Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is one of the most popular smartphones of the brand, but even 5-6 years after the release owners face the problem of quick discharge. The reason most often lies not in the “aging” of the device, but in the improper operation of the battery. Lithium polymer batteries installed in this model are sensitive to charging mode, temperature and even the type of adapter used. In this article, only proven data on how to charge the Redmi Note 5 without harming the battery, taking into account the features of its hardware platform.
We analyzed the technical documentation of Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (The chipset, Xiaomi's official recommendations for lithium polymer batteries, and independent lab tests. 80% Users make at least one critical charging error, from using left-hand adapters to ignoring temperature conditions. 30-40% longer than the standard period.
Technical specifications of the Redmi Note 5 battery: what you need to know before charging
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 has a lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh with a rated voltage of 3.85 V. This is a classic battery type LB4016145 (or its analogues), which supports:
- 🔌 Quick Charge 2.0 (up to 18W) – but only with the original adapter.
- 🔄 Charging cycles: up to 500 full cycles under conditions (after which the capacity drops to 80%).
- ⚡ Maximum charge current: 2.4 A (when using non-original charges, the risk of overheating is higher).
- 🌡️ Operating temperature range: from 0°C 45°C (optimal — 10-35°C).
The key feature of this model is that there is no built-in temperature controller in the battery, and only the PMIC (Power Management Microchip) on the motherboard is responsible for overheating protection, which means that when you use high-power “non-flying” charges or charge in the heat, the risk of battery degradation increases by 2-3 times.
Another nuance: Redmi Note 5 does not support wireless charging – attempts to use adapters with Qi-standard lead to overheating of the rear panel and accelerated wear of the battery. If you need wireless charging, consider switching to newer models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro).
Original vs non-original adapter: what to choose for the Redmi Note 5
The official Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 kit includes the MDY-08-EM (5V/2A, 10W) adapter with Quick Charge 2.0 support. This is the best option for charging, but many users lose it or switch to more powerful charges from other devices.
| Adapter type | Max. Power. | Charging time 0-100% | Risk to the battery | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original (MDY-08-EM) | 10 Watts. | ~2.5 hours | Minimum | ✅ The best choice |
| Quick Charge 3.0/4.0 (e.g. from Xiaomi Mi 9) | 18+ Watt | ~1.8 hours | Medium (overheating with prolonged use) | ⚠️ Permitted occasionally |
| Standard USB (5V/1A) | 5 watts | ~4.5 hours | Low but slow charging hurts the cycle | ❌ Not recommended |
| Left-hand adapters (without certification) | Different. | Unpredictable. | High (risk of voltage surges) | ❌ Forbidden. |
Critical information: Quick Charge 3.0/4.0 adapters can deliver voltages up to 20V, but the Redmi Note 5 is physically unable to consume more than 18W due to PMIC limitations.This leads to overheating of the power controller and accelerated battery degradation 15-20% faster.
If the original adapter is lost, choose certified charges labeled Quick Charge 2.0 and power not higher than 18 W.
- 🔌 Xiaomi MDY-11-EP (18W, for Mi 9/Note 10) — Compatible but requires temperature control.
- 🔌 Anker PowerPort III (18W, heatproof).
- 🔌 Baseus GaN 2 (20W, but with automatic current restriction).
💡
Check the originality of the adapter with the barcode on the Mi Verify website.Fakes often pose as originals, but have underpowered or no protection.
Optimal charging mode: when to connect and disconnect the power
The most common mistake is to keep your smartphone on charging “to the end» (100%) discharge 0%. Lithium polymer batteries Redmi Note 5 most effective in the range 20-80%. That's why:
- 📉 At a charge above 80%, the voltage on the battery cells grows exponentially, accelerating wear and tear.
- 🔋 At a discharge below 20%, internal resistance increases, which reduces the resource.
- 🌡️ Charging from 0% before 100% In one cycle, the battery heats up. 8-12°C is more than partial.
The perfect strategy for the Redmi Note 5:
- Connect charging with 15-20% of the remainder.
- Turn off when you reach 80-85% (except for calibration of the battery once every 3 months).
- Avoid “recharging” 5-10% – this creates microcycles that are harmful to lithium polymer cells.
For convenience, use the optimised charging function in MIUI (path: Settings → Battery → Battery settings).It automatically limits the charge to 80% and brings it up to 100% just before the intended shutdown (based on your habits).
