What is MIUI 10 and why millions of users have been waiting for it?
MIUI 10 was one of the most anticipated events of 2018 for Xiaomi smartphone owners, and this version of the shell brought not only visual changes, but also deep optimization of the system, improved performance and new features based on artificial intelligence. The developers promised that the update will make interaction with the device more intuitive and animations will be smoother thanks to Full Screen Gestures technology.
The first screenshots of MIUI 10 were released months before the official release, sparking a heated discussion in the community, with users taking notice of the redesigned settings menu, new app icons and an improved notification panel, and the introduction of AI Preload, which analyzed user behavior and preloaded frequently used applications into RAM, was particularly impressive.
But the main question that has worried fans of the brand: which Xiaomi devices will get MIUI 10? the company traditionally supports a wide range of gadgets, but every year the list of compatible models narrows. In this article, we have gathered all the relevant information about supported smartphones, first impressions of the new shell and the nuances of the update.
The first screenshots of MIUI 10: what has changed in the design
The official screenshots Xiaomi released at the presentation showed dramatic changes in the visual part of the shell, the most striking innovation is a redesigned icon system with more rounded shapes and bright colors, and designers abandoned flat style in favor of three-dimensional elements, which made the interface more modern.
Particular attention was paid to:
- 📱 Notification panels — now it’s split into two tabs: for notifications and quick settings, like in stock Android.
- 🔄 Transition animation – added smooth effects when opening applications and returning to the home screen.
- 🌙 Dark theme — the possibility of a global switch to dark mode, which saves battery power on AMOLED- screens, has become possible.
- 🎨 Customizable gestures – users can replace standard navigation buttons with swipes.
Fun fact: MIUI 10 introduced the first Second Space feature with a separate desktop, which allowed two independent profiles to be created on a single device, a decision that was appreciated by users who wanted to separate personal and work data.
The official list of Xiaomi devices that will receive MIUI 10
Xiaomi has traditionally divided devices into several waves of updates, with flagship models first, mid-range devices, and last but not least budget smartphones, and the full list of supported devices confirmed by official sources is presented below.
| Category of devices | Models. | Approximate release date of the update |
|---|---|---|
| Flagships of 2018 | Mi 8, Mi 8 Explorer Edition, Mi 8 SE, Mi MIX 2S | June-July 2018 |
| Flagships of 2017 | Mi 6, Mi MIX 2, Mi Note 3 | August-September 2018 |
| Mid-segment | Redmi Note 5, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Mi 6X, Redmi S2 | September-October 2018 |
| Budgetary models | Redmi 5, Redmi 5A, Redmi 5 Plus, Redmi Note 4/4X | November 2018 – January 2019 |
| Devices with limited support | Mi 5, Mi 5s, Mi Note 2 | Beta version only, with no further updates |
Importantly, for some models, such as the Redmi 3S or Mi 4, the upgrade to MIUI 10 never came out, due to hardware restrictions and the company's policy of discontinuing devices older than 3-4 years.
Why are some devices not getting MIUI 10?
How to check if an update is available for your device
Before you search for firmware manually, it is recommended to check for an update through the standard settings.
- Open the Settings menu → About the phone → System update.
- Click on the Check Updates button.
- If an update is available, follow the instructions on the screen.
If the system does not find MIUI 10, it can mean one of three:
- ⏳ The update hasn't come out for your model yet (check the chart above).
- 🌍 Your region is not in the first wave of distribution (for example, global versions sometimes get firmware later than Chinese ones).
- 🔧 Your device is locked or has unofficial firmware.
Backup data | Charge battery to 50% or higher | Connect to stable Wi-Fi | Free at least 2 GB of storage | Disable antivirus (can block installation)
-->
If you don’t want to wait for the official release, you can try installing the beta version of MIUI 10 through the Mi Flash Tool program. However, this method is only suitable for advanced users, as it requires unlocking the bootloader and can lead to data loss.
