MIUI 13 revealed! More security, new font, and tablet version called MIUI 13 Pad

MIUI 13 is here! At the Xiaomi 12 launch event, Xiaomi has taken the wraps off the MIUI 13 interface. Succeeding the long-running MIUI 12 series, MIUI 13 focuses on enhanced security features as well as a revamped user interface. And for the first time in MIUI's history, Xiaomi has come up with a specific tablet version, called MIUI 13 Pad.

Xiaomi's core focus with MIUI 13 is improved security as well as compatibility with more of MIUI ecosystem. The MIUI 13 interface is expected to work on Xiaomi phones, tablets, smartwatches, and Xiaomi's XiaoAI voice assistant. Xiaomi will release MIUI 13 in January for the newly announced Xiaomi 12 as well as the Xiaomi Mi 11 series devices.

However, there's no hint on when international markets can expect to get the update. Xiaomi also does not say whether MIUI 13 will bring Android 12 with it to more phones, or be also available on Android 11. Xiaomi does say that other than Xiaomi devices, Redmi and Poco smartphones will also get the MIUI 13 update.

MIUI 13 is here: What's new this time

As with most previous MIUI releases, MIUI 13 brings along some visual tweaks to the interface. Along with more animated wallpapers as well as new widgets that align better with the homescreen, MIUI 13 gets a new font that tries to enhance the overall aesthetics.

The design changes are likely to vary with the global version of MIUI 13. However, what's less likely to change are the new privacy enhancements. Xiaomi has introduced a three-step verification process, which includes a new facial recognition system, followed by a reading of the user ID, and eventually an “electronic fraud protection”.

You can expect some of these features to make it to the global variant, although Xiaomi could fuse Android 12's enhancements for India and other markets.

Then there's MIUI 13 Pad that is meant to run on larger screen Xiaomi devices. Xiaomi says that it has optimized almost 3000 apps to run better on big screens. Apps will support special gestures such as dragging, pinch resize, drag-and-drop, and more.