Xiaomi has been going from strength to strength in recent years, its Xiaomi 12 Pro flagship for early 2022 being a particular eye-catcher - as we address in our 'Should I buy?' series about that very device.
Good as the Chinese brand's flagship handsets can be, however, there are a few pitfalls that might catch you out if you're less familiar with the company's MIUI software and settings.
Here are some tips to avoid making these common mistakes with Xiaomi phones...
Not adjusting Battery Saver
Xiaomi has some pretty heavyweight battery management functions within its MIUI software. If you're having issues with notification delays then you can alleviate this within specific apps' settings.
Press-and-hold the app in question to raise a pop-up menu. Select 'App info' from this to go into settings. Here you'll find a variety of settings, from autostart to permission, data usage to battery saver.
It's the last of these that we find particularly pertinent. Choosing 'No restrictions' will cause more battery drain, of course, but won't limit the app's function at any given time. It's worth tweaking this for your go-to set of major applications.
Not disabling adverts
Ads appearing in your full paid-for handset's software? Tut tut. It's not only a Xiaomi thing, a bunch of other manufacturers do the same.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
However, it need not be a thorn in your side. To disable it swipe down from the top right, hit the settings cog symbol, then search out "Authorisation & revocation" within the search bar. Click this to open a variety of authorised apps.
But don't go toggling off every one of them, as many are helpful. The one you're looking for is called MSA. Turn this toggle off, after which Xiaomi's system will ask you to wait for 10 seconds before you can hit the 'Revoke' button. Do this and, bish bash bosh, that should see the end of unwanted adverts.
Not using the correct charger
This might be obvious for some people, but not all. Xiaomi's devices come with some of the fastest-charging technology in the business. The Xiaomi 12 Pro, for example, features 120W - which can fill the handset from zero to full in just 18 minutes.
Don't use the 120W capable plug that comes in the box? Well, you won't get that kind of super-fast recharging speed. For those of us with lots of plugs around the house it can be all too easy to forget which one you're reaching for, so we'd always suggest ensuring you're going to the right one for the fastest possible top-up speeds.
Mike is T3's Tech Editor. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 years and his beat covers phones – of which he's seen hundreds of handsets over the years – laptops, gaming, TV & audio, and more. There's little consumer tech he's not had a hand at trying, and with extensive commissioning and editing experience, he knows the industry inside out. As the former Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for 10 years where he furthered his knowledge and expertise, whilst writing about literally thousands of products, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more.
-
Highly-attractive Samsung Flip 6 rival could also be kinder on your wallet, according to global price leak
The Xiaomi Mix Flip could undercut Samsung and offer distinct advantages
By Chris Hall Published
-
There's a flip phone coming that could smash Samsung's Z Flip 6 out of the park
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 hasn't even hit shelves yet and it's already in a fight
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
The most powerful Android phone of 2024 could come from an unexpected source
It's time to start thinking about the next-gen as Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 approaches
By Chris Hall Published
-
Xiaomi 14 Ultra review: the photographers' choice
Xiaomi's expensive and impressive Leica-toting 14 Ultra brings bleeding-edge camera hardware to the West for the first time
By Basil Kronfli Published
-
Top Android phones are getting a neat file storage boost right now
OnePlus, Oppo and Xiaomi handsets are said to get this boost with Android 14
By Sam Cross Published
-
Best of MWC 2024 Awards: T3's picks of the most exciting tech at the show
Mobile World Congress has delivered a host of new devices and these are the best of the best
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Xiaomi 14 Ultra arrives to give the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra a run for its money
Could the Xiaomi 14 Ultra be the camera phone of the year?
By Chris Hall Published
-
Samsung Galaxy S24 launch date revealed by renowned Samsung tipster
Online expert leaks Samsung's next Unpacked event
By Rik Henderson Published