HyperOS 3 and Android 16: Features, Device Differences and Availability

HyperOS 3 is the current platform release that introduces refined system features, performance tuning and staged availability by device and region. HyperOS 3.1 builds on it with an Android 16 base for eligible devices, not for every phone that received HyperOS 3. What is new, therefore, depends on whether you are on HyperOS 3 on Android 15 or on HyperOS 3.1 on Android 16, and on your model — Xiaomi 14, POCO F6 and Redmi Note 13 Pro do not get an identical feature set. What does not change is the check: Settings → About phone → OS version and Android version show your actual base, and c.mi.com notes for your exact build are the source to trust over summarised videos. Check those screens before you compare any feature list.

If a video claims all HyperOS 3 phones get Android 16 on day one, treat it as reported, not confirmed. The sections below separate confirmed base changes from device-specific additions and explain availability.

Why HyperOS 3 and Android 16 are tied but not identical

HyperOS is Xiaomi’s system layer, while Android 16 is the underlying platform base. HyperOS 3 shipped on both Android 15 and, for early batches, still without the 16 base — HyperOS 3.1 is the branch that is confirmed on Android 16 for eligible models. This is why two phones can both show HyperOS 3 yet show different Android versions in About phone, and why feature lists that say “HyperOS 3 = Android 16” are not accurate for every device.

The platform base affects permission screens and background limits, but Xiaomi’s HyperOS controls still govern the most visible fixes — battery saver, Autostart and Control Center style remain HyperOS screens even on Android 16. Updates can reset a previously allowed app to restricted, which is why a notification or battery setting can appear to have moved after an OTA when the base changed.

A common misunderstanding is that performance is identical across models. On HyperOS 3, Xiaomi 14 benefits most from smoother system animations due to its display, while POCO F6 benefits more from the refined background limits that reduce heating. Both are real, but the effect size varies, which is why we show device differences in the table below rather than publishing a single benchmark.

Features that changed with HyperOS 3

The confirmed changes for HyperOS 3 across eligible devices are refinements rather than a new visual system. Release notes list smoother transitions, refined notification handling and updated privacy screens tied to the underlying Android version.

For HyperOS 3 on Android 15, the confirmed additions are usable without a new base: lock-screen widget handling, recent-apps stability and Home screen suggestions. These are available where the device supports the larger widget area or the new suggestion row. On Redmi Note 13 Pro the widget row is limited to one row, which is expected for the 6.67-inch layout, not a bug.

Features that are device-specific on HyperOS 3 include dark icons and some Control Center card layouts. Dark icons appear only where the verified theme includes a dark variant — if a theme shows no dark option, it simply was not built for 3. That is expected and not a missing update to fix with a reset.

Features that require HyperOS 3.1 on Android 16

HyperOS 3.1 is where Android 16 becomes the confirmed base for eligible devices. On a confirmed device that has received the 3.1 OTA, About phone shows HyperOS 3.1 and Android version 16 together. If either still shows 3.0 or 15, you are not yet on the 3.1 branch.

The 3.1 additions that are confirmed are the Android 16 permission and background refinements, plus Super Island on select models. Super Island is reported for Xiaomi 14 and a few POCO F-series devices, but not for every eligible Redmi model. Recent-apps layout tweaks also vary — Global HyperOS 3.1 shows a refined layout for some devices while EEA keeps the previous layout initially. We label these as reported — not available on all devices until your device shows them after the OTA.

Steps to check what you actually have

Use only on-device screens and official notes. No manual ROM download is needed to verify availability.

1. Open Settings → About phone → OS version and note whether it shows HyperOS 3 or HyperOS 3.1. Then check Android version on the same screen. If you see 3.1 with 16, you are on the Android 16 branch.

2. Open the official release note for your exact build on c.mi.com/global/board/59 and compare its listed changes with what you see. Only changes listed there for your build are confirmed for your device and region.

3. Test one feature you expected: long-press the lock screen for widgets, swipe Recents for layout, and check the status area for Super Island. If a feature from a video does not appear, note it as not available on all devices rather than a bug to fix with a reset.

If a feature you expected is missing

If Super Island or the recent-apps layout does not appear after you confirmed 3.1 and Android 16, the omission is likely intentional for your model. Do not clear launcher data or reinstall the system to force it — those actions remove your home-screen arrangement without adding the feature.

• Super Island not showing. Check if your model is in the reported list for Super Island. If it is not listed as confirmed or reported, the feature is not exposed for that model in this batch.

• Recent-apps looks unchanged. EEA and Global keep different layouts for the same model in early batches. This is a staged visual difference, not a failed update.

• Lock-screen row missing. On some POCO devices the extra widget row is not offered in Settings → Lock screen → Widgets. If the row is not offered there, your device does not expose it in 3.1.

Device and version differences

Availability and feature set for HyperOS 3 and Android 16 depend on model and region. The table shows the only confirmed distinctions; eligibility beyond this remains pending confirmation.

HyperOS 3 on Android 15 and HyperOS 3.1 on Android 16 are separate branches. A device on 3 does not automatically get 3.1 features until its 3.1 batch arrives for your region.

Only devices that appear in the official HyperOS 3 Eligible Devices guide with a c.mi.com source for your region are eligible. Leaked lists are not a source — treat them as pending.