Many Android smartphone users often dream of the premium experience associated with Apple products, but are not willing to overpay for the brand. This is where Xiaomi’s flagships come on the scene, which for years have been implementing features visually and functionally reminiscent of iOS in their MIUI and HyperOS shells. When they say that “Xiaomi is like the iPhone X,” they most often don’t mean the appearance of the cases, but the logic of the system, gesture management and photo processing algorithms.
In this article, we will explore how deeply Chinese engineers have been able to implement the concept of a pocket iPhone in their devices, how to customize the interface to make it unrecognizable, and why the camera of some models shoots in the style of Apple even better than the devices Cupertino. It is not just imitation, but deep adaptation of the user experience to the needs of the mass market.
Interface MIUI and HyperOS: Visual mimicry for iOS
The first thing that catches your eye when you compare it is the visual component. Xiaomi shells have historically taken inspiration from iOS design, and with the release of the iPhone X, this trend has only intensified. Control center, notification curtain and even system application fonts often look like a copy with high accuracy. The user who has moved from iOS, it will not take time to get used to the location of the elements.
But unlike Apple's closed system, Xiaomi offers fine-tuning: You can change the desktop grid, app-curb animations, and even the behavior of the bottom dock bar. Visual similarity is achieved by using similar icons and blurring the background (blur effects) in the menu, which creates a sense of depth and premium.
It’s important to note that modern versions of HyperOS are trying to move away from direct copying by introducing their own style of widgets and windows. However, basic navigation remains clear to Apple fans. If you want an experience as similar as possible to iOS, you don’t need to install third-party launchers – just fine tune the theme.
To achieve maximum similarity, experts recommend using standard themes, since third-party can violate the logic of the system animations. The most accurate copy of the iOS interface is observed in global versions of firmware for the flagship Xiaomi and Redmi Note series. This allows you to maintain the smooth operation of the system without overloading the processor with heavy graphics shells.
Gesture Control and Navigation: Full Copy of iPhone X
With the iPhone X, Apple has abandoned the physical home button forever, introducing gesture control. Xiaomi was one of the first to adopt this logic, making it the de facto standard for Android. In the system settings, you can choose Full-screen control, which completely duplicates the behavior of iOS: swipe from the bottom up to return to the desktop, swipe sideways to switch applications.
The action indicator (the stripes at the bottom of the screen) is particularly noteworthy, and in Xiaomi, it responds to taps and vibrations in the same way as in iOS, prompting the user to interact, creating a tactile sense of unity with the device, and it also implements a finger parking feature: if you hold your finger on the strip, you open a multitasking menu that completely copies the behavior of the Face ID of Apple devices.
☑️ Setting up navigation like on iPhone
There is also the ability to hide the lower bar-indicator, leaving only gesture control, which makes the screen even more immersive. To do this, in advanced gesture settings, you need to activate the corresponding switch. It is worth remembering that in some heavy applications, hiding the strip can lead to random swipes, so the balance between aesthetics and convenience remains with the user.
If you’re used to a certain radius of corners or the height of a hidden zone, Xiaomi can emulate this through developer modes, although standard settings already offer a high level of adaptability for any fingers.
Face ID and Biometrics: How Safe Is It?
The face recognition technology in the iPhone X was based on a complex system of sensors TrueDepth, which creates a new technology. 3D-Xiaomi smartphones use a conventional front-facing camera, but machine learning algorithms allow for amazing unlock speeds. It analyzes more than 100 facial points to adapt to changes in appearance, such as when a beard appears or glasses change.
⚠️ Note: Unlike the iPhone X, face unlock in most Xiaomi models is not protected for banking applications due to lack of security. 3D-Do not use Face Unlock to confirm payments!
However, for everyday use, Face ID speeds in Xiaomi are often faster than those of competitors.The unlock animations appearing on the screen are also copied from iOS: the lock icon smoothly turns into an open lock, creating a pleasant visual confirmation of a successful identification.
To improve safety, it is recommended to combine facial recognition with fingerprint unlocking. Flagship models use ultrasonic scanners that work faster than optical analogues and do not require bright screen illumination, which creates a comprehensive protection system where each method compensates for the shortcomings of the other.
Camera: Emulation of Apple's shooting style
One of the big questions is, can Xiaomi's camera shoot "like an iPhone?" The answer lies in the image processing settings. Xiaomi's default algorithms tend to saturate colors and sharpen, while the iPhone X and newer ones are known for their naturalness and dynamic range. However, in manual mode or through third-party applications, you can achieve the same result.
The key is to work with HDR and exposure. In the Camera app from Xiaomi, you need to activate the AI mode and select the scene “Landscape” or “Portrait” for the system to apply the softer tonal compression characteristic of iOS.