💡
Before installing the beta, check out reviews on forums (like 4PDA or XDA Developers) – some builds may contain critical bugs, such as fast battery drain or camera issues.
New features of MIUI 10: what has appeared besides design
In addition to visual changes, MIUI 10 has brought a number of functional innovations that have significantly improved the user experience.
1 AI- Optimization of Performance
It's smarter, it analyzes which apps you use more often, and it loads them up in advance, so if you open WhatsApp every day at 8 a.m., for example, MIUI 10 will download it in advance to reduce latency, a feature called AI Preload, and it's based on machine learning.
2. Improved multitasking
Now you can run apps in a floating window (Floating Windows feature), which is convenient for multi-tasking, for example, you can watch videos on YouTube and chat in the messenger at the same time.
3.New navigation gestures
Instead of the standard buttons “Back”, “Home” and “Recent” there is the ability to manage swipes:
- 👆 Swipe up — return to the home screen.
- 👇 Swipe down and hold — Opening the menu of recent apps.
- ☝️ Swipe from right to left -- back.
4.Smart Assistant Xiao AI
In China, MIUI 10 debuted Xiao AI, a voice assistant that could execute commands in Chinese, and in global versions, this feature was replaced by Google Assistant, but the integration with the system has become deeper.
5.The "Children's" mode
It was possible to create a separate profile with limited access to apps and content, so parents could set time limits and block unwanted programs.
Interestingly, some features, such as Game Turbo, were later migrated to newer versions of MIUI, but were first introduced in MIUI 10.
💡
The AI Preload function did work – according to user reviews, frequently used applications opened 20-30% faster than in MIUI 9.
Frequent issues after upgrading to MIUI 10 and how to fix them
Despite all the improvements, many users encountered bugs after installing the new firmware, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
1. Fast battery discharge
Reason: Background processes of AI- optimizations could overload the processor.
Decision:
- Turn off AI Preload in the battery settings.
- Limit the background activity of applications in Settings → Battery → Optimization.
- Perform a cache reset via Recovery mode.
2. Hanging and lags
Reason: Lack of free memory or conflict with user themes.
Decision:
- Remove unnecessary themes in Settings → Themes.
- Clear the cache in Settings → Memory → Clear the cache.
- If the problem persists, reset to factory settings.
3. Problems connecting to Wi-Fi or mobile network
Cause: Failure in communication modules after the update.
Decision:
- Reboot the router and smartphone.
- Forget the network in the Wi-Fi settings and connect again.
- Reset network settings to Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset network settings.
💡
If after the update, the sound has disappeared in the speaker, check the settings of Settings → Sound → Sound Improvement – sometimes they are reset to factory.
If none of these methods worked, you can try to roll back to the previous version of MIUI via the Mi Flash Tool, but this will require unlocking the bootloader and may result in data loss.
⚠️ Warning: Before resetting or rolling back the firmware, be sure to back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. Recover deleted files after reset will not be possible!
MIUI 10 vs MIUI 9: Should I Upgrade?
Many users were hesitant to upgrade to the new version, especially if their device is not a flagship.
| Characteristics | MIUI 9 | MIUI 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Flat icons, minimalist style | Volume icons, animations, dark theme |
| Productivity | Basic optimization | AI- Optimization, Accelerated Application Loading |
| Multitasking | Standard switching between applications | Floating windows, improved management |
| Gestures | Standard buttons only | Full screen gestures (optional) |
| Support for devices | A wide list, including older models | Limited list, iron requirements above |
Bottom Line: If your device is on the supported list and has enough resources (minimum 3GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 625 or higher processor), then the upgrade is definitely worth installing. For weak devices (such as Redmi 4A or Mi 4i), MIUI 10 may run slower than MIUI 9.
⚠️ Warning: On devices with MediaTek processors (e.g., Redmi Note 4 MTK), upgrading to MIUI 10 could have caused problems with the camera or module GPS. Before installing, check the feedback of your model owners!