HyperOS 3: Xiaomi's big redesign that looks (a lot) to iOS 26

Last update: 01/07/2025

  • HyperOS 3 features a glassy interface and a visual redesign inspired by iOS 26.
  • The update will impact more than 90 Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO models.
  • Redundant elements are removed, improving clarity and customization for the user

New Liquid Glass HyperOS 3 interface

We've become accustomed to each system update bringing minor changes, but this one Xiaomi has decided to go much further. As we dive into the first leaks of HyperOS 3, we discover a redesign that not only looks different, but feels different: transparencies reminiscent of glass, icons that gain volume, and an aesthetic so similar to iOS 26 that it's hard not to wonder if we're looking at a blatant copy... or a logical evolution that will mark the future of the brand.

The most striking trend in HyperOS 3: the Liquid Glass interface

liquid glass

The most striking trend of HyperOS 3 is your commitment to a glassy interface, known internally as "Liquid Glass", which is strongly reminiscent of the visual experience of iOS 26. The changes are not just superficial tweaks, but affect virtually every aspect of the user experience:

  • Transparency effects on the main panels, control center, and notification areas, allowing the background to be seen and providing a modern, luminous effect.
  • Redesigned icons with more vivid colors, rounded shapes and more pronounced shadows, giving them greater visual presence and depth.
  • Minimalist buttons and menus in line with Apple's latest trends, focusing on minimalism, clarity, and visual elegance.
  • Removing the bottom search bar from the home screen, leaving more room for widgets and shortcuts, offering a cleaner, more organized experience.
  • Updated battery and signal indicators, now streamlined and similar to those on the latest iPhones.
Exclusive content - Click Here  How to Install Classroom on Huawei?

This redesign is the biggest Xiaomi has undergone since the end of MIUI, and it sets the design tone that could prevail in its devices for years to come.

iOS 26 inspiration: blatant copy or logical evolution?

HyperOS 3 inspired by iOS 26

Many users and leakers agree that The resemblance between HyperOS 3 and iOS 26 is not a mere coincidence. The big news for both platforms is the introduction of the Liquid Glass aesthetic, where glass effects, translucent layers, and oversized icons take center stage. The leaked screenshots leave little room for doubt: Anyone who has used an iPhone in the last few months will immediately recognize the inspiration behind HyperOS 3..

However, Xiaomi has explained in leaks and statements that its goal is not to copy for the sake of copying., but rather to offer a more complete alternative tailored to the needs of its users. For example, while Apple prioritizes pure design, Xiaomi has especially worked on legibility and the integration of glass effects without sacrificing functionality.

This inspiration even extends to the possible name of the system, since HyperOS 3 is rumored to be released under the name HyperOS 26., following Apple's example, which changed the iOS numbering to align with the reference year. For now This is still a rumor, but reinforces Xiaomi's strategy of approaching the visual and marketing standards that triumph in direct competition.

hyperos 2.2-2
Related article:
HyperOS 2.2: New features, improvements, and compatible phones with Xiaomi's latest update

Key new features: changes to icons, menus, and control panels

HyperOS 3

Analyzing in depth all the leaks and first images of HyperOS 3, a set of new features stands out that will transform the user experience:

  • Refreshed and more colorful icons: The update abandons the flat, somewhat bland design of previous versions, now opting for larger, rounded, brighter, and deeper icons, similar to those found in iOS, both in the Camera app and in Settings, Notes, and other native apps.
  • Generalized transparency effects: Control panels, widgets, notifications, and folders now adopt blurred and translucent backgrounds. The clearest example is the new Control Center, where the buttons float on a glass background that's very Apple-like, but adapted to the Xiaomi ecosystem.
  • Minimalism and visual cleanliness: Traditional elements like the desktop search bar have been removed, giving way to a cleaner, more elegant home screen that emphasizes simplicity and visual clarity.
  • Improved widgets and wallpapers: Widgets also join the redesign, as do backgrounds, which now leverage Glass UI effects to offer a modern and user-friendly visual experience.
  • Battery, signal, and connectivity indicators inspired by iOS: This is one of the most talked-about points on social media, as the new indicators look much more like Apple's than standard Android's.
  • Animations and detail in transitions: While Xiaomi hasn't yet matched iOS's advanced animations, early videos show that the blurring, reflections, and inner bars have been improved to give a more fluid and cohesive feel.
Related article:
Xiaomi and Redmi Update to HyperOS

These changes represent A true transformation in Xiaomi design, seeking to captivate both fans of the brand and those who value a more visual and familiar system.

Exclusive content - Click Here  The best Android email clients

Which devices will receive HyperOS 3 and when will it arrive?

List of Xiaomi HyperOS 3 mobile phones

Xiaomi has confirmed that HyperOS 3 will likely be the brand's most ambitious update yet. According to the latest leaked official lists published in the media, more than 90 models from the Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO ranges will receive HyperOS 3 throughout 2025 and 2026, ranging from premium phones to tablets, and also reaching mid-range and entry-level devices. The update will be gradual and will start with the most recent and powerful models., subsequently spreading to the rest of the family around the end of the year and beginning of the next.

Amongst the Confirmed models include the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, 14T Pro, 13 Ultra, the entire Redmi Note 14 and 13 family, and a good part of the POCO range., including the F7 Ultra, F6 and M7 Pro. In addition, the company continues to prioritize China as its first market, gradually expanding the update to Europe and Latin America as the weeks go byFor many users, this will mean an unprecedented leap in design and performance for their Xiaomi devices.

Xiaomi 16 leak-2
Related article:
The Xiaomi 16 aims to be the most powerful compact of the year: Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, 7.000 mAh, and a revamped design.

Leave a comment