You just unpacked the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO X6 Pro, and the question is: how to charge it for the first time so that the battery lasts longer? There are a lot of conflicting tips on the Internet, from “require to discharge to 0%” to “charge should last exactly 12 hours,” and we analyzed Xiaomi’s official recommendations, research on lithium polymer batteries and the experience of service centers to give a clear algorithm of actions.
Xiaomi’s current smartphones (2020-2026) are equipped with Li-ion or Li-Po batteries that don’t require pumping or hours of first charging. However, the wrong actions in the first 3 charging cycles can reduce battery capacity by 5-10% in a year. In this article, only proven data without the myths of “training” the battery.
Why First Charging Is Important: A Scientific Explanation
The batteries in Xiaomi smartphones (such as the Mi 14 Ultra or Redmi 12C) are reversible oxidation-reduction. In the first charging cycles, a passive layer (SEI) is formed on the anode, which protects the electrodes from degradation, and if this process goes wrong, the battery will lose capacity faster.
Research by Battery University (2023) shows that:
- 🔋 Charging to 100% in the first 3 cycles increases internal battery resistance by 8-12%.
- ⚡ Use of “quick charging» (33W/67W/120W) New phone speeds up education SEI-layer, but can cause micro-damage.
- 📉 Less than 20% in the first days of operation reduces the total battery life by 15-20%.
Xiaomi’s official instructions for 2023-2026 models (including the POCO F6 and Redmi Turbo 3) recommend avoiding extreme charge values in the first 5 cycles, which means: do not discharge until turned off and do not keep on charging for days.
Next articleHow to Charge Xiaomi for the First Time
The algorithm is suitable for all modern models: Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Mi 13/14, Black Shark 6/7, etc. It is important: use the original cable and power supply from the kit!
- Step 1. First turn on, plug your phone into charging before you turn on. Wait for the Xiaomi logo to appear (usually 2-5 minutes) to allow the power controller to initialize the battery.
- Step 2. Charge to 80-85% Turn off the charger when the indicator shows 80-85%. Do not allow charging to 100% in the first cycle! Use a regular USB-C cable (for older models - Micro-USB).
- Step 3: Calibrate after shutting down, let your phone run for 1-2 hours in normal mode (install apps, set up) and then plug the charger back in and bring it to 100%.
Use the original cable and power supply|Charge to 80% and disconnect|Do not use your phone while charging|Avoid overheating (do not put in the sun/battery)|Repeat the cycle 2-3 times in the first days-->
Charging time depends on the model:
| Xiaomi model | Charging power | Time to 80 percent | Time to 100% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | 120W | ~18 minutes | ~28 minutes |
| POCO F5 Pro | 67W | ~25 minutes. | ~40 minutes. |
| Mi 14 | 90W | ~20 minutes | ~35 minutes |
| Redmi 12C | 10W | ~1 hour 40 minutes | ~2 hours 30 minutes |
⚠️ Warning: If the phone is heated during charging (above 40)°C, immediately disconnect it from the mains! Overheating in the first cycles can lead to irreversible damage to the anode.°C.
Common errors during the first charge
Even experienced users often make these mistakes that shorten battery life:
- 🔌 Using non-original chargers: Cheap cables and power supplies can produce unstable voltages, which can cause microcircuiting in the cells of the battery. 5V/2A instead of original 9V/3A for POCO X6 Pro.
- ⏳ Modern Xiaomi smartphones automatically shut down power at 100%, but recharging to 100% every 30 minutes (when falling to 99%) accelerates degradation.
- 🎮 Games/video while charging: CPU load (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9200)+) Increases the battery temperature to critical values.
- ❄️ Charging in the cold, if the phone came from the street (below) +5°C), let it heat up to room temperature before connecting to the network.
💡
To check the originality of the charger, enter Settings → About Phone → MIUI 5 times in a row. Then go to Additional → Battery and Performance → Charging status. The original unit will show as “Fast Charging Supported”.
Xiaomi service centers note that 30% of battery failures in the first 6 months are due to improper first charging. For example, in the Redmi Note 12 Pro, when using an unoriginal 120W cable, the power controller can fail in 2-3 months.
