Xiaomi’s DIY 802.11ac router ships with a screwdriver and anti-static gloves

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If you’re in the market for a new wireless router and you want to buy one that offers a bit more excitement than ordinary retail-boxed units, check out the Mi WiFi from Xiaomi. It’s an 802.11ac router that you assemble yourself. It even ships with its own screwdriver and anti-static gloves.

The kit looks a lot like someone came up with the idea after checking out iFixit’s teardown of the new Apple AirPort Time Capsule. Like the AirPort, the Mi WiFi is a fan-cooled unit. It comes with a 1TB 2.5-inch hard drive, which is half the capacity of the base Time Capsule config.
Xiaomi does make the drive easy to swap out, however, so you won’t even have* to break out the tools if you want to upgrade to a larger drive down the road.

The Mi WiFi router has an NFC chip built right in and that makes adding NFC-equipped phones, tablets, and even laptops a breeze. Just tap them to establish an encrypted connection to your WiFi network.
Former Googler Hugo Barra revealed the router on his Google+ page. According to Barra, only 500 units are being shipped at the moment — and just like Valve’s Steam Machine prototypes, Xiaomi is sending these special kits to lucky beta testers. More than 630,000 applied to try out the new router.

Barra didn’t mention whether the DIY Mi WiFi will ever be offered for sale, so we’ll have to wait and see what the company has planned. A pre-built version is headed to store shelves, but what true geek wouldn’t enjoy piecing together their own router?


  • Xiamoi Router Opening Xiaomi’s wooden Miwifi case
  • Xiamoi Router A closer look inside the case
  • Xiamoi Router The Miwifi features an easy-to-access 2.5-inch drive slot
  • Xiamoi Router Assembly instructions are included, of course…
  • Xiamoi Router




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