The Chinese company decided to supplement it with unique software solutions that would allow it to achieve the desired advantages over the traditional Android shell. Xiaomi intends to beat its competitors using the MIUI 10 interface - an updated version proprietary firmware, in which the emphasis is on “ artificial intelligence» and machine learning.
The central innovation of MIUI 10 is a software algorithm that imitates the behavior of artificial intelligence and adjusts the operation of the system to individual needs. It will improve interaction with the MIUI interface and provide feedback, which takes into account the user’s behavior and personal preferences. The primary task of an AI-like algorithm is to reach next level operating system performance. The developers managed to achieve this through a predictive method of downloading software based on the analysis of frequently used programs. Simply put, MIUI 10 will be able to independently load software at its discretion in order to instantly deploy the application when a launch command is received from the user.
Xiaomi specialists added to the firmware the ability to recognize commands through gestures, which was previously present only in the Mi Mix 2 and Mi Mix 2s smartphones. With the release of the update to MIUI 10 this function will be relevant for a total of 33 devices. Swipe will simplify and speed up the procedure for switching between windows - it will provide quick access to the most popular options.
One more important feature new version The OS that was highlighted during the announcement was the portrait photography mode. With the arrival of MIUI 10, achieve blur background It will be possible regardless of the equipment of the gadget - the presence or absence of an auxiliary camera module responsible for the bokeh effect. And here an AI-like algorithm will again come to the rescue, which will take upon itself the implementation of the declared artistic solution.
MIUI 10 OS is user interface oriented towards full screen mode work and proper distribution of working digital space on any type of display. The operating system in question boasts an updated design, a redrawn curtain and a quick access panel.
Among the “tricks” it is worth noting recognition at the software level of a long touch on the screen to call up the context menu and a smarter alarm clock. The latter will even be able to independently select a melody from the “sounds of nature” collection, to which the user of a gadget with MIUI 10 will wake up, based on information about weather conditions. A smartphone from Xiaomi can now brighten up a gloomy morning.
Xiaomi will allow you to control electronic components“smart home” via MIUI 10, which will provide access to all devices in your smart home. The smartphone will take on the role of a hub and begin to take control of third-party systems, including for the purpose of automatically adjusting their operating mode. For the user, the procedure for interacting with smart electronics promises to become much simpler.
MIUI 10 will also live voice assistant Xiao AI, however, you will be able to find a common language with him only if you speak his native language. Knowledge of Chinese will provide access to a special mode for drivers, which will allow them to control the navigator through verbal commands and take calls without being distracted by the smartphone screen.
Xiaomi will begin distributing the update to MIUI 10 in June of this year, but only for participants in the closed testing phase. Public access will not open until July. The initial list of gadgets whose owners can count on receiving the update includes the following smartphone models:
- Xiaomi Mi 8, Mi 6X, Mi 6, Mi 5, Mi 5X, Mi 5c, Mi 5s, Mi 5s Plus, Mi 4, Mi 4c, Mi 4S;
- Xiaomi Mi Max 2, Mi Max, Mi Note 2;
- Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S, Mi MIX 2, Mi MIX;
- Xiaomi Redmi S2, Redmi 5, Redmi 5A, Redmi 5 Plus, Redmi 4, Redmi 4A, Redmi 4X, Redmi 3S/Redmi 3X;
- Xiaomi Redmi Pro, Redmi Note 5, Redmi Note 5A, Redmi Note 4 Qualcomm/Redmi Note 4X, Redmi Note 4 MTK, Redmi Note 3 Qualcomm.
MIUI has come a long way, spanning 6 years, from a simple fork of CyanogenMod to a full-fledged operating system - the title one for Xiaomi smartphones and tablets. But it is also installed on tens of thousands of devices from other manufacturers, because... Many users find MIUI more convenient and functional than the native firmware of their gadgets. Over the past couple of years, the system has become less relevant, largely due to the development of stock Android and competitive shells. The operating system had already become “adult” by the fifth version; in MIUI v6 they radically changed the design of the graphical shell and made it flat. The seventh version brought little new and the update could be called rather minor, but MIUI 8 has greatly changed both externally and in terms of functionality.
Attention: When writing this review, the English-Chinese firmware installed on . The names of applications and settings items are given in English and Russian. The international (global) version of the firmware may differ slightly from the interface and set of applications shown in the review.
Lock screen
By default, the device can be woken up by pressing the Power button (optionally using the volume rocker), double tapping on the screen, or opening the Smart Case. The last option involves direct unlocking; in all other cases, after waking up, the gadget must be unlocked by swiping from bottom to top in any part of the screen. The system can prevent inadvertent unlocking of the smartphone when it is in your pocket, using a proximity sensor above the screen for this purpose. For security purposes, you can set an unlock password in three ways: create a graphic key, set a PIN code or password. In parallel with the password, in those devices where a fingerprint sensor is installed, you can use your finger. In addition, you can configure unlocking using the MiBand bracelet; it will occur if the bracelet is in close proximity to a locked smartphone or tablet.
By default, the lock screen displays: status bar, clock, date and day of the week. Optionally, you can display information about the phone owner on the lock screen. If there are missing events, they are displayed as a list of cards. When you double tap on one of the cards, the user will be sent to the corresponding application.
