MIUI is the custom overlay that can be found on Xiaomi devices. Basically, all Xiaomi devices bar outliers like the Xiaomi Mi A1 which runs stock Android since it is part of Google’s Android One programme.
For long time users of Android and members of the notorious “root and ROM” brigade, MIUI is pretty familiar. In the early days of Android, when stock Android was eerily boring and lacking in many of the features that users desired, flashing an MIUI ROM, as it was available for quite a number of global Android smartphones, was a breath of fresh air.
Today, MIUI is largely a preserve of Xiaomi’s own devices since the Chinese company has grown to become one of the top 5 device makers in the world shipping tens of millions of units of its devices worldwide and having a presence in as many places as possible.
What usually makes MIUI an interesting case whenever the subject of adulterated Android comes into being is that Xiaomi strives to provide a consistent experience across most of the devices it releases as long as the device is still within the required update period – mostly one and half to two years.
You will find that a device that has one or two successors is being powered by software that runs the latest Xiaomi devices of the day regardless of the differences in the base operating system version of the said devices. For instance, one could be running Android 7.0, Nougat, and the other could be on Android 8.1, Oreo, but running a similar instance of Xiaomi’s customized software. The advantage here is that regardless of the Android version one’s device is on, they have access to almost the same features as everyone else. There’s a lesson or two here that everyone can learn.
In fact, as you will notice from the list below, Xiaomi is bringing its latest software to almost all the smartphones it has unveiled over the last 4 years.
That is quite rare and you don’t even need to go far to notice. Compatriots and competitors OPPO and Huawei, who offer their own custom versions of the Google-fronted mobile operating system under the ColorOS and EMUI names respectively, only avail the latest versions of their custom software with the latest versions of Android. For example, any Huawei smartphone that is not running on Android Oreo sure won’t be seeing version 8 of Emotion UI unless it gets updated to Android 8 or 8.1.
With this in mind, owners of the following Xiaomi smartphones should look forward to their devices receiving MIUI 10, the latest version of MIUI which was announced earlier today at the launch event for Xiaomi’s latest flagship smartphone, the Mi 8 (we’ll dive into details on them if and when we know of their local availability or plans for the same. Meanwhile, your thirst can be quenched by several other reputable online tech publications whose work and opinion on tech products we admire and respect – my personal favourite is Android Police):
- Mi MIX 2S
- Mi MIX 2
- Mi MIX
- Mi 6X
- Mi 6
- Mi 5
- Mi Note 2
- Redmi S2
- Redmi Note 5
- Mi Note 3,
- Mi 5X
- Mi 5c
- Mi 5s
- Mi 5s Plus
- Mi 4
- Mi 4c
- Mi 4S
- Mi Max 2
- Mi Max
- Redmi 5
- Redmi 5A
- Redmi 5 Plus
- Redmi 4
- Redmi 4A
- Redmi 4X
- Redmi 3S/Redmi 3X
- Redmi Pro
- Redmi Note 5A
- Redmi Note 4 Qualcomm/Redmi Note 4X
- Redmi Note 4 MTK, Redmi Note 3 Qualcomm
Note:
- Definitely, it goes without saying that the new Mi 8 devices (they are a trio, after all) will ship with MIUI 10 so there’s no need to list the obvious.
- This list is based off Xiaomi’s own preview schedule. The assumption made here is that all devices taking part in the preview phase will finally make the jump to MIUI 10. Even though it’s unlikely, that may not necessarily end up being the case. Also, some devices that won’t be seeing the preview might just get MIUI 10 so all may not be lost if your device is missing from the above list.
MIUI 10 brings with it several new features. Like the gestures that have been a preserve of its more recent devices like the Mi Mix 2 and Mi Mix 2s, a new smart assistant that may remain a preserve of China since the world is Google Assistant’s to lose, better integration with and support for Xiaomi’s expanding family of smart home gadgets, a completely redone recent apps menu (was the change necessitated by the fact that we will all be getting Xiaomi’s way of displaying recent apps – which they copied from Apple – in Android P?) among others. Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper 2018 software release without the mention of AI (Artificial Intelligence). AI is expected to be the driver of all performance boosts that MIUI 10 brings.
Xiaomi has not revealed the update schedule for devices receiving MIUI 10, yet, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for any developments along those lines.
