The question of how many years Xiaomi has been keeping its smartphones updated remains one of the most talked-about questions among Android users. The Chinese giant has long been famous for rapidly rolling out new versions of MIUI, but has often lagged behind competitors in terms of security support, a situation that has changed dramatically with the release of the global shell of HyperOS and the transition to new industry standards.
Today, the company’s updates policy has become more transparent and structured: whereas in the past, budget model owners could only count on a couple of years of support, now even mid-range price segments receive a long-term guarantee of software compatibility, which is critical for those who buy a device for more than one year, but plan to use it for 3-4 years or more without losing the relevance of software.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how long it takes to update the various series, from the flagship Xiaomi 14 to the affordable Redmi, and we’ll analyze the differences between the Chinese and global markets, as well as explain what it means to switch to HyperOS for older devices.
The evolution of Xiaomi’s update policy
Historically, Xiaomi has focused on the speed of updates rather than the length of updates. In the era of MIUI 10 and MIUI 11, users often received Android 10 a year after the release of Android 9, but then support abruptly ended. The paradigm shift began with the introduction of MIUI 12 and especially MIUI 13, when the company began to rethink its obligations to users.
The key was to split the lines into flagship, mid-range and budget. The top models of the Xiaomi series (formerly Mi) and the Pro version of the Redmi Note have begun to receive priority. Now the company officially declares the deadlines, which allows customers to plan costs more accurately. For example, the flagships of 2026-2026 release already have a guarantee of 4-5 years of Android updates.
It’s important to understand that support is divided into two types: major OS updates (for example, switching from Android 13 to 14) and security patches. The former come out less often and change functionality, the latter close vulnerabilities. Xiaomi seeks to synchronize the schedule of release of patches with other manufacturers, releasing them quarterly or monthly for top devices.
Support timeline for Xiaomi flagship series
Flagship smartphones are always a priority. Xiaomi-branded models (digital series and Ultra series) get the longest-lasting support. Starting with Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14, the company guarantees 4 major Android updates and 5 years of security patches.
That puts them on a par with Samsung and Google, although Apple still leads with 6-7 years of support. However, for the Android segment, 4-5 years is a great indicator. Owners of Xiaomi 12T Pro or Xiaomi 13 devices can rest assured that their gadgets will remain relevant until 2027-2028.
Why do old flagships stop getting updates?
The difference between the global and Chinese versions is worth noting: China’s ROMs are the first to be updated, but the global versions (Global ROMs) are now getting updates with a minimum delay of 1-2 months, a weakness in the past, but with the introduction of HyperOS, the gap has narrowed.
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Check the region of the device in the settings. Smartphones purchased on AliExpress with "Global" ROM" (Chinese citizens may not receive official OTA-Update or get blocked. Buy only versions with factory Global firmware.
Support for Redmi and POCO budget lines
The situation with budget smartphones series Redmi and POCO is more complicated. Here the support policy depends on the price of the device at the time of release. Entry-level budgeters (Redmi A, Redmi C, POCO C series) usually receive only one major update of Android or remain the Nano version, receiving only security patches for 2 years.
The Redmi Note series, especially the Pro models, is in a privileged position: Redmi Note 12 Pro and newer devices often get 2-3 Android updates, making them the middle ground in terms of price-life ratio.
- 📱 Redmi A/C series: 1 Android update, 2 safety-year.
- 🚀 POCO X/M series: 2 Android, 3 safety-year.
- 💎 Redmi Note Pro: 2-3 Android, 4 safety-year.
For budget model owners, it’s important not to expect miracles. If your smartphone costs $150-200, it won’t get Android 16 or 17. However, optimizing the current version of MIUI or HyperOS can extend the user-friendly use of the device.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to manually install global firmware on Chinese versions of Redmi or POCO using the Mi Flash Tool without unlocking the bootloader, which can result in loss of warranty and inability to receive updates over the air" (OTA).
HyperOS’s impact on device lifespans
The launch of HyperOS was a turning point, not just a name change from MIUI, but a deep redesign of the system. HyperOS is built on a more modular architecture, which in theory makes it easier to port new features to older devices.
However, switching to HyperOS doesn’t mean all older phones will get Android 14 or 15 instantly.The list of devices eligible for the upgrade is formed separately.Some models that were supposed to get MIUI 15 immediately jumped to HyperOS 1.0 based on Android 14.
☑️ Ready to switch to HyperOS
The main advantage of the new system is improved work with memory and background processes. Even if the device does not receive a new version of Android, the transition to HyperOS can significantly speed up the interface on devices 2-3 years ago.
Table of support of popular models (2026-2026)
So you don't have to guess, we've compiled a summary of the models and their support status, and the data is up to date at the beginning of 2026 and takes into account the company's latest announcements.
| Smartphone model | Year out | Android version (start) | Last update to Android | Security patches up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | 2026 | Android 14 | Android 18 (plan) | 2029 |
| Xiaomi 13 / 13 Pro | 2023 | Android 13 | Android 17 | 2028 |
| POCO F5 Pro | 2023 | Android 13 | Android 16 | 2027 |
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | 2026 | Android 13 | Android 17 | 2028 |
| Xiaomi 12 / 12X | 2022 | Android 12 | Android 15 (HyperOS) | 2026 |
As you can see from the table, the gap between the release of the device and the end of support is 3 to 5 years. For Xiaomi 12, released in 2022, 2026 will be the final year of receiving security patches, which is the standard deadline for flagships of that period.
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Xiaomi’s flagship models are supported by an average of 4 years of major Android updates and 5 years of security patches, which is comparable to market leaders.
How to check and install an update
The upgrade process on Xiaomi smartphones is standardized, but has its own nuances depending on the version of the shell. To check for a new version, you need to go to the settings menu.
Click on About Phone at the top of the list or in the device information block. Next, select a sign with the MIUI or HyperOS version of the system. The system will automatically contact the server and check for relevance.
Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI/HyperOS → Check UpdatesIf the update is available, a Download button will appear. In some cases, especially for global versions, the update may not come immediately to all users, this is called a phased deployment, in which case you can try clicking on three dots in the corner of the screen and select Select a firmware file if you downloaded the package manually from the official site.
⚠️ Note: When installing updates via file (locally), make sure you download firmware strictly for your model and region. Installing firmware from another model (e.g. Global to Chinese) will result in a device brick.