By swiping from the top edge you can pull out the notification shade, while swiping from the left to right edges launch applications of the user’s choice. By default, swiping from the right edge is set to launch the Camera application.
Desktop and multitasking organization
In the operating system, the application menu, and the main workspace is the desktop, they scroll horizontally. Application icons and widgets can be located on the desktop. At the bottom of the desktop is the Dock, which can hold up to 5 shortcuts or folders.
One desktop in MIUI 8 can accommodate up to 20 application icons and widgets arranged in a 4*5 grid; the number of desktops is unlimited. Icons of newly installed applications appear on the last desktop in free space. Icons can be grouped into folders; a folder is created by simply dragging one icon onto another. A folder can contain an unlimited number of icons; scrolling inside the folder is vertical.
Icons and widgets can be moved across desktops by simply dragging and dropping. You can remove a widget from your desktop by dragging it to the trash can at the top of the screen. If you try to do the same with the icon, the system will offer to remove the application from the system. The menu for managing desktop settings is called up by pinching your fingers on the screen or by holding down the “Multitasking” button. The menu consists of four items: Sorting, Widgets, Wallpaper and Effects. When you select the first item, a screen opens where you can sort application icons in a more convenient form, move them from one table to another and create folders. The second and third points allow you to add a widget or change the wallpaper. In the last menu item: Effects – you can select one of the table scrolling animation options. In addition, you can add additional tables or remove unnecessary ones.
Multitasking in MIUI 8 has the same principles as in “naked” Android, and is not further regulated. True, the system has a function for blocking background activity of applications with two profiles: Off. – the system does not interfere with the background activity of applications; On – the system completely blocks background activity of applications whenever possible. It is possible to add individual applications to exceptions or select one of four control options for them: MIUIBattery Saver – the system will manage the background activity of the application at its discretion; No restrictions – has two sub-options: either the system will not interfere with the background activity of the application at all or will partially restrict access to geolocation services; Restrict background apps – the application will not be closed, but some background activity will be prohibited; Restrict background activity – the application will be unloaded from memory.
The multitasking button calls up the corresponding menu screen, at the bottom of which the following are displayed: the amount of free RAM, just above the Memory Clear button. Above all this is a list running applications, it scrolls horizontally and can be presented as icons or thumbnails, with up to 4 icons or up to 3 thumbnails visible at a time. Swiping up on the icon closes the application, swiping from top to bottom brings up two buttons, one of them sends to the settings window this application, the second – blocks the application so that it is not unloaded during Memory Cleanup. Locking can be very useful when you want to preserve the state of an application, but need to clear the RAM.
Controls, keyboard
Controlling a smartphone in MIUI 8 involves the presence of a power button, volume control buttons and three control buttons: Multitasking, Home and Back. For certain actions, swipes, long taps and context menus are actively used. The built-in search in MIUI 8 is called not by holding the Home button, but by swiping from bottom to top anywhere on the desktop; it’s obvious that the idea was picked up in iOS7+. For the international version of the firmware, the search is called by holding the Home button.
Like stock Android, MIUI has a notification curtain, which is combined with a switch panel. On the desktop, the curtain can be pulled out by swiping from top to bottom in any part of the screen, which is convenient; in applications, traditionally, by swiping down from the top edge of the screen. There are two modes for displaying information in the curtain; the default is Combined mode, when all switches are displayed in one scrollable row, and notifications are presented in a list below. Split Mode has two screens: one screen with a list of missed events/notifications and a notification settings shortcut; the second screen contains: 20 switches, a backlight adjustment slider and a Settings application shortcut. In both modes, the search bar and the current day of the week and date are displayed at the top.
The native keyboard in MIUI 8, as I understand it, is not available for widespread use. Instead, two third-party keyboards Sogou Keyboard for MIUI and Baidu IME for MIUI are preinstalled in the system, and a keyboard from Google has been added to the global firmware version. In some situations, for example, when entering a password on the lock screen, a completely different keyboard appears, which is more similar to the native one. The dialer keyboard is comfortable, the buttons are large, and there is a smart dial.
Settings
To the application Settings You can access it directly by clicking on the icon on the desktop or through a shortcut in the notification shade. The application has only one screen, where all the settings are divided into categories, which in turn are collected into five groups.
Among the innovations that immediately catch your eye, it is worth highlighting the search bar among the settings and the discolored section icons. Most of the categories and settings items coincide with those in stock Android; others can be discussed in more detail.
NETWORK / WIRELESS NETWORKS
SIM cards & mobile networks / Management SIM cards And mobile networks – in this section you can configure the operation of SIM cards: enable data transfer, block data in roaming, configure defaults for calls and the Internet for SIM cards.
WLAN– contains a switch and Wi-Fi settings. Also here you can find a switch for the Switch between data and WLAN function; this function allows you to automatically switch to cellular data when the quality or low speed of the Wi-Fi connection is poor.
Bluetooth– contains the Bluetooth switch and settings.
Personal hotspot– setting up the access point, which was previously located in the More section, has been selected as a separate settings item.
