Xiaomi HyperOS 3.1 enables full AirPods support on Android

Xiaomi has unexpectedly solved a problem that Android users with AirPods have tolerated for years. With the release of HyperOS 3.1, the company has added native support for Apple's headphones, essentially making them a "native" device for Xiaomi smartphones. Users no longer need third-party apps for basic functions—the system now automatically recognizes AirPods and works with them at the iOS level.

When the case is opened near the smartphone, a branded system card appears, showing the real-time battery levels of both the earbuds and the charging case. HyperOS correctly displays the AirPods model in the status bar instead of a generic Bluetooth icon. Noise cancellation and transparency mode controls have been moved to the device control center, where they can be toggled with a single tap.

For owners of AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, Xiaomi went even further by activating spatial audio. Now, 360-degree immersive sound works natively on Xiaomi devices without modifications, root access, or questionable workarounds—something that was previously almost unattainable on Android.

The most surprising move is the integration with Xiaomi's device search system. Lost AirPods can be found through the Xiaomi Online Search network even without an Apple ID, a feature that was previously exclusive to Apple's ecosystem. In practice, Xiaomi has done what Google never dared to do: given AirPods full-fledged status within the Android system.