Xiaomi’s RedmiBook series has long been popular with a combination of affordable prices, modern design and performance sufficient for everyday tasks. The RedmiBook 5 model was a logical extension of the lineup, but its release was accompanied by many questions: when exactly it appeared on sale, how does it differ from its predecessor and is it worth overpaying for the updated version?
In this article, we will analyze the exact release date of RedmiBook 5 in different regions, analyze key improvements over the RedmiBook 4 Pro, and give recommendations for choosing a modification.
The official release date of Xiaomi RedmiBook 5
Xiaomi RedmiBook 5 was announced on August 26, 2021 at a presentation in China along with other devices in the Xiaomi ecosystem, including smartphones and smart gadgets.
- 🇨🇳 China: sales start – September 1, 2021 (one week after the announcement).
- 🌍 Global market: the first batches went on sale in October-November 2021, but officially in some countries (for example, Russia) the laptop hit only in the first quarter of 2022.
- 🇮🇳 India: Released in March 2022 as RedmiBook Pro (with minor modifications to the configuration).
Delays in global release were due to shortages of components (particularly Intel’s 11th generation processors) and logistical problems caused by the pandemic, and as a result, some RedmiBook 5 modifications in Europe and Asia were sold in batches, creating an artificial hype.
Interestingly, in China, the laptop was sold under the name RedmiBook Pro 15 2021, while in the global market it was often positioned simply as RedmiBook 5.
Technical specifications: what has changed compared to RedmiBook 4
The main difference between RedmiBook 5 and its predecessor was the transition to 11th-generation Intel Core processors (Tiger Lake), which gave performance gains of up to 20-30% in multithreaded tasks, as well as improved screen, cooling system and autonomy.
| Parameter | RedmiBook 4 Pro (2020) | RedmiBook 5 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5/i7 10th generation | Intel Core i5-11300H / i7-11370H |
| Video card | Intel UHD Graphics / NVIDIA MX350 (optional) | Intel Iris Xe / NVIDIA MX450 (in top versions) |
| Screen. | 15.6", Full HD (60 Hz), 100% sRGB | 15.6", Full HD (90 Hz), 100% sRGB, TÜV Low Blue Light certification |
| RAM/ROM | 8–16 GB DDR4 / 512 GB SSD | 8–16 GB DDR4 (3200 MHz) / 512 GB–1 TB SSD (PCIe 3.0) |
| Battery | 46 Whhh | 56 Wh (up to 12 hours of autonomy) |
The 90Hz refresh rate display, a rare option for budget laptops in 2021, made RedmiBook 5 attractive to gamers and graphics users, but the basic configuration (without a discrete graphics card) limited the screen frequency to 60Hz, which was often ignored in marketing materials.
💡
Before buying, check the modification of the laptop by serial number - some sellers issue the basic version (60 Hz) for "Pro" with 90 Hz. The serial number can be checked on the official website of Xiaomi.
Modifications and prices at the start of sales
At the time of release, RedmiBook 5 was introduced in three main configurations, differing in processor, memory and discrete graphics, prices in China at the start of sales (September 2021) looked like this:
- 💻 Basic version: Intel Core i5-11300H, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, Intel Iris Xe — 4299 renminbi (~$670).
- 🎮 "Gamers: Intel Core i5-11300H, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, NVIDIA MX450 — 4999 renminbi (~$780).
- ⚡ Top: Intel Core i7-11370H, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, NVIDIA MX450, screen 90 Hz — 5999 renminbi (~$930).
In the global market, prices were 15-25% higher due to taxes and logistics, for example, in Russia at the beginning of 2022, the basic version cost about 65,000 rubles, and the top version - up to 90,000 rubles, while in some countries (for example, in India), the laptop was sold under the name RedmiBook Pro with minor changes in the configuration (for example, without the keyboard lighting in the basic version).
Why did RedmiBook 5 prices vary so much in different countries?
It is worth noting that after 3-4 months after the release of the price of RedmiBook 5 began to fall — especially on the modifications with Intel Core i5. This was due to the release of new Intel 12th generation processors and competition from Honor and Lenovo laptops.
Comparison with competitors: why RedmiBook 5 was more profitable
In 2021-2022, the RedmiBook 5 competed with the Honor MagicBook 15, Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and HP Pavilion 15.
- 🔥 Price/performance ratio: for the same money, a more powerful processor and a better screen were offered.
- 🖥️ Display with a high refresh rate (90 Hz in the top version), which was rare in the budget segment.
- 🔋 Increased battery (56 Wh vs 45-50 Wh from competitors).
- 🛠️ Easiness of upgrade: the possibility of self-replacement SSD RAM (unlike soldered memory in Honor MagicBook).
There were also drawbacks, such as the plastic case (the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is aluminum), and the lack of Thunderbolt 4 (only USB-C 3.2 Gen 1), and in some regions warranty service was worse than that of competitors.
💡
The RedmiBook 5 was different from the competition thanks to 11th generation processors and 90 Hz screen, but lost out as a build and service.
Compared to its predecessor, the RedmiBook 4 Pro, the performance gains were 15-25% depending on the task, and the autonomy increased by 1.5-2 hours, but for most office tasks (document work, browsing), the difference was almost invisible.
Where to buy RedmiBook 5 in 2026: current offers
At the time of writing (2026), Xiaomi RedmiBook 5 has already been discontinued, but it can be found:
- 🛒 B/U market: on Avito, OLX or Facebook Marketplace prices vary from 25 000 to 40 000 rubles depending on the state.
- 🌐 Foreign marketplaces: on AliExpress or Banggood sometimes new instances appear at prices from the $400 (but at risk of forgery).
- 🏬 Local service centers: Some workshops sell refurbished laptops with a warranty.
When buying a used model, pay attention to:
Battery condition (capacity not lower than 80% of the original)
Screen operation (no broken pixels, uniform backlight)
Processor temperature under load (not higher than 90°C)
The presence of an origil power supply block (100W, 20V/5A)-->
If you need a new appliance, consider a successor, the RedmiBook 15 Pro 2023 with 12th-generation Intel processors or the AMD Ryzen 6000. They offer better performance and support for modern standards (such as Wi-Fi 6E and Thunderbolt 4).
💡
Before buying a used laptop, ask the seller to take a screenshot of AIDA64 or HWiNFO with data on battery life and processor temperature, which will help avoid buying a “killed” device.
Frequent problems and how to avoid them
Despite its reliability, RedmiBook 5 had a few common issues to be aware of:
⚠️ Attention: Many users have complained of overheating under high loads (e.g. in games or renderings) due to a compact cooling system, the solution being the use of a cooling stand and regular dust cleaning.
Other common issues:
- 🔊 Weak speakers: quiet and no bass, solved by external speakers or headphones.
- 🖱️ Inconvenient touchpad: some users have had false positives, helps update drivers or disable gestures in the settings.
- 🔋 Rapid battery wear and tear when used frequently in charge mode, it is recommended to keep the charge at 40-80% to extend the life of the battery.
Also worth mentioning are the driver issues for the NVIDIA MX450 discrete graphics card on some Windows builds. Xiaomi has released patches, but they weren't always automatically installed. It's recommended to download drivers directly from the NVIDIA site, not through the Mi Driver Manager.
⚠️ Attention: When updating BIOS on RedmiBook 5, do not turn off power or use the laptop from the battery. The interrupted process can lead to the "bricking" of the device.