A Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G has been successfully loaded with a genuine iOS 16 operating system by a developer, who has made the code publicly available. Known as ios-topaz, this initiative combines Apple’s XNU kernel, which is open-source, with unaltered system software extracted from an iPhone X’s firmware.
The phone boots to the home screen in about three minutes, which is slow, but this is a first boot on a patched kernel. The real Apple logo and lock screen are displayed, and the settings page shows iOS 16.7.16, listing the device as an iPhone X.
The touchscreen and volume keys work, making the Redmi Note 12 4G the newest phone to boot a real iOS userland all the way into the interface. The Redmi Note 12 4G runs a Snapdragon 685, so the kernel needed heavy patching, including switching off four of the chip’s slower cores.
This project demonstrates the potential of budget hardware, as the same developer has also run Windows 11 on ARM on this exact phone, with graphics, touch, Wi-Fi, and audio working. The project is open source, and the kernel builds on GitHub’s macOS servers, using the old Xcode 15 tools.
It is essential to note that only touch and volume keys have been confirmed to work, and there’s no information on calls, mobile data, or the camera. Additionally, Apple may not be pleased with this project, as it uses iPhone X system files from their own firmware.
Despite these limitations, the project shows the possibilities of what can be achieved with a cheap Snapdragon chip and a patient developer. The ios-topaz project is available for anyone to try, but it requires an unlocked Redmi Note 12 4G and a Linux PC, as well as a weekend of working with fastboot commands.
The developer’s achievement is a significant one, and they have made the project open source, allowing others to learn from and build upon their work. They have also demonstrated the potential for budget hardware to run a range of operating systems, including iOS and Windows.
The ios-topaz project is a notable example of what can be achieved through determination and creative problem-solving. The project’s success is a sign of the power of open-source development and the potential for collaboration and innovation in the tech community.