Xiaomi Mi8 Lite is a smartphone for those who need a powerful, visually pleasing and modern apparatus with special emphasis on front camera. At least, that's how the manufacturer himself presents it. In fact, a lot of nuances were discovered that you definitely need to know about before purchase of 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 to them on the fly necessary settings. 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 literally straightens the situation 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 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 an 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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Received a new update MIUI 10.0.3.0. Global stable firmware V10.0.3.0.OEAMIFH available for download and distributed via OTA. Let's look at the list of changes and user feedback.
To avoid unnecessary questions, please pay attention to. This version relevant for owners of the international version of the phone using the global firmware Global ROM.
MIUI 10.0.3.0 for Xiaomi Mi 8
If your Xiaomi Mi 8 has Russian firmware installed, then the current version for you is , the firmware is .
Unfortunately, among Xiaomi readers and active users of the Mi community, there are not many owners yet Xiaomi flagship Mi 8. Their number is tens of times less compared to the owners of the popular budget phones Redmi 5 Plus and Redmi Note 5.
I would like to receive detailed feedback from users of the Xiaomi flagship. So that users also actively share their experiences, describe problems, and participate in the life of the community as actively as Mi 6 owners did back in the day.
What's new?
The main changes affected the camera and the Android security patch.
List of changes:
- The security patch has been updated to the version dated October 1, 2018. Not the most current Security Patch, considering that some phones have already received the November 5 patch.
- The developers have optimized the stabilization system in the camera.
- Added "studio" lighting for the front camera.
- works for the Russia region.
The operating system version in this firmware is 8.1 (Oreo). If you are following the release for Xiaomi, then you know that some smartphones have already received an OS update.
Among the Xiaomi Mi 8 line of phones, only Mi 8 Pro received an update to Android 9, and then only in beta firmware.
The developers ask Mi 8 users to be patient and promise to release stable firmware for Android based 9 by the end of 2018.
As for the "Night mode", as in the camera. This functionality is currently only available in the Chinese developer firmware China Beta ROM.
Dear readers, if you have already updated your phone, please share your impressions in the comments. Your feedback and Feedback help other users.
In this article we will look at interesting opportunities MIUI shell. You may have heard of some of them, but many interesting features are hidden in such a way that they are difficult to find, so many people don’t even know about them. Let's look at some of them.
RING VOLUME INCREASE
Enabling this function is not in the sound settings, as would be logical, but in the settings of the “Phone” application. To activate this feature, you need to go to the settings of the “Phone” application and in the “Incoming calls” section, turn on the “Volume up” item. In the same section you can find other interesting settings, such as:
— Disabling the bell when turning over;
— Mute the ringer when picked up;
— Flash notification;
- Proximity sensor;
— Mute the start of a call.
The purpose of each item is explained directly below it (see screenshot).
CHANGING THE BACKGROUND ON THE CALL SCREEN
If you are tired of the blue background when making (receiving) calls, then you can apply the lock screen wallpaper there. To do this, you need to go to the settings of the “Phone” application, go to the “Advanced settings” section and in the “Call screen background” item change the “Default” value to “Lock screen wallpaper”.
This section also contains other settings:
— Sound when dialing a number;
— Auto dial;
— Reminder of missed calls;
— Vibration when the interlocutor answers;
- and others.
QUICK CHANGE OF SMS MESSAGE STATUS
In the SMS list, swipe across the message from left to right to mark it as read.
QUICKLY DELETE SMS MESSAGES
Swipe on a message from right to left - delete the current message.
LARGE TEXT WHEN VIEWING SMS MESSAGES
When viewing an SMS message, if you double-tap on the text, the message will be displayed on the entire screen in larger text. Convenient when reading long SMS.
REPLY FUNCTION
When an SMS is received, a notification is displayed at the top of the display for a while. To the right of the message there is a “Reply” button, by clicking on it you can write a quick reply.
PIN SMS MESSAGES FROM A SPECIFIC CONTACT
The pinned message will always appear at the top of the list. To do this, press and hold the message, in the functions that appear at the bottom of the screen, select “Pin.” This message will move to the very top and will be marked with a blue arrow in the upper corner. You can pin one or several messages.
HIDING SMS MESSAGES FROM SELECTED CONTACTS
To do this, you need to swipe from top to bottom in the list of SMS messages until the “Lock” appears. At initial setup you need to enter the password for your MI account. After this, you will need to add a pattern or PIN code. Next, enter the phone number in the settings (or select from contacts). Now messages from the selected contacts will not be available in the general list; to view them, you need to swipe from top to bottom again and enter set password or key (can be unlocked with a fingerprint).
