How to make Xiaomi like an iPhone: model selection and setting up for iOS

Many users dream of the design and ecosystem of the iPhone, but are not willing to pay the price for it Apple. Fortunately, some Xiaomi smartphones visually and functionally resemble the flagships from Cupertino – while costing 2-3 times cheaper. But is the external similarity enough, or can we go further and adjust? MIUI iOS?

In this article, we will discuss:

- What are Xiaomi’s Redmi and Redmi models and POCO It looks more like an iPhone. 13/14/15 design-wise.

- How to change the interface MIUI, to resemble iOS (launchers, animations, fonts).

- Is it possible to transfer to Xiaomi key chips of the iPhone: AirDrop, Face ID, Apple ecosystem.

The pros and cons of this approach - is the game worth the candle?

If you want to save money but aren’t willing to sacrifice style, this guide is for you, and if you’ve already bought Xiaomi and want to Apple it, you’ll find step-by-step instructions below.

TOP-5 Xiaomi models that externally copy the iPhone

Android phone makers have been peeping Apple's design for a long time, and Xiaomi is no exception, and some models copy not only the shape of the case, but also the location of the cameras, the material of the frame, even the color solutions.

• 📱 Xiaomi 13 is a copy of the iPhone 14 Pro with a flat screen, aluminum bezels and an “island” for the frontal phone. Even the colors are the same: black, white, green and “star blue” (similar to Deep Purple).
• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ — The budget-friendly iPhone 13 with a square camera module and a matte glass on the back.
• 📱 POCO F5 — It's like the iPhone 12, because it's flat, but it's more aggressive, and it's a great way to be for those who love Apple, but want a powerful processor.
• 📱 Xiaomi Civi 3 – “downsizing” iPhone 13 mini with a compact body and dual camera in the style of Apple.
• 📱 Redmi 12 is the cheapest clone of the iPhone SE 2022 with the Touch button ID (The fingerprint scanner is on his side).

Important: the look doesn’t mean the same hardware.For example, Xiaomi 13 has a screen. AMOLED with a frequency of 120 Hz, while the iPhone 14 Pro — LTPO OLED 1-120 Hz, but for most users, the difference in daily use will be minimal.

How to set up Xiaomi for iPhone: launchers, icons, animations

If you’ve already bought Xiaomi and want to make it look like an iPhone, start with the interface. You don’t have to root the device, just install a few apps and change the settings.

1. Launcher to simulate iOS

The easiest way is to install a launcher with an iOS interface.

• 🎨 Launcher iOS 16 – Copies the design of the latest version of iOS, including Dynamic Island (on supported models).
• 🎨 iLauncher – a minimalist launcher with icons in the style of Apple and support for gestures.
• 🎨 Neon Launcher – imitates iOS 17 with animations and weather widget.

After the launcher is installed:

1. Set it as the default launcher in the settings (Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher).
2. Download the iOS Glyphs or iOS 17 Icons icon theme from Google Play.
3. Set up gestures: swipe up to return to the home screen, swipe down to the notification center (like on the iPhone).

2. Fonts and sounds like on iPhone

To complete the transformation:

• 🔤 Install the San Francisco font (Apple font) via the iFont app.
• 🔊 Download notification and alarm sounds from your iPhone (like Tri-tone or Reflection) and set them through Settings. → Sounds.
• 🎨 Change the wallpaper to standard iOS 17 (you can find them in high resolution on sites like WallpaperHub).

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If after the launcher change, gestures stopped working MIUI (For example, swipe for quick settings, return them to Settings → Additionally. → Full screen mode.

3. Animations and transitions

For full effect, set:

• 🖥️ Edge Lighting – simulates screen backlighting at notifications, like on iPhone.
• 🔄 iOS Animations – adds smooth transitions between screens.
• 📱 Control Center iOS – replaces the notification curtain with an analogue from Apple.

Warning: Some animations may slow down on weak smartphones (e.g. Redmi) 9A). Before installing, check the reviews on compatibility with your model.

