Xiaomi’s MIUI is one of the most popular Android skin loved by millions, which is being gradually replaced by HyperOS – the company’s latest custom skin. But how does it compare with MIUI? Does it offer better performance? Has Xiaomi packed some super exciting stuff in HyperOS?
In this HyperOS vs MIUI showdown, we’ll walk you through a detailed look at both the Android skins. By the end of this article, you will know if it’s worth upgrading to the new OS.
Also Read: Top 6 HyperOS Features You Absolutely Can’t Miss
What is HyperOS? Is it Based on Android?
HyperOS is not a new fancy word from Xiaomi for the replacement of MIUI. The brand has been developing it since 2017 and has made several significant changes to the core mechanism.
If you’re still wondering, what actually is HyperOS? Well, it’s a new operating system from Xiaomi, but not a complete replacement of Android. In fact, it’s still based on Android, like MIUI, and has a good mix of Linux. The latest OS integrates Xiaomi’s in-house Vela system for deeper system-level changes.
HyperOS vs MIUI: Which is Better?
Though Xiaomi seems to have made changes to the core system (detailed on the HyperOS page), it doesn’t bring any out-of-the-box features you have never seen on a smartphone. In fact, a couple of changes to HyperOS are inspired by iOS – no hard feelings for Xiaomi, as Apple, too, has done it several times in the past. But still, there is a lot to explore in HyperOS.
1. Subtle Changes to the Design
Upgrade to HyperOS, and you’re not going to see any clear difference between MIUI and HyperOS at first glance, even at second glance. No, I’m not kidding. Both operating systems have almost identical icons and arrangements.
As you spend time with the new OS, you will notice changes to the icons. Those are less bright in the HyperOS compared to MIUI, with minimal tweaks. For instance, the sun in the Gallery is on the right in MIUI, and it is moved to the left in HyperOS. Similarly, you’ll find small changes to several app icons, as shown in the image below.
It’s not just the app icons; HyperOS has subtly changed its menus, too. The new OS merges the app details section and app menus section to make it look better and cleaner. If you closely look at the app menus, you’ll find that they have been reordered. And there’s no text for the app info and uninstall icons, which are there in MIUI. Also, the font itself is larger and bold.
2. The Control Center is Better and Cleaner
Xiaomi has brought significant changes to the Control Center in HyperOS. You’ll quickly realise that all icon labels are gone. While it gives the Control Center a minimalist look, it can be difficult for many people to figure out which icon does what. However, you can easily bring them back by going to Settings > Notifications & Status Bar and disabling the Don’t Show Icon Labels option.
The new Control Center has larger icons, and all of them are visible on one single scrollable screen. In MIUI, the shortcut icons are arranged in panels which you can swipe left and right. HyperOS also adds a music player widget to the Control Center.
You might have already seen a similar Control Center on a different device. If your guess is iOS, then you’re right. I believe there’s nothing in copying as long as it’s benefiting users.
3. Lock Screens Are Much Better
Among the biggest changes in HyperOS has been the introduction of new lock screen designs. They have existed on iPhones since iOS 16 and have now been integrated into HyperOS, which Xiaomi calls “Artistic Lock Screens”. These lock screens are highly customizable, and you can add depth of field effects.
HyperOS offers three lock style options – Classic, Rhombus, and Magazine. If you want to make the lock screen more personalised, go for Rhombus and Magazine for various clock options and effects.
It feels great to have new lock screens every now and then for a better unlocking experience. How often do you change your lock screen design or wallpaper? Please let me know in the comments below.
4. Say Goodbye to Bloatware
Xiaomi smartphones do not just come with many features, but they also bundle lots of unwanted apps (bloatware). It has been a problem with Xiaomi phones for years, which is finally getting fixed with HyperOS.
Although there are solutions to remove bloatware in MIUI phones, the steps are too technical for most users. Finally, the new HyperOS allows users to remove unnecessary apps.
Removing unwanted apps from your Xiaomi device not only saves some storage but also frees up system resources occupied by them. So, you get more storage and better performance.
5. Dynamic Island-Like Feature With Limited Uses
With HyperOS, Xiaomi has also joined the Dynamic Island bandwagon, but the Chinese company has arrived quite tardily. Though Xiaomi doesn’t have a name for it, many call it “Dynamic Notch”. Unlike the Dynamic Island on iPhones, it doesn’t do much on Xiaomi phones.
Whenever you connect a charger, the area around the notch becomes dark to show the charging speed and battery percentage. It also works when you turn on the mobile hotspot, activate DND, or switch the device to silent mode. While it doesn’t do much, it’s nice to have some cool visual elements. Hopefully, Xiaomi will do more with it in the near future. It would be great if third-party apps could also take advantage of it.
6. Lightweight OS With Improved Battery Life
HyperOS takes less space compared to MIUI. According to the official website, MIUI 14 takes 12.53GB on your device, while the HyperOS occupies 9.14GB of storage, which is very impressive. So you have more storage to save photos, videos, and other files.
Xiaomi has made significant changes to the core system, resulting in improved battery life. While it’s difficult to say how much battery improvements you should expect as it depends on the usage. But you should get an additional hour of screen time.
Don’t expect to see improved battery life quickly after switching to HyperOS. When you install the new OS, the device undergoes optimizations, which happen in the background. The battery usage can be high for the initial days, but after that, you’ll start seeing improvements.
7. The Camera App Gets a New Shortcut
Though there are not many changes to the Camera app, HyperOS adds a useful shortcut to access video options. In MIUI, you have to click the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner to see video options, which, in HyperOS, can be done just by swiping down from the middle.
If you take a lot of videos with your Xiaomi phone, you know how helpful this small change is.
8. App Grouping By Colors
Many people find it fascinating to have apps grouped by the colours of the app icons. If you are among them, HyperOS has a built-in feature to do so.
Swipe up to open the app drawer, tap on the icon in the upper-right corner, and toggle on “Group icons by colour”. All apps in the app drawer should now be grouped based on the dominant colour in the app icon.
9. Screen Resizing Is Now Effortless
When you open apps using the sidebar, it opens in a small window. In MIUI 14, you have to manually adjust it, which is now changing in HyperOS. In the new OS, if you tap the three dots, you get the option to split the screen (up/down), close it, and open the app in full screen. It’s much easier to use apps in the split-screen mode.
10. HyperOS Focuses on the Ecosystem
Xiaomi’s primary focus with HyperOS is to create a deeply connected ecosystem. The Chinese tech giant aims to create a unified system for Xiaomi devices, which might include smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart speakers, smart watches, smart displays, smart lighting, and fitness trackers. HyperOS has also been integrated into Xiaomi’s electric car.
Conclusion
HyperOS is better than MIUI in every aspect. You get awesome lock screens, a clean control center, a dynamic notch, new camera shortcuts, and better split screen management. If your device is eligible for the HyperOS upgrade, install the update and explore new features.
Before you leave, please remember that HyperOS is new and can have some bugs. If you face any issues, report the bug to Xiaomi and regularly update your device to ensure optimal performance.
If you are wondering if your phone is slated to get the update, make sure to check out our story on HyperOS update availability for all your Xiaomi, Poco devices.
