iOS 26: Apple Adopts 7 Key Features from Xiaomi

Apple’s iOS 26: Is Cupertino Borrowing a Page from Xiaomi’s Playbook?

It’s a tale as old as time in the tech world – innovation breeds inspiration, and sometimes, that inspiration looks a lot like borrowing. With the highly anticipated (though still speculative!) iOS 26 slated for 2025, Apple seems to be rolling out a suite of features that feel awfully familiar to anyone who’s spent time with Xiaomi’s HyperOS. While Apple’s keeping mum, the similarities are pretty hard to ignore. Let’s dive into seven key iOS 26 features that look like they’re getting a serious dose of Xiaomi DNA.

The Xiaomi Influence: 7 iOS 26 Features That Feel Familiar

Xiaomi has consistently pushed boundaries with its HyperOS, offering deep customization and smart functionalities that often set trends. It appears Apple might be taking notes.

1. Enhanced Control Center Personalization

Xiaomi has always been a champion of user customization, and its Control Center in HyperOS is a prime example. You can tweak icons, add widgets, and really make it your own. Now, iOS 26 is reportedly bringing a revamped Control Center, allowing users to rearrange controls, add app shortcuts, and even adjust icon sizes. This level of flexibility is exactly what Xiaomi users have enjoyed for ages.

2. Bringing the Desktop Experience to Mobile

One of HyperOS’s standout features is its desktop mode, which turns your Xiaomi phone into a desktop-like experience when hooked up to an external monitor. iOS 26 is rumored to feature a “Desktop Mode” of its own, enabling iPhone users to connect to external displays for a more computer-like interface, complete with keyboard and mouse support. This move strongly echoes Xiaomi’s innovative approach, particularly popular in emerging markets.

3. AI-Powered Advanced Battery Management

Xiaomi has been ahead of the curve with AI-driven battery management, intelligently optimizing power consumption based on user habits. iOS 26’s new “Intelligent Battery” system, using machine learning to prioritize apps and processes, sounds remarkably similar. It’s all about squeezing more juice out of your battery, a feat Xiaomi has been perfecting for years.

4. Dynamic Home Screen Widgets

Xiaomi’s dynamic widgets, which smartly update their content based on context – think weather updates or upcoming calendar events – have been a real differentiator. iOS 26 is upping its widget game with “Dynamic Stacks,” allowing users to create personalized widgets that pull real-time info from multiple apps into a single, consolidated space. This mirrors the user experience Xiaomi has been delivering.

5. Next-Level Multitasking with Floating Windows

Xiaomi has also been a pioneer in mobile multitasking, offering features like floating windows that let you run apps in a resizable window overlay. iOS 26 is set to introduce “Active Windows,” enabling users to open apps in resizable windows on their screen. Yep, it’s a feature Xiaomi users have been enjoying for years in HyperOS.

6. AI-Driven Personalized Focus Modes

Apple’s Focus Modes got a significant boost in previous iOS versions, but iOS 26 is reportedly infusing them with AI. These new modes will intelligently adjust notifications and settings based on your activity. This sounds incredibly close to Xiaomi’s “Smart Mode,” which uses AI to tailor the interface and notifications to your current context, whether you’re working, resting, or hitting the gym.

7. Locked-In Visual Flair: Lock Screen Effects

HyperOS users get to play with dynamic visual effects on their lock screens, from cool animated transitions to touch-responsive wallpapers. iOS 26 is introducing “Dynamic Lock Screen,” letting users add custom animations and interactive effects to their lock screens. It’s a feature that seems directly inspired by Xiaomi’s commitment to lock screen personalization.

Industry Buzz and Market Reactions

Apple has never shied away from adopting successful ideas from its competitors. Xiaomi, with its knack for delivering feature-rich devices at competitive prices, has become a significant player, and its influence on iOS 26 is a testament to that impact. The tech community on platforms like X has had a mixed reaction. Some users are praising Apple for bringing these popular features to a wider audience, while others are calling out a lack of originality, pointing out that Xiaomi has been offering these functionalities for quite some time.

The Cross-Pollination of Innovation

The integration of these seven features into iOS 26 highlights how fierce competition in the mobile industry can spark cross-pollination of ideas. While Apple is undoubtedly putting its own unique spin on these functions, the echoes of Xiaomi’s HyperOS are undeniable. Ultimately, this exchange of innovation benefits us, the consumers, by providing richer, more personalized experiences across our devices. As Apple and Xiaomi continue to go head-to-head, it’ll be fascinating to see how their operating systems evolve and what new inspirations emerge.

Note: Information regarding iOS 26 and its features is based on speculation and trends observed as of March 2024, as official data for iOS 26 was not available at the time of writing. For the latest updates, please refer to official Apple sources or discussions on platforms like X.

---