Why do people hate MIUI? (Is MIUI really that bad?)

MIUI, the custom Android skin by Xiaomi, has always been the center of debate and divided opinions in the tech community. It does pack in a range of features aimed at making the user experience better but, at the same time, faces a backlash at the hands of a proportionate user base. It’s time to decode why MIUI gets a bad rap sometimes and see if it really is that unfavorable, as some users claim.

What is MIUI?

Before looking at the criticisms, it’s important that we establish what MIUI is. MIUI is a heavily modded Android, and that has been done by the developing company, Xiaomi. It comes alongside very many add-ons and a different skin which separates it from a stock version of Android. Actually, MIUI is easily the most customizable Android skin focusing on user-friendly features and themes.

Most Critiques against MIUI

1. Bloatware and Ads:

One of the common complaints about MIUI is bloatware. Most Xiaomi devices come with pre-installed applications that do not serve much purpose to the majority of the users. This, in turn, slows the device over time and takes up important storage space. Also, MIUI is known to have been criticized for its ads in the user interface elements in the system applications, for instance, on the security scan page, app folders, and even the settings menu, with many users having to say that this is an intrusive feature and very detrimental to the user experience.

2. Heavy Customization:

While such deep-level customization can indeed be a blessing for many a user who wants to personalize their devices down to the nitty-gritty, MIUI’s version of Android has often been called an over-intrusion. So much has the skin deviated from stock Android that it almost gives its users a feeling of being inferior to the cleaner, purer design of pure Android. The customization is so heavy that the rollout of new updates is slower than usual, given that it takes Xiaomi longer to overhaul MIUI in alignment with the latest Android versions.

3. Privacy Issues:

Privacy is the other serious concern for MIUI users, as very few reports in the past questioned the way MIUI handled user data, with some alleging the same data was sent to servers located in regions with very poor privacy protections. Although Xiaomi has acted in response to this concern, doubt still lingers among privacy-conscious users.

4. System Performance:

Where MIUI is designed with some extra functionality in mind, the surplus features and added weight of the UI layer may prove too much for the system, especially on low-end models. Most users complain of lags, stuttered animations, and delayed responses; this is majorly for devices with lower RAM or older processors.

5. Update Policy:

Also, another contradiction issue is the updating policy of MIUI. Although MIUI updates very often, they may not coincide with a new Android version. Users can get updated MIUI that improves the interface and features, but at the same time, it will be frustrating for people to wait for the Android version they expect to have with the system’s new improvements and security patches.

Is MIUI That Bad? But despite the criticism, MIUI has several virtues that are worthy of consideration:

• Rich Features: MIUI is packed with many features not in pure or stock Android, including customizable themes, built-in app locking, a security center, scrollable screenshots, and a comprehensive file manager.
• Innovative Design: Offers plenty of innovative changes to its look and feel for users who like to customize their device features to quite an extent.
• Frequent Updates: Xiaomi regularly updates its MIUI version with new features and improvements, though not always based on the latest Android version.

A Matter of Preference MIUI is “bad” mostly depending on personal preferences. For users who prefer a clean, direct Android experience and are privacy-sensitive, MIUI is not going to be a good choice. For those who love much of customization and find most settings close at hand, using MIUI can be a great experience. Like any software, MIUI has its ups and downs, and it only fits some people in accordance with their needs and expectations. Xiaomi has been working on MIUI so as to satisfy more critics and provide a better user experience; thus, MIUI may evolve to fit a broader audience in the future.