You just unpacked Xiaomi’s new smartphone — whether it’s Xiaomi’s flagship 14 Ultra, the budget Redmi Note 13, or the gaming Black Shark 6. The first thing that comes to mind after turning on is, “How to charge the new Xiaomi so that the battery lasts longer?” There are a lot of myths on the Internet, from “you need to completely discharge before you first charge” to “it should last exactly 12 hours.”
Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with Li-ion or Li-Po batteries that do not require “training” or “calibration” when first used. However, there are nuances that will help to maximize battery capacity for years to come. In this article, only verified data from official Xiaomi sources and research by battery chemists.
Why First Charging Is Important: Myths vs. Reality
Many users believe that the battery's fate depends on the first cycle of charging, which is partly true, but not for the reasons that are written on the forums.
- ❌ Myth: You need to completely discharge your smartphone before the first charge». ➝ This was true for nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries of the 2000s. For Xiaomi's Li-ion batteries, deep discharge is harmful from day one - it accelerates the degradation of electrodes.
- ❌ Myth: The first 3 charges should last 8-12 hours». ➝ Modern power controllers (for example, in Xiaomi) 13T Pro) automatically shut off the current when it reaches 100%, overcharging is impossible, and long-term network connection only heats the battery.
- ✅ Fact: The optimal charging range for Li-ion is 20-80%, but this rule applies to everyday use, not first charging.
- ✅ Fact: The most important thing to do when you first turn on is to use the original cable and adapter from the kit, and cheap analogues may not provide the right current or voltage, which will lead to incorrect initialization of the power controller.
Research from Battery University (a resource even Qualcomm cites) shows that Li-ion batteries’ main enemies are high temperatures (above 30°C) and a 100 percent long stay. So the first charge should be calm: no games, performance tests, or the use of fast charging (if supported).
What is included: which cable and adapter to use
In the box with the new Xiaomi you will find:
- 🔌 Charging adapter (power from the 18W before 120W For example, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is complete with a different model. 120W-Adapter, and Redmi. A2 — 10W.
- 📱 Cable USB Type-C (usually) USB 2.0 or USB Important: the cable must support the current declared by the adapter. 67W-charging cable with a resistance not higher than 0.5 ohms.
- 📄 Documentation that provides charging recommendations (but often in English or Chinese).
If you lost your original adapter or cable, here’s what you need to know when choosing a replacement:
| Xiaomi model | Max. Charging power. | Recommended adapter | Type of cable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 / 14 Pro | 90W / 120W | Original 120W (MDY-12-ED) | USB-C → USB-C (5A) |
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | 120W | Original 120W or certified Anker 737 | USB-C → USB-C (5A) |
| POCO X6 Pro | 67W | Original 67W or Baseus 65W | USB-C → USB-C (3A) |
| Redmi A2 / A2+ | 10W | Any 5V/2A (even from an older iPhone) | USB-A → USB-C |
⚠️ Note: Use an adapter with power higher than the smartphone supports (e.g, 120W For Redmi Note 12 with max 33W), The power controller will limit the current to a safe value, but an adapter with less than the declared power (for example, the power controller will limit the current to a safe value, 10W Xiaomi 13T) Charges the device more slowly and may overheat.
If you are buying a non-original cable, look for USB-IF or MFi certification (for USB-C cables). Cheap cables without certification can not only slow charging, but also damage the Type-C port due to unstable voltage.
Next articleHow to Charge the New Xiaomi for the First Time
Follow this algorithm to properly initialize the battery:
- Turn on your smartphone and wait until the initial setup (language selection, Wi-Fi connection, Mi Account login) is complete, which will take 5-10 minutes and drain the battery by 2-5 percent.
- Connect the original adapter to the outlet and insert the cable into the smartphone. Make sure the Type-C connector is tightly inserted (should be a slight click).
- Charge to 100% without interruption. Do not use your smartphone while charging (especially for games or video shooting) - this heats the battery.
- Once you reach 100%, turn off the cable. Don't leave your smartphone on a "just in case" charge, which reduces battery life.
- Use your smartphone until it is discharged to 15-20%, then repeat the charging cycle to 100%, 2-3 such cycles are enough to run the power controller.
Use the original cable and adapter
Do not interrupt charging to 100%
Do not use your smartphone while charging
Disconnect after reaching 100%
Repeat the cycle 2-3 times-->
Why is that so? When you first charge, the power controller calibrates the battery to reflect its actual capacity and resistance, and if you interrupt the process or use a non-original charger, the calibration may not be correct, which in the future will lead to inaccurate display of the percentage of charge.