BLOCKING SMS MESSAGES
When you add certain numbers or prefixes to the Black List, you will not receive messages from them, they will be automatically blocked. This method It also works with phone calls, we won’t focus on this further. To add numbers to the blacklist, go to “Security” - “Blacklist”. Next, in the settings, add the entire number or a prefix (the beginning of the number, for example 495; calls and SMS from numbers starting with 495 will be automatically blocked). Blocking by keywords is also possible for SMS.
SENDING SMS MESSAGES AT A SPECIFIED TIME
There is an interesting opportunity to send a scheduled SMS at a time of your choosing, and you can select the year, month, day and time. It is very convenient if you need to send a reminder to yourself (to the second SIM card) or someone else, or, for example, set up automatic sending of birthday greetings. When creating an SMS, select who you want to send it to, enter the required text, and click “+” to the left of the message text.
In the window that appears, select the date and time.
The message will look like this: Displays above the message text when the message is sent.
Click the arrow to the right of the text to send.
HIDING PHOTOS IN THE GALLERY
Hiding a photo is possible on the same principle as hiding an SMS. Activated by swiping from top to bottom in the gallery. The rest of the settings are the same. You must have an MI account.
ROTATING PHOTOS IN THE GALLERY
To do this, just click on the photo in the “Gallery” with two fingers and rotate it in any direction.
QUICK TURN ON THE FLASHLIGHT
MIUI 8- long press the home button on the lock screen.
MIUI 9
CREATING A SCREENSHOT
MIUI 8- there are several options:
— there is a corresponding icon in the curtain;
— press the Menu and Volume down buttons simultaneously;
— press volume down and power at the same time;
— swipe with three fingers across the screen from top to bottom.
MIUI 9— It is possible to configure it in the “Buttons and Gestures” section.
QUICK ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL VOLUME SETTINGS
MIUI 8— when you press the volume button, a circle appears in the center of the screen, displaying the current volume level. To access additional volume controls, you need to move your finger around the circle.
MIUI 9 - When you press the volume button, a panel appears at the top of the screen displaying the current volume. Clicking on the down arrow to the right of the volume will display additional settings.
MENU OF RUNNING APPLICATIONS, DISPLAY OPTIONS
There are 2 display options.
To change the view, you need to click on the icon in the upper right corner (marked in red in the screenshots).
You can also change the display using a swipe:
— swipe with two fingers from the center of the screen, up and down (based on the principle of enlarging a photo) — large icons;
- swipe with two fingers from the edges of the screen (bottom and top) to the center (based on the principle of shrinking a photo) - small icons (application icons).
SPLIT WORK TABLE
On the menu running applications drag the application icon up until two desktops are displayed. This function is only available on MIUI 9 with Android 7.x.x.
ONE-HAND OPERATION
An interesting feature of the MIUI shell, which will be especially useful for owners of smartphones with a large screen diagonal. To activate this mode, you need to swipe from the Home button in the direction in which the screen will move (right or left). By clicking on the “Gear” in one of the lower corners (depending on where the desktop is shifted), we will get to the settings of this mode, where you can configure the size to which the desktop will be reduced (in inches).
To exit the selected mode, just click on the dark area of the screen.
APPLICATION PROTECTION
You can make certain applications require you to enter a password when launching them. This way you can protect the reading of your correspondence in any messenger or mail. You can protect the Gallery app to limit access to your photos. In “Settings” there is a separate “Application protection” item for this. Once there, select the applications you want to protect.
Click "Set Password".
Enter and repeat your password. Now your selected applications will only launch if the correct key is entered.
WI-FI. SHARE YOUR PASSWORD
It is possible to quickly share the password for that Wi-Fi networks, to which you are connected, with your friends, colleagues, etc. This is much easier and faster than entering a password, especially if the password is complex, long, etc., or you simply forgot it. To do this, in “Settings”, in the “Wi-Fi” section, just click on the connected one in this moment net.
A window with a QR code will appear.
Now, to connect to this network on another smartphone, you just need to scan the QR code.
QUICKLY TURNING ON THE MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS OF THE SCREEN
There are times when, when you go outside on a bright sunny day and turn on the screen, you can’t see anything on it, because... The screen brightness was set to very low, which was convenient to work with indoors. It’s not always possible to enter the settings in order to increase the brightness even the first time. There is a convenient function for this that allows you to increase the screen brightness to maximum using a key combination.
