Why the Redmi 4A Battery Fails and When to Change It
The Xiaomi Redmi 4A, launched in 2016, has become one of the most popular budget smartphones due to its reliability and low price. However, even this βlong-livedβ has problems with the battery over time. The average life of a lithium-ion battery is 2-3 years of active use, after which the capacity begins to fall rapidly.
The main signs that the battery is time to change: fast discharge (smartphone sits down in 2-3 hours with minimal load), sudden shutdowns even at 20-30% charge, bloating of the body (noticeably on the "open" back cover or screen).
If your Redmi 4A exhibits at least one of these symptoms, a battery replacement is not just desirable β it is essential for safety, as a bloated battery can damage the motherboard or even ignite.
In this article, you will find a step-by-step photo instruction, a list of tools you need, tips for choosing a quality battery and answers to frequent questions. We will also explain how to avoid disassembly errors that often lead to failure of plumes or buttons.
Which battery to choose for Redmi 4A: original vs analogues
The original battery for Xiaomi Redmi 4A is marked BM43 and a nominal capacity of 3120 mAh. However, after 2019, Xiaomi officially stopped supplying spare parts for this model, so it is almost impossible to find a βnativeβ battery.
- π Original residues - sold under the Xiaomi brand, but often re-labeled counterparts.Price: 1200-1800 β½. Risk of running into a fake β 60%.
- π Quality analogues from Patona, Baseus or Remax - capacity 3000-3200 mAh, with overheating protection: 800-1300 β½. The best option in terms of price / quality.
- π No-name batteries are cheap (400-700 β½), but often have an understated capacity (2000-2500 mAh) and no charge controller. 3-6 months β 80%.
When choosing, pay attention to: availability of a charge controller (should be included or soldered into the battery), production date (freshness is not older than 6 months), warranty (at least 6 months from the seller).
Check reviews about the seller β often under the guise of βoriginalsβ sell batteries with a capacity of 2500 mAh instead of the declared 3120 mAh.
β οΈ Note: AliExpress batteries are often uncertified if the case is unmarked CE It's a RoHS, and the vendor doesn't provide the test documents, which is a reason to stop buying, and these batteries can not only fail quickly, but also cause a fire.
Replacement tools: what you will need
Replacement of the battery with Redmi 4A You'll need a minimum set of tools, most of which can be found in smartphone remixes (costs). ~500 β½) buy separately:
| Tool. | Appointment | Where to buy | Price, β½ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic spatula (mediator) | Battery and plume disconnection | AliExpress, "Chip and Deep" | 50-150 |
| Cross screwdriver PH00 | Rear cover screw twisting | Any tool store | 100-200 |
| Suction cup (for screen) | Lifting the back cover | Ozone, Wildberries | 150-300 |
| Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) | Clearing contacts | Pharmacy, Leroy Merlin | 200-400 |
| Double-sided Scotch or B7000 Glue | Fixing the new battery | AliExpress, "Fix Price" | 100-300 |
Additionally, we recommend: a hair dryer (for softening the glue), tweezers (for neat disconnection of the plumes), a multimeter (checking the voltage of the new battery before installation).
If you do not have experience disassembling smartphones, practice on an unnecessary device or watch video disassembly on YouTube β this will help to avoid mistakes.
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Before disassembling, take a picture of the location of all the plumes and screws on the Redmi 4A. This will make assembly much easier, especially if you are doing repairs for the first time.
How to disassemble Redmi 4A and replace the battery
The process of replacing the battery with the Redmi 4A takes 30-60 minutes if you have tools. Follow the instructions carefully - errors in the step of disconnecting the plumes can lead to loss of performance of the sensor or buttons.
Step 1: Turn off and prepare the smartphone
Turn off Redmi completely. 4A (Press the power button for 10 seconds. SIM-If the battery is swollen, don't open the case indoors, do it outside or in a well-ventilated place.
Step 2: Removal of the back cover
Heat the back cover around the perimeter (~60Β°C) with a hair dryer for 2-3 minutes. This will soften the glue. Put the cover on a plastic blade starting with the headphone jack. Be careful, the fingerprint scanner and antenna plumes are underneath.
What to do if the lid does not lend itself?
Step 3: Battery disconnection
Carefully disconnect the battery plume with a plastic blade. Don't use metal tools, it can short circuit. If the battery is swollen, don't try to extract it by force - first drain the gas, puncture it in a protective bag (sold in radio parts stores).
