Xiaomi is one of the most popular Chinese smartphone brands outside China. The company kicked off in 2010 as an internet company. However, in 2011, it released its first smartphone and since then, it has been steadily climbing the ladder. Xiaomi regularly makes the top 5 smartphone brand globally and it is the number one smartphone brand in many markets. However, Xiaomi has a long history of “copying”. Over the years, the company has released a couple of devices or systems that feel more like a copy of Apple.
The latest of these is the gross resemblance between the iOS 15 and the recently released MIUI 13. However, before we go into this, let us look at a few times that Xiaomi has copied Apple. The 2014 Xiaomi Mi 4 feels like a direct copy of the Apple iPhone 5. In fact, at the launch event, Xiaomi’s CEO, Lei Jun, even used the “One More Thing” phrase which was popularized by Apple’s Steve Jobs at the time. Fast forward to 2018, Xiaomi released the Mi 8 which was described as a “blatant rip-off” of the Apple iPhone X. The Xiaomi Mi Pad, MIUI 9 gestures, and wallpaper, Xiaomi airdots, MIUI 6, Xiaomi ads, Xiaomi Mi Box, and other products copied Apple in one way or another.
MIUI 13 and iOS 15 – what are the similarities
Back to the MIUI 13, many of its elements (the User Interface) copies iOS 15. If we can use the phrase “copy and paste”, it may describe the situation between MIUI 13 and iOS 15. The changes on the MIUI 13 are not enough to make it much different from iOS 15. In all honesty, it is not entirely bad to copy something that is good. However, this looks more like a rip-off and it makes Xiaomi look empty.
The Control Center is a complete rip-off without any originality from Xiaomi’s end. MIUI 13 tried to introduce some tweaks to the Widgets but we can still see the iOS 15 elements. Unlike MIUI 12.5, the Control Center of the MIUI 13 is just a copy of iOS 15. The status bar, the icon’s design, and size are also a copy of iOS 15.
However, some Android fanboys argue that Xiaomi just takes “inspiration” from Apple’s system. They claim that Xiaomi is “better”, cheaper, and has a similar premium feel. Nevertheless, anyone who appreciates hard work will detest the resemblance between MIUI 13 and iOS 15. Google, Samsung, and even other Android skins have their own original UI designs. Xiaomi could have taken this path instead of ripping off Apple.
However, as much as Apple fanboys will deny, Apple also copies Android. To mention a few, Android smartphones had Face ID long before Apple. Moto X debuted the “OK Google Now” always-on hotword detection to enable a voice assistant in 2013. Two years later in 2015, the iPhone 6s had a similar “Hey Siri” feature. In fact, recently, Apple copied Xiaomi’s poster design…but then Apple’s fanboys made it clear that “it’s just a poster and shouldn’t make the headline”.
Despite the copy, MIUI 13 seems to be working just fine. Many Mi fans do not care if MIUI 13 is a rip-off. As long as it works perfectly and remains affordable, they will continue to patronize Xiaomi.
Why is Apple not suing Xiaomi?
Apple is quite stringent when it comes to protecting its intellectual properties but not when it involves Xiaomi. Apple sues a recipe app (Prepear) for using a pear as its logo claiming that it is too close to its own Apple logo.
However, Apple seems to misplace its mojo when Xiaomi copies its entire UI. Legal issues are very complex and we don’t really know how it works. However, there should be a really good reason why Apple seals its lips when Mi copies its design.
Speechless
yes but come on…words too..so is "another thing" ok to say? lol….don't dig too deep for 'copying'…like Apple tried to patent rectangles with rounded corners…give me a break!
Apple seals its lips (but sues Prepear) because their icon shapes came from elsewhere-they have no rights. Layouts are similar but no one can argue that either. That said Xiaomi should try to change and be unique (there is a limit to what one can do anyway with icon positions and layouts)
And to that end I do not like or use the Apple-like Xiaomi new control center anyway-pretty but not as functional and fast to use as the old one.
The Xiaomi is a better phone at a better price. I should forego this because I "appreciate hard work?" This is absurd.
Big companies will do whatever it takes to sell their product
Even if it means copying another companies Os theme.
Xiaomi sold over 58million units in 2021 (second to Samsung),
So yes copying iOS is kinda justified.
I quite like the 12.5 control center. I hope there's an option to keep it like that.
Xiaomi is killing apple. That's it!!
I mean who am I to complain? It's the Apple of Android. Best of both worlds.
Xiaomi just copied the ui but apple is so clever that it waits for sometime, say 1 to 2 years to copy the latest android features. They are mocking android phones by just changing the themes and icon in the xiaomi themes app or just using an external apple ui app to fake the news about copying
No completely. Xiaomi dont have huge notch. When some day Apple put camera in a hole, that will be – Apple copied xiaomi and samsung.
I hope Apple will some day have more than 1 icon pack..
You complain as if you own Apple whereas we (you and I) are just consumers.