How many years Xiaomi supports their devices: a full analysis of the timing of updates

Buy a Xiaomi smartphone and worry that in a year or two it will remain without updates? This question worries many users, especially against the background of competition with Samsung or Google, who promise up to 7 years of support. In this article, we will understand how Xiaomi is doing with MIUI and Android updates: official brand promises, real terms for flagships and budget models, and what to do if support is already over.

We warn you right away: Xiaomi doesn’t have a single standard like Apple or Pixel. The timing depends on the device series, the region of sales and even the specific firmware. For example, the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra will receive updates longer than the budget Redmi Note 12, although both are released in the same year. And in some countries (for example, in Europe), smartphones are supported longer than in China.

Xiaomi’s official support deadline: what the manufacturer promises

Until 2022, Xiaomi did not give clear guarantees on the timing of the updates, which caused criticism from users, which changed after the announcement of the new policy:

• 📱 Flagship Series (Xiaomi 12/13/14, MIX, Black Shark): 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security (since 2023 years).
• 💰 Mid-segment (Redmi K, POCO F, Xiaomi T/C): 3 years of Android and 4 years of security.
• 🪙 Budget models (Redmi Note, POCO M/X): 2 years of Android and 3 years of security.
• ⚠️ Exceptions: Some models for China (CN- versions) get updates longer than global models (Global/EEA).

Important: these deadlines are only valid for devices released after 2022. For example, Xiaomi 11T Pro (2021) received only 2 major Android updates (from 11 to 13), although by modern standards could count on 3. But Xiaomi 13 Pro (2023) is guaranteed to wait for Android 17 in 2026.

But there's a caveat: Xiaomi doesn't count as a "support year" from the release date, but from the last update. For example, if a smartphone came out in December 2023 and got its first security update in January 2026, it's going to start in January, which could shorten the real life by 1-2 months.

Real time: how long are popular models updated

To understand how long updates actually live, we'll analyze several devices from different years, and we'll take data from official announcements and update history on the XDA Developers and MIUI Community forums.

The table shows that even Xiaomi flagships rarely receive updates longer than 3-4 years, and budget models – a maximum of 2-2.5 years. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S21 (2021) still receives security updates (May 2026), and the Xiaomi Mi 11 of the same year – no.

💡

To find out when your model will stop receiving updates, check it out at MIUI Update Tracker, where the latest security update is over 3 months old, support will soon run out.

Another important point: Xiaomi often “forgets” about budget models after the release 2–3 New generations of the series, like the Redmi Note. 10 (2021) has ceased to receive updates in 2023 It’s been a while since Android could have waited. 13The reason is that priority is given to the newer Redmi Note. 11/12.

Why Xiaomi supports devices less than competitors

There are several reasons why Xiaomi is lagging behind Samsung or Google in terms of the length of support it has:

1. The company produces dozens of smartphones per year (only the Redmi Note series is updated 2 times a year), and support all - resource-consuming.
2. Fragmentation of firmware: Xiaomi has separate versions of MIUI for China (CN), Europe (EEA), India (IN) and the global market (Global), each need to be adapted separately.
3. The company focuses on selling new models rather than supporting older ones, like Xiaomi 14 getting Android 14 on the day of its release, and Xiaomi 12 didn’t get there until 6 months later.
4. Unlike Samsung, which competes with Apple in the premium market, Xiaomi is focused on the budget and mid-range segment, where users pay less attention to the duration of support.

In addition, Xiaomi actively uses redesigned chipsets from Qualcomm or MediaTek in budget models (for example, Helio G88 in Redmi Note 12). Chip manufacturers often stop supporting older processors through 2-3 years, which automatically limits and updates Xiaomi.

Another problem is that security updates often come with a delay, such as in March 2026, Xiaomi released patches for January 2026 for some models, while the Google Pixel was already receiving April updates, due to the need to adapt patches to different versions of MIUI.

How to check if your Xiaomi smartphone is supported

To find out how long your device will last, follow this instruction:

The most reliable way is to go to the official update tracker:

1. Go to the MIUI Update Tracker website.
2. Type your model name in the search box (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G).
3. Look at the date of the last security update, and if it's older than 3-4 months, support will soon run out.