Step 4: Installation of a new battery
Clean the contacts of the new battery and the connector on the motherboard with isopropyl alcohol. glue the battery to double-sided tape or B7000 glue, avoiding getting glue on the plumes. Connect the connector and check the voltage with a multimeter (should be 3.7-4.2V).
βοΈ Pre-assembly check
Step 5: Assembly and testing
Put the back cover in place, starting with the headphone jack. Spin the screws with a cross screwdriver (don't pull over!) Turn on your smartphone and check: battery charge (should show 0-1%), sensor operation, body heating (if warm, check contacts).
If everything works, leave your phone on charge for 2-3 hours and watch the behavior of the new battery.
β οΈ Note: If you have replaced Redmi 4A not switched on or discharged quickly, check: battery connection polarity (plus / minus), power plume integrity, voltage on contacts (should be 3.7V-4.2V). A common mistake is damage to the power button plume during disassembly, which is why the phone does not respond to presses.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even with careful disassembly, beginners often make mistakes that lead to additional breakdowns, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:
- π§ Sensor plume damage occurs when the back cover is negligently removed. Solution: Use only plastic blades and heat up with a hair dryer.
- π§ Short circuit -- if you touch the metallic tools of the battery contacts -- Solution: work with rubber gloves or use a dielectric screwdriver.
- π§ The battery's not fixed correctly -- if the glue gets on the contacts, it causes oxidation. Solution: apply the glue only around the edges, avoiding the center.
- π§ Using a non-certified battery β cheap analogs may not have overcharging protection. Solution: buy a battery labeled UL or CE.
Another common problem is that the phone doesn't see the new battery.
- π± Resetting Power Controller β Try Charging Your Phone 10-15 minutes, then restart.
- π± Bad contact β check if the battery connector is tightly seated.
- π± Incompatible firmware - on some custom ROM (For example, LineageOS requires resetting.
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If the Redmi 4A is running out faster than before, you probably bought a battery with a low capacity, check it with a multimeter or a special application (for example, AccuBattery).
How to prolong the life of a new battery: tips for operation
To make the new battery on the Redmi 4A last longer, follow these guidelines:
- π Avoid full discharge β charge your phone when 15-20% Full discharge (0%) shorten the service life 30%.
- π Donβt use βcheapβ charges β they often give off unstable voltages, which harms the battery controller.
- π Donβt overheat your phone β donβt leave it in the sun or near heat sources (like a torpedo in a car).
- π Disable unnecessary functions β GPS, Bluetooth and mobile data in the background consume charge.
- π Calibrate the battery - once in a while 2-3 Fully discharge and charge your phone until the end of the month. 100%.
It is also useful to turn off the autobrightness of the screen and set a dark theme (if used). AMOLED-To monitor the battery status, use the following applications: AccuBattery (shows real capacity), GSam Battery Monitor (analyzes charge consumption by application), AIDA64 (checks temperature and voltage).
If you notice that the battery began to quickly go down after 6-12 months after replacement, this may be due to: the use of unoriginal cable, constant operation in high load mode (games, video editing), overheating (for example, due to a case with poor ventilation).
In this case, try resetting to factory settings (Settings β Additional β Recovery and Reset) β sometimes this helps to return the original capacity.
Should I contact the service center?
If you're not sure about your abilities, you should trust the Redmi 4A battery replacement to the professionals.
| Type of service | Cost of work, β½ | Cost of battery cost, β½ | Total price, β½ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Xiaomi service | 1500-2000 | 1200-1800 | 2700-3800 |
| Informal service | 800-1200 | 800-1300 | 1600-2500 |
| Self-sustaining replacement | 0 | 800-1500 | 800-1500 |
Contacting the service is justified if:
You've never taken out your smartphones.
The battery is swollen and difficult to remove.
You need a work guarantee (usually 3-6 months).
However, in official services Xiaomi often refuse to work with models older than 3 years, offering to buy a new phone.
The benefits of self-replacement: savings 1000-2000 β½, Battery quality control (you choose the model), experience that will be useful for repairing other devices.
If you decide to do everything yourself, be sure to watch the video disassembly specifically for the Redmi 4A - the design of this model has nuances (for example, the fragile plume of the fingerprint scanner).