Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2017-2018, which is still found in the secondary market. Its main advantage is balanced performance at an affordable price. But what processor is installed in this model? Why is it still considered a reliable choice for everyday tasks?
In this article, we will take a closer look at the Xiaomi Redmi 5 processor, its architecture, performance in games and applications, and compare it to MediaTek and other Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, and see what this smartphone is capable of in 2026 and whether it is worth buying today.
What is the processor model in Redmi 5?
Xiaomi Redmi 5 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor (codename MSM8953).This is an 8-core chip built on a 14-nm process technology, which was a significant step forward compared to previous budget solutions Qualcomm.
Importantly, the Snapdragon 450 is a Snapdragon 400, but it is not a flagship even in its segment, and was positioned as an improved version of the Snapdragon 435, but with a more modern architecture of the ARM Cortex-A53 cores (unlike the legacy Cortex-A52 in some competitors).
- 🔹 Model: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 (MSM8953)
- 🔹 Process technology: 14 nm (Samsung) LPP)
- 🔹 Architecture of kernels: 8 × ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 1.8 GHz)
- 🔹 Graphics: Adreno 506 (up to 600 MHz)
- 🔹 Memory support: LPDDR3 (4GB)
Fun fact: The Snapdragon 450 was the first chip in the Snapdragon 400 series to support Full HD+ (2160×1080) displays and dual cameras, allowing Xiaomi to equip the Redmi 5 with an 18:9 aspect ratio screen, a rarity for budget smartphones of the time.
Snapdragon 450: Why is it better than the competition?
Let's compare the Snapdragon 450 to other popular chips of the time, and the main advantage of this processor is the balance between performance and energy efficiency. It wasn't the most powerful, but it offered stable operation without overheating.
| Characteristics | Snapdragon 450 | Snapdragon 435 | MediaTek Helio P23 | Kirin 659 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technique | 14nm | 28 nm | 16 nm | 16 nm |
| Nuclear frequency | 1.8 GHz | 1.4 GHz | 2.3 GHz (A53) / 1.65 GHz (A53) | 2.36 GHz (A53) / 1.7 GHz (A53) |
| Graphics | Adreno 506 | Adreno 505 | Mali-G71 MP2 | Mali-T830 MP2 |
| Support for Quick Charge | 3.0 | 3.0 | No. | No. |
| Max. Screen resolution. | FHD+ (2160×1080) | FHD (1920×1080) | FHD+ (2160×1080) | FHD (1920×1080) |
As you can see from the table, the Snapdragon 450 was inferior in core frequency to some competitors (for example, the Kirin 659 or the Helio P23), but benefited from a more modern process technology (14 nm vs. 16 nm) and better driver optimization, which meant that in real tasks it often performed as well, and sometimes better.
⚠️ Some users confuse the Snapdragon 450 with the Snapdragon 625 – they do have a similar architecture (both on the same page). Cortex-A53), But the 625th is built on a 14-nm process technology from TSMC The Redmi 5 has never been released with the Snapdragon 625!
Game and App Performance: What to Expect from Redmi 5 in 2026
Will the Xiaomi Redmi 5 with the Snapdragon 450 be able to run modern games? The answer is yes, but with reservations. The chip supports OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.0, which allows you to run most games at low or medium settings.
Here are some examples of performance in popular games (tests were conducted on Redmi 5 with 3GB of RAM and MIUI 12):
- 🎮 PUBG Mobile: ~20–25 FPS on the "Balanced" settings (resolution) HD). With a long game, slowing down due to overheating is possible.
- 🎮 Call of Duty: Mobile: ~25–30 FPS Low settings. Graphics Low, shadows disabled.
- 🎮 Genshin Impact: Does not run (requires at least a Snapdragon 636 or analogue).
- 🎮 Free Fire: ~30–40 FPS High settings (one of the best indicators for this chip).
- 🎮 Asphalt 9: ~20–25 FPS on medium settings, possible lags when loaded scenes.
By comparison, MediaTek Helio P23 (like the Redmi Note 5) performs similarly but is more likely to overheat, while the Kirin 659 (in Huawei P Smart) delivers 5-10 FPS more in some games, but loses in energy efficiency.
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If you plan to play Redmi 5, install the Game Turbo app (available in MIUI) and turn on performance mode, which will help reduce heat and increase FPS by 5-10%.
Comparison with other Xiaomi smartphones: who is better?
Xiaomi Redmi 5 was not the only smartphone with Snapdragon 450.
- 📱 Redmi 5 Plus: Same platform, but with a larger screen (5.99) and a battery (4000 mAh).
- 📱 Samsung Galaxy J6+: It is a similar processor, but with Samsung Experience instead of a similar processor. MIUI (less optimized).
- 📱 Motorola Moto G6 Play: Pure Android One, but with a weaker camera.
- 📱 Nokia 5.1: Compact body but smaller battery (2970mAh).
Compared to other Xiaomi models, the Redmi Note 5 (with the Snapdragon 636) was noticeably more powerful, but also more expensive. 4X (Snapdragon 435) lost Redmi 5 in all respects, except for the price.
| Model | Processor | AnTuTu (v7) | Geekbench 4 (Single) | Geekbench 4 (Multi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi 5 | Snapdragon 450 | ~70 000 | ~850 | ~3 800 |
| Redmi Note 5 | Snapdragon 636 | ~110 000 | ~1 300 | ~4 800 |
| Redmi 4X | Snapdragon 435 | ~45 000 | ~650 | ~3 000 |
| Redmi 6 | MediaTek Helio P22 | ~65 000 | ~900 | ~3 500 |
The Snapdragon 450 in Redmi 5 is 20 to 30 percent more powerful than the Snapdragon 435 in Redmi 4X, but is inferior to the Snapdragon 636 in Redmi Note 5 by almost 1.5 times. However, for everyday tasks (social networks, video, light games), its power is still enough today.
Snapdragon 450 problems and drawbacks: what to look for?
Despite the advantages, the Snapdragon 450 has a few key drawbacks to consider before buying the Redmi 5:
- 🔥 Overheating at long loads. The chip warms up when playing games or recording video in the game. 4K. In some cases, this leads to trottling (automatic frequency reduction).
- 📶 Weak modem. Snapdragon. X9 LTE Only Cat supports support. 7 (max. 300 Mbps, while even budget chips 2020+ Cats are offered. 12/13 (before 600 Mbit/s).
- 🎥 Video limitations. The processor doesn't support recording in 4K@60fps or 1080p@120fps — maximum 4K@30fps or 1080p@60fps.
- 🔋 Despite the 14nm process, the Snapdragon 450 is not as economical as newer chips (e.g. the Snapdragon 460 or Helio). G35).
⚠️ Note: If you are planning to use Redmi 5 For video recording, note that when recording in 4K The smartphone is very warm, and the autonomy falls on the 30–40%. For long sessions, it is better to limit yourself. 1080p@30fps.
Another problem is that it supports modern versions of Android: officially, Redmi 5 only received Android 8.1 Oreo (with the shell of MIUI 12), informal firmware (for example, LineageOS) allows you to install Android 10, but with losses in performance.
How to check the temperature of the processor in Redmi 5?
How to Overclock or Optimize Productivity?
If you think the Redmi 5 is slow, there are a few ways to improve performance without replacing iron.
Turn off animation in developer settings | Clear cache and unnecessary apps | Turn off background activity for social networks |Install light firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) |Use performance mode in MIUI-->
More radical methods:
- ⚡ Overclocking of the processor using kernel addons (e.g, EX Kernel Manager can increase core frequency to 2.0 GHz, but it will shorten the life of the chip and increase heating.
- ⚡ Undervolting.Reducing the voltage at the cores (via FrancoKernel) can reduce heating by 10-15°C without loss of productivity.
- ⚡ Replace the thermopaste. Over time, the factory thermopaste dries. Apply a new one (e.g., Arctic). MX-4) can reduce the temperature by 5-10°C.
Important: Overclocking and modifying the firmware is warranty-free (if it is still valid) and can lead to a device blink. Before experimenting, back up through TWRP.
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The safest way to speed up Redmi 5 is to roll back to MIUI 10 (based on Android 8.1).The newer versions of MIUI (11+) are more resource-constraining and can slow down on the Snapdragon 450.
Should you buy Xiaomi Redmi 5 in 2026?
Depending on your tasks, here's a quick checklist for who can look at this model:
- ✅ Budget to 5,000-7,000 ₽. In the secondary market Redmi 5 in good condition is worth just that much.
- ✅ Everyday tasks. Social media, YouTube, calls, easy games (Free Fire, Clash Royale) — the chip will do.
- ✅ A spare phone, as a backup or for a child/elderly relative, is a great option.
- ✅ Customization lovers. Big XDA-Developers community, lots of custom firmware.
Who doesn't want Redmi 5?
- ❌ Gamers. PUBG At high settings or Genshin Impact power will not be enough.
- ❌ Photographers, the camera is weak even by standards. 2018 year-end (12 MPP, f/2.2, no stabilisation).
- ❌ Multitasking: 2-3 GB of RAM is quickly clogged with background processes.
- ❌ Those who want long upgrades. Official support is long gone.
Alternatives in the same price segment (2026):
- 📱 Redmi 9A/9C (new, but with Helio G25/G35) — Better camera and support.
- 📱 Poco C31 (redmi 9C, But with a clean Android Go).
- 📱 Samsung Galaxy A03s (90Hz screen, but weak Helio chip P35).