Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 was one of its most popular and well-received updates, and it was at the top of the ongoing rally of smartphone launches and sales around the world. Now, at the launch of the new flagship Xiaomi Mi 11, Xiaomi is back with a new version update. Meet MIUI 12.5, the latest update to the popular UX smartphone present on Mi, Redmi and POCO smartphones.
MIUI 12.5 is numbered as a minor update, and that’s because it doesn’t feature any dramatic redesign. Instead, this update is focused on bringing more polished and smaller UX changes and collecting all the updates accumulated since the release of the last major update. Here are all the changes of the new MIUI 12.5 update!
New Super Wallpaper and Live Wallpaper in MIUI 12.5
MIUI 12’s Super Earth, Super Mars and Super Saturn live wallpapers are some of the most popular live wallpapers on Mi and Redmi smartphones and even other non-Chinese OEM smartphones. Xiaomi is now adding two more live wallpapers to this set: Snow Mountain and Geometry.
MIUI 12 Latest Geometry and Snow Mountain Live Wallpapers Now Available for Download
These two new live wallpapers are available to download and download / install on Android smartphones, so check the link above for the download links!
New sounds
MIUI 12 is known for the nature-inspired sound pack present inside, which allows users to set notifications, ringtones and other event tones with nature sounds. This feature is now undergoing further expansion, with new sounds inspired from the jungles of the Amazon and Africa to the icy desert in the Arctic.
Many more sound options have been added throughout the UX along with the complementary haptics, contributing to the unique experience. And of course, if you don’t like them, you can always disable them.
MIUI + with MIUI 12.5
We are seeking more clarity on this particular feature as the announcement for the live stream was in Chinese. But based on what was presented on stage, MIUI + on MIUI 12.5 is a way to integrate the functions of your Android phone with your Windows PC. Think of Microsoft’s Your Phone app, but for Xiaomi.
You can view your phone notifications on the laptop, take control, select to run mobile applications on your laptop, copy text on the phone and paste it directly on the laptop, make your screenshots immediately appear on your laptop, access files on your phone via laptop, and even edit and sync them again, and more. We will explore this feature in more depth soon. For now, these are the smartphones currently compatible with this feature in MIUI 12.5:
- Mi 10 Ultra
- My 10 Pro
- Wed 10
- Mi 9 Pro 5G
- Wed 9
- Redmi K30 Ultra
- Redmi K20 Pro
- Redmi K30 Pro
Xiaomi also recommends using the feature on these laptops:
- Mi Notebook Pro 15 Enhanced Edition
- Mi Notebook Pro 15.6 ″ 2020
- Redmi G gaming laptop
- RedmiBook 16
- RedmiBook 14 II
- RedmiBook Air 13
Performance on other notebook computers is not guaranteed. But theoretically this MIUI + app should work on all Windows machines along with compatible phones on MIUI 12.5.
Notes app: new icon, indented drop-down menu with brain map generation, drawing and more
The default Notes app within MIUI 12 is getting a lot of attention with MIUI 12.5.
First, there’s a new icon, followed by new features like indented lists with the ability to collapse, the ability to create brain maps from these lists with one click, the ability to draw and scribble, and more!
Privacy: clipboard access, approximate location and more
With MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi is introducing some changes in the way privacy is handled.
When the apps try to access the clipboard data, the user will be shown a message with the text inside the clipboard and the ability to grant permission, automatically reject after a timeout or always reject.
MIUI 12.5 will also allow users to pass approximate location to apps instead of fine location. In many cases, the apps don’t require your location data down to the exact lane, and intentional manipulation of the location will help maintain some privacy.
The browser app is getting some updates too, with the ability to automatically block malicious page downloads and other internet tracking changes (we won’t take Xiaomi’s word for it, though).
System improvements
Xiaomi claims that MIUI 12.5 is focused on optimization, with a 20% decrease in memory usage in the main usage scenarios. In the same context, system operations now consume up to 32% less memory and offer a 17% decrease in power consumption. Super Wallpapers now consume 40% less energy with MIUI 12.5.
MIUI 12.5 full changelog
Here is the full changelog for the MIUI 12.5 update:
MIUI 12.5 full changelog
MIUI 12.5:
- System:
- New: response to gestures is now instant
- New: With 20x more rendering power, now there are few limited to what you can see on your screen.
- New: With custom device model settings, any phone becomes faster after update.
- Optimization: MIUI became lighter, faster and more durable.
- System animations:
- New: a new animation frame makes movement more realistic.
