Firmware is the software that allows your device to work and function. Without firmware, many modern phones will not work. For example, on Xiaomi smartphones, it is MIUI. On Huawei and Honor – EMUI. And on Samsung – One UI.
If you look closely at the names of the shells, you will notice that each contains the abbreviation UI. This translates to “user interface”. It turns out that the firmware is responsible for the settings items, available functions, different modes, and, of course, the interface design. Pure Android lacks some of the options that are in the MIUI firmware. The presence of the shell makes it easier and more comfortable to use the smartphone.
The following terms are closely intertwined with the concept of “firmware” on the Xiaomi phone:
- MIUI version – the number of the firmware, which changes after the release of the next update. You can find out the current version of the shell on your Xiaomi smartphone in the settings, namely in the “My device” or “About phone” sections.
- Weekly firmware is updated by developers every week. This firmware was created primarily to test and test new features and services. Xiaomi closely communicates with its users, listens to detected bugs, and then fixes them in the next weekly update.
- Stable firmware is a shell in which the risk of bugs or bugs is minimized. It is stable and fast, and updates are released after all the new features have been thoroughly tested. This firmware version may be missing features already appearing in the weekly update. The main difference between stable and weekly firmware is the uniformity of performance. Stable ROM will work perfectly, while Developer ROM may have different flaws.
- Localized firmware designed for use in a particular region. When you purchase the phone on AliExpress, you could see different kinds of shells: Global ROM and China ROM. So the second firmware is oriented to be used in China. It may simply be missing some services, and Google Pay may not work.
- Custom firmware is created by third-party developers. Most often, some weekly firmware is taken, and the services and programs that are not needed for a particular country are removed. This results in unofficial firmware, perfectly optimized for users’ requirements. Custom firmware is closely related to the localized because the development of a shell for a particular region is not engaged in India or China, where the office of Xiaomi is located.
- Vietnamese firmware is a shell created by third-party developers. It should not be confused with the custom one because everything is more user-friendly in the second case. In the Vietnamese (or “homemade”) firmware, there are many bugs, glitches, and errors in the translation of the interface. However, there are some rather high-quality developments, but they are too few. These shells can’t be updated via the standard system, so you must look for workarounds. If you purchased the phone with Vietnamese firmware, contact the store and ask to replace the low-quality device.
