Xiaomi Redmi 5 is the legendary budget smartphone, Released in December 2017, which gained popularity due to balanced performance and democratic price. However, since the release of 7 years, and the smartphone market has changed dramatically. Should we consider this model today to buy? What alternatives are manufacturers offering in 2026? And what to look for when choosing a used device?
In this article, we’ll take Redmi 5 from all the different aspects, from technical specifications to current relevance, how it handles everyday tasks today, what problems can arise with an outdated device, and which smartphones in the same price segment offer the best price/quality ratio, and we’ll also analyze how profitable it is to buy Redmi 5 in 2026, taking into account software support, performance and compatibility with modern applications.
Xiaomi Redmi 5 technical specifications: what is under the hood?
Let's start with hardware. Xiaomi Redmi 5 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor - 8-core chipset architecture Cortex-A53 It was one of the best low-end processors at launch, but today it barely has enough performance for basic tasks.
Adreno Graphics Accelerator 506 It provides minimal support for modern games, but only in low settings, PUBG Mobile on Redmi. 5 It is only launched in Smooth mode. + Low, and new projects like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile are not compatible at all: 2/3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB ROM (with the possibility of extending via microSD to 256 GB).
- 📱 Screen: 5.7" HD+ (1440×720), ratio 18:9, IPS-luminous 450 For thread. 2017 It was a breakthrough of the year (the first frameless Redmi), but today the resolution seems archaic.
- 🔋 Battery: 3300 Mach with Quick Charge support 2.0 (But the complete adapter is a regular one. 5V/2A). V 2026 yearly enough 1 moderate-use.
- 📷 Camera: main camera 12 MPP (f/2.2) + frontal 5 MP: The quality of shooting during the day is tolerable, but at dusk or under artificial light, the photos are noisy.
- 📶 Communication: support 4G (LTE Cat.4), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS. NFC, 5G or wifi 6 — This is critical for some users.
Operating system at the time of release — MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1 Nougat. the latest official firmware — MIUI 12 (Android 10), but security updates are long gone, meaning the device is vulnerable to new viruses and doesn't support the latest versions of apps (e.g., some banking services require Android 11).+).
Performance in 2026: What is Redmi 5 capable of?
The big question is, will Redmi 5 be able to pull on modern applications? The answer is yes, but with reservations.
- ✅ Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) – work without lags.
- ✅ Social networks (Instagram, TikTok, VKontakte) – open, but with slowdowns when scrolling the tape.
- ✅ Navigation (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps, 2GIS) – determine the location stably, but when building a route can “hang".
- ❌ Modern games – even Brawl Stars or Clash Royale require a lower graphics.
- ❌ Heavy applications (Photoshop Express, CapCut, AutoCAD) – either do not start or run extremely slowly.
In benchmarks, Redmi 5 shows modest results:
| Test | The result (Redmi 5) | Average result of public sector employees 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu 10 | ~70,000 points | 150,000-200,000 points |
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | ~150 points. | 300-500 points |
| 3DMark Wild Life | ~300 points. | 1,000-1,500 points |
| Charging time (0–100%) | ~2.5 hours | 1-1.5 hours |
Drawdowns are especially noticeable when multitasking: if more than 3-4 applications are open, the system begins to “kill” background processes. For example, when listening to music in Spotify and simultaneously surfing in Chrome, the track may be interrupted due to a lack of RAM.
⚠️ Note: If you plan to use Redmi 5 for document management (Word, Excel, PDF), Be prepared for delays when opening files with a volume of more than 20-30 MB. For student tasks, the smartphone is still suitable, but for office work it is better to consider more productive models.
Camera: Should we expect high-quality photos?
Redmi camera 5 — This is his weakest point. 12 MP with aperture f/2.2 into 2017 The year was considered good for the budget, but today it loses even the cheapest smartphones. 2026 Main issues of the year:
- 🌅 Low light shooting: heavy noise, blurry, loss of detail. Even night mode (if enabled through third-party apps) is of little help.
- 🎥 Video: Maximum resolution - Full HD 30 FPS, No stabilisation. Videos are "twitchy".
- 👤 Selfie camera: 5 MP with fixed focus - enough only for video calls.
- 🔍 Autofocus: Slow, especially in low light conditions.
For comparison, even Redmi. 12C (2023 year) equipped with a dual camera 50+2 MP-supported HDR And it's nighttime, which gives you much better shots. 5 — not the best choice.
Photos from Redmi 5 (2026)
Battery and autonomy: is it enough for a day?
The 3300mAh battery capacity in 2017 was considered a good indicator for a compact smartphone, and today, given the gluttony of modern applications and an outdated processor, this is enough to:
- 📱 Easy mode: 1.5-2 days (messengers, calls, rare surfing).