- New: The new UI design focuses on visualization and makes your interaction with the device more realistic.
- System sounds:
- New: Nature Mix is an exciting new way to create your own notification sound system.
- New: Hundreds of system sounds representing animals from around the world.
- New: sound from the stereo system.
- Super wallpapers:
- New: super wallpaper of mount Siguniang.
- Privacy protection:
- New: You can now see which applications are accessing your clipboard and controlling access.
- New: Use of approximate location adds points to privacy protection.
- New: You can now manage sensitive permissions and related app behavior independently.
- New: The behavior of web pages is now also tracked, helping you to block unwanted and malicious actions.
- New: Now it’s up to you who and when you can track your behavior online.
- New: All apps now come with a GetApps security statement.
- New: Privacy Risk Scanner.
- New: Control which apps access and remove items from your gallery.
- New: A complete overview of all confidential permissions.
- New: You will be notified every time high risk permissions are used and you can block the corresponding actions.
- Optimization: a completely new privacy protection page.
- Notes:
- New: compose mind maps with complex structures.
- New: New tools for scribbling and sketching.
- New: Long-press a sketch to adjust strokes automatically.
- New: A gesture shortcut now allows you to create notes, tasks, and excerpts anywhere.
- New: Excerpts save text, URLs and images in Notes with a few simple taps.
- New: Dynamix layouts take Notes typography to a new level.
- Brand new notes.
- MIUI +:
- You can combine your phone and computer in a single workstation.
- You can view MIUI notifications and open phone apps on your computer.
- Applications from your phone can be transferred to your computer.
- Items copied to a phone can now be pasted to the computer and vice versa.
- Photos and screenshots from a mobile device can be instantly used on a computer.
- Web pages can be seamlessly transferred from one device to another.
- You can transfer files to your mobile device using the “MIUI +” panel on your computer.
- New “File Manager” and “Notes” for computers.
- Floating windows:
- New: instant messengers now support floating windows.
- New: Floating windows can be quickly replaced with full-screen versions of applications.
- New: Application cards display key information when applications are displayed as floating windows.
- Find out more about the new features in “Special Features” /
- Xiaomi Health:
- New: You can now measure your heart rate with the camera.
- New: Start manually recording running, walking and cycling workouts and enjoy many exercise classes online.
- Optimization: Automatic exercise recognition is much more accurate now.
- Starting screen:
- New: “Waves” animation to download applications.
- New: “burst” animation for uninstalling apps.
- New: New design for application folders.
- New: a vertical layout for recent ones.
- Foundry:
- New: The aspect ratio is automatically adjusted to the external monitor during streaming.
- New: Application audio streaming in a floating window is separated from other audio.
- Xiaomi Cloud:
- New: Password manager allows you to store passwords in the cloud.
- New: You can share your device’s location with other people in your family sharing group.
- New: Location information can be recorded automatically before the device is turned off.
- New: Convert images to PDF.
- My Carrier Services:
- New: You can now manage multiple SIM cards.
- I:
- New: a more convenient way to move a cursor using the scroll bar.
- New: Function buttons allow switching between languages and keyboards.
- New: You can press and hold the function buttons to access more functions.
- New: Custom keyboard themes.
- Topics:
- New: font weight adjustment options for third party fonts.
- Optimization: customization features for system wallpapers, animations and sounds.
- Browser:
- New: wallpaper customization in light mode.
- Optimization: Incognito mode redesigned.
- Optimization: pages load much faster now.
- My family:
- New: You can now manage multiple SIM cards.
- Optimization: Revamped Device Control Center.
- Look for:
- Optimization: local search results are automatically sorted now.
- Optimization: completely new design.
MIUI 12.5 Deployment Program
According to a roadmap published on the Mi Community, Xiaomi users will start receiving the new MIUI 12.5 update through a stable channel starting from April 2021. However, the first set of MIUI 12.5 builds is now available on the China Closed Beta branch, which you can flash if you’re feeling adventurous.
- MIUI 12.5 Closed Beta ROM:
- 1st batch (released):
- 2nd batch (from mid to late January 2021):
- MIUI 12.5 Public Beta Update:
- It will be released in batches from mid to late January 2021.
- MIUI 12.5 stable release:
- 1st batch (as of the end of 4/2021):
- Wed 11
- Mi 10 Ultra
- Mi 10 Pro
- Wed 10
- 1st batch (as of the end of 4/2021):
Regions outside of China may have to wait patiently for builds to progress first to the China Stable branch and then to the respective global branches.
