Questions for a newbie

[Thefrog]

Hello,

I'm buying Xiaomi 13 phone from China (they dont sell this phone in my home country anymore and I really like this phone!), but I'll need to be able to use google services.

1. Do google services work normally on a xiaomi eu or global rom? Can you update the non-system apps through there normally? (I couldn't figure this out, it seems you can, but then rooting is meant to prevent this cause of "Play integrity attestation", but is changing the rom the same as rooting??)

2. In the future if I want / need to update the system, is it possible without doing a whole phone wipe?

3. I'm understanding that I'd need to install the HyperOS rom? Is that possible for xiaomi 13?

4. What is TWRP and is it better than using the ("what seems to be a more "direct") fastboot method?

Thank you for your time, and apologies for my ignorance

Best,
Thefrog

 

[JiaiJ]

First, keep in mind you need to unlock the bootloader, and it is more complicated recently for Chinese phones (you probably will need to pay if it is not already unlocked)

1) Yes, at least on Xiaomi.eu. Google Pay works, but Google is actively trying to break it on custom ROMs.
2) Yes
3) It is not required, but Miui 14 will not be updated anymore
4) TWRP is a recovery, a tool outside of Android, it gives you a few system level utilities, like cleaning the cache, and it enable updates without a computer.

 

[Thefrog]

First, keep in mind you need to unlock the bootloader, and it is more complicated recently for Chinese phones (you probably will need to pay if it is not already unlocked)

Thank you for the reply. Oh, what do you mean by I will need to pay? Like pay someone to unlock it for me?

 

[JiaiJ]

Thank you for the reply. Oh, what do you mean by I will need to pay? Like pay someone to unlock it for me?

Yes, the new rules make it virtually impossible to unlock Chinese models by yourself if you are not chinese.

 

[NOSS8]

Thank you for the reply. Oh, what do you mean by I will need to pay? Like pay someone to unlock it for me?

Nope,currently this only concerns Cn devices released with HyperOS, the Xiaomi 13 was released with Miui.

 

[Thefrog]

Nope,currently this only concerns Cn devices released with HyperOS, the Xiaomi 13 was released with Miui.

oh, ok so unlocking is not a problem?

 

[NOSS8]

oh, ok so unlocking is not a problem?

Yep, but currently a lot of problems especially with HyperOS.

 

[Thefrog]

Yep, but currently a lot of problems especially with HyperOS.

ahh, frick. I wish I could just buy the global version, but they don't sell it anymore. I think I'll return the chinese xiaomi 13 phone then. Too much hassle, I just want things to work

I appreciate the help from you guys, Cheers

Thefrog

 

[NOSS8]

ahh, frick. I wish I could just buy the global version, but they don't sell it anymore. I think I'll return the chinese xiaomi 13 phone then. Too much hassle, I just want things to work

I appreciate the help from you guys, Cheers

Thefrog

There are still some for sale, which country?

 

[Thefrog]

There are still some for sale, which country?

Finland

 

[Thefrog]

There are still some for sale, which country?

I hope this isn't getting off topic, but I'm just going through the options. My gf is Chinese so she can help me, but if I buy a "global version (a Hong Kong or Japanese version) phone in china, is there any way I can check if it's a legit global version or it has been flashed with a global rom? Or any other tell tale signs?

 

[NOSS8]

Indeed no Global for sale in the Nordic countries.
No Global in China, devices sold with a Global rom are CN devices flashed with a modified rom that will not have updates and still unlockable.