Xiaomi HyperOS 3 or iOS 26? Spot the difference (if you can)

Sunday, 25 January 2026 at 12:10

Let’s be honest: Xiaomi has never been shy about where they get their "inspiration." But with the latest HyperOS 3 update, they aren't just taking notes from Apple—they’re basically copying the whole homework assignment.

If you’ve seen the early leaks of iOS 26, the new Xiaomi interface is going to give you a serious case of déjà vu. From the way the icons glow to the "liquid" physics of the windows, it’s clear that Xiaomi’s design team spent their entire vacation staring at iPhones.

Key Points

Liquid Glass Aesthetics: HyperOS 3 adopts translucent backgrounds and "liquid" blurring that mirrors iOS 26.
The Dynamic Island Expansion: Xiaomi has revamped its notification "bubble" to mimic Apple's interactive multitasking area.
Icon Overhaul: System apps like Weather, Calendar, and Dialer now use the exact color tones and rounded shapes found in Apple's latest software.
Biometric "Inspiration": The new Face Unlock animation is virtually indistinguishable from Apple’s Face ID wave motion.
Control Center Toggles: Bluetooth, flashlight, and brightness sliders have been redesigned into Apple-style rounded toggles.

The "Glass" Obsession

The first thing you’ll notice is the Liquid Glass effect. Xiaomi’s launcher and gallery now use these translucent, blurred backgrounds that look—well, identical to Apple’s. It’s a premium look, sure, but it’s hard to call it "fresh" when it’s a pixel-perfect match for what’s coming out of Cupertino.

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Then there’s the Dynamic Island clone. Xiaomi is calling it an "interactive notification area," but we all know what it is. It handles calls and music with that same smooth, expanding bubble animation. It’s useful? Yes. Original? Not even a little bit.

Icons, Icons, and More Icons

If you look at the Weather, Dialer, and Messages apps side-by-side, it’s almost funny. We’re talking about the same rounded corners, the same solid color palettes, and even the same font weight. Even the signal bars and Wi-Fi icons have been tweaked to match Apple’s minimalistic aesthetic.

But the real "wow" moment (for all the wrong reasons) is the Face Unlock animation. Xiaomi replaced their old visuals with a circular wave motion that is a carbon copy of the Face ID unlock on iOS 26.

Why Does Xiaomi Keep Doing This?

It’s a strategy that clearly works. By mimicking the "Apple look," Xiaomi makes their more affordable hardware feel like a luxury product. If you’re a "hybrid" user who loves Android’s freedom but misses the iOS polish, HyperOS 3 is basically a dream come true.

Just don't expect Apple’s lawyers to be particularly happy about it.