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Goodbye MIUI: Xiaomi officially pulls the plug on updates forever

Xiaomi MIUI Discontinuation
Xiaomi MIUI Discontinuation

Xiaomi has officially pulled the plug on MIUI, which was the company’s starting point and later became one of the most popular Android skins in the world, with more than 500 million monthly active users at its peak. Following the HyperOS release, Xiaomi upgraded millions of its devices to the new OS, while many were added to the end-of-life (EOL) list.

However, two devices continued to receive MIUI updates even in 2026. We’re talking about the Redmi A2 and Redmi A2+. Both devices received Android 13 as their major OS upgrade, but continued to receive security patches and minor updates. The last update for them arrived in December with the firmware version V14.0.44.0.TGOMIXM, although the official website mentions EOL on March 24, 2026.

Redmi A2 EOL date

That day has arrived for the last MIUI-running devices, and they’re now officially retiring from all kinds of software updates. That also leads to a complete discontinuation of the MIUI legacy, which initially began as a custom ROM project for third‑party Android phones.

How MIUI became one of Android’s most popular skins

MIUI 15

MIUI was actually Xiaomi’s first product, released before the company launched any hardware. It was introduced in August 2010 and was based on Android 2.2 Froyo. Early MIUI builds were distributed as a custom ROM for third-party Android phones.

MIUI quickly attracted an enthusiastic community because it offered weekly beta updates, aggressive feature additions, and ports to non-Xiaomi devices. This community-first origin story helped MIUI gain a reputation as a “tinker-friendly” skin, with robust rooting and modding support compared to other OEM UIs of the time.

MIUI focused on user-visible customization rather than stock Android minimalism. Soon, MIUI started bundling its own apps for core functions such as phone, messaging, notes, music, and gallery. Xiaomi also brought in a powerful theme engine that could change icons, fonts, sounds, lock screens, and system UI elements, well before most of its competitors.

Some of the notable features that later became part of MIUI’s identity include Second Space, Dual Apps, App Lock, hidden apps, and built-in call recording. Doubling down on MIUI’s popularity, Xiaomi entered the hardware market by launching Mi-branded phones in China, and later expanded to India and other global markets.

MIUI crossed 100 million global monthly active users in 2015, 200 million in 2018, 300 million in 2019, 400 million in early 2021, and surpassed 500 million monthly active users worldwide by November 2021. At its peak, roughly 15% of the world’s population was using a Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco phone running MIUI.

Why did Xiaomi shut down MIUI?

HyperOS vs MIUI

In October 2023, Xiaomi officially announced that a new operating system, Xiaomi HyperOS, would replace MIUI. Just a few days later, Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 14 as the company’s first phone preloaded with HyperOS. But why did Xiaomi feel the need to ditch MIUI and move to HyperOS?

Well, the decision was made for good reasons. Despite MIUI’s success, Xiaomi was finding it challenging to connect hundreds of millions of devices across 200 product categories, from smart speakers to air conditioners, and eventually cars. Back then, Xiaomi had a mix of firmware stacks, making unified development and cross-device experience difficult to implement.

The decision to switch to HyperOS wasn’t made out of the blue. The company began exploratory development in 2014 and R&D in 2017, with the aim of supporting all ecological devices and applications through an integrated system framework.

HyperOS takes MIUI experience to the next level

Xiaomi HyperOS is described as a human-centric operating system built on an integration of a deeply evolved Android base and Xiaomi’s in-house Vela IoT system, running atop a Linux kernel. It takes less space than MIUI and delivers better performance and a more consistent experience.

HyperOS is the pillar of Xiaomi’s “Human x Car x Home” strategy, designed to connect personal devices, smart home products, and EVs into a coordinated platform, enabling them to share context and services. One of the key elements of this new OS is “HyperConnect,” which enables real-time networking and device discovery. So, a phone can, for example, act as a key for a car, mirror its camera to a TV, or manage smart home devices without relying on a traditional setup that requires Android-plus-vendor apps.

While Xiaomi HyperOS focuses primarily on a unified OS with deeper integration among Xiaomi devices, it also offers better resource utilization, tighter security, and a consistent experience while preserving much of MIUI’s interface language.

To ensure you do not miss out on the latest HyperOS news, visit the Xiaomi section on this website regularly. Alternatively, you can join us on Telegram to get instant notifications about the latest HyperOS updates, along with the biggest tech headlines.

The post Goodbye MIUI: Xiaomi officially pulls the plug on updates forever appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing phones eligible for Android 17 (Nothing OS 5.0) update: Here’s the complete list

Nothing Android 17 eligible devices list
Nothing Android 17 eligible devices list

Nothing has been impressive with software rollouts so far. It was one of the first brands to conclude the Android 16 rollout, and now the company may already be working on the next major upgrade, based on Android 17. While most of the details are under wraps, we already know which Nothing phones are eligible for the Android 17 update.

