Owners of the legendary Redmi Note 5 smartphone, released back in 2018, often face the inevitable wear of the battery. Time does not spare lithium polymer cells, and if your phone stopped holding charge or turns off by 20%, it’s time to think about buying a new battery. The question “how much does the battery cost on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5” becomes more relevant than ever for those who are not ready to change the device for a new one, but only want to restore its autonomy.
The market for components for this model is huge, but it's this diversity that often confuses users. OEM-The price of the battery depends on the capacity, the manufacturer's brand and the availability of a protective board. BMS, What many people forget about when they are chasing a minimum price.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the pricing policy in the market, find out why a cheap battery can kill your phone, and whether to change the battery yourself. BN46 and BN42 — These are the markings that carry batteries for the regular and Pro versions, respectively.
Factors Affecting Battery Cost
The first thing to understand is that price is not just derived from the capacity in mAh. The quality of cells is the foundation of durability. Cheap analogues are often made from recycled elements or low-grade cells (Grade C), which degrade over time. 3-4 and the months of the year, while the OEM-The batteries use fresh Class A cells that can withstand the battery. 500 and more charge-discharge cycles without significant loss of capacity.
The second important factor is the charge controller (BMS), which is that the original Xiaomi batteries have a complex protection board that interacts with the firmware of the smartphone. Cheap copies often have a primitive fee, which can cause the phone to show the wrong percentage of charge, turn on for a long time or refuse to charge at all, which is why the difference in price between the “nouneim” and a proven brand like Nohon or Deji can be twofold.
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Pay attention to the production date indicated on the plume or packaging. Lithium polymer batteries age even when they are turned off. Don't buy a battery that has been released for more than 12 months.
The cost is also affected by the availability of a toolbox. Often, marketplace vendors offer (battery) in a set with screwdrivers, a sucker and glue, which is convenient for self-repair, but increases the total amount of the check. If you already have a set of tools, overpaying for "gifts" inside the box does not make sense.
Average prices for originals and analogues
So let's get to the numbers. Right now, the battery price range for the Redmi Note 5 (BN46, 4,000 mAh) and the Redmi Note 5 Pro (BN42, 4,000 mAh) varies quite a lot. The estimated cost depends on the sales channel: the official services are more expensive than the Chinese sites, but they give a guarantee.
Below is a table showing the average market prices for different types of batteries. Remember that the cost can fluctuate depending on the exchange rate and logistics costs.
| Type of battery | Brand/Origination | Capacity | Average price (ruble) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original (Service Pack) | Xiaomi / Original | 4,000 mAh | 1800 - 2500 |
| Quality Copy (OEM) | Nohon, Deji, Baseus | 4000-4500 mic | 900 - 1400 |
| Budgetary analogue | NoName (China) | 3500-4000 mic | 400 - 600 |
| B/O from the disassembly | Original (used) | ~3000 mAh | 300 - 500 |
As you can see from the table, the original battery costs a lot more than its counterparts, but it's getting harder to find the original in retail. 500-700 The actual service battery comes in a sealed box with a hologram and a sleeve of the sleeve. QR-code.
Where to buy: marketplaces, services or AliExpress
Choosing a place to buy is always a trade-off between price, delivery speed and risk. If you want a here-and-now battery, local electronics stores or service centers will offer the item in stock, but the mark-up at these points can be as high as 100% of the purchase price, you pay for the ability to touch the item and get a check from the local store.
Chinese sites like AliExpress or Ozon Global offer lower prices comparable to wholesale. You can find quality brands like Nohon or Kingxbar at an adequate price. But there is a risk of long delivery and difficulty with returning if the battery is defective. Carefully study the reviews with photos, especially paying attention to the quality of the soldering of the plume.
⚠️ Warning: Buying a battery on Avito or other bulletin boards carries high risks. You can't check the actual capacity without special equipment. Often, under the guise of new ones, they sell refurbished batteries, regurgitated labels or outright marriage.
Xiaomi’s official service centers (Mi Store) are the most reliable, but also the most expensive option, where you will definitely install a certified part and retain moisture protection (if any), the cost of the service together with the work can exceed half the cost of the smartphone itself in the used market, making this option advisable only for fans of the model.
Replacement cost: on their own or in the service
If you decide not to buy a new phone, but to reanimate the current one, you will have to choose whether to do it yourself or trust the master. The cost of replacing a service center is made up of the price of a spare part and the cost of work. In the regions, the cost of replacing the battery with a Redmi Note 5 is from 500 to 1000 rubles. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the price can reach 1500 rubles.
Self-replacement saves that money, but requires care.The back cover of the smartphone is glued around the perimeter, and opening it requires heating and special tools. An inexperienced user can damage the display plume or break the glass of the rear panel, which will lead to additional costs.
☑️ What you need for a self-replacement
It is important to consider that after replacing the battery, you may need to calibrate. Android system must "understand" that it has a new power source. For this, it is recommended to completely discharge the phone before turning off, then charge to 100% in the off state, without interrupting the process.
Technical nuances: BN42 vs. BN46
When searching for a spare part, it is critical to know the exact model of your smartphone, as the batteries are not physically interchangeable between the regular version and the Pro. The Redmi Note 5 (5A Pro) uses a battery labeled BN46. Its capacity is 4000 mAh and voltage is 3.85V.
The Redmi Note 5 Pro (also known as the Redmi Note 5 in India or the Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera) is designed to have a BN42 battery. Although it also has a 4,000 mAh capacity, the shape of the body, the location of the plume and the connector connector are different, and installing an inappropriate battery is physically impossible without a collective farm, which is strictly forbidden.
How to check the model of the battery without opening?
When buying, pay attention to the storage capacity of the smartphone. 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB versions may all have the same batteries, but it is better to double-check compatibility by the exact model number of the device (for example, MEE7S2 for the global version of the Note 5 Pro).
Frequent problems after replacement and their solution
Even after a new battery is successfully installed, there can be trouble, and one of the most common problems is the message "Battery is dead" or constant reboots, which often indicates a controller conflict or poor connector contact, and in some cases, reconnecting the plume and cleaning the contacts with alcohol helps.
Another problem is the new battery is bloating, and if you buy a cheap battery, and after a week you notice that the back cover has gone off or the screen has gone off, immediately stop using the device. The bloated battery is fire-prone and can damage the display with pressure from the inside, in which case only a warranty replacement from the seller will help.
⚠️ Warning: Never attempt to punctur or compress a ballooned battery, which may cause fire or chemical burns.
Users also experience a charge percentage that jumps (for example, from 40% to 10%), which requires software calibration through an engineering menu or special utilities, but most often indicates a low quality of the cell itself.
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A high-quality battery replacement can extend the life of the Redmi Note 5 by another 1.5-2 years of active use, making buying a new device unnecessary (unnecessary) a waste of money.
How to distinguish a high-quality copy from a fake
Visual diagnostics can save your money. A good battery has smooth seams, a clear laser engraving of the Mi logo and a recycling logo. On cheap fakes, the logo is often painted with finger-washed paint, and the plume looks flimsy and thin.
Note the weight. Lithium polymer batteries have a certain energy density. If a new battery is suspiciously light compared to the old one (even though the old one might have swelled a little), then the inside has saved on chemistry. Density is an important indicator of quality.
Check through QR-The code on the box doesn't always work because codes have learned to forge, but if it leads to a strange site or doesn't read at all, it's a clear sign of counterfeiting. Xiaomi's original packaging always has a protective seal that you can't open without a trace.
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Keep the check and the package from the battery for at least 3 months. Quality manufacturers give a guarantee for this period, and if you have problems, you will need proof of purchase.