A brief history of the model: why the Redmi Note 5 became a legend
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (codenamed Whyred) was introduced in February 2018 and quickly gained popularity thanks to a combination of powerful stuffing and affordable price. This is the first Redmi Note device to have an 18:9 aspect ratio display and dual camera as standard. But who is really behind the production of this gadget?
Many people mistakenly believe that all Xiaomi smartphones are produced in the company’s own factories, but in fact the brand actively cooperates with contract manufacturers – the so-called “company” of the company. ODM/OEM-partners who build devices for Xiaomi, in the case of the Redmi Note. 5 The situation is particularly interesting: the model was produced in several plants at the same time, which even affected the quality of the assembly.
Official manufacturer: who is behind the brand Xiaomi
Xiaomi Corp. is a Chinese tech giant registered in Beijing, but the firm itself does not physically manufacture smartphones, instead designs, develops firmware (MIUI) and controls quality, and transfers assembly to third-party factories, an approach called manufacturing outsourcing and is used by most global brands, including Apple and Samsung.
Xiaomi has selected two key partners for the Redmi Note 5:
- 🏭 Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) is a Taiwanese company, the world's largest electronics manufacturer, and it was in its factories that most of the Redmi Note 5s for the global market were assembled.
- 🏭 Wingtech Technology - Chinese ODM-A manufacturer specializing in budget smartphones, whose lines were used for releases focused on the domestic market of China.
Interestingly, Xiaomi never officially disclosed the percentage of production between these factories, and according to insiders, up to 70% of all Redmi Note 5s were produced at Foxconn facilities in India and China, due to stricter quality controls at these facilities.
Geography of production: where was the Redmi Note 5 assembled
The Redmi Note 5 was produced in three factories, which affected its cost and availability.
| Country. | City/Region | Manufacturer | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Shenzhen, Henan | Foxconn / Wingtech | Main capacities for domestic market and export to Asia |
| India | Noida, Andhra Pradesh | Foxconn | Local production for the Indian market (Make in India program) |
| Indonesia | jakarta | Wingtech | Small parties for Southeast Asia |
The India assembly was key: local production helped Xiaomi bypass import duties and reduce the price by 10 to 15 percent for Indian buyers, which is why some Redmi Note 5s have the inscription “Made in India” on their back instead of the usual “Made in China”.
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To find out the country of production of your Redmi Note 5, enter the dial code ##4636## and go to the "Phone Information" section, the lines "Manufacturer" and "Country" will indicate the factory and the country of assembly.
How to distinguish the original from the fake by manufacturer
The popularity of the model has brought many Redmi Note 5 clones to the market, assembled in uncertified factories.
- 🔍 Serial number, the box and the battery must match. IMEI, You can check it out on IMEI.info. Original devices are linked to official manufacturers.
- 📦 The original box has the address of the manufacturer at the bottom of the box, either Foxconn (Hon Hai) or Wingtech.
- 🛠️ Build quality: The original Redmi Note 5 from Foxconn has minimal clearance between the body and the screen (less than 0.3 mm), and the buttons have a clear stroke without backlash.
⚠️ Warning: Counterfeit products are often collected in illegal factories in China or Vietnam using cheap components, which can have battery problems (bloating after 6-12 months) or unstable camera performance.
Check IMEI on the box and on the phone (*#06#)
Check the serial number on the Xiaomi website
Check the package for the presence of a hologram and the address of the manufacturer
Make sure you have a MIUI firmware (not custom)
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Manufacturer’s influence on quality and reliability
Users and experts note that Redmi Note 5, assembled in different factories, may differ in reliability:
- ✅ Foxconn: More stringent quality control of soldered joints. Use original batteries from the ATL Or Sunwoda. Fewer yellow screens (backlit problems).
- ⚠️ Wingtech: There are batches with less reliable speakers (prone to wheezing at high volume), the probability of failure of the case (splinter plastic) is higher by 2-3.
Service center statistics show that Foxconn’s Redmi Note 5 lasts 8 to 12 months longer on average without major breakdowns, but the difference is not critical: even Vintech’s models can easily withstand 3-4 years of active use when used carefully.
How do you know who the manufacturer of your Redmi Note 5 is?
The evolution of production: how Xiaomi factories have changed after the Redmi Note 5
The Redmi Note 5 was a turning point for Xiaomi in terms of production, and after the success of the model, the company began to actively diversify its supply chains:
- 📈 2019: Opening of Foxconn’s second plant in India, Chennai, to launch Redmi Note 7.
- 🤖 2020: Automated lines in factories in China (up to 60% of operations are performed by robots).
- 🌍 2021: Building in Brazil and Russia for local markets.
Xiaomi is currently working with more than 10 contract manufacturers, but Foxconn remains a key partner, with flagship Xiaomi 13 and Redmi K60 models still built primarily in Taiwan.
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Despite the many manufacturers, all official Redmi Note 5 pass the final quality check by Xiaomi standards, the main difference is in the details of the build, not in functionality.