MIUI 8— just press the key combination “Menu” + “Volume +”. The maximum brightness is set until the next screen lock. This is enough to adjust the brightness to a comfortable level.
MIUI 9 -
DISABLE NAVIGATION BUTTONS IN SELECTED APPLICATIONS
This feature can be useful in games. Often during the game there are accidental button presses under the smartphone screen. In this case, the game is minimized. This can be very inappropriate in the midst of events. The MIUI shell has the ability to disable navigation buttons in certain applications. In “Advanced settings” - “Buttons and gestures”, there is an item “Automatically disable navigation buttons”. In it you can select applications and specify how the buttons will be disabled.
QUICKLY ORGANIZING SHORTCUTS ON YOUR DESKTOP
MIUI 8— just press and hold on an empty space to enter desktop editing mode, then shake the phone.
MIUI 9 - This feature is currently not available. Perhaps it will be added in future firmware versions.
QUICKLY REMOVE APPLICATIONS
Due to the fact that in MIUI all installed applications are located on desktops, to remove them there is no need to go to “Applications” and delete them from there. Just press and hold on the application icon and then move it to the top of the screen to the trash. This function only works with installed applications; system applications cannot be removed in this way.
QUICKLY MOVE A SHORTECT BETWEEN DESKTABLES
To move an application shortcut (folder) between desktops, you need to hold the shortcut in edit mode and free hand(finger) scroll through desktops. Having selected the desired table and label position, release it.
CALCULATOR
This application has many more features than you can imagine. In addition to the ability to switch to engineering mode, there are many more interesting functions. Let's list some of them:
- Currency Converter. Allows you to quickly view the amount in another (selected) currency. Exchange rate data is updated via the Internet;
- Mortgage. Allows you to find out the amount of the monthly loan payment by entering the amount, term, etc. terms of the loan;
— translation of various mathematical and other quantities.
To select the display of additional functions in the calculator, you must click on the icon in the upper right corner.
Will appear with a selection of additional options.
NOTIFICATIONS AND SWITCHES CURTAIN
The notification shade has changed with the arrival of MIUI 9. Now swiping down opens only part of the switches and notifications. To display all the switches, you need to make another swipe down. If someone doesn’t like this innovation, in “Settings” it is possible to configure the display of the curtain, as was implemented in MIUI 8. In the “Notification and status bar” section, by selecting “Notifications and switches”, you can choose from two display options: “Merge” - MIUI 9 or “Split” - MIUI 8.
Also in this section you can configure the following functions:
— Enable notification filter;
— Select applications from which notifications will come;
— Adjust the position of the switches in the curtain;
- And much more.
Most of the switches are in the curtain are active. Those. if you press and hold on it, you will go to its settings, for example: “Wi-Fi”, “GPS”, “Internet” and many others.
Notifications in the curtain You can quickly delete (swipe right). Mark as “Unimportant” (swipe left). In this case, you will not receive notifications from this program. Also, some applications have the function of displaying a message in the curtain or displaying additional options, such as: “Reply” “Forward”, “Call”, etc. To display additional options You need to swipe down on the message with two fingers.
AVAILABLE FUNCTIONS IN THE “ABOUT PHONE” SECTION
And finally, we have saved two, perhaps, the most interesting features of the MIUI shell, which are not available in shells from other manufacturers.
CLONING APPLICATIONS
This function allows you to create a copy of any application, and it will work with its own settings. For example, you have two Accounts any messenger (“WhatsApp”, “Telegram”, “Viber”, etc.). One account is personal, the second is work. Previously, in order to use multiple accounts on one smartphone, you had to log out of one account and log into the second, each time entering your credentials (login, password). This is very inconvenient and time-consuming, and you couldn't use both accounts at the same time. The App Cloning feature gives you this opportunity. To do this, go to “Settings” - “Clone applications” and select those applications for which you want to create a clone.
For example, let's create a clone of the Telegram program.
We agree to the cloning of Google services (if such a request appears). After this, a second shortcut for “Telegram” will be created.
As we can see, the application shortcuts are different so as not to confuse them in the future. The cloned app has a yellow icon in the lower left corner. Let's launch a clone.
The application prompts us to set up an account. Enter your data. Now we have two accounts in the Telegram program. In order to create a clone for another application, we follow the same procedure. To delete, simply uncheck the “Clone applications” section next to the selected application, after which the clone will be deleted.
