Xiaomi phones that will get Android 12: a full list and schedule

In the mobile world, operating system upgrades are always a landmark event, especially when it comes to switching to a new major. For Xiaomi device owners, waiting for Android 12 has been a real test of patience, given the tight schedule of new products and the complex structure of the company's brands. Many users still wonder when their gadget will receive the cherished notification, and whether it is worth waiting for the official firmware at all.

The Android 12 upgrade is complicated by Xiaomi’s aggressive introduction of its own MIUI 13 shell, which is based on the new version of the “green robot,” which means that with the system changes, users get an updated interface, improved privacy protection and memory optimization, but not all models, even from the flagship lineup, made it to the top list of upgrades.

In this article, we will discuss in detail which phones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are guaranteed to receive Android 12, and which will remain on the old version.We will analyze the technical requirements, possible risks when manually installed and answer the most frequent questions that arise from owners of Chinese equipment.

Why Upgrade to Android 12 Is Important for Xiaomi

The move to Android 12 brought not just cosmetic changes, but a fundamental rethink of how the operating system interacts with the user. This is especially true for Xiaomi devices as the company seeks to unify the experience of using its products around the world. One of the key features is the Material You feature, which allows the interface to adapt to the color gamut of the user's chosen wallpaper.

In addition to visual changes, the new version of the OS offers a significantly improved Privacy Dashboard, which provides a transparent overview of which applications and when accessed the microphone, camera or geolocation. For users of Redmi Note and other mass series, this is critical, as these devices are the most often targeted by advertising trackers in free applications.

⚠️ Warning: Upgrading to Android 12 on older devices could lead to performance decline if the processor fails to meet the increased resource requirements of the system.

Also worth noting are improved clipboard management and new widgets that have become more functional and interactive. For the Xiaomi ecosystem, this means better integration with the smart home right from the lock screen. Users get the ability to control gadgets faster without unlocking the phone completely, saving battery power and time.

The flagship series Mi and Xiaomi, waiting for an update

Flagship devices are traditionally the first to get access to new versions of the operating system. In the case of Android 12, Xiaomi confirmed that most models released in 2020 and 2021 will receive an update.

Owners of the Xiaomi Mi 11 series (including the Ultra, Pro and Lite versions) are in the most advantageous position, these devices were created with the expectation of long-term support, and for them Android 12 became the de facto standard. 10T The Mi 10 is a surprise to many users who didn’t plan to change their phones this year.

Special attention deserves the Xiaomi 11T series, which in the global version came with Android 11, but received an update to Android 12 almost immediately after the release. This creates an interesting situation where the newer model originally had an old OS, but quickly caught up with the flagships. For users, this means getting all the security features and new APIs for applications.

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Before upgrading the flagship, be sure to free up at least 10 GB of internal memory, as the Android 12 installation process requires temporary space to unpack files.

Mid-segment: Redmi Note and Xiaomi 11 Lite series

The mid-range is the most popular category of devices, and it’s where the most variety in terms of release dates is seen. The Redmi Note 10 series was a real hit, and Android 12 support was a matter of company reputation. Fortunately, developers included these models in the update schedule, albeit with some delay relative to the flagships.

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE and Xiaomi 11 Lite also got their fair share of attention, and these devices are marketed as lightweight and stylish smartphones, and the new OS was supposed to optimize their performance. However, users note that on some devices in this series, the update came in the form of MIUI 13 based on Android 11, which caused confusion.

It is important to distinguish between global (Global) and Chinese (CN) versions. Often Chinese firmware updates are faster but do not have Google services pre-installed. For Redmi owners, this means that when you manually flash it, you need to be extremely careful with choosing a regional version so as not to lose the ability to use banking applications.

It's worth noting that the process of distributing updates is in waves, and even if your model is listed, notification may not come immediately, which is a normal practice for engineers to track critical errors on the first group of devices before mass release.

POCO Brand: When to Wait for Android 12

The POCO brand, which is a sub-brand of Xiaomi, often offers flagship-level hardware at a mid-size price. However, with software support, they sometimes have difficulties, and the POCO F3 and POCO X3 NFC models have become some of the most talked about in the context of updates.

The POCO F3, which is essentially a rebranded Redmi K40, received Android 12 fairly quickly, confirming the rule that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon-based devices are more likely to be upgraded than their MediaTek counterparts. POCO X3 Pro owners can also expect to upgrade, although the timing may be shifted due to the need for additional optimization.

The POCO M and POCO C series are at risk. Budget devices often stay on the older version of Android, receiving only security updates. If you own an entry-level model, you shouldn't count on a full Android 12, you'd better focus on the stability of the current system.

⚠️ Note: When updating devices POCO Using the Mi Flash Tool, make sure you are using the Fastboot version. ROM, which corresponds to your region, otherwise it is possible to get a brick (bootloop).

How to check for an update manually

Often, the update is available for your model, but the push notification hasn't arrived yet, so you can try to initiate manual verification, which is a secure procedure that doesn't require a computer or unlock the bootloader.

To do this, go to the phone's settings menu. Find the About phone section and click on the large MIUI version icon. The system will contact the server and check for new firmware specifically for your device and region.

If the server says there are no updates but you are sure they should be, you can try changing the region in the Additional → Region settings. Switching to a country with fewer users (such as India or Indonesia) sometimes helps to rock the server and get the update file faster.

Risks and Features of Android 12 Installation

Installing a new operating system is always a risk. Even official updates can contain bugs that were not detected during the testing phase. Xiaomi devices are characterized by a problem with fast battery discharge in the first days after the update, until the system re-indexes files and learns usage patterns.

One of the main problems with Android 12 on older devices is the incompatibility of some apps.Banking programs and enterprise customers may require certain security certificates or versions of Google Play Services that may conflict with the new MIUI shell.

While the over-the-air update (OTA) saves all files and settings, switching between major versions of Android (e.g. 11 to 12) is highly recommended with a full reset (Wipe Data), which ensures stable system operation and no conflicts in system files.

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Always make a full backup of important data to a cloud service or computer before starting any firmware update process.

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