The visual appearance of the standard application Phone on Xiaomi smartphones has undergone significant changes along with the evolution of the MIUI shell. If in early versions of the firmware the design copied standard Android, modern interfaces are a complex ecosystem integrated with cloud services and artificial intelligence algorithms. The user sees not just a set of numbers, but a smart call filtering system that can look different depending on the region and version of the shell.
The main dialing screen is usually central, but its functionality depends on the theme chosen. The standard theme uses a minimalist design with large numbers and accent colors matching the system palette. At the same time, third-party themes from the MIUI Themes store can completely change fonts, button locations and background images, creating a completely different device.
It is important to note that global firmware versions (Global ROM) often pre-installed an app from Google, while Chinese versions (CN ROM) use native MIUI developer. This is a key difference that determines not only the appearance, but also access to specific features such as advanced conversation recording or integration with instant messengers. Understanding these differences helps users navigate settings faster and find the right options.
The modern interface of the Phone app on Xiaomi is focused on the convenience of one hand. All the main controls are shifted to the bottom third of the screen, which allows you to comfortably dial the number even on large diagonals of displays. The top part is devoted to the call history and contact search, providing quick access to frequently used functions without having to scroll through long lists.
Main screen structure and navigation
The main screen of the Phone app on Xiaomi is a highly structured interface divided into logical zones. At the top is a search bar that allows you to instantly find contacts not only by name, but also by phone number or even by snippets of address, if they are stored in the contact card. Under the search bar is a scoreboard with numbers, designed in a minimalist style, where each button is large enough to accurately hit with a finger.
- 📞 Call button – a green circular element located in the lower right corner activates the connection.
- ⌫ Remove key – located to the left of the call button, allows you to erase the entered numbers one by one or hold for quick clearing of the field.
- 👤 Contact avatar – when you enter a number that is already in the phone book, a miniature photo of the contact can be displayed next to the numbers.
- ➕ Add-on menu – a hidden option available through a long tap or swipe, opens access to quick actions.
Navigation between tabs is done through the bottom bar, where the main sections are located: Favorites, Recent, Contacts and Keyboard. Switching between them is instantaneous, without delay, thanks to the optimization of the system processes of MIUI. In some versions of the firmware, a fifth tab is added "Service", which aggregates offers from partners or reference information, but it can be turned off in the settings to return to the classic look.
⚠️ Note: In Chinese versions of firmware, there is often an ad unit or news widget in the bottom bar, which can annoy users. It is recommended immediately after buying the phone to go to the settings of the application and disable the option “Recommendations” or “Get news” to make the interface look clean.
The adaptability of the interface when rotating the device deserves special attention. Unlike many other manufacturers, the Phone app on Xiaomi does not always support horizontal orientation, keeping the vertical layout to ensure uniformity of the experience of use. This decision is dictated by statistics: the vast majority of users dial a number in portrait mode, holding the phone with one hand.
The “Recent” tab and smart sorting
The recent section is one of the most visited places in the Phone app. It displays a chronological tape of all incoming, outgoing and missed calls. Visually, each item in the list is a card containing the contact name (or number), call time, duration and type (video call, normal call, missed).
Smart sorting in MIUI groupes repeated calls from one subscriber into a single record, saving screen space. When you click on that record, it unfolds, showing the full history of the contact in recent days, allowing you to quickly evaluate the context of the conversation without going down the endless list, and the system tags suspicious numbers with spam icons if they are entered in a cloud database.
Interaction with the elements of the call list is implemented through swipes and long presses. A swipe left or right on the call card can open a context menu with quick actions: "Call back", "Send a message" or "Add to a blacklist." A long press causes a more detailed menu where the functions of copying the number, editing the record before saving or deleting from the history are available.
An important feature is the integration with messengers. If the phone number is registered on WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, next to the contact name in the list of recent can display the corresponding icon. This allows you to instantly switch to video or send a message via the Internet protocol without opening the messenger app separately.
Incoming call screen and management
The appearance of the screen of the incoming call is critically important, since it is what the user sees at the time of making a decision to answer or reject the call. AMOLED-With screens and support for Always-On Display, the call screen can activate even when the device is locked, occupying the entire display with a bright, contrasting image. If the subscriber has a photo saved in contacts, it will be displayed in close-up, creating a personalized experience.
There are two main buttons at the bottom of the screen: a green handset to respond to and a red one to deflect. Depending on the settings and the MIUI version, the response mechanism may differ. In the classic version, just touch the button, but in the settings, the option is available "Swipe to respond" that requires you to swipe down the button, which prevents random responses when the phone is in your pocket or bag, although modern proximity sensors usually cope with this task automatically.