More / More- placed in this section VPN settings, tethering and wireless monitor. The Airplane mode switch is also located here.
PERSONAL / PERSONAL SETTINGS
Display / Screen– a section that contains screen settings. Here you can adjust the screen brightness, set up the screen saver, auto-rotate, contrast, color balance and activate the screen wake-up by double tap. This section also configures the reading mode added to MIUI7, which can be activated both for the entire system and for individual applications. When activated, the screen backlight changes and the white fields become yellowish. The manufacturer claims that in this mode the eyes are less tired. Settings have been moved to this section system fonts and text size.
Wallpaper– in this section you can change the wallpaper for the lock screen and desktop by selecting from the preset ones or downloading from the store. Added to MIUI 8 new feature– Wallpaper carousel, when activated, the wallpaper of the locked screen will automatically change at some intervals. New wallpapers will be loaded from a special bank of images.
Themes / Themes– in this section you can set a theme by selecting from the list of available ones or downloading from the theme store.
Sound & vibration / Sound and vibration– in this section you can adjust the sound volume separately for: notifications, alarm clock, conversation, multimedia and bluetooth. You can set ringtones for calls and notifications, and set vibration for various events. In the Audio Settings subsection, you can configure the action of pressing the headset buttons; there is an Equalizer and the Mi Sound sound adaptation system.
SYSTEM & DEVICE / SYSTEM AND DEVICE
Lock screen & password / Lock screen and password– to lock your smartphone you can use a pattern, password or PIN; In parallel with this, you can use a fingerprint scanner and a Mi Band bracelet. In this section, you can configure a delay for turning off the screen, specify whether the screen will turn on when receiving notifications, and activate the function of preventing taps on the screen in your pocket. Here you can specify information about the owner, they will be displayed on the lock screen. The system has introduced support for so-called Smart Cases, which use magnets to lock or unlock the device.
Notifications & status bar/ Notifications and status bar– in this section you can manage the list of applications from which the user wants to receive notifications. You can enable or disable the display of the operator's name in the status line or set a custom name, you can also enable the display of the current data transfer speed in the status line. It is possible to disable the notification curtain on the lock screen or enable the curtain to be minimized after clicking on one of the switches, configure the order of the switches, and select the type of battery charge indicator. Among other things, you can now choose the display mode for notifications and switches in the curtain - combined or split.
Second space / Second space– the Second Space function allows you to create two independent workspaces, like two profiles, each of which will contain its own set of applications, security settings and design. It is understood that this will allow the user to separate work and personal space.
Do not disturb / Do not disturb– this section closely resembles the settings section of the same name in iOS. Here you can activate the “Do not disturb” mode, and calls/SMS will not go through. It is possible to configure the activation of the mode according to a schedule, set exception numbers and activate the ability for other subscribers to call on the second try.
Battery & performance / Battery and performance– in addition to the standard Android battery consumption details, in this section you can choose one of two power modes: Balanced or Performance. Additionally, to save battery, you can disable system animations. Here you can also find settings for blocking background activity (see).
Storage / Memory– contains statistics of used disk space broken down by category and a link to the memory cleaning utility.
Lite mode / Simple mode– in this section there is only one switch that activates the mode of the same name. After its activation, a mandatory reboot follows. In simple mode GUI desktop and main applications are as simplified as possible; a maximum of 6 application or contact icons can be placed on one screen.
Additional settings / Additional settings – this is a very large section where settings that are not included in other groups and sections are collected.
Additional settings > Date & time / Advanced > Date and time– standard for Android settings time, date and time zone.
Additional settings > Language & input / Advanced > Language and input– standard Android system language and keyboard settings.
Additional settings > Child mode / Advanced > Parental Controls the mode of the same name, in which you can restrict access to certain applications, as well as prohibit sending SMS to any applications. Exiting this mode is possible only after entering the password.
Additional settings > Privacy / Advanced > Privacy– this section contains settings that allow you to protect personal information from prying eyes. Encrypt phone – allows you to encrypt all data on the phone. In addition, this section contains settings for certificates, administration, access to geolocation, and others.
Additional settings > Quick ball / Additional > Quick ball– settings for Quick ball – a small round translucent icon very much reminiscent of AssistiveTouch in iOS, on which you can assign several basic functions.
Additional settings > Notification light / Additional > Indication– here you can enable/disable the missed events indicator and assign your own indication color for each of the three notification options: missed events, missed calls and missed messages.
Additional settings > Headphones & audio effects / Additional > Headset– this section completely duplicates the Audio Settings subsection from the Sound and Vibration section.
Additional settings > Buttons / Advanced > Keys– here for each of the three touch buttons you can press one of the functions with a long tap: Recent applications, Launch Assistant, Close current application and Show menu. It is possible to set the backlight interval of the touch buttons or turn off the backlight altogether.
Additional settings > One-handed mode / Additional > One-handed control– at this point you can activate one-handed control and select the equivalent of a reduced screen from several options: 3.5/4/4.5 inches. The mode itself is activated by swiping from the Home touch button to the Back or Multitasking buttons.
Additional settings > Accessibility / Advanced > Special features – Standard Android settings for people with disabilities.
