Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: the year of release, specifications and relevance today

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 has become one of the most popular devices of the brand due to the combination of affordable prices and powerful characteristics. However, over time, many new models have appeared on the market, and many users wonder: what year this phone is, and is it relevant in 2026? In this article, we will not only answer the question about the year of release, but also analyze whether it is worth buying Redmi Note 7 today, compare it with modern analogues and reveal all the technical nuances that will help make an informed choice.

If you’re looking for a release date to see how outdated the device is, or if you’re planning to buy a used model, this is a particularly useful material. We’ll also look at what updates the smartphone has received, what weaknesses it has, and what to look for when choosing between the Redmi Note 7 and the newer Note series.

The official release year of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 was announced on January 24, 2019 at the presentation in Beijing.It was the first model in the Note line to receive a glass body and a 48-megapixel main camera – revolutionary novelties for the budget segment at the time.Sales in China began on January 15, 2019 (a week before the global announcement), and in other countries, including Russia, the smartphone began to ship in March 2019.

Interestingly, the Redmi Note 7 was the first device to be launched under the Redmi brand as a standalone sub-brand (previously a line within Xiaomi), a move that allowed the company to segment its audience more clearly: Redmi was positioned as a budget brand, and Xiaomi as a premium.

• 📅 Dates of key events: 🔹 January 15, 2019 – start of sales in China; 🔹 January 24, 2019 – Global Announcement; 🔹 March 2019 – Entry into the Russian market; 🔹 July 2021 – Cease of Official Updates MIUI.

It is worth noting that the Redmi Note 7 was produced in several versions, including the Redmi Note 7 Pro (with a Snapdragon 675) and the Redmi Note 7S (with a 48 MP camera instead of 12 MP in the basic version for some regions), however, the basic model in question was equipped with a Snapdragon 660 chipset and was the most popular.

Technical specifications: what offered Redmi Note 7 in 2019

At the time of the release, the Redmi Note 7 was considered one of the most balanced smartphones in its price segment, its hardware allowed you to cope not only with everyday tasks, but also with moderate gaming.

A feature of the model was the use of a glass case with an aluminum frame - previously in budget smartphones, plastic dominated. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and the back panel - Gorilla Glass 3. The device also received an infrared port for controlling equipment, a 3.5 mm socket for headphones and a fingerprint scanner on the back.

According to the results of tests in 2019, the Redmi Note 7 showed the following results:

• 🎮 AnTuTu 7: ~140,000 points;
• 📊 GeekBench 4: ~1 600 (single-core) / ~5,500 (multi-core);
• 🔋 Autonomous life: up to 1.5 days with moderate use.

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In 2019, the Redmi Note 7 was the leader in price/quality ratio in the budget segment, ahead of competitors in performance and design.

Updates and support: up to which version of MIUI Redmi Note 7

One of the key issues when buying a used smartphone is the relevance of the software. Xiaomi has traditionally supported its devices longer than many competitors, but even they have limitations. For the Redmi Note 7, official updates stopped in July 2021 on the version of MIUI 12.5 (based on Android 10).

This means that the smartphone will not receive Android 11/12/13 and new features MIUI. However, enthusiasts have developed custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), which allows you to upgrade to the latest versions of Android.

⚠️ Note: After July 2021, Redmi Note 7 will no longer receive monthly security patches.Using an outdated version of Android increases the risk of vulnerabilities, especially when working with banking applications or payments.

• 🔄 Chronology of updates: 📱 MIUI 10 (Android 9) — box; 📱 MIUI 11 (Android 9/10) — autumn 2019; 📱 MIUI 12 (Android 10) — summer 2020; 📱 MIUI 12.5 (Android 10) — July 2021 (last-minute).

If you're critical to the relevance of software, consider newer models like the Redmi Note 11 (2022) or POCO X5 (2023) that are still getting updates, but for basic tasks (calls, instant messengers, social networks), the Redmi Note 7 on MIUI 12.5 remains functional.

