Tensions between the U.S. and China have placed tech giant Huawei in the crosshairs of trade sanctions. This situation serves as a warning to other Chinese companies, like Xiaomi, encouraging them to brace for potential challenges. Recent rumors suggest that Xiaomi is developing a new operating system, tentatively called HyperOS, which would function without Google Play apps and services, much like Huawei’s HarmonyOS. BBK, the parent company of OPPO, Vivo, and OnePlus, is reportedly participating in this effort.
Xiaomi is preparing for any future obstacles by working on its HyperOS 3 update, learning from Huawei’s experiences in navigating such adversities. According to whispers from XiaomiTime, collaboration with Huawei and the BBK Group is underway to develop this Google-free operating system version. Although Xiaomi still uses Google’s operating system under current agreements, unpredictability looms over future decisions by U.S. authorities.
The U.S. government’s concerns might have intensified upon learning about Xiaomi’s advancements in developing a custom 3nm chipset, with plans to unveil their first in-house solution, Xring, soon. However, if Xiaomi transitions away from Android, its primary success would likely be confined to the Chinese market unless it manages to create a robust app store with alternative options, a daunting task indeed.
Xiaomi might see HyperOS 3 as a safety measure, ready to deploy if the U.S. imposes a trade ban impacting their access to Google services. Until such a scenario unfolds, Xiaomi is unlikely to jeopardize its vast customer base and revenue streams.