Additional settings > Developer options / Advanced > Developer settings– standard Android developer settings. In order for this section to appear in the settings, you need to tap the MIUI Version line in the About phone section several times in a row.
Additional settings > Backup & reset / Advanced > Recovery and reset – in addition to the sometimes necessary Reset settings item, in this section you can control the function backup phone settings and applications both through Google service, and using local backup.
Additional settings > Mi Mover / Additional > Mi Transfer– a function that allows you to transfer contacts, call history, messages, desktop view, applications, settings and other data from/to another smartphone.
ACCOUNTS / ACCOUNTS
Mi Account– Mi account settings. Here you can view the contents of the Mi Cloud cloud storage and a list of linked devices and accounts.
Other accounts / Other accounts– this section allows you to manage all accounts added to the device.
Sync / Synchronization– here you can enable/disable automatic synchronization of accounts or disable auto-synchronization via the mobile network.
APP SETTINGS / APPLICATION SETTINGS
System apps / System applications – built-in application settings
Mi Cloud– this section contains settings for synchronization with Mi Cloud cloud storage. Here you can configure what exactly should be synchronized and view statistics of the space used.
Call settings / Calls– this section contains the settings of the Phone application. In the subsection Call recording You can set up automatic recording from the line and specify which numbers to call from. Also in this section you can configure: auto answer, smart number search, reminders of missed calls, etc.
Contacts– in this section you can activate Easy mode display contacts when additional contact data is hidden; import/export contacts to SIM memory; disable the display of contact photos.
Messaging / Messages– in this section you can activate Cloud messages(similar to iMessage), set up message notifications and set up MMS.
Calendar / Calendar– calendar settings.
Mail / Mail– this section contains settings for the built-in email client.
Security / Security– this section contains the settings of the Security application. Here you can connect a widget to the notification panel or place a shortcut to one or all application components on the desktop. It is possible to activate Cleaning RAM when the device is locked.
Camera / Camera– this section contains settings for photo and video shooting.
Gallery / Gallery– Gallery application settings.
Music / Music– Music application settings. Here you can set up a display filter sound files by size (default – 800KB), duration or location.
Mi Video / Mi Video– It is possible to limit video downloads for cellular data.
Browser / Browser– system browser settings. There are a lot of settings, there is a built-in ad blocker.
Notes / Notes– very simple settings for the Notes application.
Recorder/Dictaphone– Voice Recorder application settings – you can select the recording quality: high, standard and low.
Search / Search– selection of applications to be searched.
Assistant / Assistant– voice assistant settings.
Scanner / Scanner– Scanner application settings.
Virtual SIM / Virtual SIM– settings for a virtual SIM card from Xiaomi, relevant only for residents of the Middle Kingdom.
Mi Credit
App Store -
Games
Installed apps / Installed applications
Dual apps– settings for a very interesting feature called Dual apps, which allows you to create a clone of an application for a second account. For example, you can sit in two Facebook accounts without having to log in every time.
Permissions– a shortcut to the utility of the same name that allows you to manage the startup list and application rights (see).
App lock / Application lock– Guest Mode was removed from the system, but in return allowed the user to block access to any application or several applications at once. Unlocking is done using graphic key or fingerprint.
About phone / About phone– information about the Android version, MIUI version, and hardware is shown here. There is a system update button.
Basic Applications
Application Phone / Telephone, on the one hand, ascetic, on the other hand, it has all the necessary functions. The main screen is divided into three tabs (for the international version there are only two tabs): Recents / Calls - last activity, Contacts / Contacts and Yellow pages / Directory. The Calls tab displays a list of calls with filtering options and a dialer. The dialer has a smart-dial; it only works with the Latin alphabet and numbers. Contacts display from top to bottom: contact groups, favorites and the contacts themselves; This tab has its own icon on the desktop. By default, contact photos are not displayed, but this can be enabled in the settings.
Application screen Messaging / Messages displays a list of dialogs and a search bar. The interface of the dialog window is simple: in the upper right corner there are two buttons: call a contact and a contact card. Above the keyboard are located: the current message typing field, the send message button and the + button, the latter allows you to add to the message: a message template, emoticon, contact, picture, video, etc. A long tap on a message opens a context menu through which you can delete the message, forward it, copy the text of the message, view detailed information about it, or send it to favorites.
Application Mail / Mail can work with various mail delivery protocols, including IMAP. I liked the swipe system in the email list. A swipe from left to right cyclically changes the read mark (read/unread), a swipe from right to left brings up two buttons: delete and add to favorites.
Browser / Browser Its interface resembles the Chinese UC Browser. On start screen selected sites are located, on the second screen there is a list of popular services divided into categories. The search bar is combined with the address bar; there is a built-in QRcode reader for quickly entering the site address. In general, the interface seemed convenient and thoughtful to me, and in my opinion it is nicer than Chrome’s.
Application Clock / Clock Includes: alarm clock, world clock, stopwatch and timer. The alarm can be set to go off even if the device is turned off.
