The smartphone battery is a consumable that degrades with each charging cycle. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, released in 2019, has a 4,500 mAh battery, but even that doesn't last forever. The manufacturer says that after 500 full cycles, the capacity drops to 80 percent of its original one, which is the official wear threshold. But how do you check how many cycles have already passed on your device?
Unlike laptops or electric vehicles, where battery data is available in standard settings, Android smartphones (including the Redmi Note 8 Pro) hide this information. The reasons are simple: marketing (so users don’t see degradation) and simplifying the interface. But there are workarounds, from hidden engineering menus to specialized applications. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, including those that do not require root rights.
Important: cycle count is not the only indicator of battery health; wear is also influenced by temperature, depth of discharge and charger quality; for example, charging to 100% at temperatures above 30°C accelerates degradation by 2-3 times; but cycles provide an objective estimate of the battery’s “age”.
1. Check through the engineering menu (#4636##)
The fastest way is to use the hidden engineering menu available on all Xiaomi Android smartphones, which doesn’t require you to install apps or connect to a PC, but doesn’t show all the options.
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636## (no spaces).
- In the menu that appears, select Battery Information.
- Pay attention to the lines: 🔋 Charge level (current percentage). 🌡️ Temperature (in degrees Celsius). 🔄 Condition (usually Good or Unknown).
Unfortunately, this menu doesn't directly indicate the number of charging cycles, it only shows the current parameters. However, here you can see the current capacity (in mAh), which, if you compare it to the factory (4500 mAh), you will estimate the wear. For example, if you show 3800 mAh, the battery lost ~15% of capacity, which corresponds to about 300-400 cycles.
⚠️ Note: Some firmware (especially global versions) MIUI) The combination ##4636## may not work, in which case use alternative methods from the following sections.
2.Use of ADB (without root rights)
ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a debugging tool that allows you to get advanced information about the device, including battery data.The method works on the Redmi Note 8 Pro without having to obtain root rights, but requires a connection to a computer.
What you need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original or quality).
- 📦 Installed drivers ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official Android website).
- ⚙️ Included debugging by USB smartphone.
Step-by-step:
☑️ Preparation for verification through ADB
- Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
- Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
- Execute the command to obtain battery data: adb shell dumpsys battery
- In the conclusion, find the lines: charge counter - current capacity in μA·h (divided by 1000 for mA·h). capacity - percentage of charge. health - state (GOOD, OVERHEAT etc.).
Example of inference (simplified):
health: GOOD
present: true
level: 85
charge counter: 3675000Here the charge counter shows 3675 mAh, which is the current real capacity, and by comparing it to the factory 4500 mAh, you can estimate the wear (~18% loss, which corresponds to ~360 cycles in standard degradation).
On some firmware, it outputs the exact number of cycles (if supported by the kernel).-->
3. Battery monitoring applications
If ADB seems complicated, you can use specialized applications that analyze data from the battery sensors and provide information in a convenient way. Importantly, most applications show an estimate of wear and tear, not an exact number of cycles (this information is not provided directly by Android).
Top.-3 apps for Redmi Note 8 Pro:
| Annex | Showing cycles? | Needs root? | Additional functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Guru | ❌ (wear-out) | ❌ | Discharge schedules, temperature, savings tips |
| Battery Stats | ❌ (score) | ❌ | Charging history, overheating notifications |
| AccuBattery | ❌ (score) | ❌ | Battery Health Monitoring, Charging Tips |
| AIDA64 | ✅ (firmware) | ❌ | Complete iron diagnosis, performance tests |
How to use AccuBattery (the most accurate of the free options):
- Install the application and provide all the permissions requested.
- Charge your smartphone to 100% and leave it on charge for another 1 hour (for calibration).
- Use your phone as usual for 2-3 days.
- Go to the Health tab - here you will see the estimate of wear in percentage.
Example: if AccuBattery shows wear of 15%, this corresponds to about 300-350 cycles (with a standard degradation of 0.2% per cycle).
⚠️ Attention: Apps like AIDA64 They can show the Cycle Count setting on some firmware, but on the Redmi Note. 8 Pro MIUI It is most often displayed as 0 or N/A. This is not a mistake, but the manufacturer is blocking access to this data.
Reading data via TWRP (for advanced users)
If your Redmi Note 8 Pro has a custom TWRP recap, you can access the system files, which sometimes store data about charging cycles.
Instructions:
- Turn off your smartphone and press Power + Volume up to enter TWRP.
- Go to Advanced → File Manager.
- Open the folder. /sys/class/power_supply/battery/.
- Find the files: cycle_count — Number of cycles (if any) capacity - current capacity. charge_full — maximum capacity at the last charge.
On the Redmi Note. 8 Pro file cycle_count It's not always there, it depends on the firmware version and the kernel version. If it's not there, you can try to read it. charge_full and compare with the factory 4500 mAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
What to do if in TWRP no file cycle_count?
5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If you need an official report on the battery status (for example, for warranty service), the only reliable way to do this is to contact Xiaomi’s service center, which has specialized battery testing equipment, including:
- 🔧 USB-testers (e.g., testers, USB Tester KCX-017).
- 📊 Analysis of load discharge schedule.
- 🔍 Checking the internal resistance of the battery.
How is the diagnosis going:
- You leave your smartphone in the service for 1-2 hours.
- The technician connects the device to the test stand and performs a full discharge/charge cycle.
- The result is a certificate indicating: Real capacity (for example, 3700 mAh out of 4500 mAh); Internal resistance (norm: up to 150 mOhm); Recommendations (replacement, calibration, etc.).
The cost of diagnostics in official Xiaomi services is usually 300-500 rubles. If the battery requires replacement, its price (original) is about 1500-2000 rubles (2026).
⚠️ Warning: Some "unofficial" services offer free diagnostics, but often use substandard testers or deliberately understate the performance to sell battery replacement.
💡
If the smartphone is warranty, the service center is obliged to replace the battery for free if its capacity fell below 60% of the factory (2700 mAh for the Redmi Note 8 Pro).
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
Each method has its pros and cons, and below is a comparison table that will help you choose the best option.
| Method | precision | Difficulty | You need a PC? | Need root? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering menu | ⭐⭐ (score) | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ | ❌ |
| ADB | ⭐⭐⭐ (capacity) | ⭐⭐ (middle-of-the-road) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Annexes (AccuBattery) | ⭐⭐ (score) | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ | ❌ |
| TWRP | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (if cycle_count) | ⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Service centre | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (preciseness) | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ | ❌ |
Selection recommendations:
- 📱 If you want quick results, use the Engineering Menu or AccuBattery.
- 💻 If accuracy is important and you are ready to connect your smartphone to your PC, choose ADB.
- 🔧 If you have a loader unlocked, try it. TWRP.
- 🛠️ If you need an official conclusion (for example, for a guarantee) – contact the service center.