During an active conversation, the interface changes to allow control. The screen is divided into several zones: at the top, the call timer and the name of the interlocutor are displayed, at the center, the main control buttons (microphone, speaker, add a call), and at the bottom, the completion button. When you bring the phone to the ear, the approach sensor turns off the screen to prevent accidental cheekstrokes, and lights it again when you move away.
| Interface element | Function | Visual state |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone button | Shutting down the sound | Gray background upon activation |
| Speaker button | High-profile communication | Green background upon activation |
| keyboard | Tone input (DTMF) | Overlaying of numbers |
| Add a challenge | Conference/Waiting | Switching to the contact menu |
And you have to pay special attention to Quiet Mode or Turn it over for silence, and if you turn the phone down when you call in, the sound of the call and the vibration will go off, but the call will continue to come in, and it's not visually displayed on the screen until the flip, but it's an important part of the logic of how the interface works in real-world settings, like a meeting or a movie.
Display settings and personalization
The Phone app on Xiaomi has a wide range of settings that allow you to change its appearance and behavior to suit the individual preferences of the user, accessed through a menu of three dots in the upper right corner or through the system settings of MIUI. Here you can change the theme of design, the font size in the phone book, and adjust the behavior of the screen during a call.
- 🎨 Design themes – allow you to change the color scheme of the keyboard and background, downloading ready-made packages from the store MIUI Themes.
- 🔢 Font size – adjusting the size of numbers and letters for people with impaired vision.
- 🔊 Sounds and vibrations – Choosing ringtone, dial sound, and vibration patterns for different types of events.
- 📹 Video response – setting a short video that will be seen by the interlocutor during a video call if the camera is turned off.
One of the most useful features is the Quick Answers setting, which allows you to pre-prepared text messages that you can send to the caller with a single touch if you can't answer with a voice, and in the interface, it looks like a Message button, which, when you click on it, drops out a list of pre-made phrases: "I'm in a meeting," "I'll come back later," "I'm driving."
☑️ Set up the perfect call
You can also find the Smart Dial option in the settings, which when you activate it, when you start dialing, the system offers options for continuation based on frequency of contact use and time of day, for example, in the morning you are more likely to offer a work number, and in the evening you are more likely to have a home or mobile close relatives, and the algorithm learns in the background, analyzing your actions, which makes the interface anticipating user desires.
Functional capabilities and hidden chips
Behind the standard look, there is a powerful feature that often goes unnoticed by ordinary users, one of which is the built-in number detector and spam blocker, visually manifested in the form of red plaques that say "Spam" or "Advertising" when incoming calls from unknown numbers that were tagged by other users of the cloud database.
The conversation recording function is native and does not require third-party applications to be installed. Each call will show a recording notification on the screen, and after the conversation is over, the file will be saved to a voice recorder or a special folder. The call history interface will display a small microphone icon next to the conversation record, indicating that the recording is available for listening.
⚠️ Note: Under the laws of many countries, recording telephone conversations without warning can be illegal. In some regions (for example, the European Union), Google forcibly implements a voice warning “Recording Begins” for all participants in a conversation, which cannot be disabled software on global firmware.
Another hidden but useful feature is the “Blacklist” with flexible settings. The user can block not only specific numbers, but also entire groups, such as “All Unknown Numbers” or “Numbers Hiding IDs.” Visually blocked calls are not displayed in the shared feed, but fall into a separate “Blocked” section, which can be found in the application settings.
For those who travel frequently, the Traffic Savings feature or prefix setting is important.The app allows you to automatically add a city or country code when dialing if you are abroad.This eliminates the need to manually enter +7 or +380 before each number, simplifying the dialing interface in roaming.
Differences between the Chinese and Global Versions
The visual and functional difference between the global (Global) and Chinese (CN) versions of the Phone app on Xiaomi is a significant factor influencing the user experience.Global versions tend to use the Google Phone engine, which has a strict, minimalist design, white or dark background (depending on the theme), and a standard feature set approved by GMS certification.
The Chinese version of the app, known as MIUI Dialer, looks more saturated.It often contains additional tabs such as Yellow Pages (business directory) or Antispam with advanced settings. The color scheme of the Chinese version can be more vivid, using Xiaomi's signature orange color in navigation elements.
Can I install a Chinese dialer on a global firmware?
Global users often want to bring back the functionality of the Chinese dialer, in particular, the ability to record conversations quietly. However, modern versions of Android (11, 12, 13 and above) severely restrict access to the audio stream during a call for third-party and system applications for security purposes.
Visually, you can distinguish between the versions by the app icon (often the same) and by the presence of certain items in the settings menu. If there is a menu item "Position of recorded files" or "Autorecord all calls" without warning, you are most likely a Chinese build or a modified global version. The global stock version will have a more scant menu of recording settings or its complete absence depending on the region.