Use an original or certified adapter | Connect at 15-20% charge |Switch off at 80-85% | Avoid overheating above 40°C |Do not use your phone while charging-->
Temperature: how not to burn the battery Redmi Note 5
The Redmi Note 5 has no active cooling, so the battery temperature is directly dependent on external conditions and load. The optimal range for charging is 10-35 ° C. This is what happens when you go beyond these limits:
⚠️ Attention: Charging at higher temperature 45°C (for example, if the phone was lying in the sun) can cause permanent damage to the battery after the battery is fully depleted. 3-5 In extreme cases, it causes battery bloating and damage to the display.
How to control the temperature:
- 🌡️ Use applications like AccuBattery or AIDA64 Monitoring the battery temperature in real time.
- ☀️ Do not charge your phone in the direct sun or near heat sources (battery, radiators).
- 🎮 Turn off resource-intensive tasks (games, video editing) while charging - the Snapdragon 636 is very warm under load.
- 🧊 If the phone overheats, disconnect it from charging and let it cool to 30°C before continuing.
Charging in a case is especially dangerous: even Xiaomi’s original silicone cases can raise the battery temperature by 5-7 °C due to poor thermal conductivity. If you notice that the phone heats above 40 °C during charging, remove the case and move the device to a cool place.
What to do if the battery is already inflated?
Can you charge the Redmi Note 5 overnight?
Charging your smartphone at night is one of the most controversial topics. On the one hand, the Redmi Note 5 has built-in overcharging protection, but on the other hand, staying 100 percent at high voltage accelerates battery degradation.
What happens when you exercise at night:
- The phone charges up to 100% and disconnects the battery power.
- When the charge drops to ~95%, the “recharging” is turned on to maintain 100%.
- This cycle repeats throughout the night, creating a microload on the battery.
Battery University tests show that night charging reduces the life of a lithium polymer battery by 15-20% per year. However, there is a nuance to the Redmi Note 5: MIUI 10+ adds Smart Charging, which learns your habits and charges your phone to 100% by the time you wake up, which reduces the damage to almost zero.
How to minimize the risks:
- ⏰ Enable Smart Charging in Battery Settings.
- 🔌 Use the original adapter – it heats the battery more slowly.
- 🛏️ If you leave it overnight, place the phone on a non-combustible surface (such as a ceramic plate).
💡
Smart charging in MIUI is almost safe, but still inferior to the mode of 20-80%.
How to Calibrate Redmi Note 5 Battery to Precisely Display Charge
Over time, the Redmi Note 5 battery controller may start to misrepresent the percentage of charge: for example, the phone suddenly shuts down at 15% or charges to 100% in 10 minutes. This is not a breakdown, but desynchronization of the controller data. Solves the calibration problem.
Calibration instructions:
- Discharge your phone before automatically turning it off (don’t turn it on again!).
- Connect the original charging and charge for at least 8 hours without interruptions.
- Turn off the charging, turn on the phone and wait for the full MIUI load.
- Repeat the discharge / charge cycle 1-2 times.
Calibration is enough to be done every 3-4 months. If the problem persists, the cause may be battery wear (check the capacity in AccuBattery - if it is below 3000 mAh, you need to replace).
⚠️ Warning: Do not use applications to "reset battery statistics" (e.g. Battery Calibration) batterystats.bin, but in the Redmi Note 5 This does not affect calibration – the battery controller stores the data in a separate chip.
Frequent errors when charging Redmi Note 5 and how to avoid them
Even power users sometimes make mistakes that shorten battery life.Here's the top-5 The most dangerous habits for the Redmi Note 5:
| Mistake. | Effects of consequences | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Use of left-hand cables | Increased resistance → overheating | Use a cable from the kit or a certified USB-C |
| Charging from USB-port | Slow charging. → microcycle | Connect only to the socket through the adapter |
| Games/video during charging | Battery temperature >45°C | Turn off resource-intensive tasks or remove the case |
| Storage of a discharged phone | Deep discharge → loss of capacity | Store with a charge of 40-50% |
| Use of Powerbank without Protection | Power surges | Select Powerbank with Quick Charge 2.0 Support |
Especially dangerous is the combination of several errors, such as charging through an unoriginal cable from the USB-A laptop port while watching a YouTube video can raise the battery temperature to a high level. 50°C, which will result in irreversible loss 5-10% single-cycle.
If you notice that the battery is running out too quickly (for example, the Redmi Note 5 has less than 12 hours of battery life when used in moderation), check:
- 🔍 Battery status in AccuBattery (Health section).
- 📊 Consumption statistics in Settings → Battery → Battery utilization.
- 🔧 Background processes (e.g. Google Play Services sometimes eat up to 30% of the charge).