SECOND SPACE
This function allows you to set up two spaces independent from each other on one smartphone. Thanks to this, we can have two smartphones in one (virtual, of course). For example, you can set up one space for work, and the second for home (or as “Guest” mode). Each space has its own settings. It is also possible to install different applications. To create a second space, go to the “Second Space” section in “Settings” and click “Create a second space.”
In the next window we will see the inscription “Space created” - click “Continue”. Now we will be asked to set a password for the second space, at this stage we can click “Skip” (later we can add a password in the settings, if necessary). Next, you will be asked to install a fingerprint (if your device has a scanner). We skip it, as when setting a password. The setup is complete. In this window, leave all items activated and click “OK”. We received the second version of our system, which has standard settings, as if we had just installed it. The desktop differs only in the presence of additional shortcuts (marked in red in the screenshot) for:
— moving applications, photos, etc. between spaces (we’ll look at it a little later);
— management of this space;
- transition to another space.
Also, a corresponding item will appear in the curtain for quickly moving to another space.
Moving data between spaces.
The “App settings” item allows you to configure the use of the selected application only in the first space, only in the second space, or in both at once.
The application can be downloaded and installed from Play Market(if it is not already installed in another space). To do this, you need to log into your account (accounts may be different).
Items import (export) photos, files, contacts - serve to transfer data between spaces.
When changing a space, you will need to enter a password or fingerprint if the space you are moving to has a password.
In the first space (after creating the second), a transition shortcut will also appear on the desktop and in the curtain.
To delete a second space, you need to click on the “Trash” in the upper right corner, in the “Second Space” section.
In the next window, confirm the deletion.
And enter the password for your MI account.
All the features listed in this article are available in MIUI 8 and 9 shells (perhaps some of the functions were available in earlier firmware). There are slight differences in their implementation, settings, display, etc. Some of them only work in certain MIUI versions or Android version. Where necessary, we have indicated the differences between MIUI 8 and MIUI 9.
We hope that after reading this article, you have learned more about the capabilities of this shell. Many of them can significantly simplify and speed up working with the device. Try to use the described opportunities in everyday life, we think that it will bring you only positive emotions.
Information for owners of smartphones of other brands. If you want to try the MIUI shell, you don’t have to be the owner of a Xiaomi smartphone to do so. The manufacturer produces its own shell for many brands of smartphones. You can see if there is firmware for your smartphone, as well as download it, using the following links:
Products that may interest you:
Global Version means that the product is released for the global market and meets international quality standards.
Rostest is a certification mark that guarantees that the device complies with all Russian safety regulations and standards environment and user health. This sign does not imply any additional differences or advantages over other devices.
Global Version means that the product is released for the global market and meets international quality standards.
Rostest is a certification mark that guarantees that the device complies with all Russian norms and standards for environmental protection and user health. This sign does not imply any additional differences or advantages over other devices.
Global Version means that the product is released for the global market and meets international quality standards.
Rostest is a certification mark that guarantees that the device complies with all Russian norms and standards for environmental protection and user health. This sign does not imply any additional differences or advantages over other devices.
Chinese developers have made a good operating system for portable devices, which has absorbed the best features of Android. If you don’t yet know what MIUI is and how to install it on another system, then be sure to read on. You are missing out on the opportunity to significantly improve your device!
MIUI will make your device menu more colorful
MIUI Redefining Android is, in fact, not a full-fledged OS, but simply a shell for old Android that brings bright colors and additional functions. MIUI is developed based on Android source codes by Xiaomi. Overall, this is just a very modified Android system, but some new features have also been added. Some of them were present in one form or another in different. The goal of the creators is to combine the best ideas of iOS and Android into one system. They largely succeeded.
Here are some of the advantages of MIUI:
- Possibility of using various backgrounds and design themes. There are many more of them here, and most of them look more beautiful.
- Built-in applications that are somewhat reminiscent of analogues from the iPhone: notes, gallery, MiTalk (analogous to iMessage). In addition to them, there are many different widgets, for example, there are those that show the data transfer speed over the mobile network in the top panel.
- Multi-window modes. It is not necessary to minimize the application to read SMS or do any other simple action. It will simply take up part of the screen, which you can use to perform the necessary actions.
- and other garbage. Android had this before, but now it has become faster and more convenient, since the option is immediately built into the gadget and allows you to work with all applications.
- Many functions have been added to the lockscreen. Now you can view the weather from the lock screen, see what you missed, and much more. In principle, this can be done using various Android applications, but here everything functions very well without additional software, which is undoubtedly a plus.
