Previous articleHow to replace Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 in 2026: 10 smartphones with the best cameras, battery and hardware

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 was once one of the most popular budget smartphones: the Snapdragon 636, a 4,000 mAh battery and dual camera seemed like the perfect combination for its price. 120Hz screen has become the standard, processors 4 nm ahead of the 14 nm chips of the past, and cameras have learned to shoot in the future. 4K HDR If your Redmi Note 5 is slowing down, discharged quickly, or is simply obsolete, it's time to look for a replacement.

In this article, we will not only list the 10 best alternatives for different budgets (from 10 to 40 thousand rubles), but also analyze what exactly you should pay attention to when choosing: why AMOLED-Screen more important than resolutions, how the 2023 processor saves battery, and why even budget smartphones now support the new technology. 5G. And also – compare real tests of autonomy, camera and performance, so you do not buy a “cat in a bag".

Why Redmi Note 5 is outdated: 5 key issues

Even if your smartphone looks new, the internal components of the Redmi Note 5 are no longer up to date.

• 🔋 Battery degraded: After 5-6 years of operation, battery capacity drops by 30-40%. Even if you've changed the battery, micro-USB charging and no fast charging make the process uncomfortable.
• 📱 Resolution screen HD+: In 2026, even for 15 thousand rubles you can find Full HD+ AMOLED with 90 Hz, and the Note 5 — IPS 720p pixelated.
• 🚀 Snapdragon 636: In modern games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), it delivers less than 30 times FPS In comparison, the Snapdragon 680 (2022) pulls the same games by 60. FPS.
• 📸 Camera without night mode: Even budget smartphones 2023-2026 can shoot in the dark with detail, and Note 5 gives noisy pictures when you look at the camera. ISO > 800.
• 🔒 Outdated firmware: The last official Android 9 received security updates in 2021.This means security vulnerabilities and lack of support for new apps.

⚠️ Note: If you use the Redmi Note 5 for banking or personal data storage, an outdated version of Android makes it an easy target for viruses. SMS confirmation-coded.

But don't rush to throw away an old smartphone! It can be reflashed on custom firmware (for example, LineageOS 20), used as a mobile phone. IP-camera or media player, or sell for spare parts (display, battery, motherboard are still in demand).

Top.-3 Budget Smartphones (up to) 15 000 ₽) Better than Redmi Note 5

If you need a smartphone “just for calls and social networks”, but with modern hardware – these models will offer you a new smartphone. AMOLED-screen, 5G And a night-mode camera for the same money that the Note 5 once cost.

The best choice in this segment is Poco M6 Despite the budget price, it offers:

• 🔹 AMOLED-screen HDR10 (Note 5's is normal IPS without HDR).

⚠️ Note: Budget smartphones often save on NFS-If you plan to use your phone as a storage device (for example, to shoot video in a video) 4K), Take a support model UFS 2.2 (e.g. Poco) M6 Pro, not eMMC 5.1 (as in Redmi) 12C).

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Before buying, check the support 5G In your region, on the Rosinfocom website, even if the smartphone supports 5G, The network may not be available in your city.

Mid-segment (15 000–25 000) ₽): Best Price/Quality Balance

If you are willing to spend 5-10 thousand rubles more than the Redmi Note 5 cost in its time, options will open with flagship chips 2022, super-fast charging and cameras that are not inferior to the iPhone 11.

Leaders of this segment:

• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G — Best camera in the lineup (200 MP with) OIS), 120 Hz AMOLED, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2.

The difference is the Redmi Note 5: All of these models support video shooting in 4K@30fps with gyrostabilization, whereas Note 5 maximum in full HD stabilised.

If you care about sound, pay attention to Poco. X5 Pro — it has Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, whereas the Note 5 has mediocre mono speakers. And if autonomy is the priority, take the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+ with a battery of 5000 mAh and 120 W charging (full charge in 19 minutes!).

Premium alternatives (25,000-40,000) ₽): for those who want the maximum

If the budget allows, why not take a smartphone with a flagship processor, a first-class camera and a premium design?In this segment, even Xiaomi offers models that are not inferior to the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S in capabilities, but cheaper by 30-40%.

Top.-3 variant:

1. Xiaomi 13 Lite – thin (7.2 mm) and lightweight (171 g) smartphone with AMOLED 120Hz, dual frontal and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1.

Poco F5 The Pro is the most interesting option for gamers and fans of powerful iron. It beats the Redmi Note 5 in all respects:

• 🎮 Snapdragon 8 processor+ Gen 1 (the same as the Samsung Galaxy) S22+).
• 🔥 Cooling system with steam chamber (no trottling even after an hour of play).
• ⚡ Charging 120 W (vs. 10 W at Note 5).
• 📸 Camera. 64 MP OIS (videotape 8K@24fps).

⚠️ Note: Smartphones with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (e.g. Poco) F5 Pros can get very hot when you're under prolonged loads. If you play heavy games often, use an active-cooled case or limit it. FPS graphically.

If you want a camera, it’s better to look at the Xiaomi 13 Lite – it has a dual front camera (32 MP). + 8MP) with autofocus, which is rare even among flagships. GT Neo 5 with 240 watts has no analogues on the market.

Does the model have an official warranty in Russia (check on the Xiaomi website)

Does the smartphone support Dual? 5G (major SIM-map)

Is there a charger in the kit (some models do not have it)

Is the phone compatible with wireless charging (if it's important to you)-->

Which is better: a new budget or a used flagship?

Many users of Redmi Note 5 are faced with a choice: buy a new smartphone for 15-20 thousand rubles or take a used flagship (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 or Samsung Galaxy). S20) Let's look at the pros and cons of each option.

New budget smartphone (plus):

• ✅ 1–2 year warranty.
• ✅ A modern processor (like the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 beats the Snapdragon 865 from 2020 flagships in everyday tasks).
• ✅ Support for new standards (Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3).
• ✅ Battery without wear.

B/u flagship (plus):

• ✅ Premium screen (e.g., premium screen, 2K AMOLED 120 Hz Mi 11 vs. Mi 11 FHD+ IPS 90 Hz from the new budget).
• ✅ Best camera (108 MP Mi 11 vs 50 MP Redmi 12 Pro).
• ✅ More powerful processor (like the Snapdragon 888 is still faster than the Snapdragon 695).
• ✅ Premium design (glass/metal vs plastic in public sector).

What to choose?

• 🔹 If you need a long-playing smartphone with a guarantee, take a new budgetary device (Poco) M6 Pro or Redmi 12 Pro).
• 🔹 If the camera, screen and performance are important, and the budget is limited, consider a used flagship (Xiaomi Mi 11, OnePlus 8 Pro:

Battery status (capacity must be at least 85% of the original, checked by ##4636###)

Performance of all cameras (especially telephoto and wide-angle)

No yellow spots on the OLED-screen (check on white background)

The presence of original charging (power units from flagships often fail)-->

Beware of overbought products that sell flagships with switched batteries or non-original screens. IMEI SNDdeep – it will show the real year of release and the history of repairs.

How to transfer data from the old Redmi Note 5 to a new smartphone

Switching to a new phone is always stressful: how to keep your photos, contacts and settings intact? If you have a Redmi Note 5, there are several ways to transfer data:

Method 1: Mi Cloud (if the phone is still running)

1. On Redmi Note 5, go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on sync for contacts, notes, photos.
3. On the new smartphone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and wait for synchronization.

Method 2: Through cable OTG (if the phone doesn't turn on)

• Buy it. OTG-Micro-USB adapter USB-C (worth ~200 ₽).
• Connect the Redmi Note 5 to your new phone as a flash drive.
• Copy files manually (photos, videos, documents).

Method 3: Through Google Account (Universal)

1. On an old phone: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization.
2. On a new phone: When you first turn on, select a recovery from your Google account.

⚠️ Note: If the Redmi Note 5 had a password or pattern lock and you forgot it, transferring data through the Mi Cloud is impossible without resetting. + Vol+ when the phone is turned off) and select Wipe Data, but this will delete all data!

For transfer SMS and call history use the app SMS Backup & Restore (available on Google Play) saves messages to a file that can then be restored on a new phone.

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Don’t rely on synchronization via Mi Cloud if you have important data, it’s better to back up your computer via adb backup or manually copy files to a flash drive.

Frequent mistakes when choosing a replacement for the Redmi Note 5

Many people make the same mistakes when buying a new smartphone.

• 🚫 Take a smartphone with a processor older than 2021. 732G (2020 is outdated and does not hold up modern games.
• 🚫 Ignore the type of screen. IPS cheaper AMOLED It saves battery and gives more juicy colors.
• 🚫 Buy a model without fast charging support.Even 18W is 2 times faster than the 10W Note 5.
• 🚫 In 2026, a minimum of 128 GB (64 GB clogged with the system and cache in six months).
• 🚫 Don't check for support 5G. Even if the network is not yet in your city, it will appear in 1-2 years.

Another common mistake is to buy a smartphone without NFC. In 2026, contactless payments became the standard, and the lack of a NFC Make it impossible to pay by phone in the subway, shops and transport.

Also, you should not chase the maximum number of cameras. For example, some smartphones have macro and deep cameras, but their resolution is only 2 MP, and they do not carry real benefits. OIS), than five mediocre.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions