HyperOS 3 testing begins on Android 15 for select Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices

Xiaomi quietly flips the switch on HyperOS 3 testing – and not every device is jumping straight to Android 16

Xiaomi has started an internal rollout of HyperOS 3 builds based on Android 15 for a first wave of phones, even as the company continues to promote an Android 16 foundation for newer flagships. That dual-track approach can look confusing from the outside, but the logic is simple: use Android 15 where it’s the pragmatic base for older hardware, and Android 16 where support, drivers, and timing are right. Either way, the HyperOS layer is the headline act, bringing UI tweaks, device interconnect features, and Xiaomi’s increasingly present on-device AI.

According to internal testing logs shared through the Mi Community, Xiaomi 13 Lite, Redmi Note 13 5G, Poco X6 Neo, and Poco F5 Pro are already enrolled with both China and Global ROM branches. The remaining eight models in this initial batch are currently limited to China ROM tests, with broader global pilots typically following once early bugs are ironed out. Xiaomi is also preparing to expand the program with at least six more devices: Xiaomi 12S, Xiaomi 12S Pro, Poco F5 5G, Poco M6 Pro, Redmi Note 12 Turbo, and Xiaomi 12T.

Android 15 vs. Android 16 under HyperOS 3: what really changes?

Think of HyperOS as Xiaomi’s platform layer that can sit on different Android bases. On Android 16, you’ll see the newest privacy toggles, system performance schedulers, and Google platform APIs. On Android 15, you still get HyperOS 3’s visual polish, battery and memory optimizations, and cross-device controls, just anchored to the previous Android core. For many users – especially on mid-range or older chips – the day-to-day experience is defined more by HyperOS’s tuning than the Android version number stamped in Settings.

China ROM vs. Global ROM

The China branch usually moves first, collecting telemetry from early adopters. Global builds trail for language packs, regional services, and compliance. If your device is on the Global track (as with the 13 Lite, Note 13 5G, X6 Neo, F5 Pro), you’re in the front row for the international release once stability metrics look good.

What about bloat, AI, and battery drain?

Community feedback is blunt: users worry about pre-loads and battery-hungry assistants. HyperOS 3 doesn’t magically remove OEM apps, but Xiaomi has been exposing more toggles to disable recommendations, rein in background processes, and dial down on-device AI. The practical advice remains: review autostart lists, revoke notification access for apps you don’t use, and keep MIUI/HyperOS optimization switched on unless a specific app misbehaves. Stability tends to improve after the first two maintenance patches of any major build.

So, who should expect it first?

If you own one of the four models already testing both China and Global ROMs, you’re closest to a public beta or staged stable. For the rest of the initial 12, expect the China pilot first, then a wider release. The six devices queued for addition suggest Xiaomi intends to extend HyperOS 3 to late-2022 and 2023 staples rather than cutting them off at Android 16.

How to prepare: back up, free 8–10 GB of storage headroom for the OTA, and note your launcher and notification settings. Early builds often reset small preferences. If you’re sensitive to bugs, wait for the second stable patch; if you like being first, keep an eye on the System Update app and official pilot announcements.