- An amazing player that is praised by all MIUI owners. There is a slight similarity with Sony, but Mi-Yu-Ay is still more convenient.
- The icons now not only look different, they are smarter. For example, by swiping on some, you can see Additional information, the calendar icon changes the date to today's, etc.
- Root rights do not need to be obtained through various lengthy manipulations and tricks. All you need to do is move the slider in the settings. At least for this, many will be ready to switch to the Chinese OS now.
- Built-in antivirus.
- Advertising is also blocked without any applications, simply from the settings menu.
- Updates come out with a frequency similar to iOS, which is pretty cool: you can see how the system gets better every month.
In general, we can conclude that MIUI makes serious competition even for iOS, since it provides users with complete freedom coupled with convenience, simplicity and beauty. The most interesting thing is that you can port it to any Android smartphones and tablets, not just Xiaomi. Next, you will learn how to install MIUI on Android.
Installation "Mi-Yu-Ay"
It is advisable to immediately note: MIUI was originally created for . Despite the fact that today there are special versions for various Android devices, careless actions can cause serious harm to your device. Any independent firmware can turn it into a brick, including MIUI firmware on Android. Therefore, be careful.
Firmware version
Before installing MIUI firmware on Android, you need to find and download the required version. Now there are quite a lot of them, finding what you need is not so problematic. The main thing is to download in your language. It is better to do this from the official website (en.miui.com/download.html). On a Russian-language resource global network You can also find different firmware versions (https://miui.su/download).
Everything there is quite clear even English language. We select our gadget, and then the desired firmware version. The latest Mi-U-Ai is not available for all devices. For example, you can install MIUI 7 on Android 5. The new MIUI 8 is just entering closed beta testing. This means that soon owners of firmware 7.0 will be able to try out the Xiaomi shell for themselves.
MultiRom
Enough easy way, which allows you to install MIUI on Android as a second system.
- Download MultiRom via .
- We launch it, in the Install/Update menu we put three markers that will allow you to install the necessary components.
- We indicate current version its firmware. You can find it out through the settings, in the “About the system” or “System” section.
- Click
- After this, the installation will occur, then the phone will reboot.
- Download the required firmware version for the gadget to any convenient location in the form of a zip archive.
- Now let's go to Recovery mode: Hold the power button and volume control button on the device when it is turned off.
- Recovery mode is often controlled only by “hard” buttons, so you will have to use the volume buttons to move it, and the power button to confirm your choice.
- Select Advanced.
- Next, click Add ROM, leave the settings the same, and then click Next.
- Click on “Zip File”, look for our file with the firmware, select it. Now we wait until the device is flashed.
- Next, you need to either reboot the device yourself (Reboot section), or it will turn off by itself.
Now, when you turn it on, you can choose one of two systems.
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 curtain, and swiping from the left-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 operating system 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 again 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 random access memory, just above the Memory Clear button. Above all this, a list of running applications is displayed, it scrolls horizontally and can be presented in the form of icons or thumbnails; up to 4 icons or up to 3 thumbnails are visible at the same 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.
As in stock Android MIUI has a notification curtain, which is combined with the 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’s 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 Internet for SIM cards.
WLAN– contains a switch and Wi-Fi settings. Also here you can find a function switch Switch between data and WLAN, this function Allows you to automatically switch to cellular data when the quality or speed of your 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– this section contains settings for VPN, 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 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, the graphical interface of the desktop and main applications is 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 control 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 assign 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 Reserve copy 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 cloud storage Mi Cloud. Here you can configure what exactly should be synchronized and view statistics of the space used.
Call settings / Calls– this section contains settings for the Phone application. In the subsection Call recording You can set up automatic recording from the line and specify which numbers to call from. In this section you can also 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 configure a filter for displaying 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- settings system browser. 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– the settings are very interesting function called Dual apps, which allows you to create a clone of an application for a second account. For example, you can sit in two at once 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 it 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 calls up context menu, through which you can delete a 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. Swiping from left to right cyclically changes the read mark (read/unread), swiping from right to left brings up two buttons: delete and add to favorites.
Browser / Browser Its interface resembles the Chinese UC Browser. Favorite sites are located on the start screen, and a list of popular services divided into categories is located on the second screen. The search bar is combined with 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 for switching to the front camera, a gallery, a shutter button and switching to Video shooting. 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 devices from the manufacturer have a mode manual control photography parameters, but in budget smartphones It only allows you to adjust white balance and ISO. There are two for video shooting additional modes: Fast motion (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 pumped up, now, in addition to 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. Main screen 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.
How to work