You can also use third-party services:

• 🌍 XiaomiUI – monitors updates for all regions.
• 📊 XDA Developers is a forum where informal firmware is discussed.
• 📱 The MIUI bootloader app (available on Google Play) shows the update history for your model.

If your smartphone is no longer supported but you want to continue receiving updates, consider custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS, Pixel Experience).

💡

Even if official support is over, Xiaomi’s smartphone will work, but without security updates, it will become vulnerable to viruses and new threats.

What to do if Xiaomi support is over

If your device has stopped receiving updates, you have a few options:

• 🔄 Install custom firmware. For example, LineageOS or ArrowOS can extend the life of a smartphone by 1-2 years, but you need to unlock the bootloader (the procedure takes up to 360 hours of latency on some models!).
• 🛡️ Use alternative launchers and applications. For example, Nova Launcher + Google Camera can replace the standard MIUI interface.
• 📱 Buy a new smartphone. If your model is older than 3 years, it may be time to upgrade. When choosing, pay attention to the support time (Xiaomi has 14-5 years, Redmi Note 13-3 years).
• 🔒 Manually enhance security by installing antivirus software (such as Malwarebytes), do not install applications from unknown sources, and do backups regularly.

If you decide to stay on the old firmware, consider the risks:

⚠️ Warning! Devices without security updates are vulnerable to:

• 🕵️‍♂️ Spyware (e.g., Trojans stealing bank card details).
• 💻 Attacks over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi (Outdated protocols may have critical vulnerabilities).
• 📱 Loss of compatibility with newer versions of apps (e.g. WhatsApp or Banking Apps may stop working).

For example, in 2023, a vulnerability CVE-2023-21100 was discovered in older versions of Android, which allowed hackers to access the device via Wi-Fi. Xiaomi smartphones without updates remained under threat.

Xiaomi Comparison with Competitors: Who Supports the Longest

Let’s take a look at how Xiaomi looks compared to other manufacturers:

Xiaomi is 2 to 3 years behind the market leaders, but ahead of many Chinese competitors (like Oppo or Vivo, which often support devices as little as 1-2 years), but even within the Xiaomi lineup there is a gap: the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra will get Android 17, and the budget Redmi Note 12 will only get to Android 15.

If you are interested in a long support period, pay attention to:

• 📱 Samsung Galaxy S/Note — 4 years Android + 5 years of safety.
• 📱 Google Pixel – Up to 7 years of updates (with Pixel 8).
• 📱 Fairphone – 5-6 years of support (eco-focused brand).

But if you want a smartphone with a good price/quality ratio, Xiaomi remains one of the best options – just be prepared to change the device every 2-3 years.

The future of Xiaomi updates: what to expect in 2026-2026

In 2023, Xiaomi announced a new policy to improve the situation with updates:

• 🆕 5 years of security for flagships (starting with Xiaomi 14).
• 🔄 4 major mid-segment Android updates (e.g., Redmi K70).
• 🌍 Unification of firmware — reduction of the number of region-dependent versions MIUI.
• ⚡ Accelerating patch releases – goal: reduce the lag between the release of Google security updates and their adaptation for Xiaomi.

However, there are risks:

⚠️ Warning! the new policy only applies to devices released after 2023.If you bought the Xiaomi 13 in 2022, it will still only get 3 years of Android updates despite the more recent models.

Xiaomi is also planning to push ahead with HyperOS, a new firmware that will replace MIUI. The first HyperOS devices (Xiaomi 14, Redmi K70) have already received a 5-year promise, but it is not known if this will extend to older models after the upgrade.

If you are planning a purchase, pay attention to:

• 📅 Release Date: Devices from 2023 to 2026 will be supported longer.
• 🏷️ Series: Flagships (Xiaomi 14, MIX Fold 3) are a priority for upgrades.
• 🌐 Region: European (EEA) and global (Global) versions are supported longer than Chinese (CN).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi support