When comparing Mi Launcher (MIUI) vs Lawnchair 2, the Slant community recommends Lawnchair 2 for most people. In the question“What are the best launchers for Android?” Lawnchair 2 is ranked 26th while Mi Launcher (MIUI) is ranked 39th. The most important reason people chose Lawnchair 2 is:
Offers Google Now page via Lawnfeed add-on.
Specs
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Pros
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.
Pro Google Now
Offers Google Now page via Lawnfeed add-on.
Pro Gestures
Has gestures, such as swipe on fingerprint sensor to pull down notification menu / pull up app drawer.
Pro Pixel-like features
Has a Pixel home screen overview widget that can be cutomized.
Pro Widgets
Widgets can be stretched to full-screen.
Pro Dock
Possibility to have single- / double-row dock.
Pro App icons
Supports icon packs and offers different app icon shapes.
Pro Customizable
Offers amazing customization options.
Cons
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.
Con Weather settings
Weather widget has to be set up manually with API and has some localization issues.
Con Lawnfeed has to be downloaded from an untrusted source
It's the only way to get Google Now feed.
Con Updates
Resets certain features with Google/Lawnfeed updates.
