Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: Snapdragon 636 processor – specs, tests and comparison

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (codenamed whyred) became one of the most popular budget devices of 2018, not least because of its heart, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636. This chipset replaced the Snapdragon 625 and offered users a noticeable increase in performance without significantly increasing power consumption. But what exactly is hidden under the hood of this smartphone? How does the 8-core processor with the architecture of the Kryo 260 cope with modern tasks years after release?

In this article, we will take a closer look at the specifications of the Snapdragon 636, compare it to competitors (including the Helio P60 and Snapdragon 660), analyze benchmarks and give practical tips for optimizing the processor’s performance. We will focus on overheating, overclocking (where possible) and compatibility with modern games and applications. If you are planning to buy a used Redmi Note 5 or just want to make the most of your device, this guide is for you.

Specifications of the Snapdragon 636 in the Redmi Note 5

Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (model SDM636) was announced in October 2017 and became the first mid-level chipset based on 14-nm process technology Samsung LPP. This allowed to reduce power consumption by 10-15% compared to 28-nm predecessors. The architecture is based on the cores of Kryo 260, which are modified cores Cortex-A73 (4 pieces, frequency up to 1.8 GHz) and Cortex-A53 (4 pieces, 1.6 GHz).

Key features of the chipset:

• 🔹 Graphics accelerator: Adreno 509 with OpenGL support ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.0 and video decoding hardware 4K H.265.
• 📱 Display support: resolution up to FHD+ (2160×1080) upon 60 Hz, depth of color 24 bit.
• 📡 Modem: Snapdragon X12 LTE cat-supported 12/13 (before 600 Mbps download, 150 Mbps for impact).
• 🔋 Quick Charge: version 3.0 (up to 18 watts), but Redmi Note 5 only implements Quick Charge 2.0.

It is important to note that Xiaomi used two chipset modifications in the Redmi Note 5: SDM636 (main version) and SDM660 (in the limited edition Redmi Note 5 Pro for India), the latter features higher core frequencies (up to 2.2 GHz) and the Adreno 512 graphics accelerator. You can check the version of the processor in your device through the CPU-Z application or by entering a command in ADB:

adb shell cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep "Hardware"

Kryo 260: Why 4+4 cores are better than 8 identical cores

Qualcomm has abandoned the traditional 8-core scheme (as in the Helio P60) in favor of the big.LITTLE configuration. In the Snapdragon 636, four powerful Cortex-A73 cores (codenamed Gold) are responsible for heavy tasks (games, video rendering), and four energy-efficient Cortex-A53 (Silver) are responsible for background processes. Switching between clusters is dynamically thanks to HMP (Heterogeneous Multi-Processsing) technology.

Advantages of this architecture:

• ⚡ Energy efficiency: for simple tasks (messaging, calls) only work A53, charge-saving.
• 🎮 Productivity: In games, they are connected A73, giver +40% FPS Compared to the Snapdragon 625.
• 🔥 Heating control: Load distribution reduces the risk of overheating over long-term loads.

There are downsides, however: For example, if you go from a light to a heavy task (like opening a game from a messenger), you may have a short-term delay (1-2 seconds) until the A73 is activated, which is due to the peculiarities of the task scheduler in Android 8.1 Oreo, which was used in the Redmi Note 5 out of the box.

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To reduce delays when switching cores, turn off energy-saving mode in the battery settings (Settings → Battery → Power-saving mode).

Comparison with competitors: Snapdragon 636 vs Helio P60 vs Snapdragon 660

In 2018, the main competitors of the Snapdragon 636 were Mediatek Helio P60 (in smartphones like the Oppo F9) and the older brother – Snapdragon 660 (for example, in the Xiaomi Mi A2).

Critical: Despite higher benchmark scores, the Helio P60 loses to the Snapdragon 636 in real-world scenarios due to less optimized drivers and overheating issues. For example, in the 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme test, the gap between the Adreno 509 and the Mali-G72 MP3 is only 5-7%, but in games like the PUBG Mobile Redmi Note 5 shows a more stable FPS.

But the Snapdragon 660 is objectively stronger: the difference in performance is 20-25%, especially in multithreaded tasks. However, for most users, the Redmi Note 5 with its Snapdragon 636 is enough with a margin - the chipset confidently pulls Full Full. HD-Video, modern instant messengers and even mid-range settings in Genshin Impact (provided that the shadows and effects of the grass are turned off).

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For gamers, it’s better to choose a smartphone on the Snapdragon 660, but for everyday tasks, the Snapdragon 636 in the Redmi Note 5 remains the optimal balance of price and performance.

