Xiaomi's HyperOS 4 beta is live globally — the biggest software rewrite in company history
Xiaomi has opened the global beta for HyperOS 4, its most significant software overhaul to date, built on Android 17. Three devices are eligible right now — the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and Leica LeitzPhone — with the Xiaomi 17T, 17T Pro, 15, and 15 Ultra joining the beta on September 17. A stable release is expected in October 2026, though global devices will likely follow China by four to six weeks, per Gizchina.
The rewrite
This isn't a cosmetic refresh. HyperOS 4 is a Zero-Legacy rebuild — Xiaomi has removed every remaining line of MIUI code and rewritten core apps in Rust and Flutter. That makes this the first Xiaomi OS with no inherited MIUI codebase, a shift the company describes as the most fundamental in its history. The practical upside: app loading is 18% faster, HDR photo processing is 23% quicker, and the camera cold-starts 200ms sooner than on HyperOS 3. The interface gets a Liquid Glass-inspired redesign, with heavier use of blur and transparency effects — think iOS 18's frosted-glass aesthetic applied across the entire system. The AI assistant, Super XiaoAI 2.0, runs on Xiaomi's in-house MiMo large language model and gains deeper system integration for task automation.
Xiaomi HyperOS 4 Global Beta Test is OPEN! ?
— Xiaomi HyperOS (@XiaomiHyperOS_) September 10, 2026
Ready to be one of the first to experience what's next?
Check your eligibility and join now! Learn more: https://t.co/YOKVM8PeJO#XiaomiHyperOS4Beta #Xiaomi pic.twitter.com/5UiDjDcyhV
The catch for US buyers
If you're in the US, the flagship most likely to show off all of this — the Xiaomi 17 Ultra — isn't available to you. Engadget's hands-on confirmed the phone launched in the UK at £1,299 (roughly $1,750) in February 2026, but US availability remains unconfirmed. UK buyers with a compatible device can apply for the beta through the Xiaomi Community app under ME → Beta testing → Recruiting test, then fill out the application and wait for an invite.
Worth joining the beta?
Xiaomi is upfront that the beta may be buggy and unstable. If you rely on your phone day-to-day for work or payments, the company recommends sitting it out and backing up your data before applying either way. The stable rollout — which will bring HyperOS 4 to a broader device list — is the safer bet for most people. No official date has been confirmed beyond the October 2026 window.
