When you buy a Xiaomi device โ whether it's a smartphone, a TV or a smartwatch โ one of the key questions is, how long will it be updated? It's not just security that depends on it, it's also the functionality of the gadget. Unfortunately, the Chinese brand's support policy is far from as transparent as Apple or Google's.
โ Official update dates for different Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (spoiler: they're very different!);
โ How real practice differs from manufacturer statements (e.g. why the Mi 11 received the product) MIUI 14 and Redmi Note 9 is No);
What to do if support is over, but the device is still working
Comparison with competitors: who gives updates longer โ Samsung, Xiaomi or Realme?
We have analyzed data for the last 5 years, studied forums 4PDA XDA-Developers and official statements of the company to give you a clear answer without marketing flores.
Xiaomiโs Official Policy: What the Manufacturer Promises
On paper, Xiaomi has clear support rules, but in practice they change a lot.
- ๐ฑ Flagship smartphones (series Xiaomi) 12/13/14, Mix): 4 the year of security updates and 3 major updates MIUI (for example, MIUI 13 before MIUI 16).
- ๐ฒ Mid-size segment (Redmi Note 12, POCO F5): 3 years of security and 2 major updates MIUI.
- ๐บ Televisions and Smart Devices (Mi) TV, Mi Band: 2-3 years of updates, but no warranties for new features.
However, there are two pitfalls here:
โ ๏ธ Note: Xiaomi doesnโt always keep its promises: For example, Xiaomi Mi 10 (2020) was supposed to receive updates until 2026, but support MIUI It was completed in March 2023, a year earlier.
Regional differences also play a role: devices for China ROM) They often get updates longer than global versions (Global) ROM). Like Redmi. K40 in China, upgraded to MIUI 14 and the global version POCO F3 (same machine - no.
Real support timeline: data by model (table)
To avoid relying on promises, we've gathered actual data from popular models, and in the table below, how many years have the devices received updates since they were released:
| Model (year of issue) | The latest version of MIUI | Years of support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi 11 (2021) | MIUI 14 | 2.5 years | Promised 3 years, but updates stopped in June 2023 |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro (2021) | MIUI 13.0.12 | 2 years | Last Security Update - April 2023 |
| POCO X3 Pro (2021) | MIUI 14 (Global) | 2.3 years | The Chinese version has been received. MIUI 15 |
| Xiaomi Mi TV Q2 (2020) | PatchWall 3.0 | 1.5 years | Updates only to fix bugs |
| Mi Band 7 (2022) | Firmwer 1.20.1 | 1 year | New features only in Mi Band 8 |
As the table shows, even flagships rarely get updates beyond 3 years.com: Samsung Galaxy S21 (2021 is still supported (4 years), and iPhone 11 (2019) โ gets iOS 17 in 2026.
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Xiaomi often cuts support for global versions of devices 6-12 months earlier than Chinese ones.
3.Why is Xiaomi cutting support ahead of its promise?
There are several reasons why Xiaomi is not meeting its deadlines:
- The company produces more than 50 smartphone models a year (according to Counterpoint Research), and maintaining all is expensive.
- Fragmentation MIUI: Different firmware versions for China, Europe, India require separate development teams.
- Priority for new devices: Xiaomi focuses on promoting fresh models, not supporting older ones.
- Hardware constraints: budget chips (e.g. Snapdragon) 6xx Helio Gxx is not always able to run a new version MIUI.
In addition, the policy of updating depends on the region:
- ๐จ๐ณ In China, devices get updates longer (e.g. Redmi) K30 renewed MIUI 14, and global POCO X2 โ no).
- ๐ช๐บ In Europe and Russia, support often ends a year early due to โresource optimization".
- ๐ฎ๐ณ In India, Xiaomi sometimes extends updates for popular models (for example, Redmi Note 11 received a new update). MIUI 14 against expectations).
How to check how many updates are left on your device?
