How many years Xiaomi updates smartphones: the truth about the timing of support in 2026

When you buy a Xiaomi smartphone, one of the key questions is how long will the manufacturer release security updates and new versions of MIUI for it. Unlike Apple or Google, where the support policy is transparent, the Chinese brand is not so clear. Officially, the company claims 2-3 years of updates, but in practice it depends on the series of devices, the region of sales and even the specific firmware.

In this article, we’ll look at how many years Xiaomi smartphones are actually supported in 2026, which models are getting extended support and which are left without updates after a year of release, and compare Xiaomi’s approach with competitors and tell you how to check how many updates your device has left, if you are planning to buy or already own a gadget brand – this information will help to avoid disappointment.

Xiaomi’s official policy: what the manufacturer promises

According to Xiaomi’s latest statements (current to 2026), the company adheres to the following support rules:

• 📱 Flagship Series (Xiaomi) 13/14, MIX Fold) — 3–4 year of major updates MIUI and security patches.
• 📲 Mid-size segment (Redmi Note 12, POCO F5) — 2–3 years (often limited to security patches after 2 years).
• 💰 Budget models (Redmi) A2, POCO C55) — 1-2 years, sometimes only critical corrections.

But there are some important nuances here: first, the timing is not from the date of purchase, but from the moment of the global release of the model. For example, if the smartphone was released in China in 2022 and in Europe in 2023, support will start counting down from 2022.

• 🔄 Main updates MIUI (New features, modified interfaces – less often.
• 🛡️ Monthly/quarterly security patches – may last longer, even after the development has stopped MIUI.

In China ROM, support typically lasts 6-12 months longer than for the Global ROM, which is due to the company’s domestic market priority.

Real support timeline: comparisons with Samsung and Google

To see how generous Xiaomi’s policies are, let’s compare them to its main competitors, and the table below shows the current 2026 data for flagship models:

As you can see, Xiaomi is well behind Samsung and Google in terms of support terms, for example, the Galaxy S22 (2022) is still getting updates, while Xiaomi 12 of the same year already moved to quarterly security patches without new features, and even within the Xiaomi lineup there is a gap:

• 🏆 The flagships of the Xiaomi series and MIX — Supported for the longest time (up to 4 years).
• 🥈 Subflagships POCO F and Redmi K: 2-3 years, but often without Android updates.
• 🥉 Budget Redmi A and POCO C – 1-2 years, sometimes only critical corrections.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi smartphone is bought in China and works on China ROM, Don't count on global updates. ROM You will need to unlock the bootloader, which will cancel the warranty.

How to Check How Many Updates Are Left to Your Xiaomi

To find out how much longer your smartphone will last in terms of updates, follow the following steps:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → version of MIUI.
2. Remember the current version of MIUI and Android.
3. Go to the official Xiaomi update tracker website.
4. Enter your device model and compare the current firmware with the latest available.

You can also use third-party services, such as:

• 🌐 XiaomiUI – Tracks updates for all regions.
• 📊 XDA Developers – here discuss informal support (custom firmware).

If your model no longer appears on the update lists, it means that support is officially discontinued, but even then you can extend the life of the device using custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), but this requires unlocking the bootloader and technical skills.

Why Xiaomi is cutting support: economics and technical constraints

Many users are outraged why Xiaomi is not following Samsung’s lead and extending support to 4-5 years.

1. Business model: Xiaomi makes money selling new devices, not long-term support for old ones. The faster a user upgrades a smartphone, the better for the company.
2. Fragmentation of lines: The brand produces dozens of models a year (only Redmi Note 12 has 5 modifications), and to support all - expensive.
3. Hardware limitations: Budget smartphones often have weak processors (Helio G85, Snapdragon 4 Gen 1) that don't pull newer versions of Android.
4. Regional differences: In China, users are updating devices faster, so support is shorter than in Europe.

Xiaomi is also actively promoting the HyperOS ecosystem (the new firmware that replaced MIUI in 2026). Older devices simply don’t get this shell because of a lack of resources. For example, Xiaomi 11T Pro (2021) will remain on MIUI and will not switch to HyperOS, despite the powerful hardware.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi smartphone is older than 2020 and runs on a Snapdragon processor 7xx Or weaker, the probability of getting new versions of Android is nearing zero, except for flagships like the Xiaomi Mi 10, but they only get security patches.

How to extend the life of Xiaomi after the end of support

If your smartphone has stopped receiving updates, don't rush to throw it away. Here are a few ways to extend its lifespan.

• 🔧 Custom firmware: LineageOS, ArrowOS or Pixel Experience can give you a fresh version of Android.
• 🛡️ Third-party security patches: Projects like GrapheneOS (for Pixel) or DivestOS are ported to Xiaomi.
• 🧹 System Optimization: Remove Bloatware (pre-installed applications) via ADB or MIUI Hidden Settings to speed up work.
• 🔄 Battery replacement: A common cause of braking is a worn-out battery. Replacing it with a new one can bring back performance.

However, custom firmware has disadvantages:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if unlocking the bootloader).
• ❌ Risk of "bricking" (turning into a "brick") in case of firmware error.
• ❌ Not all functions can work, for example, NFC Widevine L1 for Netflix HD).

If you’re not willing to take risks, the alternative is to use your smartphone in “tablet mode”: buy a separate budget phone (like the Nokia 105) for calls, and leave Xiaomi for multimedia, navigation and gaming.

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Before installing custom firmware, back up the persist partition – this will help restore the IMEI and serial number in case of a failure.

Examples of real terms of support of popular models

To make it easier for you to navigate, here are specific examples for popular Xiaomi smartphones:

As you can see, even the flagships of 2021 (Mi 11 Ultra) are no longer getting new features, and budget models (Redmi 9A) remained on the outdated version of Android. At the same time, the POCO F4 GT, despite the top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, lasted only 2 years - a typical example when powerful hardware does not guarantee long-term support.

What to do if support is stopped: alternatives and life hacks

If your Xiaomi has stopped receiving updates, it is not a verdict.

1. Update apps manually: Even without Android updates, you can install the latest versions of apps through APKMirror or the Aurora Store.
2. Use light firmware: For older smartphones, there are lightweight versions of Android, such as Havoc-OS or DerpFest.
3. Disable unnecessary services: In Settings → Applications disable auto-run of unnecessary programs to save resources.
4. Install an alternative launcher: Nova Launcher or Lawnchair will make the interface more modern without updating MIUI.

If you still decide to upgrade your smartphone, pay attention to models with long support:

• 📱 Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 4 years of updates (up to 2028).
• 📱 POCO F6 Pro – 3 years (based on Redmi) K70).
• 📱 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ — 3 years (thanks to the Snapdragon processor) 7s Gen 2).

When buying a new device, check not only the hardware, but also the update policy. For example, the Xiaomi 13T (2023) will only receive 2 major Android updates, while the Xiaomi 14 will receive 3-4 updates.

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Xiaomi flagships are supported longer, but even they are inferior to Samsung and Google. When choosing a smartphone for a long time, the Pixel or Galaxy look more priority.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi smartphone support