Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X in 2026: specifications, comparison with modern state-owned workers and whether to buy

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X, released in early 2017, has become a real legend of the budget segment. At the peak of popularity, it offered a record price-performance ratio, but it has been 7 years - by the standards of the mobile industry, this is an era. Today this device can only be found on the secondary market at a price of 3,000 to 7,000 rubles, and naturally the question arises: should you buy it in 2026?

In this article, we will examine the relevance of the Redmi Note 4X in terms of current challenges: whether it supports current applications, how it multitasks, how secure its firmware is, and what alternatives to consider.

If you're looking for a low-cost smartphone for calls, instant messengers, and easy surfing, the Redmi Note 4X may seem like a tempting option, but before you buy it, it's important to weigh the pros and cons, especially if you plan to use it as your primary device, and then have an honest look at the technical details, tests, and comparisons with the more recent models.

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: what is a smartphone in 2026

At the time of the Redmi Note 4X, it was powered by the budget-leading Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (8 cores, 2.0 GHz), which is still considered one of the most energy-efficient chipsets in its class. However, today's apps and games have much higher demands on hardware.

• 📱 Screen: 5.5″ IPS, permit 1920×1080 (Full HD), brightness 450 By today's standards, it's a good matrix, but without support. HDR or high refresh rate.
• 🧠 Processor: Snapdragon 625 (14 nm), Adreno 506. in 2026, inferior even to budget chips like Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 or Helio G85.
• 📷 Camera: main camera 13 MPP (f/2.0), frontal 5 MP: No phase autofocus, no night shooting, or 4K-video.
• 🔋 Battery: 4100 mAh with support for fast charging (but the power supply is included — 5V/2A). The capacity is not inferior to many modern state employees.
• 🗃️ Memory: 3/32 GB 4/64 GB (depending on version) No microSD slot in hybrid version!

On paper, the specs look solid for their time, but in practice, in 2026, users face a number of limitations:

⚠️ Warning: The smartphone doesn't officially support Android 10 and newer. Latest firmware from Xiaomi — MIUI 11 is based on Android 7.0 (for the global version), which means the lack of modern features like app permissions, improved notification management and, most importantly, critical security patches.

Performance in 2026: what can and can not Redmi Note 4X

The main question that worries potential buyers: will the smartphone cope with modern tasks?

• 🎮 Games: 🟢 PUBG Mobile - Medium settings, 30 FPS (lags when loading the map). 🟢 Mobile Legends – High Settings, 60 FPS (Heated up after 40 minutes of play). 🔴 Genshin Impact – does not start (requires Android 8.1)+). 🔴 Call of Duty: Mobile – low settings, frequent friezes.
• 📱 Social media: 🟢 Telegram, WhatsApp – work smoothly. 🟡 TikTok - slows down when scrolling the tape (especially with HD-video). 🟡 Instagram – long loads Stories, rails slow down.
• 🌐 browsers: 🟢 Lightweight sites (VK, Yandex) – open quickly. 🔴 Complex Web Applications (Google Docs, Figma.

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If you plan to play Redmi Note 4X, turn off the background activity of the applications in the settings → Battery → Optimization. This will reduce heating and increase FPS by 10-15%.

For everyday tasks (calls, instant messengers, YouTube at 720p), the smartphone is still suitable, but it is worth considering:

⚠️ Note: When running 3-4 applications simultaneously (e.g. maps) + music + The system begins to forcely close the background processes due to a lack of RAM. This can interrupt navigation or music playback.

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The Redmi Note 4X is only for basic tasks, and if you want modern games, multitasking, or long-term support, consider models no older than 2020.

Battery and autonomy: the strength of the model

One of the key advantages of the Redmi Note 4X is a capacious battery for 4100 mAh, which even after 7 years shows decent results. With moderate use (calls, messengers, 2-3 hours of screen time), the smartphone keeps 1.5-2 days without recharging. For comparison, many modern public sector employees with a battery of 5000 mAh in the same conditions discharge per day.