What to do after the first charge: optimal mode
The first 5-7 cycles of charging form the battery's memory, to maximize its lifespan:
- Keep the charge in the range of 20-80% Ideal mode for lithium polymer batteries. In Xiaomi, this can be configured automatically: go to Settings → Battery → Optimized charging and turn on the option.
- Avoid "deep" discharge If the phone is turned off due to a discharge, connect it to charging after a maximum of 2 hours. Prolonged discharge (below 3.2V) can lead to irreversible sulfation of the plates.
- Update your firmware in MIUI 14 and later, add adaptive charging algorithms that analyze user habits and optimize cycles. Update the software in Settings → About the phone → System Update.
How to check the “health” of the battery?
For models with wireless charging support (Mi 13 Ultra, Mi Mix Fold 3) the rules are the same, but keep in mind:
- 🔄 Wireless charging heats your phone more, so don’t use it in the first 3 cycles.
- 📶 Optimum power for the first charge — 10W–15W (even if the device supports 50W).
Myths about the first charge: what actually harms the battery
There are still tips on the Internet that are relevant to nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries of the 2000s.
| Myth | Reality for Li-ion/Li-Po | Effects of consequences |
|---|---|---|
| “You need to discharge to 0% and charge to 100% 3 times in a row” | Deep discharge is harmful to modern batteries. 1 cycle is enough to 80% | Capacity reduction by 10-15% in 6 months |
| The first charge should last 12 hours. | The power controller automatically turns off charging at 100% | Overheating and accelerated degradation |
| “You can’t use your phone while charging.” | You can, but without heavy loads (games, videos) | Temperature increase to 45°C+ |
| “You need to pump the battery in the first few days.” | Li-ion batteries have no memory effect | Unnecessary stress for the battery |
Xiaomi engineers confirmed in a 2023 interview that the only thing that really matters is to avoid extreme temperatures and stresses in the first cycles. For example, in the Black Shark 5 Pro, when charging at 120W without cooling, the battery temperature can reach 50°C, which reduces its lifespan by 30%.
⚠️ Warning: If you bought Xiaomi with your hands or the phone was in stock for more than 6 months, before the first charge, calibrate: discharge to turn off, then charge to 100% without interruptions.
Features for different Xiaomi series
Charging technologies differ depending on the line of the device. Let's consider the nuances for the popular series:
Redmi Note (11/12/13 series)
Budget models with batteries 5000-5080 mAh and support for fast charging 33W/67W.
- 🔋 Do not use turbo mode in the first cycles (turn off in Settings). → Battery. → Fast charging).
- 📊 Optimal charge range: 30-80% (due to the high energy density of the battery).
POCO (F/X series)
Gaming smartphones with powerful processors (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) and cooling systems.
- ❄️ When charging, turn on the “Game cooling” mode in Settings → Special facilities.
- ⚡ For POCO F5 Pro with charging 120W In the first cycle, use the normal mode (67W).
Mi (flagship models 13/14)
Premium devices with silicone anodes (increase battery life by 20%).
- 🔄 Enable adaptive charging in battery settings.
- 📱 For Mi 14 Ultra with wireless charging 50W First 3 cycles only use the cable.
💡
For models with back-charging support (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F4 GT) in the first 5 cycles do not use the function Reverse Charging - this creates an additional load on the power controller.
What to do if the first charge went wrong?
If you mistakenly charged your phone to 100% in the first cycle or used a non-original charger, don't panic. Xiaomi's modern batteries have one-time bug protection.
- Reset your battery statistics Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots (menu) → Reset application settings. Then complete the full discharge/charging cycle (0–100%).
- Check the temperature Install the AIDA64 app and watch for Temperature (Battery) setting Normal: 25–35°C when charging.
- Calibrate the controller To reset the power controller errors, do: 1. Discharge the phone before turning off. 2. Connect the original charge and wait 100% (don't turn on the phone!). 3. Turn off the charge, turn on the phone and wait for the full discharge again. 4. Repeat the cycle 2 times.
If the phone starts to discharge quickly after improper charging (for example, Redmi). 10C Keeps charge less than 8 hours, contact the service center. ~1500–2,000 rubles).