Is it possible to transfer iPhone chips to Xiaomi: AirDrop, Face ID, ecosystem

The look is half the battle. The main difference between the iPhone and Android is the ecosystem and the exclusive features. Can they be replicated on Xiaomi?

The critical difference: Xiaomi cannot fully replicate the security of Face ID (3D-Face scanning and integration with other Apple devices (such as automatic AirPods connection.

The pros and cons of using Xiaomi instead of iPhone

Before you finally switch to Xiaomi in the style of iPhone, weigh the pros and cons.

⚠️ Note: If you are critical to the Apple ecosystem (like a MacBook and an Apple Watch), even Apple’s Xiaomi won’t replace the iPhone.

Xiaomi’s advantages as “replacement of the iPhone”

• 💰 The flagship Xiaomi 13 is like the iPhone 11, and the characteristics are not inferior to the iPhone 14.
• 🔧 Flexibility: On Android, you can install any launchers, change system fonts, remove pre-installed applications.
• 🔋 Batteries: Xiaomi is equipped with chargers (unlike Apple) and supports fast charging 120W.
• 📱 Most models save 3.5mm for headphones and slot for microSD.

Cons

• 🛡️ Security: MIUI Gathers more data than iOS, and security updates are less common.
• 🔄 Updates: Xiaomi supports smartphones 3-4 years, Apple — 5-6 years.
• 🎮 Optimization: iOS games and apps run smoother, especially on older models.
• 💍 Ecosystem: No full replacement for AirDrop, Handoff or Universal Clipboard.

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If you want an iPhone-like smartphone, but you want customization, Xiaomi is fine. If you want ecosystem and long-term support, you better consider a used iPhone.

How to transfer data from iPhone to Xiaomi

If you’re moving from iPhone to Xiaomi, but you’re afraid of losing photos, contacts, or messages, use the official tools.

1. Transfer of contacts and calendars

The most reliable way:

1. On iPhone, open Settings → Apple ID → iCloud and enable contact sync.
2. On your computer, go to iCloud.com and export your contacts to a.vcf file.
3. Transfer the file to Xiaomi and import through Contacts → Settings → Imports/exports.

2. Portability of photos and videos

Options:

• 📁 Using Google Photos: install the app on your iPhone, download the library, then log in to the same account on Xiaomi.
• 🔌 Cable: Connect your iPhone to your computer, copy files, then transfer them to Xiaomi.
• 🌐 Mi Mover: Xiaomi’s wireless portability app (not working with all iPhone models).

3. Postponement of messages

It's more complicated, because iMessage doesn't have a direct Android analogue, but you can:

• 💬 Export SMS via iMazing or AnyTrans (paid PC software).
• 🔄 Use Google Messages with enabled RCS for future communications.

⚠️ Note: When transferring data from iPhone to Android, turn off iMessage in Apple settings ID, otherwise SMS They may be duplicated or not reached.

Which is better: Xiaomi for iOS or the real iPhone?

So, can Xiaomi be a full-fledged iPhone replacement? The answer depends on your priorities:

• 💵 If the budget is limited → Xiaomi 13 or POCO F5 iOS launcher will give 80% of the external similarity and 90% of the functionality for half the price.
• 🔒 When safety and ecosystem are important → Xiaomi won’t replace iPhone in terms of integration with Mac or Apple Watch.
• 🎮 If you are a gamer or like customization → Android on Xiaomi will give more freedom than closed iOS.
• 📱 If you need a long support period → iPhone gets updates longer (5-6 years vs. 3-4 years Xiaomi).

If you are still in doubt, try this experiment:

1. Buy a used iPhone SE 2022 or iPhone 11 (they are cheaper than the new Xiaomi flagships).
2. Use it for 1-2 weeks, evaluate the pros and cons.
3. If you like it, take a new iPhone. If you don't, take Xiaomi and customize it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi as a replacement for iPhone