The first leaked screenshots of HyperOS 3, Xiaomi’s upcoming Android-based skin, are making the rounds—and they point to a dramatic redesign. Originally surfaced through a user survey distributed by Xiaomi, the images offer an early peek at what could be the company’s most aggressive interface overhaul in years. And one thing is immediately clear: Xiaomi is aiming higher than just iterative improvements. The goal seems to be a more premium, polished feel—and yes, it looks very inspired by iOS 18.
Maybe that’s intentional. Maybe it’s strategic. Either way, the new look pushes HyperOS closer to what Apple fans have grown used to.
A UI That Looks Familiar—Deliberately
Let’s start with the icons. Xiaomi’s new iconography in HyperOS 3 doesn’t just get a facelift—it essentially shifts design language. The style is rounded, glossy, and carefully spaced—very much in the same visual lane as iOS.
Some might say it’s too familiar. Others will call it smart branding. Xiaomi has spent years trying to break into the premium perception bracket. Matching the visual polish of iPhones could be one way to close that gap—especially for global markets where UI polish heavily influences user loyalty.
Another notable change? The search bar is gone from the home screen. It’s a small move, but it clears space and creates a more minimalistic canvas. Think: cleaner, less clutter, more focus on icons and widgets. It feels modern, if a little sparse.
Subtle Visual Shifts That Matter
Other tweaks are more understated but still important. The battery indicator, for example, now mimics the iPhone’s status bar design more closely. It’s a subtle nod, but it contributes to the growing sense that HyperOS 3 wants to feel instantly familiar—even if you’re coming from iOS. And then there’s the addition of Glass UI-inspired effects. These semi-transparent layers and soft shadows create more depth throughout the interface. It’s the kind of polish you don’t notice right away but can definitely feel once you’ve used the system for a while.
A Big Update, and a Big Rollout
One of the more surprising aspects of this leak isn’t just the redesign—it’s the scale of the rollout.
According to internal sources and analyst expectations, HyperOS 3 will be available on 96 Xiaomi devices across three sub-brands:
- 33 Xiaomi models
- 44 Redmi models
- 19 POCO models
That’s not typical for a UI refresh of this scale. Most OEMs limit bold visual redesigns to recent flagships, but Xiaomi appears ready to extend it much further—suggesting strong backend optimization and long-term support planning.
Android 15… and Android 16?
Depending on the device, HyperOS 3 will reportedly run on either Android 15 or Android 16. That’s likely to depend on hardware capabilities and where each model is in its support lifecycle. An official announcement is expected sometime in October 2025, with a staged rollout to follow shortly after.
Is Xiaomi Trying Too Hard to Be Apple?
That depends on how you look at it.
To some, these design choices will feel like imitation. To others, they’ll read as accessibility—familiar visual cues that help new users settle in more quickly. Either way, Xiaomi isn’t pretending this is just another year of incremental change. HyperOS 3 is shaping up to be a clear step forward in how Xiaomi wants to define its user experience.
Whether it sticks will come down to performance, fluidity, and how users respond when it finally ships. But based on these early leaks, one thing’s for sure: Xiaomi wants HyperOS to matter. And it might finally have the design language to make that happen.
