You've just unpacked Xiaomi's new smartphone -- whether it's Xiaomi's flagship 14 Ultra, the budget Redmi Note 13, or the POCO F6 game. The first thing you want to do is turn it on and start using it. But before you do that, you have to get the battery ready to work properly. There's a lot of conflicting information going on the Internet: some people are telling you to discharge your phone to zero, others to charge for 12 hours straight, and still others are saying that modern batteries don't require any "training." Who can you believe?
In this article, we will understand how to properly charge the new Xiaomi for the first time, based on the official recommendations of the manufacturer, data from technical documentation and research of lithium polymer batteries. You will learn which actions really prolong battery life, and which are useless or even harmful. We will also debunk popular myths and give specific instructions for different series of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and others. POCO.
Why First Charge Is Important: Myths and Reality
Many users believe that the first charge is a kind of “run-in” of the battery, which determines its future capacity, which is partly true, but only for old nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries, which required full discharge and charging in several cycles. Today’s Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with lithium polymer (Li-Po) batteries that do not need such “training”.
But that doesn't mean that you can do the first charge any way you want, because lithium polymer batteries are sensitive to calibration of the power controller, the chip that tracks the charge level. If you charge the phone the first time, the controller can mischarge the actual capacity, which will lead to fast discharge or unstable operation, for example, a smartphone can suddenly shut down at 20-30% charge, although the battery is not empty yet.
Another important thing is chemical electrode stabilization, because in new batteries, the internal cells have not yet fully adapted to the charging-discharge cycle, and the right first charge helps to form a protective layer on the anode, which further reduces battery degradation.
Xiaomi’s official recommendations: what the manufacturer says
Xiaomi doesn’t publish detailed instructions for the first charge, but there are some key tips in the technical documentation and support forums.
- 🔋 Don't discharge your phone to zero before you first charge. Modern Li-Po batteries don't require zeroing.
- ⚡ Use the original charger. Chargers from other manufacturers may not meet current and voltage requirements, which will lead to incorrect calibration of the controller.
- 🕒 Charge your phone to 100% the first time, but don't leave it charging for longer than you need.
- 🔄 Avoid overheating.Do not charge your smartphone in direct sunlight or in a hot room (above 35).°C).
Interestingly, some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro) have instructions that the first charge should be done when the phone is turned off, which is because when the power controller is turned off, it calibrates more accurately, without the influence of background processes.
Xiaomi also advises against using the phone during the first charge (do not start games, install apps, watch videos), because the high load on the processor can lead to overheating of the battery, which will negatively affect its durability.
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If you buy a Xiaomi smartphone in the official store, pay attention to the date of production of the battery. It is indicated on the battery sticker in YYYY-MM-DDD format. If the phone has been in stock for more than 6 months, the first charge is better to be carried out in a gentle mode: charge up to 80%, then discharge to 20% and repeat the cycle 2-3 times.
Next articleHow to Charge a New Xiaomi for the First Time
Now, let’s move on to specific actions. Below is a general guide that is suitable for all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (2020 and later). If you have an older model (for example, Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9), the recommendations remain the same, but you can skip the step with the software update.
Unpack your smartphone and check the complete set (cable, charger)
Make sure the charging unit is original (it should have a Xiaomi or Redmi logo on it)
Connect your phone to charge and wait for the charging indicator to appear
If the phone is discharged before turning off, let it stand on charging for 10-15 minutes before turning on.
Update your firmware to the latest version (in Settings → About Phone → System Update)
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Step 1: Check the charge level when buying
New Xiaomi smartphones usually come with a charge of 30-50%, which is to ensure that the battery does not degrade during storage in stock. If you turn on the phone you see that the charge is below 20%, it may mean that the device has been in storage for too long (more than 3-6 months), in which case the first charge is better done in a gentle mode.
Step 2. Use the original charger
Xiaomi’s charging units are designed for specific models and support fast charging technologies (Quick Charge, Turbo Charge, HyperCharge). For example, the Xiaomi 14 Pro requires a 120-watt charger, and the Redmi Note 12 requires 33-watts. Using a non-original unit can lead to:
- ⚡ Reduced charging speed
- 🔥 Battery overheating
- 📉 Incorrect calibration of the power controller
Step 3: Charge to 100% without interruption
Connect your phone to charge and wait until the battery is charged to 100%. Do not turn off the power immediately after reaching 100% — Let the phone stand on charge again. 15-20 This is to make sure that the power controller accurately calibrates the upper limit of the capacity, but don't leave the phone on charge overnight, which can cause you to overcharge.
Step 4: First discharge: to what level?
Once fully charged, use the phone as normal until the charge drops to 10-15%. Don't discharge it until it's completely turned off! Deep discharge (below 3%) is bad for Li-Po batteries. After that, recharge the phone to 100%. This cycle will help the controller more accurately determine the real capacity of the battery.
What to do if the phone is discharged to 0% on the first charge?
Frequent errors in the first charge and their consequences
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that shorten battery life, and consider the most common ones and their possible consequences.
| Mistake. | Effects of consequences | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Use of a non-original charger | Incorrect calibration of the controller, overheating, reducing capacity by 10-15% in 6 months | Use only original or certified chargers |
| Charging at high temperature (above 35°C) | Accelerated degradation of electrodes, loss of capacity by 20-30% per year | Charge in a cool room, do not leave under the sun |
| Interrupting the first charge (down to 100%) | Incorrect operation of the charge indicator, sudden shutdowns at 20-30% | Wait for full charge and let the phone stand on charging for another 15 minutes |
| Using your phone during the first charge (games, video) | Battery overheating, unstable controller calibration | Do not load the phone while charging, turn off background processes |
One of the most dangerous mistakes is using wireless charging on the first cycle, because wireless charging (even the original one from Xiaomi) generates more heat than wired charging, which can cause the battery to overheat and calibrate incorrectly, so it's always best to do the first charge on the cable.
⚠️ If you bought a Xiaomi smartphone from hand or in an unofficial store, there is a risk that the battery has already been improperly “trained” by the previous owner. 0%, then charge to 100% No interruptions. Repeat this cycle. 2-3 once.
Features of the first charge for different Xiaomi series
While the general principles of first charging are the same for all Xiaomi smartphones, some series have their own nuances, which are due to different types of batteries, support for fast charging and firmware features.
1. Flagship models (Xiaomi 13/14, Mix Fold, Black Shark)
These phones are equipped with high-capacity batteries (4500-5000 mAh) and support ultrafast charging (up to 120-210 W).
- 🔌 Use only the original charger from the kit (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 90 watts).
- ❄️ Watch the temperature: with fast charging, the phone can heat up to 40-45°C. If it gets hot, turn off the charging and let it cool.
- 📱 Do not turn on the fast charging mode manually (in Settings) → Let the phone choose the best current.
2. Budget models (Redmi Note, Redmi A, POCO M/X)
These smartphones usually have batteries with a capacity of 5000-6000 mAh and support charging power of 18-33 W. Features of the first charge:
- 🔋 You can use chargers from other Xiaomi models, if their power does not exceed the original (for example, for Redmi Note 12 with 33 W you should not use a block of 67 W).
- 🕒 The first charge may take up to 2-2.5 hours due to the large capacity of the battery.
- 🔄 If the phone supports AdaptiveSync technology, for example, POCO X5 Pro), turn it off during the first charge, as it can cause micro-interruptions of power.
Models with wireless charging support (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Mix 4)
If your smartphone supports wireless charging, don't use it on the first cycle. Connect your phone to wired charging. Wireless charging can be used from the second cycle, but remember that it always heats the battery more than wired charging.
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For dual-battery models (such as the Xiaomi 11 Ultra or Black Shark 5 Pro), the first charge must be off, which is because the power controller calibrates both batteries at the same time, and background processes can interfere with this.
How to check if the first charge went right
How do you know if you've done everything right and the battery is ready to go into service?
- ⏱️ Normal operating time. After the first charge, the phone must hold a charge at least as long as the manufacturer has declared. 13 Pro+ battery-powered 5000 mAh should work in web surfing mode at least 10-12 hours.
If you notice any deviations (for example, the phone discharges quickly or heats up), it may mean that the first charge went wrong.
- Perform 2-3 full charge-discharge cycles (from 100% to 10%).
- Check if you have installed energy-intensive applications (for example, games or social networks with background activity).
- Update your firmware to the latest version – sometimes battery problems are solved with software patches.
⚠️ If after the first charge, the phone suddenly switches off when you're in the middle of a battery. 20-30% If you have a charge, it could be a sign of a power controller or battery failure, in which case, contact Xiaomi Service Center for new phones with a battery warranty (usually a battery warranty). 6-12 months).
Myths about the first charge: what not to do
You can find a lot of tips on first-charge on the Internet that are not only useless, but also harmful.
Myth 1: “You need to drain your phone to 0% before charging.”
This is a piece of advice from the era of nickel-cadmium batteries: For today's Li-Po batteries, deep discharge is harmful, it leads to irreversible degradation of the electrodes, and even more, a complete discharge can "cheat" the power controller, and it will misidentify the level of charge.
Myth 2: “The first charge should be 12 hours”
It’s completely pointless. Xiaomi’s current smartphones charge up to 100% in 1-2 hours (depending on the model), and staying on charge will not only not help, but can also lead to overcharging if the power controller is faulty.
Myth 3: “You need to calibrate the battery by completing 3 full charge-discharge cycles”
It's half true. Indeed, a few full cycles can help the controller determine the capacity more accurately, but only if the battery has already been mistrained. For a new phone, this is unnecessary. One full cycle (100% → 10% → 100%) is enough.
Myth 4: “You can’t use your phone during the first charge.”
That's not exactly true. You can use your phone without a high load (e.g., not running games or benchmark tests), and easy use (calls, instant messengers, web surfing) won't hurt.
Myth 5: “You only need to charge your phone with the original cable.”
It’s not so much the cable as the charger that matters. You can use a quality certified cable (like Anker’s USB-C or Baseus’s), but the charger must be original or maintain the same power as the original.