But there are nuances:

• ⚡ Fast charging only works with the original power supply (5V/2A). Modern adapters for 18W–30W The smartphone does not support.
• 🔋 If the battery never changed, its actual capacity could decrease by 2026 by 20-30.
• 🔌 When using active games, navigation, the working time is reduced to 6-8 hours.

Can I take high-quality photos in 2026?

The Redmi Note 4X was a mid-range camera even in 2017, and today it looks modest. The 13MP core module (Samsung S5K3L8) only shoots in good light.

• 🌞 Daytime pictures: 8-10 MP detail of modern smartphones, natural colors, but the dynamic range is narrow (overlights in the sky).
• 🌃 Night photography: no night mode, only noise and blur. ISO 1600+ There is a lot of digital noise.
• 🎥 Video: maximum 1080p@30fps, There's no stabilization. There's a strong jelly-likeness when you're moving».
• 👤 Selfie: 5-MP frontal softens the face, the detail is weak (suitable only for messengers).

For comparison, even the budget Redmi 12C (2023) offers a 50-MP night-mode main camera and 1080p@60fps video. If the photo is important to you, the Note 4X will disappoint.

Use the Google Camera (GCam) app with manual settings |

Shoot in RAW format (via GCam) for post-processing |

Turn off HDR in the camera settings (it only spoils the pictures)|

Clean the lens before shooting (dust strongly affects clarity)-->

⚠️ In 2026, many social networks (for example, Instagram) automatically compress photos with a resolution below 12 MP. 4X After downloading lose up to 40% of detail.

MIUI on Android 7: security issues and workarounds

The most painful topic for the Redmi Note 4X is the lack of updates. The last official firmware (MIUI 11 based on Android 7.0) was released in 2020, which means:

• 🛡️ Security: Vulnerable to exploits like Dirty Pipe or Stagefright that allow attackers to access data.
• 🔒 Applications: Many banking programs (Sberbank, Tinkoff) require Android 8.0+. Some games (such as Genshin Impact) don’t run at all.
• 📱 Features: No dark theme at the system level, no notifications are grouped, no navigation gestures.

Is there a way out? Yes, but with reservations:

1. Custom firmware: For example, LineageOS 16 (Android 9) or Havoc-OS (Android 10). Requires unlocking the bootloader and the risk of "bricking" the device. Risks of custom firmware 1. Loss of warranty (if it was still in effect). 2. Possible bugs: non-functioning NFC, camera problems. 3. Difficulties with updating (you have to reflash manually). 4. Risk of blocking Mi Account (if you do not follow the instructions).
2. Update via Xiaomi.eu: Unofficial builds of MIUI based on Android 9-10. Less risk, but still requires unlocking the bootloader.
3. Using alternative launchers: For example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair can add a modern interface, but will not solve security issues.

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Before you run the firmware, be sure to check the bootloader version through the fastboot getvar anti command. If the value is anti: 3 or lower, unlock is possible. If anti: 4 is only through the official Xiaomi unlocker (it may require a wait of up to 30 days).

Comparison with modern state-owned: what is better to buy instead of Redmi Note 4X

If Redmi Note 4X is not satisfied with you, consider alternatives from the budget segment (prices are current for May 2026):

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If the budget allows, it is better to pay 3,000-5,000 rubles and take a smartphone from 2020 to 2022, which guarantees support for modern applications and security for 2-3 years ahead.

If you are buying the Redmi Note 4X, pay attention to:

• 🔍 Battery status: Check charging cycles through AccuBattery (optimum up to 500 cycles).
• 📱 Global firmware version preferable to Chinese firmware version because it is easier to reflash.
• 🛠️ Availability of warranty/check: if the smartphone was bought in 2017-2018, there is a high risk of an imminent breakdown (for example, a plume dump of the touch screen).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X