You bought a new Xiaomi smartphone that's fast, responsive, with years of performance, but after a few months, you notice that apps take longer to open, animations slow down, and sometimes the device is completely "thinking" about how to do it. 5-10 Why even flagship models like Xiaomi? 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ They start to work worse over time?
The problem isn't "planned obsolescence" (although there are rumors of many brands), it's a complex of factors, from the features of MIUI firmware to hardware constraints. In this article, we'll look at the 7 key causes of brakes on Xiaomi -- with evidence, tests and step-by-step solutions. Without generic phrases like "clean up the cache" (it only helps 10% of the time).
1. MIUI optimizes the system in the background - but not always correctly
Xiaomi's MIUI firmware is known for its aggressive resource management, with Memory Optimization and App Boost algorithms supposed to speed things up, but often doing the opposite.
- 🔄 Forced closure of applications: MIUI It kills background processes even of programs you actively use (such as instant messengers or music players) and they open longer the next time you run them.
- ⚡ Dynamic clock speed limit: If a system decides that the processor is “overheating,” it artificially reduces its power — even when the temperature is normal.
- 📉 Dalvik cache degradation: over time, Android cache files (/data/dalvik-cache) They become fragmented, which slows down the launch of applications.
According to tests from XDA Developers, after 3 months of use, Xiaomi 12T loses up to 22% of performance in the Geekbench 5 benchmark precisely because of the “optimizations” of MIUI. At the same time, on the same Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, but with AOSP firmware (pure Android), there is no drop.
⚠️ Warning: Disable all “optimizations” in settings (Settings) → Special facilities → Optimization MIUI) This can lead to increased battery consumption 15-20%. We recommend selectively disabling only those functions that interfere with the.
2.Overheating: why Xiaomi "strangles" the processor when loaded
Xiaomi saves on cooling even in flagships, such as the Redmi K60 Pro has a graphite heat pad instead of a copper radiator, like the competitors.
- 🌡️ At body temperature 43°C+ It triggers trottling of the processor, in games or when you record video. 4K FPS fall 30-40%.
- 🔥 In budget models (e.g. Poco) X5) overheating occurs even with prolonged use of social networks due to poor heat transfer.
Check the current temperature through the engineering menu:
#4636### → Information about the batteryNormal values: up to 38°C in plain, up to 45°C under load, if higher - it's time to clean your smartphone or change the thermal paste (in the service center).
| Xiaomi model | Type of cooling | Max. temperature under load | Decreased productivity during overheating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | Evaporation chamber + graphite | 48°C | ~15% |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Graphite pad | 52°C | ~25% |
| Poco F5 | Copper tube | 46°C | ~10% |
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If the smartphone is warming without a load, check the charger.Non-original power supplies above 33W can cause the charging controller to overheat.
3. Memory Fragmentation: Why Xiaomi’s 128GB is slower than 64GB on iPhone
Xiaomi often uses cheap memory like eMMC 5.1 (instead of UFS 2.2/3.1) even in mid-budget models. For example, the Redmi Note 11 with eMMC shows a read speed of ~250 MB / s, while the Samsung Galaxy A53 with UFS 2.1 - ~500 MB / s.
- 📸 Video recordings in 4K (buffering, lags while maintaining).
- 🎮 Download levels in games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile).
- 📁 Copying large files (photo/video from the camera).
In addition, the fragmentation of data on eMMC is exacerbated over time. 6 During the months of intensive use, the sequential reading speed may fall by 30-40%. The solution is regular defragmentation through ADB:
adb shell fstrim -v /dataNote
How to check the memory type in your Xiaomi?
4 MIUI Updates: Why Newer Firmware Versions Are Slowing Down Old Smartphones
Xiaomi has been releasing updates for its devices for longer than most brands (up to 4 years for flagships). MIUI harder:
- 📦 MIUI 12 weights ~2.8 GB, and MIUI 14 already ~3.5 GB.
- 🤖 New services are added (e.g., Mi). AI, HyperOS, which works in the background.
- 🔄 Optimizations are sharpened for new processors (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), and old ones (for example, Snapdragon) 732G Redmi Note 10 Pro is not working.
According to 4PDA forum users, after upgrading to MIUI 14 on Xiaomi Mi 11 (Snapdragon 888), the camera opening time increased from 1.2 to 2.8 seconds, the solution is a rollback to old firmware or custom (for example, Pixel Experience).
⚠️ Note: Reverse the previous version MIUI You can only use Fastboot with full data reset. Backup via Mi Cloud does not save application settings!
Download the desired version of MIUI from Xiaomifirmwareupdater.com
Check the bootloader version (fastboot getvar anti)
Disable Mi Account protection (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Device → Untie)
Make a backup via TWRP (if installed)
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5. Xiaomi Background Processes and “Junk” Services
MIUI is loaded out of the box with unnecessary services that:
- 📡 MSA (Mi System Ads – collects data for targeted advertising, even if you have disabled personalization.
- 🔄 Mi Push Service – sends promotional notifications (works even with the Internet turned off via the Internet). SMS).
- 📊 Analytics – transmits usage statistics to Xiaomi (you can disable it in Settings) → Memory. → Auto-start).
According to tests by Android Authority, disabling these services via ADB increases battery life by 12% and reduces lags when multitasking.
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.analytics
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipush.sdk💡
The most voracious MIUI services are com.miui.systemAdSolution, com.android.browser, com.miui.video, and can be safely turned off without loss of functionality.
6. Battery wear and its effect on performance
After 300-500 charging cycles, the battery capacity drops by 20-30%, and Xiaomi begins to artificially limit performance to extend the running time.
Check the status of the battery through the application AccuBattery or engineering menu:
##6484## → Battery healthIf the Health value is below 80%, it's time to change the battery, otherwise the system will constantly strangle the processor.
Brakes can also cause:
- 🔋 Use of non-original chargers (especially those with Quick Charge 4 support)+, without Xiaomi certification).
- ⚡ Ultra-fast charging (heats the battery, causing the system to reduce power).
7 Viruses and malicious apps (yes, they are even in Google Play)
Xiaomi is a popular target for malware because of its large user base in Asia.
- 📱 Applications from third-party stores (APKPure, Aptoide).
- 🎮 Mods for games (for example, cheats for Free Fire or PUBG Mobile).
- 📌 Fake “optimizers” like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster.
Symptoms of infection:
- Advertising in status line.
- Spontaneous launch of a browser with unknown sites.
- Increased traffic consumption (check in Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Using traffic).
To check, use Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile. If the antivirus does not find anything, but the brakes remain, check the list of running processes through ADB:
adb shell ps -A | grep -i "suspicious"💡
The Most Dangerous Application Permits: android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES (installation of software without your knowledge; and android.permission.BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE (screen-control).