The Android 17 update for Nothing phones will likely come with the Nothing OS 5.0 skin at the top, based on the company’s past naming scheme. Android 15 arrived with Nothing OS 3.0, and then Android 16 arrived last year with Nothing OS 4.0, so the next version, based on Android 17, is likely to come with Nothing OS 5.0.

Review the list of eligible devices for the Android 17 upgrade to see if yours is included.

Nothing Android 17 update: Eligible devices list

  • Nothing Phone (4a)
  • Nothing Phone (4a) Pro
  • Nothing Phone (3)
  • Nothing Phone (3a)
  • Nothing Phone (3a) Lite
  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
  • Nothing Phone (2a)
  • Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
  • Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro

While this is still an unofficial list, it wouldn’t differ from the official one when announced. That’s because it’s based on the official software update policy. If your Nothing phone is on the list, it’s guaranteed to receive the Android 17 update when the rollout begins.

Also read: Android 17: Every new feature discovered so far

Only three phones are missing from the list: the original Nothing Phone (1), Nothing Phone (2), and the budget-friendly CMF Phone 1. They have already received the promised number of Android OS updates, and therefore have run out of OS updates.

If you’re still using an outdated Nothing phone, now might be the right time to upgrade to a newer model with longer software support. The Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro have just been released, promising OS updates until Android 19. Or, you can get the flagship Phone (3) for an extra major upgrade.

While Nothing hasn’t revealed anything about Android 17 yet, Google has already released a few public betas, offering a sneak peek at the upcoming features and changes. You can check them out on this page. The stable version is expected to go live for Google Pixels in June, while other brands, including Nothing, will take additional time to fine-tune the software and add more features. For Nothing phones, we can expect the Android 17 rollout to kick off in Q4 2026.

We’ll keep an eye on the latest developments around Android 17 and post them in the Nothing section. You can visit the page regularly to get the latest updates. Or, join our Telegram channel to get notified whenever we post such stories.

The post Nothing phones eligible for Android 17 (Nothing OS 5.0) update: Here’s the complete list appeared first on Gizmochina.

HyperOS 3.1 global beta rollout begins for these Xiaomi devices

Xiaomi HyperOS 3.1 global beta rollout
Xiaomi HyperOS 3.1 global beta rollout

Xiaomi is already rolling out the stable version of HyperOS 3.1 in China, and now the focus is shifting to the global market as the company has just begun rolling out the HyperOS 3.1 global beta for the initial batch of devices.

The initial Mi Pilot rollout of HyperOS 3.1 is currently restricted to the latest flagship smartphones, as reported by Xiaomi Time. Here’s the list of those devices and the firmware versions:

  • Xiaomi 17 Ultra (EEA): OS3.0.301.3.WPAEUXM
  • Xiaomi 17 (Global): OS3.0.300.7.WPCMIXM

The list is too short for now, as the global beta rollout has just gone live. However, it will keep getting bigger as Xiaomi pushes the beta to more devices over the coming days and weeks.

If your device is on the list and you belong to a beta-supported region, sign up to become a beta tester to get early access to the latest features and upgrades. We’ve included all the steps towards the end of the article.

Unlike HyperOS 3.0, there’s no Android 15 version of HyperOS 3.1. That means it’ll only reach Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices that are already running Android 16. You can check the complete list of eligible devices and new features here.

How to sign up to become a HyperOS Mi Pilot tester?

Keep in mind that beta builds are prone to having bugs and unfinished features. Hence, it’s best to back up your important data before installing a beta build. The best route is to install them on a secondary device.

Step 1: Download the Mi Community app and create an account.

Step 2: Make sure the region is set to “Global”. To change the current region, tap ME in the bottom-right corner and go to Set up > Change region.

Step 3: Select the beta program available for your device and click the Apply button.

Step 4: Tap the Answer button and submit your responses. Aim for at least 60 points for greater chances of being selected for the beta program.

Step 5: Click Apply and then Apply again to submit your application.

Step 6: Wait for the approval (it may take up to seven days). Go to the Mi Community app > ME > Beta testing to check the status.

Step 7: Once your application is approved, go to Settings > About phone and tap the HyperOS version to check for updates.

To ensure you don’t miss out on the latest HyperOS stories, remember to visit the Xiaomi section on this website regularly. Alternatively, you can join us on Telegram to get instant notifications about the latest HyperOS updates, along with the biggest tech headlines.

The post HyperOS 3.1 global beta rollout begins for these Xiaomi devices appeared first on Gizmochina.

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