The cracked glass on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is a problem that almost every smartphone owner faces after 2-3 years of active use. Even a minor scratch can eventually turn into a web of cracks, and a hit on a hard surface can turn the screen into a useless "web field." But how much does it really cost to replace glass in 2026? Should you go to the official service or save money on "garage" craftsmen? Or maybe even try to change yourself?
In this article, we will look at all the repair options, from branded service centers to buying parts on AliExpress, compare the prices, terms and risks of each method. You will learn why some workshops ask for the same work 2 times more than others, how to distinguish the original glass from a fake and what to do if after replacing the screen began to “glut.” And we will also tell you in which cases the repair does not make sense at all – and it is easier to buy a new smartphone.
Official service vs. informal workshops: where is cheaper?
The first question that arises from owners of Redmi Note 5: contact an authorized service center Xiaomi or look for a private workshop? The price difference can be as high as 30-50%, but there are nuances. Official SCs guarantee the quality of parts and work, but take the premium for the brand. Informal workshops often save on components — and this is fraught with problems in a month or two.
According to 2026, the average prices in official Xiaomi services for glass replacement (together with touchscreen) for the Redmi Note 5 start from 6,500 rubles. In informal workshops, this service will cost 4,000-5,500 rubles, but here it is likely to run into non-original details.
| Town | Official Xiaomi SCC | Informal workshop (average check) | Self-replacement (parts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | 7 200–8 500 ₽ | 4 500–6 000 ₽ | 2 800–3 500 ₽ |
| St. Petersburg | 6 800–8 000 ₽ | 4 200–5 800 ₽ | 2 700–3 400 ₽ |
| Regions (millions) | 6 000–7 500 ₽ | 3 800–5 000 ₽ | 2 500–3 200 ₽ |
| Small towns | No official SCC. | 3 500–4 800 ₽ | 2 300–3 000 ₽ |
It's important to understand that in official centers, you'll be required to change the glass along with the touchscreen (even if the sensor works properly), which is due to the Redmi Note 5 assembly technology: glass and touchscreen are glued together, and it's almost impossible to separate them without damage. In informal workshops, sometimes they offer "unpatch and replace only glass", but this is a lottery - in 70% of cases, after such repairs, the screen begins to react poorly to touch.
⚠️ Warning: If the master offers to replace only glass without touchscreen for 2,000-3,000 rubles, there is a high risk that in a week you will have to re-repair the phone. Cheap adhesives and the absence of a vacuum press lead to the detachment of new glass or the appearance of bubbles".
Cost of spare parts: where to buy glass for replacement?
If you decide to save and replace the glass yourself (or find a wizard who agrees to work with your parts), the first thing you need to buy a quality module.
- 🔹 Original module (OEM) — It is manufactured in the same factories as Xiaomi, but sold without branding. Price: 3,500-4,500 ₽. Where to look: AliExpress (sellers rated 98%+), Specialty parts stores (e.g. GSMMaster or Mobile-Defender).
- 🔸 Copy: non-original medium-quality modules, priced at 2,000 to 3,000 ₽. Risks: possible color rendering or touchscreen sensitivity issues, where to buy: only from trusted suppliers with warranty.
- 🔶 Low-Cost (cheap fakes) – price from 1,200 ₽, But these windows often have defects (yellow, dead touchscreen, crack quickly!
When choosing a module, pay attention to the article. For the Redmi Note 5 (model M1803E7SG for the global version or MEE7S for the Chinese one), the appropriate original glass is marked:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 LCD + Touch Screen Assembly
Model: M1803E7SG / MEE7S
Size: 5.99" FHD+ (2160×1080)If the seller can not confirm compatibility with your modification - this is a reason to be wary.
Where better to order?
- 🌍 AliExpress is the cheapest, but delivery is 2-4 weeks.Look for sellers with reviews in Russian and photos of real modules (not stock pictures).
