The Xiaomi Mi Mix’s ceramic body will likely keep production levels extremely low

There are only a handful of smartphone each year which sell in the millions. The Xiaomi Mi Mix with its edge-to-edge display will likely not be one of them. Based on the excitement surrounding the phone’s announcement, there appears to be adequate demand for the $516 phone, but the handset’s unique ceramic body is the reason very few people will ever own the device.

According to Kevin Wang, the director of research at IHS Electronics, production of the Xiaomi Mi Mix will likely be limited to 10,000 units per month since yield rates for the phone’s ceramic body will be extremely low. Xiaomi did release a version of the Mi 5 with a ceramic back earlier this year, but the manufacturing process of the Mi Mix’s body is more complex since it includes the back and sides of the phone.

Xiaomi has not confirmed how many units of the Mi Mix it will be building each month, but demand for the phone is guaranteed to exceed supply – at least until the novelty wears off. If you’re planning to buy they Xiaomi Mi Mix, we wouldn’t be surprised if you have to pay upwards of $1,000 through third-party importers or shady eBay listings.