Last week, Xiaomi announced the release of MIUI 9.5 and released the timeframe as to when it would be rolling out the update to its devices. Despite being a point release, MIUI 9.5 brings plenty of new features and enhancements to the table. This includes improvements to the Gallery app, a vastly superior notification shade experience, and other enhancements to the system apps.
There are other new features in MIUI 9.5 which is aimed at improving the overall user experience and fixing the pain points with the OS. This will also likely be the last major release of MIUI from Xiaomi before it showcases MIUI 10 later this year.
MIUI 9.5 Compatible Devices and Release Date
Xiaomi is taking its own sweet time to roll out MIUI 9.5 to its devices though. The rollout will start from late March and go all the way until mid-April. Below is the official update schedule from Xiaomi for MIUI 9.5:
Late March: Redmi Note 3, Redmi Note 4, Mi Max, Redmi 3S, Redmi 4, Redmi 4A Early April: Redmi Y1/Lite, Redmi 5A, Redmi Note 5/Pro, Redmi 5, Mi Max 2, Mi 5, Mi Mix 2 Mid-April: Mi 3/4
Up until now, Xiaomi has released the MIUI 9.5 update for the Redmi Note 5, Mi Mix 2, Redmi Note 3, and the Redmi 3S. If you have not already received the update, you can always sideload it manually by downloading it from here.
What’s New in MIUI 9.5
iPhone X-like Gestures
With MIUI 9.5, Xiaomi is introducing iPhone X-like gestures for navigating around the UI for its full-screen devices. This includes the likes of the Mi Mix 2, Mix 2S, Redmi Note 5 Pro, and others. Switching to this gesture mode will hide the on-screen navigation bar thereby increasing the total available area for content. As for navigating around the UI, like the iPhone X, you go back to the home screen by swiping up from the bottom of the display. To switch to the Recents App view, you swipe up from the bottom and keep your finger on the screen for a moment. Lastly, to go back in an app, you slide from left or right.
Transfer App Data Using Mi Mover
The updated Mi Mover functionality in MIUI 9.5 will allow you to transfer applications as well as app data from your old Android device to your new Xiaomi device. You can individually select the apps whose associated data you’d like to transfer to your new device. However, do note that moving app data will greatly increase the total time taken by the transfer process. Due to the complexity of the feature, Xiaomi is limiting this feature to the developer version of MIUI 9.5, and it will make its way to the stable channel at a later date.
Improved App Lock
The built-in App Lock functionality of MIUI has been improved with MIUI 9.5. Now, apart from setting a pattern lock, users also have the option of setting an alphanumeric password, password, or a numeric PIN.
Redesigned Mi Music Player
The default Mi Music player in MIUI has received a huge redesign and looks very sleek now. The ground-up redesign means that the Mi Music app now looks like a music player made to be used in 2018. Check out the screenshots of the redesigned app below.
Mi Drop
The updated Mi Drop app in MIUI 9.5 allows one to resume interrupted transfers. This is a handy addition to the app especially if you frequently use it to transfer large files. There are plenty of other minor new features that Xiaomi is introducing with MIUI 9.5. Make sure to read all about them over here. Depending on your device, MIUI 9.5 will also bring plenty of bug fixes and system stability improvements. If you have already received the MIUI 9.5 update on your Xiaomi device, do drop a comment and let us know what new features you are liking the most.