Camera / Camera– the main screen of the Photo mode contains 8 buttons: flash control, HDR mode control, filters, a button that calls up the shooting mode selection screen, a button to switch to front camera, gallery, shutter button and switch to Video. Focus is achieved automatically or by tap. In the second case, tapping the focus area again takes a photo, and by sliding up and down to the right of the focus indicator you can adjust the exposure. The updated interface has completely eliminated swipes. Absolutely all the manufacturer’s devices have a manual control mode for photographic parameters, but in budget smartphones It only allows you to adjust white balance and ISO. For video shooting there are two additional modes: accelerated shooting (time lapse) and slow motion.
Calendar / Calendar– there are three types of representation: Month, Week and Day. You can add events and reminders to them.
In the application Gallery / Gallery there are two tabs: Photos / All - an analogue of the camera roll in iOS, absolutely all photos taken with the phone’s camera are collected here; and Albums / Albums where everything else was moved. The app can automatically sync all photos and videos to the cloud and detect faces in the photos. A Photo Editor and a Video Editor have been added to the system, which have all necessary tools for basic editing.
Music / Music- simple music player. There is online music, apparently it is free.
Mi Video / Mi Video– a video player similar to the Music application combined with online video.
Application Calculator / Calculator upgraded, now, in addition to the simple and engineering modes, there are several conversion modes, including for currencies.
One of the advantages of MIUI is that it comes pre-installed with quite functional file manager Explorer / Explorer. The main screen of the application contains three tabs: the Recent tab displays a list of recently open files; The Categories tab displays 6 categories of files and 5 places where these files can be located. In the Storage tab, you can view all files in the form of a folder hierarchy. All three tabs at the bottom have two buttons: Mi Drop, a tool for transferring files to other devices with MIUI, and Clean up - a shortcut to the utility of the same name.
Today, probably everyone has heard about the proprietary Xiaomi operating system based on the Android engine called MIUI. But not everyone saw it. And even more so, not all of our readers are familiar with its features and capabilities in detail.
Comparing iOS and MIUI directly is like comparing Audi and BMW. Therefore, you won't see this here. True Apple fans will already notice familiar features. What about the rest? Read and ask questions.
How MIUI led Xiaomi to success
In fact, first Xiaomi had its own operating system, and only then the smartphones that conquered the world. 
Once upon a time, the company specialized in software development. To promote their own resources, including the newly developed shell based on Android 2.2.x, the creators of Xiaomi decided to release their own smartphone.
The decision turned out to be correct. Of course, Xiaomi did not plan to make money from smartphone sales. Therefore, devices sold at cost quickly gained popularity in the budget segment.
Together with them, the company distributed its services and operating system. And she organized fans into a powerful community of modders and beta testers who receive a certain profit for their work (I will talk about this in the next article).
Deep market penetration has allowed Xiaomi to experiment in other areas. First came the TV, then the Mi Home smart home application, and then the first smart devices that can be found at every turn today. All of them are united by a smartphone based on MIUI into a single ecosystem. 
Thanks to a huge community and a large staff of developers, today the company releases MIUI updates weekly. Faster, any other brand, be it Samsung, HTC, Moto or Huawei. Therefore, Xiaomi's proprietary shell sometimes works better than Android options from A-brands.
Moreover, unlike them, Xiaomi updates the operating systems for all its smartphones. Almost all of the company's devices received MIUI 9, with the exception of several early models from 2013. That is, both the budget Xiaomi Redmi 5a () for 6 thousand rubles, and the huge Xiaomi Mi Max 2 (review), and the flagship Xiaomi Mi 6 () run the same version of the system. With the same capabilities.
Thanks to active work MIUI has acquired not only fans, but also its own, sometimes unique solutions. That's why I love this one Android option. And not just me.
Visualization, or why MIUI - iOS on the Android engine
MIUI became the first operating system (rather, a shell) based on Android that tried to copy the experience of iOS developers. Accordingly, it became one of the first Androids to disappear the system application menu.
Instead, all the shortcuts went to the desktop. Here they are sorted, put into folders and sorted - just pinch to open the settings. Additional screens can be added unlimitedly in all current versions of MIUI.
The new “nine” differs only in smart sorting - you can select several icons at once and send them to the appropriate desktop (they are shown at the bottom of the screen). The latter, by the way, can also be sorted.
Another small innovation in MIUI 9 is the widget preview screen. Oh, not every Android can do this - but in vain.
The dual-window mode, which appeared only in MIUI 9, has undergone additional improvements compared to stock Android. Firstly, by default the screen is divided in half - but the size of the window can be adjusted independently. You can also change places.
Secondly, for those applications that do not support scaling, you can enable the “Force split screen” option in the developer settings. On the test subject this is the most useful feature, turning your smartphone into a serious work tool.
The ninth version of MIUI received a modified curtain. Unfortunately, the bottom one, like in iOS, never appeared. But the top one is as close as possible in functionality to the one familiar to our readers. Right down to the design - it’s noticeable to the naked eye that Xiaomi has moved away from the Google-recommended Material Design.
Settings: anything is possible!
MIUI desktops, even in the latest version 9, no longer seem like an innovation today. Another thing - incredible even by standards Android features system customization without additional funds.
If owners of other smartphones have to get root and delve into system settings, or even allow you to launch suspicious applications to change the interface, everything is already included in MIUI 9.