4. How to extend the life of the device after the end of support
If your Xiaomi has stopped receiving updates, donโt rush to throw it away. Here are 5 working ways to bring the device back to its current state of the art:
Install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)
Disable unnecessary background processes to speed up work
Use alternative launchers (Nova, Apex)
Update Google Play Services manually
Transfer files to a memory card or cloud-->
1. Custom firmware
The most radical but effective way is to install an informal firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience.
- ๐ Updates to the latest version of Android (for example, Android 14 on Redmi Note 9).
- ๐ Improved performance (no extra bloatware from Xiaomi).
- ๐ Regular security patches from the community.
Cons: loss of warranty, risk of "bricking" the device, possible bugs with the camera or NFC.
2. Optimization of the current firmware
If you donโt want to change the firmware, you can speed up the old one. MIUI:
- ๐งน Clear the cache in Settings โ Warehouse โ Clear the cache.
- โ Turn off autoloading of unnecessary applications (Settings) โ Annexes โ Auto-start).
- ๐ Use "Easy Mode" (Settings) โ Special opportunities โ Easy regime).
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Before installing custom firmware, check if your model has official support on the XDA-Developers forum. POCO X3 NFC There are stable builds of LineageOS 20, and for Redmi 9A โ Only unofficial ports with bugs.
Comparison with competitors: who gives updates longer?
To understand how far Xiaomi is behind (or ahead of) competitors, compare the terms of support for different brands on the example of flagships of 2020-2021:
| Brand | Model (year) | Years of renewal | Latest version of OS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | iPhone 12 (2020) | 4+ year (still) | iOS 17 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S21 (2021) | 4 years (until 2026) | One UI 6 (Android 14) |
| Xiaomi | Mi 11 (2021) | 2.5 years | MIUI 14 (Android 13) |
| Pixel 5 (2020) | 3 years | Android 14 | |
| Realme | GT Neo 2 (2021) | 2 years | Realme UI 4.0 (Android 13) |
As you can see, Xiaomi loses Apple and Samsung in terms of timing, but ahead of Realme and Oppo.
โ ๏ธ Note: Samsung and Google update all models of the lineup equally, and Xiaomi often makes exceptions, POCO F3 (2021 received MIUI 14, and Redmi Note 10 Pro (same year) - no, despite similar specs.
If you are critical for long-term support, when choosing a device, focus on:
- ๐ Flagship Series (Xiaomi) 13/14, Mix Fold โ They get updates longer.
- ๐ Models for China (if you are willing to put up with the lack of Google services).
- ๐ Devices with Snapdragon chips 8xx โ They are supported longer than on MediaTek or budget Snapdragon 6/7xx.
6.The future of Xiaomi updates: what to expect in 2026-2026
In 2023, Xiaomi announced a new update policy, but for now it's more like a marketing ploy.
1. HyperOS instead MIUI
Since the end of 2023, Xiaomi has started to replace MIUI It's a new HyperOS shell, and the company says it should:
- โก Speed up the release of updates (by unifying code for different devices).
- ๐ Continue to support older models (but not yet confirmed in practice).
However, the first updates to HyperOS received only flagships (Xiaomi). 13/14, Mix Fold 3). Budget models like the Redmi Note 12 stayed MIUI 14.
2.Promises for new devices
At the presentation of Xiaomi 14 (October 2023), the company promised:
- ๐ 4 years of security updates for flagships (previously 3).
- ๐ 3 major HyperOS updates (previously 2 for the first time) MIUI).
But, as practice shows, there are no guarantees - it all depends on the sales of the model and the priorities of the company.
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HyperOS can improve the situation with updates, but only for devices in 2023 and later. owners of older smartphones should not count on miracles.
3.What to do if you buy Xiaomi in 2026?
If you need long-term support, follow these rules:
- ๐ Buy the flagships of the current year (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 4) โ they are guaranteed to get HyperOS 2.0 and 3.0.
- ๐ Avoid budget series (Redmi A, POCO M โ they are supported by 1-1.5 years.
- ๐ Check the date of the last update for similar models before buying (for example, if the Redmi Note 12 stopped updating after 2 years, the Note 13 will face the same fate).