- 🏬 Local spare parts stores are more expensive by 20-30%, but you can check the quality before buying. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, checked points: Mobile-Defender, GSMMaster, FixPriceService.
- 🛒 Avito/Yula is risky, but sometimes you come across the original disassembly modules!
💡
Before you buy a module on AliExpress, write the seller a message: "Is this module 100% compatible with Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 M1803E7SG? Does it include the touch digitizer?"
Self-replacement of glass: step-by-step instructions and pitfalls
If you have experience in disassembling machinery and patience, you can try replacing the glass yourself, which will save 3,000 to 5,000 rubles, but will require the purchase of tools and accuracy, on average, it takes 2-3 hours to work (for beginners, up to 5 hours).
What you'll need:
solder or dryer for softening glue (power 300-500W)
Plastic blades/transmitters for separation of glass
Screen-take-down suction cups
New glue layer (LOCA or OCA-film)
Ultraviolet lamp (if you use it) LOCA-glue)
Alcohol and napkins without pile for cleaning
Screwdrivers. T3, T4 (hull-breaker)-->
Step-by-step process:
- Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-It's better not to disconnect the battery (risk of damaging the plumes).
- Heat the screen with a hair dryer (60-80°C) at the edges to soften the glue. Keep the hair dryer at a distance of 5-7 cm so as not to overheat the display.
- Put a plastic blade on the glass, starting at the corner, and be careful, there are plumes under the glass.
- Remove the old glass and clean the glue residue with alcohol. Don't use acetone, it will damage the oleophobic coating.
- Put on a new glue (OCA-film LOCA) And stick a new glass on it. LOCA, Dry under the UV lamp for 5-10 minutes.
- So, get your phone together and check the touchscreen, and if there's a dead zone, you'll have to glue it.
⚠️ Warning: If after replacement the screen began to blink, spontaneously press or not respond to touch, the reasons may be as follows: 🔧 Badly glued to the plume of the touch screen (need to reconnect). 🔥 Overheating of the matrix during glue drying (display may fail). 📱 Incompatible module (even if the seller assured the contrary) In 80% of cases, the problem can only be fixed by re-replacement.
What happens if you use cheap glue?
How long does it take to replace the glass?
The time of the repair depends on where you went:
- 🏢 Xiaomi’s official service is 3-7 working days, and during peak periods (before the holidays), the queue can stretch up to 10 days.
- 🔧 Informal workshop – 1-3 hours (if part is available) or 1-2 days (if module needs to be ordered).
- 📦 Self-substitution – from 2 hours (for experienced) to 5-6 hours (for beginners).
- 🚚 Postal delivery (if there are no workshops in your city) – 5–14 days, including delivery.
If you need a phone urgently, check in the workshop if there is a possibility of express repair. Some SCs offer an accelerated replacement for a surcharge (usually + 20-30% of the cost). For example, in Moscow, the FixPriceService service can replace glass in 2 hours with a premium of 1,000 rubles.
Should we wait? If the cracks don't interfere with the phone and the sensor works fine, you can wait for promotions. For example, official Xiaomi SCs sometimes offer discounts for repairs (especially before new models are released), in 2023 there was a promotion with a 20% discount on replacement screens, perhaps it will be repeated in 2026.
💡
If the cracks are located on the edges of the screen and do not diverge, you can take your time to replace, but if the glass has begun to crumble or there are dead zones of the touch screen, the repair is better done within a week: further use can lead to damage to the matrix.
When repairs don’t make sense: 3 times it’s best to buy a new phone
It's not always worth replacing the glass. There are situations where repairs will cost almost as much as a new smartphone -- or won't solve the problem at all. Here are three signals that you should think about buying a new device:
- Matrix damaged (LCD/OLED). If there are colored stripes under the cracked glass, broken pixels or uneven backlighting, then the impact damaged the display module. + matrix will cost 8 000–12 000 ₽ — That's almost the price of a redmi note. 12.
