The Official Xiaomi Thread

The_Librarian said:
Thanks

Now it's a toss-up between LineageOS and Havoc-OS

Any suggestions from your side before I take the plunge?
Click to expand...

Depends on the device and your needs / expectations.

Personally I want as little "Google'ness" and data leaking as possible for my main device.
You might prefer some more creature comforts - like using "OK Google", face unlock and such.

As a rule of thumb I'd recommend using the following guidelines:

Check which ROM's thread has the most posts and isn't running an outdated Android version.
Read the last 3 pages to get an idea of whether the project is still ongoing or abandoned.
Ensure that it's nowhere stated that the device is "SE Linux: Permissive".
See if on the last few pages there are any serious issues that appears to be widespread.

Now compare the "focus" of the remaining ROMs.

Lineage OS is typically just the bare bones system, either without Google Apps/Store, or sometimes included.
You get Official Lineage and Unofficial - which may have some extra customizations included.
It has the least features and settings to play around with, but often better batterylife as a result.
If you like tinkering with all sorts of settings then this isn't really the ROM for you - but it's a good place to start.


I like Evolution X and crDroid for newer devices due to good optimization, regular updates and good batterylife.
That said, it's not the same for every device and I always read a bunch of pages before committing to a ROM.

A phone is the single most important device/item we all carry with us, so I place an equal amount of importance on deciding which device and software fits my needs and allocate a good amount of time to make it "home".
Being privacy minded can be a pain in the butt as there's so many options to set and permissions to block, firewall whitelisting that doesn't break stuff, etc, but i'd rather do that than have my keyboard saving every keystroke and syncing it with its servers, a microphone that's always listening for OK Google, etc.
 
Stokstert said:
Have the same Note 8 and no degradation yet.

By the way, I also have a Redmi 4X also still running strong.
Click to expand...
Also have an old Note 4, still going strong!
Using the Note 8 the past few years, no issues, so guess I'll wait for the Note 12 to arrive, so my OCD on even number count/spacing remains intact...
 
Conack said:
Depends on the device and your needs / expectations.

Personally I want as little "Google'ness" and data leaking as possible for my main device.
You might prefer some more creature comforts - like using "OK Google", face unlock and such.

As a rule of thumb I'd recommend using the following guidelines:

Check which ROM's thread has the most posts and isn't running an outdated Android version.
Read the last 3 pages to get an idea of whether the project is still ongoing or abandoned.
Ensure that it's nowhere stated that the device is "SE Linux: Permissive".
See if on the last few pages there are any serious issues that appears to be widespread.

Now compare the "focus" of the remaining ROMs.

Lineage OS is typically just the bare bones system, either without Google Apps/Store, or sometimes included.
You get Official Lineage and Unofficial - which may have some extra customizations included.
It has the least features and settings to play around with, but often better batterylife as a result.
If you like tinkering with all sorts of settings then this isn't really the ROM for you - but it's a good place to start.


I like Evolution X and crDroid for newer devices due to good optimization, regular updates and good batterylife.
That said, it's not the same for every device and I always read a bunch of pages before committing to a ROM.

A phone is the single most important device/item we all carry with us, so I place an equal amount of importance on deciding which device and software fits my needs and allocate a good amount of time to make it "home".
Being privacy minded can be a pain in the butt as there's so many options to set and permissions to block, firewall whitelisting that doesn't break stuff, etc, but i'd rather do that than have my keyboard saving every keystroke and syncing it with its servers, a microphone that's always listening for OK Google, etc.
Click to expand...
Serious question, in your case, isn't it better to then just buy an Apple?

I am privacy minded too , however , I have no issues with Google and they can get my data as I see it as sort of a win/win relationship.

Small differences in implementation on my side:-

I pay for Google One FWIW

My primary browser is duckduckgo with all data being wiped everytime app is closed.

At home PiHole / Adguard blocks nearly everything across all devices

If I want Google to know something ,
I ask assistant or use their search bar. I find there is a benefit to this as the topics I search for, normally results in Google showing me news/blog articles related to topic over the next few days , which for the most part, is really useful in getting good domain knowledge for me.

I was running a Nokia before the Xiaomi . And with AndroidOne, it was brilliant. I had no real concerns

I love my note 10 pro hardware, but their design decisions and bloatware to ensure they are always in the middle of work routines has now me on the path to dump it and find a Nokia agains.

Example. I take a photo. With AndroidOne, I see/manage photos in gphotos. With this phone, their photos app is the default (in background) so when I use gphotos to then delete a photo, I always have to then 'allow" gphotos to delete the photo on device (controlled by their app).

While I haven't agreed to many of the permissions requested by their bloatware apps, there is no guarantee that something is not getting leaked.

In the case of Xiaomi, we really are the product and the irony is we are paying for the phone. While it applies to Google too, it's a different kind of relationship.
 
TedLasso said:
Serious question, in your case, isn't it better to then just buy an Apple?

I am privacy minded too , however , I have no issues with Google and they can get my data as I see it as sort of a win/win relationship.

Small differences in implementation on my side:-

I pay for Google One FWIW

My primary browser is duckduckgo with all data being wiped everytime app is closed.

