Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 with its capacious battery of 4000 mAh became one of the most popular smartphones of 2019-2020. However, even reliable lithium-polymer batteries degrade over time - and the fault of this is often improper charging. In this article, we will discuss 7 key rules that will help keep the battery of your Redmi Note 8 for years to come, avoid sudden shutdowns and extend battery life.
You’ll learn which charging to use (and which to use categorically not), how fast 18W charging affects battery life, and why charging up to 100% at high temperature reduces battery life 2-3 times faster.
1.What charger should I use for the Redmi Note 8?
The smartphone supports fast charging 18W (Quick Charge 3.0), but comes with a 10W power supply. This is a marketing ploy: the manufacturer saves, and users often buy incompatible charges.
- ✅ The original block 18W by Xiaomi (article) MDY-11-ED) — The best choice: Charges up to 50% in 30 minutes.
- ✅ Certified analogues with support QC 3.0 (like Anker or Baseus) Look for Quick Charge 3.0 on the case.
- ❌ Cheap no-name charges without certification, which can give off unstable voltages, which leads to overheating of the battery.
- ⚠️ Charging from other smartphones (e.g. iPhone or Samsung with Adaptive Fast Charging) works but charges slower due to protocol incompatibility.
Important: Redmi Note 8 does not support wireless charging – attempts to use adapters with a Qi receiver can damage the power controller, and avoid charging with an output current above 3A – this is the limit for this model.
The optimal charge level: why 20-80% is better than 0-100%
Redmi Note 8 Lithium Polymer Batteries Are Most Vulnerable Under Two Scenarios
- Deep discharge (below 5%) A single discharge of up to 0% can reduce battery capacity by 1 to 3%.
- Constant charging to 100%, especially at high temperatures, which accelerates the oxidation of the electrodes.
Battery University research shows that the battery will last 2-4 times longer if you keep it in the range of 20-80%.
- 🔌 Turn off charging when you reach 80-85% (use notifications or timer).
- 📱 Do not let the discharge below 15-20%. Set the alert in Settings → Battery → Low charge notifications.
- 🌡️ Avoid charging at temperatures above 30°C (for example, in the sun or during games).
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 5 times on the MIUI version (the inscription "You are a developer" will appear).
- Go back to the Settings → Additional → Developer settings.
- Find the Battery Limitation and turn it on.
3. Fast charging: harm or benefit?
The Quick Charge 3.0 protocol in the Redmi Note 8 allows you to charge the battery up to 50% in 30 minutes, but many users fear that this will reduce the battery life.
| Parameter | Regular charging (10W) | Fast Charging (18W) |
|---|---|---|
| Charging time 0-100% | ~2 hours 10 minutes | ~1 hour 40 minutes |
| Battery temperature | Up to +35°C | Up to +40–42°C (short term) |
| Impact on battery life | Minimum | Moderate (with frequent cycles) |
| Recommendation | For nighttime exercise | For emergencies |
Key findings:
- 🔋 Fast charging is safe if used sporadically. 18W Reduce battery life by 10-15% in 2 years.
- 🌡️ The critical factor is temperature. If the smartphone case heats up above 40.°C, turn off fast charging.
- ⚡ The Best Strategy: Use It 18W Recovery to 80% quickly, then move on to 10W.
💡
Fast charging doesn't kill the battery by itself -- overheating and constant use of maximum current is harmful. Alternate modes!
4. Myths about charging: what really works and what doesn't
There are many myths surrounding smartphone charging, and we'll take a look at the most popular ones in the context of the Redmi Note 8:
Myth
Common misconceptions:
- ❌ "Charging at night ruins the battery" → Modern controllers turn off power at 100%, but if the smartphone is on charge for more than 8 hours, microcycles can occur (100% → 99% → 100%) that slowly wear out the battery Solution: use a limit of up to 80% or smart sockets with a timer.
- ❌ "Any charger with a suitable connector can be used" → No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. QC 3.0 can produce unstable voltage, which leads to battery bloating.
- ✅ "Storing a smartphone with 50% charge extends battery life" → Right! The optimal level for long-term storage is 40-60%.
⚠️ Note: If your Redmi Note 8 starts charging slower than before or runs out quickly, the cause may be battery wear (check Settings). → Battery → Condition) or pollution USB-Don't confuse this with the memory effect, because lithium polymer batteries don't have it!
5 How to Charge Your Smartphone in Extreme Conditions
Temperature and humidity have a big impact on battery health. Here's how to properly charge the Redmi Note 8 in non-standard situations:
🌡️ Charging in the cold (below 0)°C)
- ❄️ If your smartphone is frozen (for example, after the street in winter), don’t charge immediately.
- ⚡ In the cold (-10°C) the battery may be switched off when 30–40% It's normal -- the capacity drops temporarily, but it recovers when you heat it up.
☀️ Charging in the heat (above 30)°C)
- 🔥 Do not leave your smartphone on charge in direct sunlight (for example, on a car torpedo).°C, which is critical!
- 📵 If the case is too hot, turn off the charger and let it cool. Use air mode to reduce the load.
💦 Charging in a wet environment
- 🚿 Redmi Note 8 has no official water protection (IP-No certificates are available, no charge in the bathroom or in the rain.
- 🔌 If USB-port is wet, do not connect the charging until it is completely dry (minimum 2-3 hours).
Check the temperature of the body (should be 10-35)°C)|Use only the original cable.|Do not cover your smartphone while charging.|Turn off fast charging when overheating|Keep your smartphone in a dry place-->
6.How to extend the life of the battery for 2+ years: additional tips
In addition to charging properly, other factors also affect battery life.
- 🔄 Update. MIUI. Newer versions of the firmware have optimized power management algorithms. MIUI 12.5 added Adaptive Charging, which slows down battery wear.
- 🎮 Limit resource-intensive tasks while charging (PUBG, Genshin Impact or video shooting in 4K increase battery temperature.
- 🔋 Use the original cable. Cheap thin-vein cables increase resistance, which causes overheating.
- 📴 Turn off unnecessary background processes. Go to Settings → Annexes → Autostart and ban the autostart of unnecessary programs.
If the battery is already worn out (capacity below 80% of the original), consider replacing. the original battery for the Redmi Note 8 has an article BM47 and costs about 1500-2000 rubles. Replacement is better entrusted to the service center - if installed improperly, you can damage the plumes.
⚠️ Warning: If your Redmi Note 8 starts to suddenly shut down at 20 to 30 percent charge, it's a sign of battery stratification.Don't ignore the problem - over time, it can cause the battery to bloat and damage to the screen!
7. Frequent User Errors (and How to Avoid Them)
Even experienced Xiaomi owners sometimes make mistakes that shorten battery life.-5 most common:
- Using a smartphone while charging for games/video → causes overheating. Solution: let the battery charge up to 30%, then use.
- Charging "quickly" cheap power bank → many external batteries do not support QC 3.0. Solution: choose models with output 5V/3A or 9V/2A.
- Storage of a dead smartphone "for later" → If you leave the Redmi Note 8 with 0% per month, the battery can fail. Solution: before storing, charge up to 50%.
- Using damaged cable → bare veins can cause short circuits. Solution: check the cable on the curves.
- Turning off battery optimization for applications → this leads to increased power consumption. Solution: leave optimization on (Settings → Battery → Optimization).
If you've made any of these mistakes, don't panic -- modern batteries can withstand hundreds of cycles even under imperfect conditions, and the key is to adjust your habits now.