The first charge of the new Xiaomi: how to do it correctly and not spoil the battery

You just unpacked the new Xiaomi — whether it's the flagship Mi 14 series, the budget Redmi Note 13 or the gaming POCO F6. The first thing to do after turning on is to charge the battery correctly. It depends on how long the battery will hold charge in the future. But there's so much information on the network that it's easy to get confused: some advise charging 12 hours, others to 100%, still others say that "modern lithium polymer batteries do not need calibration." Who can believe?

In this article, we will look at Xiaomi’s official guidelines (from user manuals 2023-2026) and the technical specifications of the ATL and Sunwoda batteries that are installed in the brand’s smartphones. We will look at how long to charge the new Xiaomi for the first time, to what percentage, whether you can use the phone while charging, and what to do with “smart charging” (Mi Smart Charge).

Spoiler: The first charge of the new Xiaomi doesn’t require 8-12 hours of waiting — a relic of the 2000s nickel-cadmium battery era — but there are 3 critical points that many people miss: charger choice, ambient temperature and fast-charging settings.

Why First Charging Is Important: What Xiaomi Says

In the instructions for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (for example, for Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi 12C) there is a section about the battery, which indicates:

⚠️ Note: First battery charge should be done using the original charger. Do not use damaged cables or third-party adapters without certification USB-IF.

But why is this so critical? It's the chemistry inside the lithium polymer battery. The first charge cycle is where the formation occurs. SEI-Solid Electrolyte Interphase is a protective film on the anode that prevents battery degradation, and if this process goes wrong (for example, due to overheating or unstable voltage), the battery capacity will decline faster.

Employees of Xiaomi service centers in Russia and China confirm that up to 30% of capacity losses per year can be avoided if you charge the phone correctly in the first 3 cycles, while it is not about pumping the battery (as it was with nickel batteries), but about gentle mode:

• 🔌 Use only an original or certified charger (not higher than the specification of the model).
• 🌡️ The temperature of the environment - from +10°C +35°C (optimal) +20...+25°C).
• ⚡ Do not interrupt the charging at the stage 80-100% — This is the most critical moment to form SEI-layer.

Interesting fact: Xiaomi labs test batteries for 500 full charge cycles (0% to 100%), after which the capacity should remain at least 80% of the original, but if the first charge is performed with errors, this figure can drop to 600-700 cycles.

Next articleHow to Charge a New Xiaomi for the First Time

The algorithm is simple, but it requires attention to detail. Follow these steps and your battery will last longer.

1. Unpack your phone and check the kit. The box should have an original cable (usually a USB Type-C) and a charger (if it comes with a package, some models, such as the POCO M6 Pro, have an adapter purchased separately).
2. Connect the charger to the socket, and then the cable to the phone. Do not turn the phone on before connecting to charging, this will help to avoid power surges.
3. Wait for the charge indicator to appear on the screen (usually battery animation or percentage of charge). If the screen does not turn on, press the power button for 5-10 seconds.
4. Charge to 100% without interruption. Time depends on the model: 🔋 Xiaomi 14 Pro (120W) — ~20 minutes to 100% 🔋 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (67W) — ~40 minutes. 🔋 POCO M6 (18W) — ~1.5 hours

After reaching 100%, leave your phone charging for another 10-15 minutes.

battery-balancing

Turn off the charger.

Repeat the charging cycle to 100%

MIUI

Use the original charger

Charge at a temperature of +20... +25 ° C

Do not interrupt the process to 100%

Leave on the charge for another 10 minutes after 100%

Repeat the full cycle 3 times-->

Important: if your Xiaomi supports wireless charging (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro or Xiaomi) MIX Fold 3, the first charge must be done by cable. wireless charging is less stable in current and can lead to uneven formation. SEI-layer.

What Charger to Use: Myths and Reality

One of the most common questions is, “Can a new Xiaomi be charged with a different phone?” The answer depends on the power of the adapter and the fast charging protocol.

The table below shows the compatibility of chargers for popular Xiaomi models (data for 2026):

Key rules for choosing a charger:

• 🔌 Power: You can use a charge of equal or less power than the original. For example, for Xiaomi 14 (90W) fits the adapter 67W, not vice versa.
• 🔍 Certification: The packaging must be marked USB-IF, CE Charges without certificates can damage the power controller.
• 🔄 Cable: Use original cable or certified cable USB-C supportive USB 2.0/3.0 (Cheap cables may not be able to withstand high currents.

⚠️ Note: If you are using a third-party charger (such as Anker or Baseus), make sure it supports Quick Charge or Power Delivery (5W), This will increase the time of the first charge to 3-4 hours.

💡

To check the actual charging power, install the AccuBattery app (available on Google Play), which will show current and voltage in real time.

What to do with the “Mi Smart Charge” when you first turn on

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi's "Mi Smart Charge" feature has been introduced, which automatically limits the charge to 80-90% to extend battery life, but you need to turn it off when you first charge.

Why? Because the Mi Smart Charge prevents you from fully forming. SEI-Here's the right thing to do:

1. Connect the phone to the charger.
2. When the charge reaches 80%, unlock the screen and go to Settings → Battery → Battery settings.
3. Find the Smart Charging option and turn it off.
4. Wait until the charge reaches 100%, then turn on the Mi Smart Charge again (if you want to use it in the future).

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or POCO F5) This feature can be called Adaptive Charging or Battery Optimization. 3 The charging cycle must be complete (0-100%), artificially constrained.

Top.-5 First-time errors (and how to avoid them)

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that shorten battery life.

1. Using the phone while charging (games, videos, social networks). ❌ Why it's bad: CPU load raises battery temperature, which interferes with formation SEI-layer. ✅ How to do it: Leave your phone on standby or turn on Flight Mode.
2. Charging at extreme temperatures (below) +10°C or higher +35°C). ❌ Why it's bad: At low temperatures, lithium ions move slower, at high temperatures, electrolyte degradation accelerates. ✅ How to Charge in a Room with Temperature +20...+25°C.
3. Interruption of charging on 80-90% (For example, to start using the phone as quickly as possible). ❌ Why it's bad: At this point, the protective layer is actively formed, and the interruption causes it to become uneven. ✅ How right: Wait. 100% And leave it on the charger for more. 10 minute.
4. Using wireless charging for the first cycle. ❌ Why it's bad: Wireless charging is less efficient and heats the battery more. ✅ How to do it: The first 3 cycles – only by cable.
5. Charging from USB-port of the computer or power bank. ❌ Why Bad: Power USB-usually does not exceed the port 5W, which increases the charging and heating time. ✅ How to use the socket and the original adapter.

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The most dangerous mistake is using your phone during the first charge, and even 15 minutes of play can raise the battery temperature by 10-15°C, which is critical for a new battery.

What to do after the first charge: set up the battery for long-term operation

The first charge is just the beginning. To make your Xiaomi battery last longer, make these adjustments:

1. Activate the Mi Smart Charge after the first 3 full cycles, which will limit the charge to 80-90% in everyday use, extending battery life by 20-30%.
2. Turn off unnecessary background processes: Go to Settings → Applications → Autostart and disable Autostart for unnecessary applications. In Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization, select Balanced or Energy Saving Mode.

Set up background limit for energy-intensive applications

Settings → Battery → Battery Use → Select an app (e.g. Telegram) → Limit background activity

Update the firmware

MIUI

Settings → About the phone → System update

Calibrate the battery every 3 months

Gamer tip: If you play heavy games (like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), turn on Game Turbo mode (Settings → Special Features → Game Turbo).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's first charge