18 MIUI features that make it better than Android

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Each of the leading mobile operating systems has advantages and disadvantages. iOS boasts a great interface and usability. Android offers a huge range of features and extensive system customization options. What would you say if a mobile system emerged that was as powerful and flexible as Android, but no less convenient than iOS?

From the very start, the Chinese company Xiaomi began to undermine the well-established rules of the mobile business. While all normal manufacturers develop a line of their own gadgets for a start, and only then begin to weight them with proprietary software, Xiaomi did the opposite. This company first of all took up its own operating system, and only after MIUI made its way to use on a wide variety of mobile devices, began the release of smartphones and tablets.

By the way, this approach turned out to be extremely successful. An attractive software shell, together with high-quality and affordable gadgets, allowed the Chinese company to literally break into the ranks of the leaders before our eyes. Many users seriously argue that the latest (today it is already the sixth) version of MIUI is much more convenient than Android, and in terms of interface design, it can compete on an equal footing with iOS. And they have every reason for this, because the list of unique MIUI features is really impressive.

1. Wide possibilities of changing the interface

MIUI is able to change its appearance with the help of special themes downloaded from the company's online catalog. At the same time, not only the wallpaper on the desktop and icons change, but literally all the design elements of the operating system. The number of available themes is in the hundreds, and their quality will satisfy even the most demanding user.

2. Functional lockscreen

The MIUI lock screen can display information about missed calls, messages, weather forecast, information about the track being played. The design and functions of the lockscreen also change in accordance with the established theme. Double tap causes the player controls to appear, so you can listen to music without even unlocking your smartphone.

3. Powerful music player

The built-in music player makes a great experience with a wide range of features. It can load album covers, showcase synced lyrics, looks amazing and, of course, plays high quality music.

4. Smart icons

We are used to the fact that application icons are just buttons for launching programs and nothing more. In MIUI, the functions of the icons are somewhat expanded. For example, swiping on the notepad icon will bring up a special window for adding a new note, and on the player icon, it will show the playback controls. In addition, the icons of some applications can change to display the necessary information, so that you will always see the current date on the calendar icon, and the temperature outside the window on the weather application icon.

5. Built-in flashlight

That's kind of a trifle, but nice. The built-in MIUI flashlight is invoked by holding the Home button on the lock screen or from the toggle bar.

6. Blocking unwanted calls and messages

If you are sometimes bothered with SMS advertisements or unwanted calls, then you will appreciate the blocking function available in this operating system. With just one movement, we add unwanted subscribers to the black list and forget about their existence forever.

7. Traffic monitoring

This feature is very useful for those who use a limited paid plan and have to monitor traffic consumption. A special application will track the data transfer via the mobile interface and, when it approaches the value you specify, it will issue a warning, and then it may block the connection altogether.

8. Energy saving

The built-in "Power" utility will allow your phone to work much longer on a single charge. To do this, it uses special energy-saving profiles, switching between which takes place depending on the battery charge or time of day.

9. Built-in root and application rights management

What tricks Android users go to to get superuser rights! In MIUI, this is so simple that it is not even interesting. You just move one slider in the settings, and root rights are obtained. And along with them, and a bunch of delicious features, including rights management of various programs, autorun management, and so on. All these settings are concentrated in one system application, which is called “Permissions”.

10. Blocking ads

In Android, you can also block ads in applications, and in different ways. But to do this, you must first recognize them, and then install the appropriate software. Xiaomi decided to make life easier for users and built an ad blocker directly into the system. It works quite reliably and cuts advertising banners in almost all programs.

11. Antivirus

Well, yes, there are no viruses for Android yet. So it seems, or for now?

In any case, MIUI has its own antivirus that does not ask for food, checks something there and adds peace of mind to users by its mere presence.

12. Built-in backup system

And if the expediency of the presence of an antivirus is questionable for many, then no one doubts the need for a backup. In MIUI, it is implemented on the basis of its own cloud storage and is able to save literally all your data: from contacts, call and message logs to installed applications and their settings.

13. Clearing cache and junk

Over time, the operating system accumulates enough temporary files, remnants of remote programs and other garbage. The built-in cleaner will help you cope with this problem and keep your system clean.

14. Call recording

Recording phone calls is a very popular feature, which, however, due to the need to maintain privacy, is unlikely to appear in official Android firmware. Our Chinese friends have always been distinguished by their easy attitude to various prohibitions, so this function is available in the standard MIUI dialer and works great.

15. Blocking against accidental clicks

This function will not allow your smartphone, which is in your bag or pocket, to unlock from accidental touch and independently receive calls, send messages, launch programs, and so on.

16. Private messages

Sometimes there are situations when it is necessary to keep the correspondence with a certain subscriber away from prying eyes. For this, the standard MIUI client for SMS exchange has a special private part. You add the necessary person to it, and all messages from him will not be displayed in the general list of messages.

17. Baud rate and battery status in the status bar

In MIUI, you can easily activate the display of the remaining battery charge and data transfer rate right in the status bar. These are quite important indicators that it is better to always have before your eyes.

18. Updates

Unlike Android, the release of new versions of which is a whole event, MIUI is developing much more intensively, and its new builds are released much more often. Yes, often the changes made are purely cosmetic, but sometimes quite interesting fresh features appear. In any case, Xiaomi does not let its users get bored, which is also good.

I have listed in this article a far from complete list of MIUI branded chips, but only what seemed to me the most interesting. Some readers will probably argue that most of these features can be implemented in Android, and they will undoubtedly be right. But for this you will have to install a whole zoo of various utilities, which it is not yet known how they will interact with each other. And in MIUI we get a full set of functions specially optimized for this operating system, plus an absolutely stunning interface. So I recommend that you pay close attention to this Asian miracle.