Xiaomi Update Policy: How Many Android OS Updates With You Get? 

Richard Goodwin

01/31/24 •  5 min read

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Xiaomi makes A LOT of phones and this makes things tricky when it comes to Android OS updates. So, how long do Xiaomi phones get updates for? Here’s what you need to know…

Here’s the bad news first: if you’re using one of Xiaomi’s older phones or one of its cheaper phones that isn’t the latest Xiaomi RedMi K60 Extreme Edition (AKA the Xiaomi 13T Pro), Android OS updates are something of a crapshoot. 

What does this mean? Put simply: you could get two Android OS updates, one, or none at all. 

Xiaomi flagship phones, generally speaking, get 3 major Android version updates and 4 years of security patches, while non-flagship models tend to get 1 to 2 Android updates with 2 years of security. 

There are exceptions, both good and bad, like the Xiaomi RedMi Note 11 series, arguably a budget model, which gets three years’ worth of Android updates. But there’s also plenty of lesser known models that get less. 

As I said, it is something of a crapshoot when you’re dealing with Xiaomi. Here’s a breakdown of some of Xiaomi’s most popular phones and the level of support they get. 

How Many Android Updates Do Xiaomi Phones Get? 

Which Xiaomi Phone is Best For Android Updates?

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The Redmi K60 Extreme Edition is currently the best Xiaomi phone for Android updates: it gets three major OS updates and four years’ worth of security patches.

This is a significant leap forward, especially considering Xiaomi’s previous stance on updates, which often lagged behind giants like Samsung and Google (both of whom now offer 7 years’ worth of Android updates).

Xiaomi’s announcement, made on the social platform Weibo, didn’t dive into specifics regarding MIUI version updates.

For many Xiaomi users, MIUI versions are just as crucial as Android versions because they bring a host of features and improvements to the Xiaomi and Redmi lineup.

Currently, this promise is exclusive to the Redmi K60 Extreme Edition in China, where it was recently launched. There’s a buzz that this model will be rebranded as the Xiaomi 13T Pro for international markets, including Europe.

Yet, Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed whether this update policy will be a global standard for future devices or if it will remain a one-off for this specific model.

Xiaomi Needs To Improve Its Android Support

Xiaomi is a big deal in China, it sells A LOT of phones but it is lagging behind brands like Google, Samsung, and OnePlus when it comes to supporting its phones. This isn’t good. Apple’s support is incredible and this is one of the main things like makes its iPhones so popular. 

Google and Samsung have finally woken up to this fact, so it is now time for other Android phone brands like Xiaomi to do the same. Three years’ worth of Android updates just isn’t good enough in 2024, not when Google and Samsung are now both offering seven years – the game has changed. 

Another big question surrounding this announcement is whether this new update policy will be rolled out globally. Matching the update commitment of Samsung and OnePlus, and Google, would be a huge win for Xiaomi but given its approach to how it releases phones, it pumps them out at a record rate, actually pulling it off could be rather tricky.

But there’s more to software updates than just the numbers. How quickly these updates are delivered is equally important.

Historically, MIUI updates have been painfully slow to roll out. Xiaomi hasn’t provided details on the frequency of these updates under the new policy, but it’s an area where we’re hoping for improvement.

Richard Goodwin

Richard Goodwin is a leading UK technology journalist with a focus on consumer tech trends and data security. Renowned for his insightful analysis, Richard has contributed to Sky News, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, and CNBC, making complex tech issues accessible to a broad audience.