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| Xiaomi now states that nearly two dozen Poco devices are receiving HyperOS 3. (Image source: Xiaomi – edited) |
If you’ve been following the whirlwind of smartphone launches this season, you’ll know that software promises are just as important as hardware specs. This week, the tech world turned its eyes to Xiaomi’s global unveiling of four new devices under its popular Poco brand. While the new Poco F8 Pro and F8 Ultra smartphones generated significant buzz, it’s the subsequent clarification on their software that has sparked conversations among enthusiasts.
The launch event left many with a key question: what operating system are these powerful new devices actually running? The answer, it turns out, is more nuanced than initially expected, leading to a newly published rollout schedule that directly impacts the user experience out of the box.
Launch Day Clarity: A Tale of Two Announcements
During the global presentation, Xiaomi was notably clear about the long-term software destination for its new flagships. The company confirmed that the Poco F8 Pro and the top-tier Poco F8 Ultra would ship with HyperOS 3. However, details for the new tablets—the Pad M1 and Pad X1—were conspicuously vague.
This created a cloud of uncertainty. But now, that cloud has lifted with the release of an official Poco-specific HyperOS 3 rollout timeline. This new schedule, which you can see detailed in the report from GSMArena, throws a fascinating wrinkle into the initial launch narrative.
The official timeline provides clear dates for when Poco device owners can expect the major HyperOS 3 update.
The Poco F8 Series: A Priority Shift or a Day-One Patch?
The most immediate surprise from the new schedule is the placement of the Poco F8 Pro and F8 Ultra. Despite being brand-new devices, they are not listed as launching with HyperOS 3 immediately. Instead, they are scheduled to receive the update in a dedicated wave.
This is particularly interesting because their direct predecessors, the Poco F7 and F7 Pro, have already started receiving their HyperOS 3 updates in the last week. This has led to speculation within the tech community.
Could Xiaomi be planning a day-one patch for the F8 series? It’s a distinct possibility. Given that the hardware is more than capable and the software is ready for other models, it wouldn't be unprecedented for users to be prompted to download HyperOS 3 immediately upon setting up their new phone. This would align with the company’s initial promise while technically adhering to the staged rollout schedule.
For consumers, this is a key detail to watch. If you purchase a Poco F8 Pro or Ultra at launch, be prepared to check for a system update immediately.
A Long Wait for Tablet Users: Pad M1 and Pad X1 Stuck on HyperOS 2
While the smartphone situation is dynamic, the news for tablet users is more definitive—and for fans of the latest software, it’s disappointing. The new Poco Pad M1 and Pad X1 are confirmed to be launching with HyperOS 2 and will remain on that older build for the foreseeable future.
According to the official timeline, the earliest these tablets are expected to receive the HyperOS 3 upgrade is March 2026. This is a significant delay, nearly a year and a half from now. It positions the tablets firmly behind the vast majority of the Poco smartphone lineup in terms of software support from day one.
This decision highlights the often different treatment and development priorities between a brand’s smartphone and tablet divisions, a common pain point for users who prefer a unified ecosystem experience.
The Bigger Picture: What About Other Poco Phones?
For owners of other eligible Poco devices, there’s good news. The new rollout schedule does not appear to have altered the update timings for the other nineteen Poco smartphones already in the pipeline for HyperOS 3. This provides a level of reassurance that the global rollout, which began in earnest with the Xiaomi 15T series launch, is proceeding as planned.
The broader HyperOS 3 update is now in its final stages, as noted in a recent overview by GSMGoTech, bringing a wave of new features, refined animations, and better ecosystem integration to Xiaomi’s and Poco’s extensive portfolio.
The Bottom Line
Xiaomi’s latest Poco launch reminds us that the story doesn’t end when the event concludes. The newly clarified HyperOS 3 schedule reveals a complex rollout strategy, prioritizing recent smartphone models over its own newest tablets. For potential buyers of the Poco F8 series, the software situation is fluid and worth monitoring closely at launch. For tablet enthusiasts, the message is clear: you’ll be waiting a while for the latest OS experience.
As always, we will be tracking these updates closely and will provide further details as they emerge from Xiaomi.
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| (Image source: GSMArena) |