Owners of the legendary Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, released in 2018, often wonder about the current relevance of the software. This smartphone, popularly nicknamed “proshka”, became a real bestseller thanks to a good balance of price and quality. However, since the release of several years, and software support is officially completed, at this point, the maximum official version of Android available for this device is Android 9.0 (Pie) with the shell MIUI 12.
Many users who are used to more modern interfaces are trying to find ways to install Android 10 or 11, but there are many technical nuances. Official update channels have long been closed, and the system no longer receives security patches or functional improvements from Xiaomi developers. Understanding which version of the firmware is on your device is critical before buying a used device or before trying to independently flash.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the evolution of the operating system on this model, explain the difference between the global and Chinese versions, and explore the risks of installing custom builds. You will learn why the Redmi Note 5 stopped at “nine” and whether it makes sense to try to cheat the system for a newer interface.
Official history of operating system updates
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (a global version codenamed whyred) started with Android 8.1 Oreo. At the time of its launch in early 2018, it was a fresh and stable system. The smartphone received a MIUI 9 shell that was famous for its lightness and optimization. At the time, the device worked very fast, and the battery of 4000 mAh provided up to two days of battery life.
The first major update to Android 9.0 Pie came about a year after launch, with the MIUI 10 shell bringing new animations, improved gesture management and a redesigned menu design, the final major update for the model, and Xiaomi decided not to raise the Android kernel version above ninth for the Snapdragon 636 processor on which the device is based.
⚠️ Note: Attempts to force updates to newer versions of Android through the standard System Update menu are not possible. Authentication servers simply will not give the file for download, since the model is marked as "End of Life" (end of life cycle).
The latest official release is MIUI 12, which is based on Android 9. Although it looks modern, it hides an outdated kernel under the hood, which means that some new apps requiring Android 10+ may not install from Google Play or not work correctly. Data security is also questionable, as patches for this version of the kernel have stopped being released.
Technical limitations of the Snapdragon 636 processor
The main reason Redmi Note 5 didn’t get Android 10 officially is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor architecture. chipmakers provide drivers and kernel support for their solutions for a limited time.For this platform, support for new Android versions has been discontinued by the chip developer, which automatically limits the capabilities of smartphone manufacturers.
Xiaomi, following the policy of saving resources, did not adapt drivers for the new version of the system on their own. This is standard practice for the budget and mid-budget segment. Usually devices receive 2 major Android updates, and in the case of the "proshka" the company even exceeded expectations by providing a full MIUI 12.
Attempts by enthusiasts to port Android 10 and 11 have run into problems with the camera and communication module. ISP (image processing processor) drivers in new versions of Android work differently, often resulting in camera failure or artifacts in the photo. In addition, there may be problems with VoLTE and Bluetooth, which makes using the phone as the main device difficult.
- 📱 Snapdragon 636 processor has limitations in support of new API graphical accelerator.
- 🔋 Optimizing power consumption in new Android versions may work worse with older power controllers.
- 📡 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules in old drivers do not always work correctly with new communication protocols.
Why Xiaomi didn’t release Android 10?
Differences between China and Global versions of the firmware
When looking for information about which Android is on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, it is important to consider the region of the device. Global version (Global) and Chinese version (China) have different update schedules and different versions of the MIUI shells. The Chinese version has often received updates before, but was stripped of Google services out of the box and had Chinese interface language as its main one.
Global firmware, which is distributed in Europe, Russia and the CIS countries, always have built-in services Google Play. However, they are updated with a delay. At the time of the release of the final MIUI 12, the Chinese branch could already receive test builds, while the global branch was stable on the latest release. You can check the region in the Settings menu → About the phone, paying attention to the letter index in the version number (RU, EEA, Global).
| Parameter | Global Version | China Version |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-installed services | Google Play, YouTube, Maps | Only Chinese services |
| Interface languages | Multilingual (including Russian) | Chinese, English |
| Frequency of updates | Less often, after testing | More often, beta versions earlier |
| Advertising in the system | Present (in some regions) | Actively present |
Flashing from the Chinese version to the global version is possible, but requires unlocking the bootloader. This is a procedure that resets all data and requires a wait of 7 to 30 days through the official Mi Unlock utility. Without the unlocked bootloader, you will not be able to install global firmware due to regional compatibility checks.
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If you bought a phone with Chinese firmware (CN), don’t rush to upgrade to the latest version of MIUI China before flashing it on Global. Sometimes this creates conflict versions of the bootloader.
Castom firmware: a chance on Android 10, 11 and 12
For those who don’t like stopping on Android 9, the only way is to install custom firmware (Custom ROM), the XDA Developers community has created many builds based on Android 10, 11 and even Android 12 (LineageOS, Pixel Experience, ArrowOS), which allows you to get a modern interface and current versions of applications.
However, custom firmware installation is a complex process that requires technical knowledge: you will need to unlock the bootloader, install custom recavators (usually TWRP) and find a stable build for the whyred model. It is important to understand that such firmware is not official, and their stability is not guaranteed.
⚠️ Warning: Installing custom firmware will void the warranty (if it is still valid) and risk turning the phone into a brick. All actions you perform at your own risk. Wrong firmware can disrupt Widevine L1, Netflix and other services will stop showing content in the future. HD quality.
The most popular options for the Redmi Note 5 are firmware based on Android 10 and 11. They work quite stable, but can have bugs. For example, some builds do not run fast charging or incorrectly display battery power. Android 12 on this device is considered experimental and can run slowly due to increased requirements for RAM.
☑️ Preparation for the installation of custom firmware
Instructions: How to check and update the software version
If you want to make sure which version of the system you have installed, or try to find an official update, follow the standard procedure. Even if there are no official updates anymore, the phone can get an important security patch or fix MIUI bugs.
To check the version, go to Settings → About Phone. This shows the Android version (large digit) and the MIUI version. To find updates, click on the tri-point icon or MIUI logo in the center of the screen. The phone will contact the server and check for new packages.
If the automatic update doesn’t work or you want to install the firmware manually, you can use Recovery mode. To do this, download the current firmware file (.zip for Recovery or.tgz for Fastboot) from the official website miui.com. Place the file in the root of internal memory.
The sequence of actions for manual updating:
1. Turn off the phone.
2.Plug Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. Select the language (English/Chinese).
4. Press "Install Update" (or select the zip file through the menu).
5. Wait for the process to end and restart.- 🔄 Before updating, be sure to make a backup of contacts and photos.
- 🔌 Connect your phone to a Wi-Fi network to avoid wasting mobile traffic.
- 🔋 Do not interrupt the installation process, even if it seems to be suspended.
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The official Xiaomi servers no longer offer Android updates for the Redmi Note 5. Any Android 10+ update files found are unofficial (custom) and require unlocking the bootloader.