Xiaomi is reportedly working on a version of its upcoming HyperOS 3 that does not include Google services. This move is seen as a response to growing tensions between the U.S. and China that could lead to sanctions affecting Chinese smartphone brands.
HyperOS 3 was originally expected to be based on Android 16, giving users access to the Google Play Store and other popular services. However, at least one version of the new system may now drop those features completely.
This shift follows a similar path taken by Huawei, which launched HarmonyOS after being cut off from Google due to U.S. restrictions. Sources say Xiaomi is working closely with Huawei and other Chinese brands like Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus to develop a system that relies only on the open-source version of Android.
The aim is to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. government could ban American companies from working with Xiaomi, similar to what happened with Huawei. If that happens, Xiaomi would no longer be able to use Google apps or services on its smartphones.
Although a Google-free version of HyperOS 3 is being developed, it is not yet planned as the main system for global users. Instead, it is seen as a backup option in case future sanctions block Xiaomi’s access to Google.
Experts warn that without Google Play access, Xiaomi phones could lose international appeal, especially in markets where users depend on the millions of apps available in Google’s ecosystem.
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