Why Xiaomi Redmi 5 Battery Fails and When to Change It
Xiaomi Redmi 5, released in 2017, is still a popular budget device, but after 5-7 years of active use, its battery inevitably degrades, typical signs of wear: the phone discharges in 2-3 hours, turns off at 20-30% charge, overheats during charging or refuses to turn on without connecting to the network.
The average life of lithium-ion batteries is 300-500 full charge cycles. For the Redmi 5 with a capacity of 3300 mAh, this is about 2-3 years in daily use. If you notice that the smartphone has become “ask” for a socket more often than usual, and in Settings → The battery shows an inadequate percentage of wear, it’s time to think about replacing.
It's important to understand that replacing the battery with a Redmi 5 doesn't require soldering, but it requires care -- the battery is glued to the body with double-sided tape, and the plumes are fragile, and if you don't properly dismantle it, you can damage the screen or the motherboard.
What tools will be needed to replace
To change the battery, prepare the following set:
- 🔧 Plastic mediators (2-3 pieces) - for dissociating the body without scratches.
- 🔨 Cross screwdriver (PH00 or PH0) — rear-cover.
- 🧲 Suction - will help to lift the lid after heating.
- 🔥 Dryer or thermo-air station - for softening the glue (temperature 60-80)°C).
- 📦 New battery – original or quality analogue (more on this below).
- 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — glue-cleaner.
If you don't have a hair dryer, you can use hot air from the kettle (from 10 to 15 cm away), but it's less safe.The alternative to mediators is a guitar mediator or a plastic card, but they're less convenient.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal blades or knives – they can damage the plumes or leave dents on the body. Also avoid overheating: if the body becomes hot to the touch, pause 1-2 minutes.
How to choose a battery for Redmi 5: original vs analogues
The original battery for Xiaomi Redmi 5 has an MB-J10 and a capacity of 3300 mAh. However, after 2020, Xiaomi officially stopped supplying spare parts for this model, so the market is dominated by analogues.
| Parameter | Original (if you find it) | Quality analogue | Cheap analogue (risk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3300 mAh | 3200-3500 mAh | 2800–3000 mAh (sets down quickly) |
| Tension. | 3.85V | 3.8–3.85V | 3.7V (may not display %) |
| Manufacturer | ATL, Xiaomi | ATL, Samsung SDI, Lishen | Unnamed Chinese brands |
| Price (2026) | 1500–2500 ₽ (rarely) | 800–1200 ₽ | 300–600 ₽ |
Where to buy? Proven sites:
- 🛒 AliExpress – Look for sellers with a 98 rating%+ Photo reviews (example: Xiaomi Original Store or Battery King).
- 🏬 Local service centers – often ordered in bulk and sold retail.
- 🌍 eBay – There are original used batteries (but the risk of counterfeiting is high).
⚠️ Note: If a new battery comes without a factory film or with a damaged label, it is a reason to doubt its quality. Also check the date of production (must be no older than 6 months) - it is usually applied with a laser on the body.
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Before you buy, ask the seller to send you a photo of the battery from both sides. QR-code that can be checked through the Xiaomi Authenticity Check app (available on Google Play).
Step-by-step: how to disassemble Redmi 5 and replace the battery
The replacement process will take 30-60 minutes depending on the experience.
- Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-scatter-card.
- Heat the back cover with a hair dryer for 2-3 minutes, evenly driving around the perimeter.
- Put the lid on the suction cup at the headphone jack, put the plastic mediator in the gap.
- Carefully guide the mediator around the circuit, separating the lid, the most "stubborn" places are near the volume buttons and the camera.
- Unscrew 10 screws (marked in the photo below) with a cross screwdriver. Rotors of different lengths - remember where you were!
- Disconnect the battery plume with a plastic spatula (not metal!) that's under a black protective film.
- Tap the battery with a mediator, starting at the top edge, and if it doesn't respond, heat the case again.
- Remove the residues of the glue from the case with isopropyl alcohol and install a new battery.
Once you have a new battery, don't turn the phone on immediately -- wait 10 to 15 minutes for the glue to grab.
Battery plume disconnected |All screws in place (check photo) |New battery correctly oriented |Glue residue removed from body |Troughs not bent-->
What to do if the battery is swelling?
Common Replacement Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that cause their phones to break down.
- 🔌 Mixed screws -- if you screw a long screw into a place for a short one, you can damage the motherboard. Solution: spread the screws in order on a piece of paper.
- 🔋 The battery plume is damaged, and if you hit it with a metal tool, the contacts will move away.
- 🔥 Overheating of the case - if you heat the hair dryer for longer than 3 minutes, you can melt plastic clips. Solution: heat in short intervals of 30 seconds.
- 📱 Incorrect battery installation - if you mix up the top/bottom, the phone won't turn on. Solution: check the photo of the old battery.
Another common problem is that the phone doesn't turn on after it's been replaced, and the reasons may be:
- The battery plume is not fully inserted into the connector.
- Contacts on the battery or board oxidized (wipe with alcohol).
- The new battery is discharged “to zero” – connect the charging for 10-15 minutes.
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If the battery is quickly discharged after replacing, check its capacity through the AccuBattery app (available on Google Play). If the actual capacity is less than the declared 20%+, the battery is defective.
How to Calibrate a New Battery on Redmi 5
After the battery is replaced, it needs to be "trained" to help the charge controller to accurately display the percentage.
- Charge your phone to 100% and hold on charging for another 1-2 hours.
- Turn off charging and use your phone until you automatically turn off (don’t turn off manually!).
- Connect the charging and repeat the cycle 2-3 times.
It is also recommended to reset the battery statistics:
- Go to Settings. → Battery. → ⚙️ (gear-plate) → Resetting statistics.
- Reboot the phone.
If after calibration the percentage of charge "jumps" (for example, from 50% to 20%), this may indicate:
- Faulty charge controller on the motherboard.
- Bad battery plume contact.
- A broken battery (especially if you bought a cheap analogue).
Should I go to the service or do it myself?
Replacing the battery on Redmi 5 will cost 800-1500 ₽ (battery + The service center will ask for 1,500-2,500 for the same work. ₽, But will give a guarantee of 1-3 months.
When is the best time to choose a service:
- 🛠️ You have no experience in disassembling phones.
- 🔧 No necessary tools (dryer, mediators, screwdriver).
- ⚡ Phone warranty (though for Redmi 5 in 2026, it's unlikely).
When you can do it yourself:
- 💰 You want to save money.
- 🔩 You already have the tools.
- 📱 The phone is not the main one (in case of an error).
If you decide to use the service, choose proven workshops. Avoid salons with:
- No job security.
- Reviews of the “swelling” batteries after replacement.
- Prices below 1,000 ₽ (They probably use cheap analogs).
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In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the replacement of the battery on Redmi 5 is performed qualitatively in the services of Xiaomi Service Center (official), FixPrice, TechnoDoctor. In the regions, look for workshops with a rating above 4.8 on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS.