Xiaomi has finally unveiled MIUI 13 at the Xiaomi 12 series launch event in China. Although it sounds like a major upgrade, it doesn’t bring any significant changes over MIUI 12. That’s because MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition have already introduced certain changes. Above all, almost all the new exciting features will most likely remain exclusive to China. With that being said, let’s take a look at what MIUI 13 has to offer.

MIUI 13 Logo Featured B

Unlike previous generations, Xiaomi now has three branches of MIUI for its Android devices. They are called MIUI 13, MIUI 13 Pad, and MIUI 13 Fold. As the names suggest, the software is now optimized specifically for smartphones, tablets, and foldables respectively. For the foldables, MIUI is a combination of both regular MIUI for MIUI Pad.

MIUI 13

MIUI 13

MiSans Font

MIUI 13 brings new font called MiSans. Xiaomi claims that this is a simple font optimized for Chinese and English languages to offer clear visibility and comfortable reading.

MIUI 13 MiSans Font

The font is part of Dynamic Font System 2.0. As it inherits OpenType features, the height of hyphens automatically adapts to uppercase and lowercase letters.

This minimalistic font is already available for download on the MIUI Themes app in China for devices running previous iterations of MIUI.

Widgets

Ever since Apple introduced widgets with iOS 14, Android OEMs are playing catch-up although the feature has been present on Google’s operating system for years. That’s because it has been dormant without any interesting development so far.

Now, Xiaomi has also joined the new race for dynamic widgets with MIUI 13. For the unaware, the company has been testing this feature since August 2021.

The widgets in MIUI 13 are sort of similar to those found on vivo’s OriginOS Ocean and OPPO’s ColorOS 12. In other words, they probably won’t make their way to international markets.

MIUI 13 Widgets

Because these widgets are offered by prominent Chinese applications. Additionally, Xiaomi is also offering widgets for mini-games, countdowns, reminders to drink water, what to eat today suggestions, and more.

Although we don’t have much hope for the availability of new widgets outside mainland China, it would be wonderful if the firm somehow manages to bring them.

Beauty of Science Wallpapers

MIUI 12 set the bar high for live wallpapers with the introduction of MIUI Super Wallpapers. For MIUI 13, the company has partnered with Beauty of Science for a new set of wallpapers.

MIUI 13 Beauty of Science Wallpapers

These latest wallpapers display the crystal structure of various minerals. The new wallpapers are a result of 8K time-lapse photography using a polarization microscope.

Just like the MiSans font, the Beauty of Science Wallpapers are also up for download in China.

Customizable Xiao AI Virtual Assistant

Users can create their own customized avatar of Xiaomi’s Xiao AI virtual assistant in China. They can choose from over 50 sets of clothing and accessories.

MIUI 13 Customizable Xiao AI Avatars

That’s not all, users can also choose from different voices and set a custom wake word.

Privacy

MIUI 13 is certified by even more agencies than MIUI 12 for privacy. The new interesting feature in the last iteration was ‘Virtual ID’. Whereas, MIUI 13 brings changes to the face authentication system.

MIUI 13 Privacy

Previously, only the face is scanned by the system. But now, the upper body is included in the scan for more data. Further, users can opt for a watermark while scanning important documents.

The system also protects users from spam calls/texts, malicious applications, and harmful file transfers

Optimizations

MIUI 13 brings improvements for Focus Computation, Atomic Memory, and Liquid Storage. These three self-developed technologies debuted on MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition.

MIUI 13 Optimizations

Xiaomi claims that the fluency of system applications and third-party applications are now improved by 20-26% and 15-52% respectively when compared to MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edtion.

Devices like Xiaomi Mix 4 can now easily hold an average of 14 apps in the background. Finally, read-write performance only drop by 5% on handsets like Mi 11 Pro after 36 months of usage.

Mi Magic Center

The new Mi Magic Center is Xiaomi’s answer to Huawei’s HarmonyOS Super Device. Users can manage their Xiaomi ecosystem products from this single place.

MIUI 13 Mi Magic Center They can cast/stream screen content or music from one device to another by simply dragging. Unlike Huawei, Xiaomi also lets users customize their devices with stickers to add a personal touch and for easier recognition.

Only select devices are compatible with Mi Magic Center.

MIUI 13 Pad

MIUI 13 Pad

Multitasking

MIUI 13 Pad brings support for floating windows. The application windows can be also resized as per requirements. Hence, users can perform multiple tasks at a given time.

Just like devices from Apple, Samsung, Huawei, and Honor, Xiaomi products running MIUI 13 are also now in synchronization with each other. Hence, users can continue their tasks on their tablet from where they left off on their smartphone and vice versa.

Keyboard and Stylus

Keyboards now support default as well as custom shortcuts. Whereas, users can start taking notes and screenshots on any screen by using the official stylus accessory.

App Compatibility

When Xiaomi unveiled MIUI for Pad in August, it set a target to adapt 2,000 applications for tablets by the end of 2021. Surprisingly, the firm managed to adapt 3,000 apps with MIUI 13 Pad.

MIUI 13, MIUI 13 Pad, MIUI 13 Fold Eligible Devices and Update Plan

MIUI 13 and MIUI 13 Pad stable update will be available for the first batch of devices in China from the end of January 2022. On the other hand, it will be available in international markets from Q1 2022.

As for MIUI 13 Fold stable update, it will be rolled out at the end of April 2022.

MIUI 13 Stable Update Eligible Devices – First Batch

China

Late January 2022
  • Xiaomi 12 Pro
  • Xiaomi 12
  • Xiaomi 12X
  • Mi 11 Ultra
  • Mi 11 Pro
  • Mi 11

International Markets

Q1 2022
  • Mi 11 Ultra
  • Mi 11
  • Mi 11i
  • Mi 11X Pro
  • Mi 11X
  • Redmi 10
  • Redmi 10 Prime
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G
  • Redmi Note 8 (2021)
  • Xiaomi 11T Pro
  • Xiaomi 11T
  • Redmi Note 10 Pro
  • Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
  • Redmi Note 10
  • Mi 11 Lite 5G
  • Mi 11 Lite
  • Redmi Note 10 JE

MIUI 13 Pad Stable Update Eligible Devices – First Batch

China

Late January 2022
  • Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro
  • Xiaomi Pad 5

International Markets

Q1 2022
  • Xiaomi Pad 5

MIUI 13 Fold Stable Update Eligible Devices

China

Late April 2022
  • Mi MIX Fold
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