position thanks to competitive pricing and seamless integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem.
TP-Link ranked third with 18.7%, while ZTE continued gaining momentum with 17.3%.
Together, the four brands accounted for 84.3% of total online router sales, highlighting the concentration of China’s networking market.
Xiaomi AX3000T remains the best-selling router
According to the report, Xiaomi’s success was largely driven by the Xiaomi Router AX3000T, which became the best-selling router by unit volume during May.
The model continues to attract consumers looking for an affordable Wi-Fi 6 solution with reliable performance and deep integration with Xiaomi HyperOS-powered smart home devices.
Meanwhile:
- Huawei’s best-selling models were the AX3 Pro and BE3 Pro.
- TP-Link maintained a broad portfolio spanning mainstream Wi-Fi 6 and newer Wi-Fi 7 products.
- ZTE recorded growth in both shipment volume and revenue share.
Competition is shifting toward premium networking
The report also notes that router competition is becoming increasingly segmented.
While brands such as ASUS and Ruijie maintain relatively small market shares, they continue targeting enthusiasts with gaming-focused and high-performance networking products.
Rather than competing purely on price, manufacturers are increasingly differentiating themselves through:
- Faster wireless standards
- Multi-gigabit Ethernet
- Mesh networking
- Lower latency
- Better whole-home coverage
- Smart ecosystem integration
This trend has contributed directly to the higher average selling prices seen throughout 2026.
What this means for Xiaomi
Xiaomi’s second-place position demonstrates the company’s continued strength outside the smartphone market. As Xiaomi expands its HyperOS ecosystem, networking hardware has become an increasingly important part of its connected home strategy.
Routers such as the AX3000T act as central hubs for Xiaomi smart home devices, enabling faster communication between smartphones, tablets, smart appliances, cameras, and IoT products.
With Wi-Fi 7 adoption expected to accelerate over the coming years, Xiaomi is well positioned to expand its presence in the premium home networking segment.
