Xiaomi Mi 8 SE bags MIUI 12.5 update (Download link inside)

Xiaomi has quickly become one of the top smartphone brands in the world since its establishment just over 10 years ago.

Along with offering some of the best hardware (and software recently) at dirt cheap rates, a greater part of the brand’s success can be attributed to the number of variants they offer for any single device.

Such variants allow Xiaomi to get a hold of the users with niche requirements. Take the Redmi Note 10 series, for example, which has at least 5 different variants, the specs of which differ from region to region.

Another great example is the Xiaomi Mi 8 series that was launched back in 2018. The series is comprised of Xiaomi Mi 8, Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition, and Xiaomi Mi 8 SE.

While the former two are flagships and offered the best from Xiaomi at the time, the Mi 8 SE is a more wallet-friendly version of the other two and comes with a decent Snapdragon 710 processor.

It was launched with MIUI 9.5 on top of Android 8.1 and currently runs MIUI 12 based on Android 10. However, MIUI 12 is outdated now and has been superseded with the all-new MIUI 12.5.

For the uninitiated, the update brings along several UI changes, improved performance, enhanced animations, new system sounds, privacy improvements, revamped Notes app, and more.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 SE was eligible for the MIUI 12.5 update and has now bagged it in China, the download link for which has been given below, along with the complete official 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 settings, any phone becomes faster after update.
Optimization: MIUI became lighter, faster and more durable.
Android security patch updated to May 2021. Increased system security.

[System animations]
New: a new animation frame makes movement more realistic.
New: The new UI design focuses on visualization and making your interaction with the device more realistic.

[System sounds]
New: Nature Mix is ​​an exciting new way to create your own notification sound system.
New: Hundreds of system sounds representing animals from around the world.
New: sound from the stereo system.

[Privacy protection]
New: You can now see which applications are accessing your clipboard and controlling access.
New: The use of the approximate location adds points to the protection of privacy.
New: You can now manage confidential permissions and related app behavior independently.
New: The behavior of web pages is now also tracked, helping you block unwanted and malicious actions.
New: Now it’s up to you who and when you can track your behavior online.

New: All apps now come with a GetApps security statement.
New: privacy risk scanner.
New: Control which apps access and remove items from your gallery.
New – A complete overview of all confidential permissions.
New: You will be notified every time high risk permissions are used and you can block the corresponding actions.
Optimization: a completely new privacy protection page.

[Notes]
New: compose mind maps with complex structures.
New: New tools for scribbling and sketching.
New: Long-press on a sketch to adjust strokes automatically.
New: A gesture shortcut now allows you to create notes, tasks, and excerpts anywhere.
New: Excerpts save text, URLs, and images in Notes with just a few taps.
New: Dynamic layouts take 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 Shows 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 is turned 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.

• Device: Xiaomi Mi 8 SE
• Codename: sirius
• Channel: China Stable Beta
• Version: 12.5.1.0.QEBCNXM
• Android: 11
  • Type: Recovery
    • Download: Link

The May security patch also tags along with the MIUI 12.5 update for the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE.

Do keep in mind though, that the build is currently a stable beta and a wider rollout is still awaited. If you still haven’t received it, then stay tuned to our dedicated MIUI 12.5 update tracker.

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