Xiaomi Redmi 2 entered the market in early 2015 and became a real hit in the budget segment, offering users excellent value for money. However, for many owners, the question of software remains relevant, because since the release has been a long time. Official support for the device has long ceased, and the latest available version of the operating system captures the capabilities of the gadget in the mid-last decade.
Initially, the smartphone came with the operating system Android 4.4 KitKat, but during the life cycle received an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Android 5.0.2 is the final official version of the kernel for this device, on top of which the MIUI shell is installed. Understanding this fact is critical if you plan to install modern applications or trying to solve problems with software compatibility.
Owners should consider that the lack of new security patches makes using the device in banking applications potentially risky.However, for basic tasks of calls, messengers and media viewing, this device can still be useful, especially if the user understands the nuances of working with MIUI and knows the limits of its capabilities.
Official Android and MIUI versions for Redmi 2
When you look at which version of Android is on Xiaomi Redmi 2, you need to clearly separate the kernel version of the system and the user shell version. Officially, the device has only received an update to Android 5.0.2. This means that many modern applications that require a minimum of Android 6.0 or 7.0, simply will not install from the Google Play Store without additional manipulation.
The MIUI shell was more advanced than the Android kernel itself. The last stable firmware version for the global and Chinese versions was MIUI 9. It introduced important design and functionality changes, but the basic architecture remained at the level of Lollipop.
⚠️ Note: Attempts to force newer versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 10 or 11) via Recovery can cause a cyclic reboot (bootloop), as they are not adapted to the Snapdragon 410 processor in conjunction with Android 5.
The table below shows the correspondence of firmware versions and operating system versions for different regions:
| Region | Last MIUI | Android version | Status of support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global (Global) | MIUI 9.2 | 5.0.2 | Completed. |
| China (China) | MIUI 9.5 | 5.0.2 | Completed. |
| Russia (Russia) | MIUI 9.2 | 5.0.2 | Completed. |
| India (India) | MIUI 9.2 | 5.0.2 | Completed. |
Update process to the latest official version
If your smartphone is still running an older version of the software, such as Android 4.4, you can upgrade to the highest possible level. Before starting the procedure, check the current build in the Settings → About Phone menu. Update is possible only if the transition between versions is not too large, or through a complete data reset.
Use the built-in mechanism to update. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Select firmware if the automatic update is not located. The firmware file with the.zip extension must be downloaded from the official website and placed at the root of internal memory.
☑️ Checklist before update
Once the file is selected, the system will request a reboot confirmation, which can take 5 to 15 minutes. It is important not to interrupt the power of the device at this point, since flashing the system partition is a critical operation. If there is an error in the process, the phone may stop booting.
What to do if the update is suspended?
Capabilities of custom firmware and LineageOS
Since official support ended on Android 5, enthusiasts have developed a variety of custom solutions.Installing Custom ROM allows you to take the Android version to 7.1 (Nougat) or even 8.1 (Oreo) through the LineageOS project.
However, installing custom firmware requires unlocking the bootloader and setting superuser rights (Root). 2 (codename wt88047 Or prada, the procedure is pretty well studied. You'll need a PC, USB-cable ADB/Fastboot. The process involves unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool and firmware custom Recovery (e.g, TWRP).
- 🚀 LineageOS 14.1 – based on Android 7.1, provides stable operation and good performance gains.
- 🛡️ LineageOS 15.1, Android 8.1 version, runs faster than runoff, but the camera may run worse due to lack of driver optimization.
- ⚙️ Pixel Experience – provides a clean Android interface, but on 1 GB of RAM, Redmi 2 can run slowly.
⚠️ Warning: Installing custom firmware voids the warranty (although this is no longer relevant for Redmi 2) and risks turning the phone into a brick.
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Before firmware, be sure to make a full backup of the EFS and IMEI section, as their loss will lead to the inability to work with the cellular network.
Application compatibility issues on Android 5
The main problem of Xiaomi Redmi 2 owners today is app incompatibility. Many popular services, such as new versions of YouTube, Telegram or banking applications, require a minimum of Android 6.0 or 7.0. When you try to install from the Play Store, you will see a message "Your device is not supported."
There are a number of ways to get around this limitation (APK-The second way is to use modified clients or install the system through Magisk, which masks the version of Android for some services, although this does not always work.
Also worth mentioning is the issue of security certificates: Older versions of Android may not have current root certificates, which may cause some sites to fail to open in the browser or give a connection error, and the solution may be to install an alternative browser that updates its components regardless of the system, such as Firefox or Opera.
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Without custom firmware, it is officially impossible to install modern versions of WhatsApp and banking applications on Redmi 2.
Technical characteristics and limitations of iron
Speaking of software, you can't ignore the hardware. The smartphone is based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with four Cortex-A53 cores. It's a 64-bit processor that would theoretically allow you to run newer versions of Android, but the amount of RAM (1 GB or 2 GB in the Pro version) is a bottleneck.
Embedded 8GB or 16GB memory is also quickly filled by the system and app cache. On Android 5.0, the system takes up a significant amount of space, leaving the user little room to maneuver. eMMC flash memory in these devices degrades over time, leading to slowdowns in the interface and possible write errors.
- 📱 Screen: 4.7 inches, resolution 720p (HD), Reduces the processor load compared to FullHD.
- 🔋 Battery: 2200 mAh, non-removable, which requires careful monitoring of background processes in new firmware.
- 📶 Communication: Support 4G LTE, But in custom firmware, there may be problems with the work of the second SIM-slot.