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Add to SafariWhen comparing Z Launcher Beta vs Mi Launcher (MIUI), the Slant community recommends Z Launcher Beta for most people. In the question“What are the best launchers for Android?” Z Launcher Beta is ranked 7th while Mi Launcher (MIUI) is ranked 39th. The most important reason people chose Z Launcher Beta is:
Users use their finger or a stylus to write the first letter of an app they are looking for in order to find it and launch it. It allows for a fast way to find and launch apps.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Apps can be searched for by scribbling letters
Users use their finger or a stylus to write the first letter of an app they are looking for in order to find it and launch it. It allows for a fast way to find and launch apps.
Pro Allows searching contacts and websites directly from the launcher
By gesture writing the name of a contact or website on the home screen the launcher will show results for the user to click on to go to the corresponding contact or webpage.
Pro Keeps your most used apps at the forefront
The launcher learns what the users most used apps are and adapts what it shows on the home-screen to that usage.
Pro Simplifies your homescreen
Z Launcher is a very minimal launcher where the home screen is 4 shortcuts at the bottom, 6 of the most used apps and phone numbers on the home screen and a clock at top.
Pro Nicely designed context-aware multi-app widget on homescreen
A clean and minimal designed widget that contains info from multiple apps, letting the user scroll between them intuitively.
Pro Unread Counters for docked Apps
Having apps like Hangouts or the Phone Dialer in the docked apps will allow for unread counts on the icons.
Pro Independent of Google services
Almost all Google services are removed from this Android-based UI in favor of creating a competing ecosystem of apps, games, themes and services.
China government prohibit the Google services
Pro Combines best of iOS and Android launchers
MIUI has visual similarities to iOS and TouchWiz and combines functionality from both iOS and Android OS and its variants. For example, MIUI has no apps drawer and instead puts all app on homescreen pages the same way iOS does.
Pro Runs faster than stock Android
MIUI includes performance tweaks that give it a edge in speed compared to stock Android.
Pro Detailed installation instructions for supported devices
Step by step instructions (with screenshots) for flashing MIUI ROM can be found for each of the supported devices on the companies website. For example, here is the flashing guide for Nexus 5.
Pro Fast development cycle
New features and updates are released regularly.
Cons
Con A severe lack of customization options
Being that this is meant as a minimal style launcher, there is not many customization options. It is of course still in beta, so more options may wind up in the app over time.
Con Scribble feature is inconsistent
Just as with writing recognition for keyboards it is not always exact, especially depending on the users own handwriting.
Con Some bundled services are available only in Chinese
Xiaomi, the developers of MIUI are Chinese and their primary maket is China. As such primary language for most apps and services is Chinese and not all of them have yet been translated to English or any other language.
Con A Mi account is required for using bundled services
Various services and apps require a Mi account. For example, buying new themes requires spending Mi currency that can only be obtained if a Mi account is available.