What is battery calibration?
How long should the first charge last?
Time depends on the smartphone model and the power of the adapter. Here are some rough data for popular Xiaomi devices:
- 🔋 Xiaomi 14 / 13 Pro (120W) — 19–25 minute 100%.
- 🔋 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (120W) — 20–28 minutes.
- 🔋 POCO F5 Pro (67W) — 38-45 minutes.
- 🔋 Redmi 12 (18W) — 1 hour 40 minutes - 2 hours.
- 🔋 Redmi A2 (10W) — 2.5–3 hours.
If your smartphone charges significantly longer than the specified time (for example, Xiaomi 13T charges 2 hours instead of 40 minutes), this may indicate:
- ⚠️ Use of a non-original cable or adapter.
- ⚠️ Activated Battery Saving (disables fast charging).
- ⚠️ Background processes (software update, data synchronization).
- ⚠️ Battery defect (rarely, but possible in new devices).
⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi’s smartphone charges faster than stated (e.g., the Redmi Note 12 charged in 20 minutes instead of 1 hour), it doesn’t mean the battery is “super efficient.” Chances are that the power controller is miscalibrated and the real charge is lower than the screen shows. In this case, resetting the battery settings through the engineering menu (instruction below) will help).
What to do after the first charge: Optimizing the battery
To ensure that Xiaomi’s battery lasts 3-4 years without noticeable degradation, follow these tips:
- 🔄 Avoid full discharge (below 5%). Li-ion batteries "don't like" deep discharge. Optimal range is 20-80%.
- 🔥 If the smartphone is heated (for example, after a game), let it cool to 25-30°C before connecting to the network.
- 📵 Turn off fast charging if you don't rush. Xiaomi has a Normal Charging option (Settings) → Battery → Charging mode).
- 🌙 Charge correctly at night. If you leave your smartphone on charge all night, turn on the function Optimized charging (Settings) → Battery → It'll stop charging by 80 percent and wait until morning to get to 100%.
For advanced users, Xiaomi has hidden battery settings that can be activated via an engineering menu, such as turning off parallel charging (when the smartphone is charged from two sources at the same time, which speeds up wear).
1. Open the phone app.
2. Dial ##4636##.
3. Select "Battery Information".
4. See the actual state of the battery (voltage, temperature, health).💡
If the Battery health parameter shows a value below 95% on a new smartphone in the engineering menu, this is an occasion to contact the service center for a warranty.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that shorten battery life.
| Mistake. | Effects of consequences | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Use of cheap cables | Unstable voltage, overheating, damage to the controller | Buy USB-IF certified cables or original cables |
| Charging at high temperature (above 35°C) | Electrolyte degradation, capacity loss by 20–30% per year | Let the smartphone cool down before charging |
| Long-term storage at 0% or 100% | Irreversible capacity loss, battery bloating | Store at 40-60% charge if you do not use your smartphone for a long time |
| Using fast charging constantly | Accelerated battery wear (loss of 10-15% of capacity per year) | Use fast charging only when necessary. |
A combination of several errors is especially dangerous, for example, if you charge Xiaomi with cheap cable while playing (which heats the battery) to 100% and leave it on overnight charging, then in 6-12 months the battery capacity can drop by 30-40%.
💡
The most harmful scenario for a battery is a high temperature + 100% charge + long connection to the network.
What to do if the battery behaves strangely after the first charge
Sometimes after the first charge, users face problems:
- 🔋 Smartphone discharges quickly (for example, Xiaomi 13 Lite sits down in 4-5 hours without loading).
- 🔌 The swelling is then turned off (and then turned off).
- ⚡ Battery does not charge to 100% (stuck at 80-90%).
- 🌡️ The smartphone is very warm when charging.
And 90 percent of the time, these problems are solved software-based, and here's what you can do:
- Reset battery settings: Settings → Applications → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Reset application settings → Reset This will reset the power consumption data and recalibrate the controller.
- Update to the latest version of MIUI. New firmware often fixes power management bugs.
- Check the battery health through the Engineering Menu (#4636##) or the AccuBattery app.
- Turn off optimization for system applications: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All apps → Find “MIUI Optimization” and turn off optimization
⚠️ Note: If after all the manipulations, the battery continues to behave abnormally (e.g., Xiaomi) 12T It runs out in 2 hours on standby, it can be a battery defect. Contact Xiaomi service center as warranty - the battery will be replaced for free.