Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 smartphone often face a dilemma when choosing firmware or evaluating the performance of the device, since this model was released in two completely different hardware versions. One of the most confusing situations in the world of budget smartphones was that seemingly identical cases concealed various systems on a chip (SoC). The global version was most often equipped with a chip from Qualcomm, while the Chinese version worked on the basis of a solution from MediaTek. Understanding which chipset is installed in your device is critical for selecting custom receivers, drivers and even assessing the potential of autonomous operation.
The difference between the two is huge, and affects every aspect of your device’s usage, from operating time to compatibility with banking applications. If you’re planning to reflash your phone or just want to know the technical details of your device, you can’t ignore this fact. In this article, we’ll go through all the hardware identification options available in detail, without relying on questionable data from the settings menu that often reveals false information.
There are several reliable methods that can be used to pinpoint the processor manufacturer with 100% accuracy, and we’ll look at both software methods through the installation of third-party software and deeper methods of analyzing through a computer, and we’ll also learn what visual differences (packages) and chargers can tell you the right version before you turn on your smartphone.
Visual differences and marking
The first thing to look at is the look of the box and stickers on the back of the smartphone itself. The global version that received the Global index usually has the Snapdragon logo or the corresponding sticker with the processor model on the box. The Chinese version, known as China Version, is often labeled with the MediaTek logo or has no specific indications of the chipset at all, since this platform dominated China. However, relying only on stickers is dangerous, since unscrupulous sellers could re-patch them.
Note the device model listed in the system settings or on the box. The global version with the Snapdragon 625 processor often has the model number MDG6S or RMX1941 (depending on the region), whereas the Chinese version on the Helio X20 may be labeled differently. It is also worth checking the power supply: global versions often come with a European-type plug, while Chinese versions are a flat fork, although this is not a strict rule due to adaptation to markets.
⚠️ Attention: Visual check of the box does not give 100% guarantee, as the packaging may have been replaced during resale or repair of the device.
Another indirect sign is the amount of RAM. The version based on Snapdragon most often came with 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, while the version on MediaTek in the basic configuration often had 3 GB, but there were also options with 2 GB. However, the most reliable indicator remains verification through software, since visual cues can be misleading.
Using AIDA64 for accurate diagnosis
The easiest and most affordable way for the average user is to install a specialized diagnostic application. The leader in this area is AIDA64, which reads data directly from the system files of the kernel, not from the advertising tables of characteristics. Once you install the application from Google Play, you need to launch it and go to the CPU section. Here, in the first line, the real name of the processor will be indicated, for example, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 or MediaTek MT6797 Helio X20.
The advantage of this method is that the application shows not only the name, but also the architecture of the cores, frequency and process. For the Snapdragon 625, you will see 8 cores with a frequency of up to 2.0 GHz, manufactured using 14-nm process technology. The Helio X20 is characterized by a unique configuration of 10 cores (3 clusters) and a frequency of up to 2.3 GHz with a 20 nm process. This data cannot be forged software without deep intervention in the system.
AIDA64 will also provide information about the graphics accelerator. In the case of Snapdragon, it will be Adreno 506, and for MediaTek, it will be Mali-T880 MP4. Having this graphics core is the final confirmation of your smartphone version. The app will also show the exact screen resolution and sensors, which can be useful for a full inventory of iron.
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If the AIDA64 app shows “Unknown” in the CPU Name field, try restarting the device and running the diagnostics again, pre-closing all background applications.
Importantly, some Chinese firmware may hide real information in the standard menu, but third-party AIDA64 or CPU-Z-level utilities bypass these limitations, and they turn to low-level CPU registers to give a true picture, especially for devices that have been repaired, where they could replace the motherboard with an analogue.
Analysis through the settings "About the phone" and the developer menu
The standard Android settings menu often contains conflicting information, especially on re-stitched devices. However, if you haven’t installed third-party software yet, you can try to find clues in Settings → About Phone → All specs. The “processor” line may have a name, but often it just says “Octa-core” without specifying the brand. In this case, you need to look at the device model: if it says gemini or code names associated with mdt (MediaTek), this is a clear sign of the Chinese version.
To do a deeper analysis, you can activate the developer menu, you need to quickly click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section. Once activated, the "Developers" item will appear in the menu. Scroll down the list, you can find the "Debugging by USB" section and, by turning it on, access more detailed logs, although direct information about the CPU may not be there. However, the presence of certain items related to GPU rendering can suggest the type of graphics accelerator.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → About the phone and find the line "Processor".
- 🔍 Note the model: the presence of letters"MT" often points to MediaTek.