Performance in Games and Benchmarks

One of the key questions when choosing the Redmi Note 5 is its ability to run modern games.

• 🎮 PUBG Mobile: stable 30 FPS on the Smooth settings + Medium, when you turn it on. HDR or Ultra, there are drawdowns up to 20-25 FPS.
• 🏎️ Asphalt 9: Legends: 25–30 FPS In a long game (over 30 minutes), the temperature of the processor rises to 65-70.°C.
• 🧙 Genshin Impact: only runs on minimum resolution settings 720p and FPS 20–25 It is recommended to disable background applications.
• 💥 Call of Duty: Mobile: 40–50 FPS Low settings, but with noticeable artifacts in explosions.

Results of synthetic tests (based on AnTuTu 7 and Geekbench 4):

• 📊 AnTuTu: ~110,000 points (CPU: 45 000, GPU: 28 000, UX: 22 000).
• 🧠 Geekbench (Single-Core): ~1,300 points.
• 🖥️ Geekbench (Multi-Core): ~4,800 points.

By comparison, the Snapdragon 845 (the flagship of 2018) scores ~260,000 in AnTuTu, and the Helio G90T (budget gaming chip of 2019) ~220,000. Thus, the Snapdragon 636 is 2 to 2.5 times inferior to modern chipsets, but for its time (and prices) was a great solution.

Problems with overheating and how to solve them

Despite the 14nm process, the Snapdragon 636 in the Redmi Note 5 is prone to overheating under prolonged loads.

1. The body is made of polycarbonate, which removes heat worse than metal.
2. No graphite heat pad between the processor and the body (unlike the Redmi Note 5 Pro).

Typical overheating scenarios:

• 🔥 Temperatures above 70°C when recording video in 4K 10 minutes.
• 📱 Automatically reduce the brightness of the screen when playing in PUBG Mobile (trigger triggered at 65)°C).
• ⚠️ Warning system "Device overheated" when charging + play-off.

Solutions to reduce temperature:

Turn off background application activity in Settings → Apps → Auto Run

Use a case with a metal insert or a cooling stand

Reduce screen resolution to HD+ (720p) in games

Update your firmware to the latest version of MIUI (trottling bugs fixed)

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⚠️ Note: If the processor temperature exceeds 80°C (can be checked in AIDA64), This can lead to battery degradation and performance loss, in which case it is recommended to replace the thermopaste (in the service center) or use a cooler.

Can I overclock the processor in the Redmi Note 5?

Officially, Qualcomm and Xiaomi do not provide tools for overclocking the Snapdragon 636, but there are several workarounds:

1. Changing CPU governor: Apps like Kernel Adiutor (root required) can use more aggressive frequency management modes, such as performance over ondemand, to increase performance by 5 to 10 percent, but reduce battery life.
2. Undervolting: Reducing the voltage at the cores (also requiring root) can reduce heat and increase stability at high loads. Risky - if the settings are wrong, failures can occur.
3. Castom cores: Firmware like FrancoKernel or ElementalX optimizes the processor, but installing them will void the warranty and may lead to a device’s brick (breakdown).

Warning: Any manipulation of frequencies or voltages can result in:

• 🔥 Overheating and automatic disconnection of the device.
• 🔋 Rapid wear of the battery (capacity reduction by 20-30% in 6 months).
• 🚫 Loss of warranty (if the device is warranty, Xiaomi will refuse repairs).

⚠️ Note: If you still decide to disperse, be sure to use a thermal paste MX-4 Or Arctic Silver 5 to replace the standard thermopaste, which would reduce the temperature by 5-10.°C and reduce the risk of trottling.

Compatible with modern versions of Android and MIUI

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 officially supported updates to Android 9 Pie (MIUI 12), but enthusiasts ported to it Android 10 and even Android 11 through custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).

• 📱 Official updates: after MIUI 12.5 (2021 year) support terminated. Recent versions contain corrections to Spectre/Meltdown and optimization for Snapdragon 636.
• 🔄 LineageOS 18.1 (Android 11) is stable, but Widevine support is lost L1 (Netflix HD not available).
• ⚠️ Problems: On Android 10+ Lags in the interface may occur due to insufficient optimization of Adreno 509 drivers.

Instructions for installing custom firmware:

Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (Mi Account binding required)

Install TWRP Recovery (version 3.3.1 or later)

Make a backup of the EFS section (contains IMEI!)

Download firmware and GApps (such as Open GApps Nano)

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Important: Before firmware check the model of the device with the command:

fastboot getvar product

Permissible values

whyred

whyred_in

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 5 processor