At home PiHole / Adguard blocks nearly everything across all devices

If I want Google to know something ,
I ask assistant or use their search bar. I find there is a benefit to this as the topics I search for, normally results in Google showing me news/blog articles related to topic over the next few days , which for the most part, is really useful in getting good domain knowledge for me.

I was running a Nokia before the Xiaomi . And with AndroidOne, it was brilliant. I had no real concerns

I love my note 10 pro hardware, but their design decisions and bloatware to ensure they are always in the middle of work routines has now me on the path to dump it and find a Nokia agains.

Example. I take a photo. With AndroidOne, I see/manage photos in gphotos. With this phone, their photos app is the default (in background) so when I use gphotos to then delete a photo, I always have to then 'allow" gphotos to delete the photo on device (controlled by their app).

While I haven't agreed to many of the permissions requested by their bloatware apps, there is no guarantee that something is not getting leaked.

In the case of Xiaomi, we really are the product and the irony is we are paying for the phone. While it applies to Google too, it's a different kind of relationship.
Click to expand...

I have considered it forsure, but the Apple "garden" walls are just too high for me.

On iOS your apps get censored / limited severely. All sorts of deactivated shows as "not available" on iphones due to supposed copyright infringement or whatever.

Running a proper Firewall on your Android you can block system services, keyboard and all that - where the Apple doesn't give you that sort of control last I checked.

I couldn't use a Xiaomi device which hasn't been wiped and ROMed - every app just wants your permission to process your data in some or other way - even the bloody calculator iirc.

Wanted to get the Google Pixel, but I installed the Android 12 Pixel Experience ROM on my 2nd phone and Google has definitely stepped up their "integration" with more ways to siphon your data - so I'm not sure if that's the way to go either.

I'm keeping my eyes on projects like PureOS, Jolla, Sailfish, etc.
 
Conack said:
I have considered it forsure, but the Apple "garden" walls are just too high for me.

On iOS your apps get censored / limited severely. All sorts of deactivated shows as "not available" on iphones due to supposed copyright infringement or whatever.

Running a proper Firewall on your Android you can block system services, keyboard and all that - where the Apple doesn't give you that sort of control last I checked.

I couldn't use a Xiaomi device which hasn't been wiped and ROMed - every app just wants your permission to process your data in some or other way - even the bloody calculator iirc.

Wanted to get the Google Pixel, but I installed the Android 12 Pixel Experience ROM on my 2nd phone and Google has definitely stepped up their "integration" with more ways to siphon your data - so I'm not sure if that's the way to go either.

I'm keeping my eyes on projects like PureOS, Jolla, Sailfish, etc.
Click to expand...
I get you. For me, it's a balancing of risks/privacy. I won't support Apple just because I believe iOS does not allow me to be as productive (and i don't do crazy things to my Android) but simple things like auto backing up via WiFi for OneDrive, gPhotos is such a boon. Apple seems to reserve that only for their platforms. To this date, I can't get my wife's iPhone to sync onedrive/gPhotos while her phone is connected to WiFi or even auto sync in the background her Garmin device. But iCloud works a treat. It's actually a travesty that Apple is allowed to get away with that by kneecapping other platforms.

Thanks to me, even when I was in the Apple Ecosystem, I never used their locked in platforms. Always used (and use to this day), OneDrive, Garmin, Spotify, to allow me to move between platforms as I choose easily.

Sidenote: If anyone has gotten OneDrive on iOS to auto-sync if on WiFi or their Garmin on iOS it to work in background -would love to know. Have submitted numerous requests to the various providers but no response.

So when it comes to balancing risk/privacy ... I will still take Google over Xiaomi .. interesting thing was when I switched over from Nokia to the Xiaomi, it transferred all the apps, so I have the Google Calculator, Phone Dialer app, so I use them. I can't even cast from my phone to the TV with the XIAOMI without it wanting them me to sell me soul (enable GPS, etc) to use a simple feature. GPS is not required .. they are total bull crap artists
 
IceQB said:
Why not try the EU ROMs, comes without bloatware
Click to expand...
I was aware there is a Chinese and Global rom. Didn't realise there was an EU rom. How does this differ from the other and there advantages to running the EU rom.
 
Just one question.

Banking apps like Capitec, Tymebank etc, are these anally retentive about the ROM they're running on?

I don't want to switch over to, say LineageOS, only to have the Capitec app **** itself when I try to run it.
 
Run SafetyNet to check
fd8c6331d0efe04333c52267df3ea2cd.jpg


I'm running EU Rom
 
Yes, else go thru forums of the specific Rom wanted to load.
Many have had similar issues & had no adverse affects with regard to banking apps.
 
Usually takes me a few days of research before biting the bullet on a new Rom.
 
Edit to show pics.

To me, this is all part of the bloatwareIMG_20211121_211330.jpgScreenshot_2021-11-21-21-15-05-589_com.xiaomi.discover.jpg
 
Still running Miui and stock ROM.

Found that the latest software carousel update now shows a different picture on the lock screen when you push the power button.

Nice, and about time too, the stock photo got boring very quickly.

Planning to upgrade to lineageos or any other ROM soon, though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X