The Xiaomi Mi 8 SE was launched three years back with Android 8.1 (Oreo) pre-installed. Later the device got updated to Android 10 with MIUI 12 on top. As the device has received two major OS updates, it is not eligible to grab Android 11. But, the company is still cultivating its latest skin MIUI 12.5 to the smartphone.
Must see: Best MIUI 12.5 features that you would love to enjoy!
The latest stable build for the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is arriving on firmware version V12.5.1.0.QEBCNXM. As of now, the software is limited to China, while the variants in other regions will get similar treatment soon.
After flashing the update, the user will experience several UI tweaks, enhanced performance, new animations and system sounds, a bunch of privacy features with the May 2021 security patch, an updated Notes app, and much more. Also, Xiaomi has released a quite lengthy changelog for the package.
Changelog
- System
- New: Response to gestures is now instant.
- New: With 20 times more rendering power, there are now few limits to what you can see on your screen.
- New: With custom device model adjustments, any phone becomes faster after the upgrade.
- Optimization: MIUI became lighter, faster, and more durable.
- Android security patch updated to May 2021. Increased system security.
- System animations
- New: A new animation framework renders movement more realistic.
- New: New UI design focuses on visualization and making your interaction with the device more realistic
- System sounds
- New: Nature mix is a new exciting way of creating your own notification sound system.
- New: Hundreds of system sounds that represent animals from all around the world.
- New: Sound from the stereo system.
- Privacy Protection
- New: Now you can see what apps access your clipboard and control access.
- New: Using approximate location adds up points to privacy protection.
- New: You can now manage sensitive permissions and related app behavior independently.
- New: The behavior of web pages is also tracked now, which helps you to block unwanted and malicious actions.
- New: Now it’s up to you who and when can track your online behavior.
- New: All apps now come with a security statement from GetApps.
- New: Privacy risk scanner.
- New: Control which apps access and delete items from your Gallery.
- New: A comprehensive overview of all sensitive permissions.
- New: You’ll be notified whenever high-risk permissions are used and will be able to block the corresponding actions.
- Optimization: An all-new privacy protection page.
- Notes
- New: Compose mind maps with complex structures.
- New: New tools for doodling and sketching.
- New: Press and hold a sketch to adjust the strokes automatically.
- New: A gesture shortcut now allows you to create notes, tasks, and excerpts anywhere.
- New: Excerpts save text, URLs, and images to Notes in a few simple taps.
- New: Dynamic layouts make bring the typography in Notes to a new level.
- Brand New Notes
- MIUI+
- You can combine your phone and computer in a single workstation.
- You can view MIUI notifications and open phone apps on your computer.
- Applications from your phone can be transferred to your computer.
- Items copied to a phone can now be pasted to the computer and vice versa.
- Photos and screenshots from a mobile device can be instantly used on a computer.
- Web pages can be seamlessly transferred from one device to another.
- You can transfer files to your mobile device using the “MIUI +” panel on your computer.
- New “File Manager” and “Notes” for computers.
- Floating Windows
- New: instant messengers now support floating windows.
- New: Floating windows can be quickly replaced with full-screen versions of applications.
- New: Application Cards Show key information when applications are displayed as floating windows.
- Xiaomi Health
- New: You can now measure your heart rate with the camera.
- New: Start manually recording running, walking, and cycling workouts, and enjoy many exercise classes online.
- Optimization: Automatic training recognition is much more accurate now.
- Xiaomi Cloud
- New: Convert images to PDF.
- New: Password manager allows you to store passwords in the cloud.
- New: You can share the device location with other people in your family sharing group.
- New: Location information can be recorded automatically before the device powers off.
- Others
- New: a more convenient way to move a cursor using the scroll bar.
- New: Function buttons allow switching between languages and keyboards.
- New: You can press and hold the function buttons to access more functions.
- New: Custom keyboard themes.
- New: font-weight adjustment options for third-party fonts.
- Optimization: customization features for system wallpapers, animations, and sounds.
Keep in the note, the build is currently in a stable beta phase. While a wider rollout will follow afterward.