Buying a new smartphone series Redmi always causes a pleasant excitement, but many users immediately face a dilemma: whether to discharge the device to zero or you can put it on charge right out of the box? Modern technology for the production of lithium-polymer batteries has changed significantly over the past decade, but old myths about “rocking” the battery are still on the Internet. Understanding the physical and chemical processes that occur inside the Li-Pol cell will help you avoid mistakes that can reduce the life of an expensive gadget.
Xiaomi engineers preset a 40-60% charge in the factory, which is the optimal state for long-term storage and transportation of lithium cells. Unlike older nickel batteries, modern power sources do not have the “memory effect” in the usual sense, so complex rituals with multiple discharge-charge cycles are not only useless, but can also be harmful. Deep discharge below the critical voltage level for the power controller can be stressful for battery chemistry, especially if the device has been in storage for a long time.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions at the first turn on, explain why calibrating the controller is more important than the physical “training” of the cans, and give recommendations for operation in the first days of use.
Should I completely discharge the new smartphone?
There is a persistent misconception that a new phone needs to be completely discharged before it turns off and then charged to 100%, repeating this cycle several times. This advice is relevant for nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries, which were widely used in the technology of the early 2000s. In modern Xiaomi smartphones, lithium-polymer batteries are installed, for which deep discharge is more a stress factor than a useful procedure.
The power controller built into every Redmi smartphone is already calibrated in the factory and knows exactly the capacity of the installed cell. Attempting to artificially “train” the controller by completely discharging can cause the voltage to drop below the recovery threshold, which will force the protection system to block charging before special equipment is connected. If your new phone turns on immediately after being removed from the box, this means that the charge level is sufficient for the initial setup.
However, if the device was released a few years ago and was in storage, its battery could self-discharge below a critical minimum, in which case the phone may not respond to the charger's connection immediately. It will take time to accumulate a minimum charge before the screen lights up. This is the normal behavior of a protective system to prevent bloating or damage to chemistry during a sudden surge in current.
⚠️ Warning: Do not leave a fully discharged Xiaomi smartphone lying uncharged for several months, which can lead to an irreversible voltage drop and battery failure, which will require its replacement at the service center.
First steps: unpacking and inclusion
After removing the smartphone from the box, first of all, evaluate the visual state of the charging port and the cable itself. Modern Redmi models often include USB Type-C cables, which are sensitive to dust and pile. Before connecting to the network, make sure that the connector is clean and the contacts are not oxidized, which is especially true if the device was not bought in a store, but was in a warehouse.
Connect the device to an original or certified charger. Xiaomi is actively promoting fast charging technologies such as Quick Charge or proprietary HyperCharge. Using a poor-quality power supply can not only slow down the process, but also cause the charge controller to overheat, which will negatively affect the durability of the components.
If the phone has been discharged to zero during storage, don't try to turn it on right away. Let it lie on charging for at least 15-20 minutes. During this time, the Trickle charge will raise the cell voltage to the working level, after which you can safely press the on button and start setting up the MIUI or HyperOS system.
☑️ Primary preparation of the smartphone
The initial charging process
The best scenario for a new device is to charge it to 100% immediately after unpacking, without waiting for full discharge. While the initial setup, system updates are being installed and Google accounts are being synchronized, the smartphone can consume significant current. Connecting to the network at this point will ensure stable operation of the processor without voltage drawdowns, which is especially important when loading heavy system files.
When charging, pay attention to the temperature of the case. New processors in conjunction with the active background setting process can heat up. Xiaomi's Battery Saver technology automatically adjusts the charge current when overheated, but it is better not to cover the phone with a blanket and put it under direct sunlight. The optimal temperature for a chemical reaction inside the battery is in the range of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.
After the indicator shows 100%, don't rush to turn off the cable. Modern controllers go into low-current recharging mode, compensating for self-discharge. However, keeping the phone on charging for days after reaching full charge also makes no sense, since the battery management system (BMS) has already cut off the main current. It is enough to leave the device for another 30-60 minutes to balance the cells.
Why does the phone warm up on the first charge?
Battery calibration: myths and reality
Many users confuse physical battery training with software calibration: a lithium battery doesn’t need to be physically rocked, it is measured in full cycles (0-100%), and each cycle irrevocably reduces capacity. Software calibration is necessary to ensure that the operating system correctly displays the percentage of charge and correctly operates the energy saving function.
If you notice that the phone turns off at 15% or the percentage of charge jumps (for example, from 40% sharply drops to 20%), then it makes sense to conduct a calibration procedure. To do this, you need to discharge the device before automatically turning off, then charge it when off to 100%, hold another hour and turn on.
For new Xiaomi smartphones, this procedure is not required in the first days of use. The machine learning algorithms in MIUI themselves analyze your usage patterns during the first 1-2 weeks, the system remembers which applications you use most often, and optimizes the distribution of power between the CPU cores and background services.
| Parameter | Old Ni-MH/Ni-Cd | Modern Li-Pol (Xiaomi) |
|---|---|---|
| The memory effect | In attendance, need a rocking | Absent. |
| Optimal discharge | Up to 0% regularly | Up to 15-20% (unwantedly lower) |
| Storage | In a charged state | At 40-60% charge |
| Sensitivity to cold | Medium | High (risk of disconnection) |
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Calibration is only needed when the percentage of charge is displayed, not to increase the actual capacity of the new battery.
Optimization of settings for prolonging the life of the AKB
For a new smartphone to last, it's not enough to just charge it correctly the first time. It's important to set the system up immediately to minimize battery wear. First of all, pay attention to the settings of the screen, since the matrix is one of the main consumers of energy. Using a dark theme in the interface MIUI on AMOLED-The screens save charge, as the black pixels in such screens are simply turned off.
Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Protection. You can activate the optimisation option for night charging. The smartphone learns your habits and if you put it on overnight charging, it will charge up to 80%, stop the process, and finish the remaining 20% just before you wake up, which reduces the battery's time in the maximum voltage state, which slows down the degradation of chemistry.
It's also worth checking the list of applications that are allowed to run in the background. Often new programs require extra permissions and constantly poll geolocation, preventing the processor from going into deep sleep. Turning off background activity for rarely used applications is an easy way to reduce heat generation and the load on the power controller.
- 🔋 Adaptive brightness: Turn on automatic adjustment so that the screen does not shine at maximum in the dark, consuming excess energy.
- 📡 Network search: if you are in the area of uncertain reception, the phone strengthens the communication module, which quickly puts the battery; in such cases, it is better to turn on the air mode.
- 🌐 5G/4G: If there is no coverage in your area 5G, Turn off this mode in the settings SIM-So that the modem does not constantly search for a new generation network.
⚠️ Note: Do not use your smartphone for heavy gaming or video shooting 4K Combining heat from the processor and heat from the charge current is the fastest way to degrade the battery of a new phone.
Frequent errors in the operation of Redmi
One common mistake is using cheap cables and power supplies from markets or gas stations. Xiaomi's fast charging protocols require a handshake between the phone and the charger. Cheap counterparts often can't provide stable voltage.