At the moment when the wave of intelligence in the automotive industry is sweeping, Xiaomi Auto, as an emerging force, has triggered a heated discussion about the car mobile phone holder with its keen insight into user needs and the innovative spirit of technology application.
This seemingly small configuration choice actually touches on the development trend of in-vehicle infotainment systems, the deep collision of user habits and personalized needs, and the clear embodiment of the differences in concepts between different brands. Recently, Xiaomi Auto introduced the design of the original mobile phone holder on its new model SU7, which quickly attracted attention from inside and outside the industry. Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi Group, publicly mentioned this configuration on social media and launched a vote on whether a mobile phone holder is needed in the car, showing respect for user opinions and a positive response to market feedback.
And Huawei's consumer business CEO Yu Chengdong ridiculed this in public, although he did not directly name Xiaomi, but his remarks were widely interpreted as questions about the design of Xiaomi's SU7 mobile phone holder. Yu Chengdong believes that the in-vehicle navigation of modern smart electric vehicles is quite mature, and the use of professional solutions such as AutoNavi or Baidu Maps and continuous updates is enough to meet the navigation needs of drivers, suggesting that the existence of mobile phone holders is redundant. This view echoes the expectations of some consumers for the integration of in-vehicle systems and the reduction of redundant devices in the car, that is, the car should provide an integrated and seamless driving experience, rather than relying on external devices.
However, the decision of Lei Jun and Xiaomi Auto has clearly resonated with many users. According to the results of the online poll, a large number of netizens support the original mobile phone holder in the car for different reasons: some value the flexibility brought by the mobile phone holder, and can easily use their familiar navigation APP, or enjoy richer online audio and video resources; some emphasize that the mobile phone holder acts as a temporary charging station during the driving process to solve power anxiety; and even some views regard it as an "anti-wife artifact", humorously pointing out that placing the mobile phone holder can avoid family disputes caused by handheld mobile phones.
Mobile phone holder: The intersection of tradition and the future, Xiaomi Auto insists on equipping with a mobile phone holder, which is actually a pragmatic consideration for the current in-vehicle interconnection ecology. Although the in-vehicle system is becoming more and more perfect in terms of function and interaction, the advantages of smart phones, as the center of personal digital life, in terms of information acquisition, service connection and personalized customization are still irreplaceable. Many users have become accustomed to using specific mobile apps for navigation, music playback, voice assistant operation, etc., and the existence of a mobile phone holder allows them to continue these habits without having to re-adapt to the in-vehicle system, thus achieving a seamless travel experience.
In addition, considering that the speed of smartphone replacement far exceeds that of the in-vehicle hardware, the mobile phone holder can ensure that users can enjoy the software and hardware upgrades brought by the latest mobile phone at any time, avoiding the obsolescence that may occur in the in-vehicle system due to technological iteration. Especially in the context of the rapid development of Internet of Vehicles technology, mobile phones are deeply integrated with the vehicle system through platforms such as CarPlay and Android Auto, which further strengthens its important position in the vehicle environment.
Future outlook: the dual drive of user needs and technological innovation This debate about Xiaomi's car mobile phone holder is essentially an in-depth discussion on the development direction of future in-vehicle connected experience. On the one hand, it reminds automakers that while pursuing integration and intelligence, they should not ignore the personalized needs and usage habits of users, and on the other hand, it also stimulates the industry's thinking on how to better integrate mobile phone and car resources to achieve complementary advantages.
In the long run, with the in-depth application of 5G, AI, cloud computing and other technologies in the automotive field, the in-vehicle infotainment system is expected to achieve more powerful functional integration and personalized customization, and may one day completely replace the role of mobile phone holders. However, at this stage, Xiaomi Auto chooses to listen to the voice of users, respect and meet diversified needs, which is a pragmatic and forward-looking strategy. This heated discussion also warns all automakers that on the road of technological innovation and user experience, only by accurately grasping the market demand can they remain invincible in the fierce market competition.