[Update: MIUI 12.5 released] Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite MIUI 12.5 development likely delaying rollout of new security update, says forum mod

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…

Original story (published on January 19, 2021) follows:

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite may very well be nearing the end of its software development lifecycle but it still seemingly is eligible for the MIUI 12.5 update.

While the model name may not convey much, it does essentially make the device a lite version of Xiaomi’s 2018 flagship – the Xiaomi Mi 8.

Thus, going by this logic, the Mi 8 Lite should be eligible for as many MIUI updates as the Mi 8. But then again, what’s in a name?

After all, the device barely borrows any of the characteristics from its so-called flagship counterpart.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that the various UI changes brought about by MIUI 12 are far more graphically demanding than before due to the usage of various new animations and processing techniques.

One of such techniques is Gaussian blurring that has been a major highlight within MIUI 12. It may look pretty but it has a major downside – performance issues. As a result, it has been disabled indefinitely on some budget devices.

The Mi 8 Lite is subject to all of the above limitations too. But it’s great to see that Xiaomi has not yet given up on the device.

This is apparent from a recent comment left by a moderator on the MIUI forums.

The phone hadn’t made it to the official list of MIUI 12.5 eligible devices, as you can see from here, which did raise doubts about the device’s eligibility. However, the above comment seems to put those doubts at stay for now.

Like the mod has implied, it is quite possible that the Mi 8 Lite is stuck on the ancient security patch from August 2020 because MIUI 12.5 development is underway for the device. This definitely is a good sign.

Keep in mind though, that MIUI 12.5 was only recently announced and even Xiaomi’s latest flagships are still stuck on beta programs for the same. This means that the update could take its time to finally make it to the Mi 8 Lite.

As to why this is the case…well, the device has aged and the company simply doesn’t want to allocate too many resources into its software development.

That said, we wait is on to see if a more expansive list will be released to include the likes of the Mi 8 series. For now, be sure to keep a lookout for new updates on our dedicated MIUI 12.5 update tracker to stay in the know.

Update 1 (June 26)

03:14 pm (IST): The MIUI 12.5 stable update is now rolling out in China for the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite. The download link has been given below.

• Device: Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
• Codename: platina
• Channel: China Stable
• Version: 12.5.1.0.QDTCNXM
• Android: 11
  • Type: Recovery
    • Download: Link

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