• MIUI 14 user interface

    An In-Depth Look at the Features of Xiaomi’s Latest Operating System: MIUI 14

    Daven Klarsen Posted on

    Xiaomi, one of the leading smartphone manufacturers in the world, has always been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to their products. Their latest smartphones are no exception, featuring the updated MIUI 14 user interface. MIUI, or Mi User Interface, is Xiaomi’s custom Android-based operating system that comes pre-installed on all their smartphones. With each iteration of MIUI, Xiaomi has consistently added new features and improvements, providing users with an increasingly enhanced experience.

    Now, with the release of MIUI 14, Xiaomi has once again set the bar high for their competitors. The new user interface promises to offer an array of features that are designed to make the user experience more intuitive, streamlined, and personalized. However, with so many changes and updates, it can be overwhelming for users to understand what’s new and how it differs from its predecessor, MIUI 13.

    In this discussion, we will dive into MIUI 14 and explore its various features and improvements, as well as compare it to MIUI 13 to see how it has evolved. Whether you’re a Xiaomi user or simply interested in the latest advancements in smartphone technology, this discussion will provide valuable insights into the exciting world of MIUI. So, let’s get started and discover what MIUI 14 is all about!

    General Overview

    Xiaomi has released a plethora of new phones this year, as is typical, and most of them come with MIUI 14 pre-installed. From mid-range devices like the Redmi Note 12 series to high-end flagships like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, MIUI 14 offers the familiar look and feel of Xiaomi’s user interface on top of the standard Android experience.

    In our recent reviews, we’ve found that some phones are running MIUI 14 on top of Android 12 while others are on Android 13, but we didn’t notice any significant differences in features or appearance.

    Xiaomi’s software development approach allows them to implement new features regardless of the underlying Android OS version. However, this means that they may miss out on some of the user-facing features in Android 13 when compared to other manufacturers.

    Familiar Look And Feel

    Before we delve into the new features of MIUI 14, let’s go over the basics and what remains familiar from its predecessor, MIUI 13. The Notification Shade and Control Center are still present, but they now have an independent notification center and control center that can be accessed by swiping down from the top corners of the phone. Additionally, users can disable the control center and use a more typical Android notification shade instead.

    Another aspect that remains largely unchanged is the option to keep all apps on the home screen or enable an app drawer, which features a search bar and automatic organization of apps into categories. It’s worth noting that the Poco variant of Xiaomi phones comes with the app drawer enabled by default, but users can still choose to disable it.

    Task Switcher

    The Task Switcher on MIUI 14 displays all recent apps in two columns, and users can tap and hold on any card to access split screen and pop-up shortcuts. Users can also swipe left or right to close apps. Additionally, there is a floating windows button for added convenience.

    The Smart Sidebar is an expandable menu located on the edge of the screen that stores shortcuts. When apps are launched from the Smart Sidebar, they automatically appear in a pop-up window. The sidebar transforms into a video toolbox once the system detects a video player like YouTube and offers useful shortcuts.

    One notable feature is the Background Playback, which allows YouTube videos to continue playing even if the phone is locked, similar to YouTube Premium. It’s worth noting that MIUI 14 doesn’t offer an advanced desktop environment when connected to a larger screen, unlike Samsung’s DeX or Motorola’s Ready For feature.

    IR Blaster:

    Many Xiaomi devices come equipped with an IR blaster and a Smart Remote app, allowing users to control a variety of appliances. With plenty of options available, Xiaomi’s Smart Remote app makes it easy to manage your home appliances with just your phone.

    Apps And UI Customizations Options

    While many functions within MIUI are provided by Google’s App Suite, Xiaomi also includes its own proprietary multimedia apps such as the Gallery, Music, and Mi Video. In addition, Xiaomi offers a security app and a file manager for added convenience. These apps provide Xiaomi users with a unique and customized experience on top of the typical Android environment.

    MIUI 14 allows users to customize their notifications and how they appear on their device. Additionally, the Theme Store offers a variety of customization options to personalize the look of your home screen, as well as new ringtones and Always-On Display styles. With MIUI 14, users have the freedom to make their device truly their own.

    New MIUI 14 Features And Optimizations

    While many of these features were present in the previous version of MIUI, there are still some noteworthy changes in MIUI 14. Particularly, the international version of MIUI 14 brings under-the-hood optimizations with a new system architecture, resulting in a smoother and more efficient interface. While there may not be a plethora of new features on the global version of the UI, the performance improvements make for a better user experience overall.

    In terms of actual new features, the international version of MIUI 14 offers relatively few changes. The most notable addition is the option to create large folders on the home screen, allowing users to organize their apps while still having their icons easily accessible. However, beyond this, there are not many major updates or additions to the international version of MIUI 14.

    On the other hand, the Chinese version of MIUI 14 includes several additional features. One of these is the app behavior log, which chronicles each app’s activity and actions in a log.

    Additionally, users in China can enjoy new home screen widgets in a variety of shapes and sizes. Another unique feature of the Chinese version of MIUI 14 is the ability to merge duplicate files, which is not available in the international version.

     

    Xiaomi has included Tamagotchi-like digital pets on the home screen in the Chinese MIUI 14. It’s unfortunate that users outside of China won’t have access to these extra features, but there’s always a possibility they may be added through a software update in the future.

    Regarding software updates, Xiaomi has committed to providing several years of support for their flagship models, but they are not known for being the fastest at releasing updates. The situation is even less clear for their mid-range devices.

    In conclusion, MIUI 14 provides a smooth and familiar experience for users, particularly those who are already familiar with the previous version of MIUI. The optimizations in performance and the large folders are nice additions.

    However, users in China get access to some additional features like the app Behavior log and new widgets, including Tamagotchi-like digital pets. It’s unfortunate that users outside of China won’t have access to these features unless they come in a future update.

    It’s worth noting that Xiaomi has committed to providing certain years of support for their key models, but their update delivery speed is not among the fastest in the industry, particularly in the mid-range segment.

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    Daven Klarsen
    Daven Klarsen is a technology writer and researcher. He's also an avid sports fan, especially when it comes to the LAL. When not working, you can usually find him tweaking his Android devices or watching soccer news.
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