Weaknesses and Typical Problems of Redmi Note 7

Despite its popularity, the Redmi Note 7 has several “diseases” to be aware of before buying, some critical, others easily treatable.

⚠️ Attention: The most common problem is the detachment of the display module due to the low-quality glue. Symptoms: the appearance of "waves" or yellowness at the edges of the screen. Repair costs 3-5 thousand rubles (replacement of the display) + sticking).

Other common malfunctions:

• 🔋 Rapid battery wear — in 2-3 years, the capacity can fall to 70-80% of the original. ~1,500-2,000 rubles.
• 📶 Weak signal. Wi-Fi/4G — associated with the Qualcomm budget module WCN3990. In some cases, replacing antenna plumes helps.
• 🔊 Wheezing speaker - often at maximum volume. Solution: cleaning speaker from dust or replacing speaker.
• 📱 Overheating when charging - typical for devices with worn-out battery. It is recommended to use the original 18W power supply.

Users also note that the eMMC drive is slow to work when more than 80% of the memory is filled, which leads to slowdowns in the interface, the solution is to regularly clean the cache or replace it with a class A2 microSD to install applications.

🔍 Check the screen for the presence of detachments (yellowships at the edges)

🔋 Check the health of the battery in Settings → Battery. → Status.

📶 Test Internet speed and Wi-Fi stability

🎮 Run a heavy app (like Genshin Impact) for 10 minutes – doesn’t the processor warm up?

🔊 Listen to the speaker at maximum volume - are there wheezing-->

Comparison with modern models: whether to buy in 2026

It’s been 5 years since the Redmi Note 7 was released, and the smartphone market has changed a lot over that time. Let’s compare it to Xiaomi’s current budget models (at the beginning of 2026):

As you can see from the table, the Redmi Note 7 is outperforming today’s models in performance, cameras and display, but it has two key advantages:

1. 💰 Low price - used device can be found for 5-8 thousand rubles, which is 2-3 times cheaper than new state employees.
2. 🔧 Repairability – spare parts are cheap and common, and the design makes it easy to replace the battery or screen.

Who will be the Redmi Note 7 in 2026?

• 👵 Elderly people for calls, SMS simple applications;
• 🎓 Students/Students as the first smartphone for learning and social networks;
• 🔧 Enthusiasts of custom firmware - for experiments with Android;
• 💼 As a spare phone or for work (unless modern features are required).

If you want games, high-quality photos or long-term support for updates, it is better to consider the Redmi Note 12 or POCO M6 Pro.

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When buying a used Redmi Note 7, be sure to check the IMEI on imei.info – this will help make sure that the phone is not blacklisted (stolen / lost).

Where to buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 in 2026 and at what price

Since the model is discontinued, Redmi Note 7 can only be purchased on the secondary market.

• 🛒 Avito: 3/32 GB — 4 000–5 500 ruble.; 4/64 GB — 5 500–7 000 ruble.; 6/128 GB — 7 000–9 000 ruble..
• 🛒 Yula – prices 10-15% lower than on Avito, but the risk of running into unscrupulous sellers is higher.
• 🛒 Facebook Marketplace – Devices are often in perfect condition from the first owners.
• 🛒 Specialized forums (e.g, 4PDA) — Here you can find smartphones with a guarantee from the community.

⚠️ Be careful with offers below 4000 rubles. – There is a high probability that the phone has hidden defects (broken screen, unoriginal battery or battery). IMEI blacklisted).

When buying, pay attention to:

1. 📄 Check or warranty card (if the seller claims that the phone is new/underused);
2. 🔋 Battery status - in Settings → The battery should be indicated as “Good” or “Great";
3. 🔍 The presence of the original box and memory – this reduces the risk of buying a “gray” device;
4. 🛠️ Autopsy marks – if the screws on the back cover are scratched, it’s likely the phone has been repaired.

It is also worth checking the operation of all sensors (Gyroscope, Compass, Approximation Sensor) using the CPU-Z or AIDA64 application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)