Let's start with something simple. Everything that is visible on the main screen, in system applications and settings can be changed: fonts, click speed, size or number of icons, position of elements in the curtain, etc., etc. It's better to see it once.
In MIUI, you can change more significant settings - for example, color and behavior LED indicator. Or set the operating time of the navigation key backlight and their purpose. You can do the same with other hardware keys: for example, force the volume rocker and fingerprint scanner to take photos without unlocking. 
By the way, MIUI 9 now has full support for traditional Android gestures in the form of slides. And no less traditional on-screen assistant key. Is it necessary? At least in MIUI it is more convenient than in other operating options Google systems, since it is called and hidden by a gesture. And not only in the depths of system settings.
Special opportunities for book lovers and grandmothers
Developers pay no less attention to various deferred actions. MIUI 9 hides a kind of IFFT logic. It is used to configure sound signals according to time, automatic backups, brightness settings and much more.
By the way, about the display: MIUI allows you to adjust not only the brightness level, but also the color temperature of the image. In addition, the system has its own blue filter called “Reading Mode”. With it, the gadget screen switches to a yellow backlight.
If necessary, you can go even further and enable the “granny phone” mode - a simplified interface. There is no desktop, and applications are located on home screen in the form of huge labels. Everything that doesn’t fit ends up in a separate application menu with slightly smaller icons. Alas, the feature is preserved only in budget Xiaomi devices.
If the granny phone mode seems uninteresting (however, with the sensor enabled using the “Work with gloves” function at full sensitivity, it can also be useful for the younger generation), interface scaling is the killer feature of all Xiaomi smartphones.
Slide over the navigation keys - and now, instead of the working area, a window of the specified size appears on the entire screen. The system in it functions as usual, without any changes. It's like holding a 3.5-inch smartphone in your hand.
Safety first
Sometimes it seems to me that MIUI 9 is the most sophisticated version of Android, not only in terms of flexibility, but also in the field of security. Protect both data and the system itself. Nothing will go unnoticed.
The coolest thing in my opinion was the combination of built-in elements for cloning applications. "Double Applications" creates a second version already installed application, which can be configured separately from the first one. For example, enter a different account or configure the interface in another way.
Second Space creates a copy of the operating system. In it, you can configure the interface differently, introduce certain concessions or restrictions. Overall, an excellent testing tool that can be used by any user.
You don’t know how the program will behave from unknown source? Launch it in the “Second Space”, and if necessary, kill everything with one blow.
There is also extended child control. With it, you can enter a guest profile, which is activated with one tap. Or introduce internal system restrictions that can be removed by entering a password or fingerprint: limit payments in applications, restrict access to applications, correspondence, or even individual functions.
The “Personal Data Protection” function can encrypt and password protect even individual photos and files. Encryption can be enabled for the entire smartphone.
Built-in and system MIUI apps 9 puts it in a separate category of settings. Everything that is not included here can be limited in any rights. Even if access to certain data is critical for the application. Disable GPS navigator? No problem! Deny dialer access to contacts? No problem.
The main thing is that each program can be given only the necessary minimum permissions, cutting off any willfulness at the system level. In fact, this feature works like an advanced firewall.
If you are afraid of surveillance, take a smartphone with MIUI 9 and configure each element yourself.
Storage and preservation
The backup system is no worse implemented. Standard Android only offers data backup to Google cloud. MIUI has been supplemented with proprietary reservations cloud service Mi Cloud. Here you can save not only settings, but also photos or programs for later restoration, even on another smartphone.
Finally, as a last resort, you can create local backups. However, their restoration is limited to the same model of Xiaomi smartphone - they may not work on a new device.
Within detailed description MIUI 9 cannot be silent about the Cleanup utility. It is located in the settings, but its work is comparable to a separate application for cleaning the device’s memory. It works quickly, cleans out garbage no worse than the vaunted Files Go from Google. That's it!
Energy efficiency and optimization: the subject of major debate
Wide range of options for customizing application behavior is complemented by a proprietary energy saving manager. MIUI itself resets any non-system applications when there is increased power consumption. Many buyers, without understanding it, then say: “Skype and Viber don’t work for me!”
They require a little patience to make them work. Each program in MIUI 9 has a number of permissions for consuming resources and battery. For stable operation in the background, each of them must be activated. Otherwise, the cunning Chinese hare will freeze the activity: Wi-Fi or cellular communication, GPS, mobile internet. On the other hand, you can limit the number of programs running simultaneously.
To further save battery, the system filters notifications that wake up the screen. They can be turned off according to a schedule, or lists of unimportant ones can be set. These will not include ringtone and vibration. If this is not enough, you can set your own notification rules for each application.
If necessary, you can use ready-made settings energy saving and set the operating interval. But for DIY lovers, Xiaomi offers the opportunity to create several of your own scenarios with detailed settings: which applications, when and how will work to save battery power.
What cannot be removed: Xiaomi branded services
List of own Xiaomi applications in MIUI 9 it depends on the OS version: for Chinese it is one set, for international Global it is completely different. Despite the deep reworking of bare Android, Xiaomi did not stuff the international version of MIUI 9 with its own applications. Even so: there are fewer of them than any major manufacturers offering their shells.
Instead of many useless app stores and streaming services in Europe, the company left only a couple of programs for connecting with MIUI communities, a utility for wireless transmission Mi Mover and “Mi remote” files for controlling home appliances via an infrared port, which even the cheapest ones are equipped with Xiaomi smartphones, such as .
System applications such as the dialer, SMS client and a standard set of utilities like the calculator in MIUI 9 migrated from earlier versions of the operating system. It’s difficult to say anything special about them. Besides the fact that they work perfectly - and there is nothing superfluous.
The "Gallery" is of interest. It was in MIUI 9 that it became not just a means of viewing photos, but universal program for working with any images. The developers specifically mention smart sorting, which seriously improves navigation.
But perhaps the most important advantage of the utility is its extensive editing capabilities. In principle, most users won't need anything else. Even integration with Mi Cloud is already in place.
Instead of conclusions: the quality of MIUI
According to personal feelings, MIUI 9 is currently the fastest and most pleasant version of Adnroid. Unfortunately, it is based on the seventh version of Google's operating system, and the transition to Oreo will not happen in the near future. What is the reason for this slowness, one can only guess. 
It's probably not needed now. Xiaomi developers have optimized everything necessary, starting from the lowest level of the operating system. Smooth interface, fast visualization, high loading speed were achieved using an optimized core and a fundamentally new Android work with files: new one is used file system, cache systematization has been improved, real-time defragmentation has been added.
In addition, the creators of MIUI 9 have improved the dynamic memory allocation in favor of the most important (that is, more often and more used) applications. Due to the use of most of the system resources at the time of launch, the speed of loading applications from scratch has increased noticeably. And it’s unlikely that anything other than “pure” Adnroid on Google’s own devices can compare with MIUI 9. 
According to personal feelings, smartphones tested with MIUI 9 not only began to work faster. A huge one can finally replace a tablet - without a split-screen mode, the workspace was used inefficiently. Now it’s not only fast, but also convenient.
(4.86 out of 5, rated: 7 )
Quantity operating systems growing day by day. In most cases, this is due to manufacturers trying to create something unique for their great products. It is worth noting that most modern operating systems are based on Android. The only exceptions are iOS and Windows Mobile, both are the brainchild of American corporations, however, the latter is consistently losing its market share portable devices. Among the total mass of shells based on Android, we can highlight the operating system of the Chinese brand Xiaomi. This is what we will compare with the popular Apple OS.
Before going into the functional and external features Let us say that the comparison of the two systems is by no means groundless. There is an opinion about imitation of the Chinese shell, the software of the American giant. Starting from the “flat” 2D design, ending with the general structure of windows and desktops - everything is somehow reminiscent of iOS.
Simplicity and conciseness
Is it worth mentioning that from the very beginning, the fundamental concept of the developers from Cupertino was the simplicity and clarity of the interface for all categories of users. This system still works: minimum settings, maximum comfort. The Chinese took this fact into account, but went a little further. MIUI gives you more room for personalization and customization, without compromising appearance and piles of elements. A little space for activity has never harmed anyone.
Appearance and customization
In terms of “decoration”, iOS loses on all fronts. Apart from changing the background image, nothing else is available. The only possibility is hacking and customization by third-party, often untested and unsafe applications. The Mi system is another matter; even in the stock configuration “out of the box” you will have a colossal number of design themes and all kinds of widgets to choose from.
Security, which is more reliable
It is not very fair to consider these representatives from this angle, but we will try. It's about openness program code. iOS takes the lead here; the closed code avoids most of the problems associated with malicious software. software and the results of his life activity. Of course, no one is immune from programmers’ mistakes and related vulnerabilities. Operating system MIUI 9, which has an open source code, presents more opportunities for intrusion and requires more security attention from the user.
Functionality vs Simplicity
Advanced settings allow you to optimize your workspace as efficiently as possible. This phrase definitely does not apply to Apple OS. The maximum that can be achieved is a dozen non-customizable widgets and grouping desktop applications into folders. You can convince yourself that this approach is effective because it does not provide an opportunity for an inexperienced user to damage the device with his inept actions. How fair this is is up to you to decide!
Stock apps
Here I would like to touch on some pre-installed components: the browser and mail client. Let's not lie, the best indicator of quality is user reviews. From this side, the programs mentioned above are no good when implemented by Xiaomi. Inconvenience of use and limited functionality force Xiaomi fans to use third-party software. The same cannot be said about Apple fans. Statistics show that the majority of iPhone and iPad users continue to use stock applications even after a long time.
Each system has its pros and cons, which can be discussed and debated endlessly. So what? better than iOS or MIUI?! In our opinion, the determining factor of a leader is development and the desire to change and improve. Americans demonstrate their conservatism with enviable consistency in this issue. While developers from the Middle Kingdom are open to everything new, are ready to listen to their consumers and are constantly modernizing their proprietary shell.
Xiaomi Mi8 Lite is a smartphone for those who need a powerful, visually pleasing and modern device with a special emphasis on the front camera. At least that's how the manufacturer himself presents it. In fact, a bunch of nuances were discovered that you definitely need to know about before buying Xiaomi Mi8 Lite.
The first thing that confused me was the manufacturer’s fixation on the front camera. 24 megapixels, artificial intelligence, a bunch of tools for improving the face - with every argument, it becomes more and more suspicious.
One rule applies to any company, and especially a Chinese one. If the manufacturer pays too much attention to the front camera, it means that it itself is not very good, and the device as a whole is sad. In the case of our smartphone, this rule both worked and didn’t. It is already clear that Mi8 Lite will definitely not become a bestseller like. However, it is still too early to write off our hero. In general, in Xiaomi review Mi8 Lite we'll figure it out.
Front camera
On the front we placed a 24 megapixel sensor from Sony - IMX576 with huge 1.8 micron pixels. However, the f/2.2 aperture of the lens is not encouraging. Even for a front-facing camera, this is too dark glass. Apparently, this is why the manufacturer hid information on this matter on the official website.
In addition, there are a billion beauty modes that can make you a real Dorian Gray. Of course, I shaved and really looked younger to some extent, but not so much that it looks like this:
Me - ten years ago. Thank you Xiaomi!
Algorithms smoothed out the skin, removed wrinkles and other staleness from my face, tortured by endless selfies for reviews.
I'm ten years into working on SuperG
By the way, the front camera also has an HDR mode, and more attention should be paid to it than to porcelainizing the skin and narrowing the cheekbones. On the other hand, the smartphone is made for the Chinese, and this is traditionally in great demand there. For this reason, no one really asked us Caucasians.
Main cameras
Here we have two modules: 12 and 5 megapixels. They are exactly the same as in .
Xiaomi claims that the built-in “artificial intelligence” can recognize 238 different scenes and adjust the necessary settings for them on the fly. However, it would be better if the manufacturer simply worked on the picture quality, because it is very average.
Sometimes the algorithms freak out and produce something with incomprehensible detail:
Poor detail (suddenly!)
Refocusing and a second attempt straightens the situation literally in a second.
Good photo
HDR mode is weak. It pulls out overexposure and dark areas, but it is far from reaching a truly serious level (for example).
The second, 5-megapixel camera is needed here for portrait mode. There are no problems with the blur itself. This can be seen from the rather neatly blurred area inside my bent arm.
However, in all other respects the photographs turn out mediocre. Detailing, white balance, and exposure suffer.
Overall I didn't like the quality of the pictures. Even the more affordable Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 was more pleasing in this regard.
Video recording
The smartphone can record high-quality 4K videos. The detailing, of course, is not flagship, but still pleasant. The only negative is the slightly inadequate white balance. In the example below, the picture suddenly turned pink at one point - the automation was confused by the abundance of orange-red leaves in the frame. But it’s autumn, and there’s no getting around it.
Stabilization only works in Full HD 30 frames per second mode, and it works perfectly.
The camera also has a strange Full HD 60 FPS mode. It’s strange because despite the honest 60 frames, the picture is simply of disgusting quality. In the video, the naked eye can see “interlaced recording of information from the matrix,” which ultimately resulted in an abundance of horizontal digital stripes. See example.
Design
In second place in importance after the cameras in Mi8 Lite is, of course, the exterior of the device. It is bright, catchy and fashionable.
In front we are greeted by a screen made in the best traditions of 2018 (no).
There are bangs, a chin, and a black stripe on top, which is wider than the side frames. Literally Jonathan Ive's worst nightmare. Wait a minute though! It was Johnny who created with his stunningly wide frames. So Mi8 Lite even looks better in some ways. Very, very something.
In general, the design of the front panel is not for everyone. And this despite the fact that the screen itself is quite pleasant. IPS panel, Full HD+ resolution, large diagonal of 6.26 inches - everything is quite expected from a display in a smartphone for $200-300.
From the back, Xiaomi Mi8 Lite looks more interesting.
The perfectly smooth, mirror-like surface catches the eye with its gradient colors. The latter only works in two cases: when the device comes in a blue or orange-red case. The color is black and black in Africa.
Unfortunately, such a colorful solution is not a brilliant invention of Xiaomi designers. This is just a copy of a successful design from Huawei. We remember the bright and extremely successful one and understand with whom Xiaomi decided to compete when releasing the Mi8 Lite. True, they have flagship cameras on board, but our character, to put it mildly, does not have them at all.
For the rest.
There is an oleophobic coating - that's good. However, the smartphone itself is very, very slippery. This is bad. To prevent users from introducing the device to asphalt too quickly, a simple silicone case was included in the kit.
The slot for SIM cards is combined - you have to choose: either memory or a second SIM card. There is no IR port, no NFC, no audio output, moisture protection... I think you already guessed it.
But there is a USB C port and one multimedia speaker located next door. The speaker is loud and surprisingly high quality. Not a flagship level, of course, but still quite pleasant.
Characteristics of Xiaomi Mi8 Lite
Despite the common name, our character has little in common with the original one. It’s logical to compare the Lite version with the one released this year. Moreover, both devices are not officially sold in our area. In general, all the details are under the cut in a visual sign.
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