- ⚙️ Check the kernel version in the Software Information section: the lines "mt" or "mdt" will confirm the Helio version.
- 📉 Compare the number of cores: 8 The same cores - a sign of Snapdragon, 3 cluster (2+4+4) — sign X20.
⚠️ Attention: On custom firmware (MIUI Global, LineageOS) information in the About Phone menu can be changed by the firmware developer and not match the real hardware.
Also worth paying attention to is the Android version and the security update date. Chinese versions were often updated on their own schedule and could get stuck on older versions of Android, while global ones received updates longer.
Why can Snapdragon be written in the settings, but MediaTek is worth it?
Checking through a computer and ADB utility
For users who do not want to install unnecessary apps on their phone or want to get the most technically reliable data, the ideal option is to use a computer and tools Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the PC through USB-cable and availability of installed drivers. ADB allows querying system directly, bypassing the Android interface.
Once you have the device installed and authorized to debug on your phone, you need to enter a command in the computer terminal. the adb shell cat /proc/cpuinfo command will display detailed information about the processor. The Hardware or Processor bar will clearly show the name of the platform. For Snapdragon, you will see lines starting with Qualcomm, and for MediaTek, you will see MT6797 or the like.
adb shell cat /proc/cpuinfoAnother useful command is the adb shell getprop ro.hardware. It returns the short name of the hardware platform. For the global version, the answer is msm8953 (codenamed Snapdragon 625), and for the Chinese version, mt6797 (codenamed Helio X20), which eliminates any visual spoofing and shows what the device bootloader is seeing.
☑️ Check through ADB
The ADB also allows for the verification of memory partitions and their type, which can indirectly confirm the version, since different processors worked with different types of memory controllers. However, the main marker remains the hardware ID string.
Comparative Characteristics Table of Snapdragon and Helio
To clear up the doubts, we’ll compare the key features of the two platforms that were installed in the Redmi Note 4. The difference in architecture and energy efficiency between them is significant, which directly affects the user experience. The Snapdragon 625 is famous for its phenomenal energy efficiency, while the Helio X20 offered slightly higher peak performance at the cost of more power consumption.
| Characteristics | Snapdragon 625 (Global) | MediaTek Helio X20 (China) |
|---|---|---|
| Technique | 14nm (FinFET) | 20 nm (HPM+) |
| Number of kernels | 8 cores (Octa-core) | 10 cores (Deca-core) |
| Architecture of nuclei | 8x Cortex-A53 @ 2.0GHz | 2x A72 + 4x A53 + 4x A53 |
| Graphics (GPU) | Adreno 506 | Mali-T880 MP4 |
| Antutu Benchmark (example) | ~60,000 - 65,000 points | ~80,000 - 85,000 points |
As you can see from the table, the MediaTek version is technically more powerful in synthetic tests thanks to the presence of powerful Cortex-A72 cores and more of them. However, in real-world use cases, such as navigation or long reading, the Snapdragon 625 benefits from less heat and frequency stability.
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Having 10 cores on the Helio X20 doesn’t always mean better gaming performance, as many apps don’t know how to effectively distribute the load across three clusters.
The influence of the processor on the choice of firmware and custom recavery
The processor identification issue becomes critical when it comes to flashing a device. The XDA Developers community has clearly separated support branches for rosie (codenamed Snapdragon) and nikel (codenamed MediaTek), trying to install firmware designed for Snapdragon on a device with MediaTek (or vice versa) is guaranteed to lead to a brick device, that is, turning a smartphone into a “brick” that does not lend itself to conventional inclusion.
The differences are not only in binary kernel files, but also in bootloaders and drivers. Recovery modes like TWRP also need to be strictly CPU-specific versions. If you try to flash TWRP for Snapdragon on Helio, the phone simply won't be able to boot into recovery mode, and in the worst case, the partition will damage.
- 🚫 Never use firmware marked "Global" on Chinese versions without checking compatibility.
- 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool works the same way, but the firmware files must match the region and the hardware.
- 📂 Search for firmware by codename: rosie for Snapdragon, nikel for MediaTek.
⚠️ Warning: Flashing incompatible software may disrupt communication modules (IMEI), which will make it impossible to use SIM-Recovery of the map. IMEI — complex procedure requiring backup NV-section.
So before you download any file with the.zip or.tgz extension, make sure the description is the correct code name for the device. For Redmi Note 4, this is vital. A one-letter error or misunderstood architecture can cost you your working smartphone. Always double-check the version through AIDA64 or adb before you start any manipulation of the system partition.