Xiaomi’s newest Android UI overlay, MIUI9, may be released for download to Mi devices soon if a posting from the company is anything to go by. MIUI9 is said to be launching in July, though no specific date has been given and it is still unknown which devices will see it. With July rapidly approaching, the company will undoubtedly have more to say about it soon. In the meantime, there are several changes the updated overlay is expected to bring with it.
Users of Xiaomi’s handsets are almost not only in for visual changes but also some added functionality. A split-screen mode was initially being worked on for the release of MIUI8 but has since been delayed and is now expected to debut with the latest stable build of Xiaomi’s Android user interface, especially now that it is part of Android Nougat. MIUI9 is also reported as being set to arrive with video and picture-in-picture functionality, as foretold by rumors way back in March. That could be a useful feature for anybody using their phone a lot for shooting video or photography. There will probably be some other new functionalities included as well, once Xiaomi is ready to provide more details on the matter. Meanwhile, the updated system is also expected to include a lot of behind-the-scenes improvements meant to build on previous optimizations. That typically means a user experience that is noticeably more smooth and stable, in addition to being more bug-free overall.
In the past, new versions of MIUI have typically launched in August. With that in mind, July may only bring an official announcement of the overlay’s actual release date seeing how the company’s latest comment on the matter is relatively vague. On the other hand, there aren’t really any rules governing when these kinds of updates are released, so everybody is just going to have to remain patient for a few more weeks. MIUI has been gaining a lot of popularity among Android users in recent years, with many icon packs and customization-focused apps on the Google Play Store being partially inspired by its design elements, and that trend will likely continue in the future.
