MIUI 12.5 has been released along with the Mi 11. The new version of MIUI arrives as an intermediate update after MIUI 12 and also provides a list of new features and improvements. MIUI 12.5 has been touted to improve privacy protection with transparency and controls that look to be inspired by Apple’s iOS 14. The custom skin of Xiaomi also includes MIUI+ that lets users integrate their smartphone with Windows PC to see mobile notifications, apps and also clipboard data directly on their computer screen.
Xiaomi has right now started to take registrations for a closed beta release of MIUI 12.5 and has planned to roll out a public beta in batches around the middle of January 2021. The first beta releases are limited to a total of 21 devices in total. The devices are – Mi 10 Extreme Commemorative Edition, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10, Redmi Note 9, Redmi K30, Redmi K30 Pro, Redmi K30 Extreme Commemorative Edition, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition, Redmi K30i 5G, Mi 10 Youth Edition, Redmi 10X, Redmi 10X Pro, Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro, Xiaomi Mi CC9e, Mi 9 SE, Mi 9, Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Note 7 Pro.
After beta release, Xiaomi scheduled the first batch of MIUI 12.5 stable version for the end of April 2021. This will be at first rolled out in China for Mi 11, Mi 10 Extreme Commemorative Edition, Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10. Release plans for other mobiles and global markets will be announced later.
Xiaomi says that MIUI 12.5 has been designed to consume up to 32% less memory in system operations and provide a 17% decrease in power consumption. The new skin optimises memory usage in core scenarios by as much as 20%. It has also been touted to optimise system apps and deliver improved graphics rendering over MIUI 12. MIUI 12.5 continues the presence of animated Super Wallpapers with the inclusion of Snow Mountain and Geometry. They come along with existing Super Earth and Super Saturn wallpapers that are available with MIUI 12. Xiaomi has claimed that Super Wallpapers consume 40% less power on MIUI 12.5.
Just like the new additions in Super Wallpapers, the latest MIUI update provides additional nature-inspired sound effects, with special tracks from Amazon and African jungles and also the Arctic ice dessert. There is also improved haptics and notification sound effects for providing a fresh feel. Users will also notice stereo system sounds on compatible devices. MIUI 12.5 also has a new motion effect architecture for providing an improved animation experience. It also provides an enhanced immersive touch with the integration of an all-new tactile library.
In terms of interface, there is the feature of floating windows which lets users to quickly respond to a message or look at maps without leaving the active screen. The MIUI update also provides new ‘Ripples’ animation in order to download apps and ‘Burst’ animation for uninstalling apps at the home screen. The MIUI 12.5 also provides a vertical layout for the ‘Recents’ screen.
For upgraded and improved privacy, MIUI 12.5 arrives with the ability to prompt users with a pop-up when an app tries to access their clipboard data. Users can either grant access or decline. There is also an option to automatically decline access after a timeout. All of this sounds almost same to how iOS 14 provides notifications for clipboard data access. The MIUI 12.5 update also has an option for sharing approximate location rather than exact location with certain apps. Once more, we have already seen this on iOS 14.
MIUI 12.5 also arrives with sandbox support for isolating photo albums and private information with third parties. The new update highlights webpage behaviour records to provide user with details regarding the websites that could steal their data. Similar to iOS 14, the Mi App Store on MIUI 12.5 provides privacy details for every listed app.
Xiaomi has also brought updated Notes and Mi Browser in MIUI 12.5. There are also upgrades mainly for Xiaomi Health Services and Mi Cloud for providing an improved experience.Also, Xiaomi claims to provide no bloatware on MIUI 12.5 with few pre-installed apps over other custom ROMs. It also includes MIUI+ which works like Microsoft’s Your Phone app and allows users to integrate their Xiaomi phone with Windows PC. If integrated once, it enables users to see notifications, text messages and photos from their phone directly on their computer. Users can also access their phone’s clipboard data and some apps on their computer screen.
MIUI+ is also available in beta and is limited to Mi 10 Extreme Commemorative Edition, mi 10 Pro, Mi 10, Mi 9 Pro 5G, Mi 9, Redmi K30 Ultra, Redmi K20 Pro and Redmi K30 Pro. The phone must run MIUI 12.5 in order to enable this integration. Xiaomi also suggests Mi Notebook Pro 15 Enhanced Edition, Pro 15.6-inch 2020 model, Redmi G gaming notebook, RedmiBook 16, RedmiBook 14 II and RedmiBook Air 13 as the computers that can make the most of the new UI. The company has said that because of driver and hardware limitations, it cannot guarantee the same experience on other notebooks.