Smartphones & Tablets | November 3, 2023
It’s here. It has arrived. After months of rumors and various leaks, Xiaomi has unveiled its latest technological innovation, HyperOS. This new operating system is the result of “years of development” and is designed to provide a “revolutionary” user experience, in the company’s own words. One of HyperOS’s main goals is to address the challenge of interoperability among devices within Xiaomi’s extensive ecosystem. So, what functions are coming to Xiaomi’s phones? That’s precisely what we’ll discuss in this article.
As expected, the core of Xiaomi HyperOS is based on Linux and Android, with an adaptation that the company has called Xiaomi Vela. This foundation ensures that each device offers “optimal performance,” regardless of its hardware. Furthermore, Xiaomi HyperOS’s compatibility extends to over 200 processor platforms and more than 20 standard file systems, ensuring that hundreds of device types and thousands of SKUs are supported.
In terms of performance, one of the aspects Xiaomi has highlighted about HyperOS is its lightweight nature. Despite its power, the system firmware on smartphones running HyperOS takes up only 8.75 GB, a significantly smaller amount compared to other operating systems. This is achieved through “file deduplication” and “underlying IO stack compression.” In this regard, Xiaomi HyperOS’s efficiency extends to diverse usage scenarios.
For resource-intensive gaming on a smartphone, devices equipped with HyperOS offer more stable frame rates and lower power consumption compared to Android and other custom interfaces. Additionally, on devices with limited processing power, the system leverages its ability to split tasks into multiple computing units to maximize hardware performance.
That’s right. The new framework called Cross-End Intelligent Connectivity, known as HyperConnect, enables real-time connection between a wide range of devices. This allows users to seamlessly control nearly all devices within the brand’s ecosystem, much like how it’s done within Apple’s ecosystem.
For example, users can easily switch camera sources during a video call, access their vehicle’s cameras from their phone, or connect to the internet through a smartphone or tablet. Similar to iOS, apps, clipboard contents, and notifications can be effortlessly transferred between devices according to the user’s preferences. But that’s not all.
HyperOS takes a step further by incorporating an artificial intelligence subsystem that supports advanced technologies, enabling devices to proactively assist users. HyperMind is the cognitive hub that allows devices to understand user needs from the get-go and act accordingly. For example, if a user consistently turns on the living room light when unlocking their smart door lock, HyperMind will automatically illuminate the room based on this learned pattern, with the user’s prior consent.
Xiaomi’s operating system also allows apps to harness the potential of the AI subsystem. Document understanding through screenshots in the WPS app or generating presentations with a single command are some of the capabilities the company has mentioned at its launch event.
Xiaomi HyperOS will also introduce several security improvements, both at the individual device level and in interconnectivity among devices. The secure environment is based on interconnected security modules that “guarantee mutual trust” among networked devices through end-to-end data encryption.
Furthermore, the company aims to promote collaboration with partners and developers through an open-source platform to shape a richer intelligent ecosystem. Starting today, Xiaomi Vela’s code is accessible, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to open source.
The interface changes in HyperOS are not as disruptive as its functional improvements. In fact, the company has limited itself to refreshing the design of icons, adding some widgets to the desktop, and simplifying certain transparencies and transitions. Notably, you can now switch applications between different devices, allowing you to continue with the application state on a Xiaomi tablet or computer.
The rest of the improvements are related to ecosystem functionality. A universal clipboard, the ability to access functions on other devices from the Control Center, and more.
As expected, the deployment of Xiaomi HyperOS within the Xiaomi ecosystem will occur gradually. No exact dates have been provided, but it is known that it will roll out globally starting in 2024. For now, the beta version is available on some devices, but it is only accessible in China.
