Xiaomi Ends Warranty Transfers for Second-Hand Phones

Xiaomi has implemented a new service policy that cancels warranty coverage for second-hand mobile phones. The move restricts the company's "Three Guarantees" to the original purchaser, effectively ending the practice of warranty transfers in the pre-owned market.

According to an updated "Service Price and Service Policy" reported by 36Kr, Xiaomi now explicitly excludes "second-hand commodities" from its warranty services. The company defines these commodities as any products that were not brand new at the time of purchase, specifically including devices acquired through recycled channels, second-hand platforms, or idle resource exchange communities. Furthermore, the policy invalidates specific value-added services, such as "Battery Warranty" and "Replace Only No Repair," if a device has been resold or transferred to a third party.

The shift in warranty logic

This policy represents a fundamental shift in how Xiaomi handles product guarantees. Traditionally, the electronics industry has largely operated on a device-based warranty model, where the guarantee is tied to the hardware's serial number regardless of who currently owns it. By moving to an original-purchaser-based model, Xiaomi ensures that the legal and financial obligations of the warranty remain solely with the first buyer.

While many manufacturers maintain similar restrictions in the fine print, explicit policy updates of this nature often trigger significant discussion in markets with high second-hand trade volumes, such as China. By formalizing these restrictions in its public-facing service clauses, Xiaomi is creating a clear boundary between official retail support and the secondary market.

Market implications

This change significantly reduces the residual value and security of pre-owned Xiaomi devices. For consumers, the lack of a transferable warranty increases the risk associated with buying used hardware, as any subsequent failure must be paid for out-of-pocket. This may inadvertently push users away from independent second-hand marketplaces and toward official trade-in programs where the company maintains control over the device's lifecycle.

Industry analysts suggest that such policies can also drive consumers toward competitors who offer more flexible warranty transfers, potentially impacting Xiaomi's competitiveness in the budget-conscious secondary market.

What to watch

It remains to be seen how this policy will be enforced across different global regions or if consumer rights organizations will challenge the restriction of the "Three Guarantees" for transferred ownership. For now, users buying or selling Xiaomi devices on third-party platforms should assume that all official warranty protections are voided upon the first transfer of ownership.