- 🎮 Medium mode: 1 day (social networks, 1-2 hours of video, navigation).
- ⚡ Intensive mode: 6-8 hours (games, video shooting, constant Internet).
The charging speed leaves much to be desired: a complete adapter 5V/2A charger for 2.5–3 If you use a quick charger. 2.0 (18W), time is shortened to 1.5–2 Even though it is slower than the current standard, the Quick Charge 4+ or USB-PD).
⚠️ Note: If you buy a used Redmi 5, be sure to check the status of the battery through the AccuBattery application. After 3-4 years of operation, the battery capacity often drops to 2000-2500 mAh, which reduces the operating time by 1.5-2 times. Replacing the battery will cost 1,500-2,500 ₽ (depending on the service center).
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To extend the life of the battery, turn off the background activity of unnecessary applications in the settings Settings → Battery → Battery optimization: It is also recommended to keep the charge level in the range of 20-80% and avoid overheating (do not play games while charging).
What is the best choice for Redmi 5 instead of Redmi?
If Redmi 5 is not a good fit, consider alternatives from the budget segment of 2023-2026, and we compared the key parameters with popular models:
| Model | Processor | RAM/ROM | Screen. | Battery | Price (b/y/new), ₽ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Redmi 5 (2017) | Snapdragon 450 | 2–3/16–32 GB | 5.7" HD+ (720p) | 3300 mAh | 3,000 to 5,000 (b/o) |
| Redmi 12C (2023) | Helio G85 | 3–6/64–128 GB | 6.7" HD+ (720p) | 5,000 mAh | 8,000-10,000 (new) |
| POCO C55 (2023) | Helio G85 | 4–6/64–128 GB | 6.7" HD+ (90 Hz) | 5,000 mAh | 9,000-11,000 (new) |
| Samsung Galaxy A04 (2022) | Helio P35 | 3-4/32-128 GB | 6.5" HD+ (60 Hz) | 5,000 mAh | 7,000-9,000 (new) |
As you can see from the table, even the cheapest new smartphones surpass Redmi 5 in all respects: performance, battery capacity, screen quality and software support. 12C It's only 3,000 to 5,000. ₽, But for that money, you get a device that lasts longer and will be relevant for at least another 2-3 years.
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Pros and cons of Xiaomi Redmi 5 in 2026
To sum up: What are the advantages and disadvantages that make Redmi 5 relevant (or vice versa) today?
✅ Pluses:
- 💰 Low price: One of the cheapest ways to get a working smartphone (3,000–5,000) ₽ secondary-market).
- 🔧 Repairability: spare parts are cheap, you can replace the screen or battery for 1,000–2,000 ₽.
- 📦 Compact: 5.7-inch body comfortably in the hand, weighing only 157 g.
- 🔌 3.5 mm connector: there is an audio jack for wired headphones (in new smartphones it is often removed).
❌ Cons:
- 🐢 Outdated “iron”: Snapdragon 450 and 2-3 GB of RAM can not cope with modern tasks.
- 🚫 No updates: The latest version of Android is 10, which limits compatibility with new apps.
- 📸 Weak camera: even public sector for 7000 ₽ shoot up.
- 🔋 Small battery: 3300 mAh today is very small.
- 📡 No. 5G Wi-Fi 6: Internet speed limits.
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Redmi 5 in 2026 will be suitable only for basic tasks, SMS, Messengers and easy surfing. For everything else, it’s better to consider the new budget models from Xiaomi, POCO Samsung.
Should you buy a Xiaomi Redmi 5 today? Who's the right one?
The Xiaomi Redmi 5 in 2026 is a lottery ticket, cheap and reliable for basic tasks, and outdated, slow and unsafe (due to lack of updates).
- 👵 For older people: for calls, SMS and simple messengers (WhatsApp, Viber).
- 🎓 Students/students: if only learning materials, video lessons (without games).
- 🏗️ Specialties: for calls, photo reports, navigation (but not for heavy applications).
- 🔄 As a spare phone: if you need a second device, just in case".
Who Should Buy Redmi 5?
- 🎮 Gamers: even simple mobile games come with lags.
- 📸 Photographers: the camera does not even pull on the level of social networks.
- 💼 Business users: no support for modern banking applications and corporate services.
- 🚀 Those who love novelties: MIUI 12 on Android 10 is morally outdated.
If your budget is limited to 5,000–7,000 ₽, It is better to look for more recent models in the secondary market, for example:
- Redmi 9A (2020, Snapdragon 439, Android 11) — ~5 000–6 000 ₽;
- Redmi Note 8 (2019, Snapdragon 665, Android 11) — ~6 000–8 000 ₽;
- POCO C31 (2021, Helio G35, Android 11) — ~6 000–7 000 ₽.