Google ends Android 6 support, rendering 13 Xiaomi phones unusable

Google announced the end of official support for Android 6 (Marshmallow) after eleven years, which disables Google Play Services updates on 13 older Xiaomi models—including the Mi 3, Mi 4, Mi Note, and various Redmi devices. Without Play Services, essential security features such as Play Protect stop working and major Google apps (YouTube, Google, Gmail) will begin refusing to run, requiring newer Android versions. Users are left with limited options: upgrade to a newer smartphone that supports current Android releases or attempt a technically challenging custom‑ROM installation.

Separately, a North Korean‑made smartphone dubbed the “People’s Pixel” mimics Google’s Pixel 8 Pro in design but uses a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor and offers 16 GB RAM with 256 GB storage. It runs cooler during intensive tasks and claims superior macro photography compared with the official Pixel, though it lags in overall AI performance and video stabilization. The device highlights the broader impact of Google’s hardware ecosystem, as the company prepares to launch the Pixel 11 later this year.