Xiaomi Surpasses Samsung in Swift Release of Stable Android 14 for Flagship Phones

And it’s not OnePlus

In a surprising turn of events, Xiaomi has taken the lead in releasing the Android 14 update for its flagship smartphones, outpacing industry giants Samsung and OnePlus. The update has already begun its rollout for devices such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 13, and Xiaomi 12T, marking a significant achievement for a company often criticized for slow software updates, possibly due to its MIUI 14-based Android 14 beta program.

The deployment of the stable Android 14 build will occur gradually for the mentioned phone models, with valuable feedback from beta users shaping its broader availability.

Xiaomi is known for its impressive hardware and exceptional imaging capabilities in its flagship phones. However, it has struggled in the past with software support, lagging behind other Android flagship manufacturers in delivering timely OS updates. Recently, the Chinese smartphone maker made a commitment to provide four OS updates and five years of security patches for its Xiaomi 13T series, signaling a renewed focus on its software policy. Nonetheless, Xiaomi's reputation for delayed updates raised the question of the relevance of these updates when they arrive months after a new Android version's launch. Now, Xiaomi has taken a surprising step by initiating the Android 14 rollout for select flagship devices.

In an official announcement on X, Xiaomi confirmed the global availability of MIUI based on Android 14 for the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 13, and, surprisingly, the Xiaomi 12T from 2022, as reported by Android Authority. Notably, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the company's current flagship camera phone, was conspicuously absent from the list.

Despite Xiaomi's historical slowness in software updates, the company has outpaced Samsung and OnePlus in delivering the latest Android release to its premium smartphone lineup. This quick turnaround time is especially commendable, considering that Xiaomi had been running an MIUI 14-based Android 14 beta program for these devices since July. It's plausible that this beta program played a pivotal role in Xiaomi's ability to release the update so promptly. The over-the-air (OTA) update will be rolled out in phases for the aforementioned devices in the days and weeks ahead.

For participants in the beta program, the stable Android 14 build is already available, giving them a head start on experiencing the latest Android version. Xiaomi plans to expand the update's availability to the general public based on early feedback, although immediate noticeable changes may be limited due to the substantial MIUI interface. Xiaomi's official changelog for the update also provides minimal details regarding specific changes.

Android 14 primarily focuses on enhancing usability and privacy, introducing features like a redesigned system share sheet, improved PIN security, sideloading restrictions, and more. However, it's possible that Xiaomi's Android 14 release may not include all of these features due to its reliance on MIUI.

In parallel, Samsung and OnePlus have been conducting Android 14 beta programs for their flagship devices over the past few months and are expected to commence stable rollouts to the public in the near future.