- If the touchscreen doesn't respond to touch, or if it does spontaneously, the problem could be the plume or the controller. + repairs will cost 3,000 to 5,000 ₽ glass-price.
- The Redmi Note 5 was released in 2018 and no longer receives security updates.If you were planning to change your smartphone in the coming year, it might be better to invest in a new model (like the Redmi Note 13 for 15 000). ₽).
How do you check if the matrix is damaged? Turn on your phone and look at the screen from different angles. If you tilt, you see smudges, you see shimmers, you see color changes, you see the display module is damaged, you can also use the broken pixel test (see the Screen Test app in the Play Market).
| Problem. | Cost of repair | The cost of the new Redmi (b/u) | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only glass + touch screen | 4 000–6 000 ₽ | 7 000–9 000 ₽ | Repairs are more profitable |
| Glass + matrix | 8 000–12 000 ₽ | 7 000–9 000 ₽ | Better buy a new one. |
| Glass + touchscreen plume | 6 000–8 000 ₽ | 7 000–9 000 ₽ | Depends on the state of the phone. |
How to Save Money on Glass Replacement: 5 Ways to Work
If you're on a budget, but your phone is still alive, you can try to cut costs. Here are five proven ways to save money:
- 🛠️ Many workshops agree to work with your parts for 1,500 to 2,500. ₽ (So you save on the markup.
- 📅 Look for promotions. Xiaomi's official SCs and some private workshops regularly offer discounts (e.g., "Replace screen at 15% discount.
- 🤝 You can get the handyman directly. In small towns, many repairmen work from home and charge less than in salons.
- 🔄 Some workshops accept the Redmi Note 5 as a credit for repairs (especially if you have work parts like a battery or a camera).
- 📦 If you have friends with the same problem, you can order several modules on AliExpress at a discount (many sellers give a discount when buying from 2 pieces).
Another way to save money is insurance, if you have an extended warranty when you buy a phone (e.g., through Sberbank Insurance or Alpha Insurance), check if it covers screen damage, and in some cases, the insurance company will pay up to 80% of the cost of repairs.
⚠️ Warning: Don't settle for "cheap" refurbishment using recycled materials, often with hidden defects such as dead pixels, uneven lighting, or worn-out oleophobic coatings, saving 1,000 to 1,500. ₽ It may be re-repaired in a month.
Frequent mistakes when replacing glass and how to avoid them
Even in professional workshops, sometimes mistakes are made that lead to re-repair, and here are the most common joints and how to prevent them:
- 🔥 Overheating of the matrix. If the wizard heats the screen with a hair dryer for too long, the liquid crystal layer may damage. Signs: after replacement, there will be scuffs or broken pixels. How to avoid? Find out what temperature regime is used (optimal - 60-80).°C).
- 🧲 Bad cleaning of old glue. The glue residue or dust under the new glass causes detachment or bubbles. How do you check? Light up with a flashlight at an angle -- if you see the intersperses, demand reworking.
- 🔌 Pad damage. If you're not sloppy, you can tear the plume of a touchscreen or a display. Signs: the screen is flashing, part of the screen is not responsive to touch. How do you avoid it? Choose a master with experience with Xiaomi.
- 🎨 Color mismatches: Cheap modules often have a cold or yellowish hue. How do you check? Compare the new screen to another phone (e.g. Redmi Note 8) with the same display settings.
- 🛠️ If the phone gets worse after repair or it gets worse, it's bad to put the body together or it's bad to get the antenna contacts. What do you do.
If you notice at least one of these problems after changing the glass, immediately contact the workshop. According to the law "On Consumer Protection" (Article 29), you have the right to free elimination of defects within the warranty period (usually 3-6 months).
💡
Always check your phone right after you've repaired! turn on the camera, test the touchscreen (like the Touch Screen Test app), watch a YouTube video to make sure there are no artifacts on the screen.