The transition to a new operating system always raises many questions for owners of equipment, especially when changes are related to the fundamentals of the device. Xiaomi HyperOS was the answer to the growing needs of users who demanded not just cosmetic edits, but deep reworking of the architecture. In this article, we will discuss in detail what exactly the company’s engineers added, and how these changes will affect your daily experience using a smartphone.
The main goal of the developers was to create a single ecosystem that connects smartphones, tablets, cars and smart homes. Whereas previously MIUI focused mainly on mobile devices, the new shell is sharpened for cross-platform interaction, you will notice that the system has become smoother, and the background processes consume significantly less battery resources.
Visual changes are noticeable from the first seconds after the screen is turned on, but the real surprises are hidden deeper. We have prepared a detailed analysis of all the innovations so you can assess the scale of the update. Let's dive into the technical details and consider the key aspects that distinguish HyperOS from its predecessor.
Architectural changes and the core of the system
The fundamental difference of the new shell was the introduction of a hybrid kernel that combines Linux and Self-developed Vela, which significantly reduced the size of system files and speeded up the launch of applications.
Optimization has also affected memory management: dynamic resource allocation is now more aggressive, unloading inactive processes, especially on devices with 6 or 8 GB of RAM, where multitasking has become noticeably more stable, and you can switch between heavy games and work applications without constantly rebooting tabs.
Technical details of the kernel
Importantly, the update mechanism has also been reworked, and now they load in the background more efficiently using compressed data packets, meaning you don't have to wait for hours for a new security patch or functional update to be installed.
- 🚀 Reduced system partition size by 3 GB compared to MIUI 14.
- ⚡ Applications are being accelerated to 15-20% Thanks to the new task planner.
- 🔋 Background energy consumption reduced by 10-15% standby.
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The transition to a hybrid core is not just marketing, but a real technical basis for connecting all Xiaomi devices into a single network.
New design and visual identification
The visuals have changed dramatically, becoming known as HyperConnect in the context of interaction, but the static elements have become fresher. App icons have been re-painted to reflect new material design principles, becoming more voluminous and vibrant. Transition animations are now built on physical motion models, making the interface lively and responsive.
The control center has been completely redesigned, split into two logical zones: notifications on the left and fast switches and brightness and sound sliders on the right, a solution that has eliminated the confusion that users often have when trying to quickly find the right switch in the dark.
Special attention was paid to the lock screen, which now supports deep settings comparable to iOS. You can change fonts, add weather or pedometer widgets directly to the screensaver, and adjust the depth of display time relative to the objects in the photo.
- 🎨 More than 1,000 new font and style combinations for the lock screen.
- 📱 Redesigned notification panel with zone division.
- 🌊 New live wallpaper that responds to touch and gyroscope.
Improved multitasking and windows
The floating window feature, known as Free Form, has been a welcome development, and you can now open up to four apps in floating mode at once, not just two, as it used to be, and it's intuitive to manage them, just swipe from the corner of the screen to activate the app you want.
Added the ability to save usage scenarios. If you're used to working with the navigator, messenger and music player at the same time, the system will allow you to save this combination of windows with one touch. Next time, all applications will open in the same positions and with the same data.
⚠️ Note: Windows scripting can consume additional RAM. On devices with 4 GB of RAM, it is recommended to use no more than two floating windows at the same time to avoid lags.
The splitting of the screen also has new gestures, so you can quickly change the proportions of the windows, just dragging the dividing line, or instantly change apps in places with a long press on the preview.
☑️ Setting up the working space
Data security and protection
In terms of security, Xiaomi HyperOS offers an expanded set of tools, including an improved permissions manager, so you can now give apps geolocation access only for the duration of use or allow gallery access only for selected photos, hiding the rest of the content.
And we've got a Privacy Defender feature that tracks in real time how apps are trying to read clipboard, location, or microphone data, and if an app is behaving suspiciously, you'll get a notification that suggests that you limit its rights.
| Protection function | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual identifier | Issues a fake device ID for applications | Actively. |
| Safe folder | Encrypted storage for files and applications | Improved. |
| Network monitoring | Control of data transmission in the background | New. |
| Protection against fraudsters | Blocking suspicious calls and SMS | Updated |
Better biometrics work is worth mentioning, as fingerprint scanners and facial unlocks work faster thanks to driver optimization, and the ability to unlock the device when you have trusted gadgets connected, such as the Mi Band or smartwatches, is added.
Ecosystem integration and smart home
One of the big things that has been added to the system is native Matter support, which allows Xiaomi devices to seamlessly interact with other manufacturers that support the standard, so you no longer have to look for workarounds to integrate light bulbs or sockets from third-party brands.
HyperConnect allows you to instantly transfer files between your smartphone, tablet and Xiaomi laptop just by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can use your phone’s camera as a webcam for a PC or stream your mobile device’s screen to your TV without delay.
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For maximum file transfer speed over HyperConnect, make sure that all devices are enabled with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, even if the transfer is via a direct connection.
Smart home management has been brought into a separate, more user-friendly interface, and device cards have become more informative, not only by displaying status, but also energy consumption or temperature in real time, and automation scenarios can now be created using complex logic chains.
- 🏠 A single control center for all smart home devices.
- 🔄 Automatic detection of new gadgets in range.
- 📡 Support for cross-platform scenarios (IFTTT analogue).
Performance and gaming functions
The game mode, called Game Turbo, has been completely rewritten, so it doesn't just block notifications, it intelligently allocates the CPU and GPU resources depending on the load in a particular game, and it determines when to raise frame rates and when to save power.
Added a feature of recording video in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second directly from the game interface, without the use of third-party overlays, and the ability to stream gameplay on streaming platforms in one click, which will appreciate mobile bloggers.
⚠️ Attention: When activating the maximum performance mode in games, the device can heat up significantly. It is recommended to use external cooling for long gaming sessions.
The optimization has also been applied to graphics in the interface, and the new rendering engine allows you to keep the screen refresh rate high even when heavy widgets are open, making scrolling through social media feeds and browsers extremely smooth.