What Xiaomi will get MIUI 12: full list of models and deadlines

The Chinese giant’s device owners have long been accustomed to being delighted with new software updates with enviable regularity. Following the release of the stable version of MIUI 11, the community immediately shifted its attention to the next iteration of the shell, which was supposed to bring serious visual and functional changes.

MIUI 12 was designed with a focus on protecting user privacy and visual smoothness of animations. Engineers promised to introduce a live Earth image Superbug system, a new notification control center and an improved Do Not Disturb mode. However, support for older devices is always the most controversial, as not all processors are able to pull new graphic effects.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the official list of devices that are guaranteed to receive the update, as well as those models that may be left behind. It is important to understand that the release of updates for different regions and versions (Global, China, EEA) can occur at different speeds. Release schedules often shift, so owners of flagships sometimes have to wait longer than owners of medium-budget new products.

Official list of supported Xiaomi and Redmi devices

Xiaomi has traditionally divided its devices into several waves of updates. The latest flagships always get the first fresh firmware, followed by last year’s models, and then the mid- and budget segments. The list of those who will receive MIUI 12 was published by developers on the official forum, and it is quite wide.

First of all, the flagship Mi 9, Mi 10 and their modifications (Pro, Lite, T) were among the first to receive the update, which is logical, since these devices were testing new shell features, and the popular Redmi Note 8 and Note 9 series, which are bestsellers in the global market, were also included in the list.

⚠️ Note: Having a model on the list does not guarantee instant arrival of the notification.The exit time depends on the regional binding of your smartphone and the type of firmware installed.

The POCO brand devices deserve special attention. Since the POCO F1 and POCO X2/N2 are essentially rebranded Xiaomi models, they also made it to the list of supported gadgets. However, for some POCO models, the update may come later or have differences in the set of preinstalled applications.

Below is a table with the main series, which are officially confirmed by developers for an update. It is worth considering that within the series there may be exceptions for specific modifications with different memory capacity.

Schedule of updates for different regions

Users often get confused about firmware versions, not understanding why the neighbor got the update a week ago and they still haven't. It's all about regional features and certification. The Chinese version (CN) always comes first, followed by the Indian version (IN), followed by the European version (EEA) and the Global version.

For European users, the process of getting MIUI 12 is often delayed due to strict GDPR requirements and the need for additional security checks.The global version, which is installed on most smartphones purchased in the CIS, is usually based on a Chinese build, but with a modified set of Google apps and services.

• 📅 China (CN): primary release, often contains bugs that are fixed in the following patches.
• 🇮🇳 India (IN): The second stage, often gets features ahead of the global version due to the huge sales market.
• 🇪🇺 Europe (EEA): Stable version with long testing, minimum number of errors.
• 🌍 Global: Final assembly for all other regions, most stable.

If you are an advanced user, you can speed up the process by changing the region in your phone settings, but this can affect the performance of some system applications and services, the region affects the frequency of promotional notifications and the availability of some features of Mi Drop or Mi Video.

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Change of region in the menu "Settings" →"Additionally" →"A region in India or Singapore sometimes helps you get a firmware update sooner than for your main region.

New features and interface changes in MIUI 12

Update to MIUI 12 is not just a version number change, it's a major visual redesign, and one of the big innovations is Super Wallpapers, which is a live wallpaper that changes dynamically when you unlock the screen, creating an immersive effect. AMOLED-screens, providing deep black and energy savings.

The control center has undergone significant changes, and unlike previous versions, where the notification curtain and switches were combined, MIUI 12 separates them, with the swipe on the top left opening the notifications and the control panel on the right, which was introduced to make it easier to use smartphones with large screen diagonals.

The developers have focused on privacy, and they've introduced a "Cloaking Information" feature that hides personal data in apps that require access to it, and they've added a "Transparent Tracker" that shows in real time which apps are accessing the camera, microphone or geolocation.

⚠️ Warning: Superbugs may consume more battery power on older device models. If autonomy is a priority for you, consider using static wallpaper.

Also worth noting is the improved Do Not Disturb mode, which can now automatically include a dark theme throughout the interface and mute system sounds, creating a comfortable atmosphere for reading or resting the eyes at night.

Technical requirements and impact on productivity

MIUI 12 has become heavier than its predecessor, which is natural for modern operating systems. For comfortable operation of the new shell, it is recommended to have at least 4 GB of RAM. Devices with 2 GB or 3 GB of RAM may have difficulties with the background operation of applications and more frequent interface reboots.

The processor also plays a big role. Smartphones based on Snapdragon chips 600-series and higher, as well as MediaTek Helio P60 and later, cope with MIUI 12 quite confidently. However, on very old budgeters (for example, on Snapdragon 439) can be observed twitching animations and longer response time of the system.

• 🚀 Optimization: New version of animation engine requires more processing power GPU.
• 🔋 Battery: New tracking features and live wallpaper can increase energy consumption 5-10%.
• 💾 Memory: At least one update is required to install 5-6 GB of free space in internal storage.

Before installing a major update, it is always recommended to clear the cache and delete unnecessary files, which will help the system work more stable and avoid errors when unpacking installation packages.

How to install MIUI 12 manually

If the automatic update hasn’t come in for weeks and your device is definitely on the supported list, you can try installing the firmware manually, which requires downloading the firmware archive from the official website and using the built-in update menu.

First, you go to miui.com and find the Download section. Select your device model and download the archive marked "Recovery" (this will be a file with the extension.zip). After downloading the file, do not unpack it, but simply move it to the root folder of the phone's internal memory.

Next, perform the following actions through the smartphone menu:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the About Phone section.
3. Click on the MIUI version (logo in the center of the screen).
4. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Select firmware file".
5. Find the downloaded zip archive and confirm the installation.

The phone will check the integrity of the file and reboot to Recovery mode, where the installation process will begin.

Problems after updating and ways to solve them

Like any major upgrade, the transition to MIUI 12 can be accompanied by a number of typical problems: users often complain of fast battery drain, heating of the case and errors in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. In most cases, these problems are temporary and related to the optimization process after installation.

The first few days after the update, the system actively indexes files and recompiles applications in the background, this creates a load on the processor. If after 3-5 days the situation does not normalize, reset the settings to factory (pre-saving important data).

⚠️ Warning: Resetting to factory settings will completely delete all your data, photos and contacts. be sure to make a full backup to Mi Cloud or your computer before this procedure.

It’s also worth checking if installed third-party launchers or themes conflict with the new shell version.Switching off third-party themes and returning to standard design often helps eliminate visual bugs.

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Most of the problems with autonomy and heating are solved independently during a week of active operation of the device after the upgrade.

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