How to measure the speed of the Internet on Xiaomi smartphones: from built-in tools to professional tests

Have you ever noticed that YouTube videos load slower than usual and pages in the browser open with a delay - even though the operator's tariff is "unlimited" and "fastest"? The problem may not be in the provider, but in the wrong settings of your Xiaomi or background processes that devour traffic. Measuring the real speed of the Internet on a smartphone is the first step to diagnosing the network, but most users do it wrong.

In this article, we will examine not only standard verification methods (like Speedtest), but also hidden MIUI functions that show real speed in the status bar without installing third-party applications. You will learn how to distinguish between the operator’s “advertising” megabits from the actual bandwidth, why the results of tests on the Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 can differ by 2 times, and how to detect “leaks” of traffic that inhibit the connection.

1. MIUI Integrated Tools: Where is the Real Speed Hidden?

Few people know, but MIUI already contains tools for network monitoring — you don’t have to download them from Google Play — and this data is updated in real time and displays the current download/return rate, not the average results, as in most applications.

To see them:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks (for mobile Internet) or Settings → Wi-Fi.
• 🔍 At the top of the screen, tap the name of the active network (such as Wi-Fi: KEENETIC-123).
• 📊 Scroll down to the Network Speed block – here the current values in Mbit / s are displayed (updated every second).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60) This section can be called Network Status or Diagnostics. If you can't see the speed, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware. MIUI 14/15.

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If the built-in monitoring values are very different from the Speedtest results, the problem may be limiting background traffic. Check Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode and disable restrictions for system processes.

2. Testing apps: which one to choose for Xiaomi?

Third-party utilities provide more detailed information than embedded tools, but not all are equally accurate on Xiaomi devices, and the main problem is optimization of MIUIs, which can distort results by caching data or prioritizing traffic.

We tested 5 popular apps on the POCO X5 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro+ with the same conditions (one) SIM-map, one Wi-Fi connection. Results in table:

🔹 Conclusion: Speedtest or nPerf is a one-time test. If you want to monitor your speed in real time, use Internet Speed Meter Lite or built-in tools. MIUI.

3. Secret mode of the engineering menu: data without distortion

If you suspect that MIUI Or apps show inaccurate data, you can go to the engineering menu, the hidden Android section, which displays raw network settings without software filters. USSD-code.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll to the Network Type and Strength block, showing the network type (e.g. LTE+) and the current speed in kbps (divide by 1024 to get Mbps).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Lite) may have the engineering menu blocked:

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It will open the Calendar Information menu, where the Network section also has speed data.

4. Checking speed through ADB: for advanced users

If you want the most accurate data without the influence of MIUI or third-party applications, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which will show real bandwidth at the kernel level of the system, but requires connecting the smartphone to the computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Enable USB Debugging on Xiaomi (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell cat /proc/net/dev In the conclusion, find the line with the interface rmnet_data (mobile Internet or wlan0 (Wi-Fi - the numbers after rx_bytes and tx_bytes This is the number of bytes received/transmitted. To translate to Mbit/s, use the formula: (rx_bytes * 8) / 1000000

🔹 Advantage of the method: ADB It shows unfiltered speed, without optimizations. MIUI Or operator limitations.

Install ADB Tools on PC| Enable USB debugging on Xiaomi| Connect your phone with the original cable | Run the command line on behalf of the administrator-->

5.Why is the speed on Xiaomi lower than on other devices?

If your Redmi or POCO has consistently lower internet speeds than other gadgets on the same network, the problem may lie in:

• 🔋 Energy saving regime: MIUI aggressively restricts background traffic if Battery Mode or Ultra Mode is enabled. → Battery.
• 📡 Settings SIM-By default, Xiaomi can use outdated communication standards (for example, the maps, 3G instead 4G+). Check in Settings → SIM-map → Preferred network type and select LTE/4G.
• 🛠️ Optimizations MIUI: Function "Adaptive Communication" (c Settings) → Special features) automatically slows down to save charge.
• 🔄 Background traffic: Apps like Mi Video or GetApps can consume traffic in the background. → Annexes → Use of data.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 10C or POCO M5) There may be an artificial speed limit due to modem drivers, the solution is to upgrade the firmware to the latest version or use custom software (for example, Xiaomi.EU).

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If Xiaomi’s mobile internet speed drops when moving (e.g. in transport), the problem may be in the Transfer between Networks settings. → SIM-map → Network switching – this will eliminate delays when switching between towers.

6. Speed testing for online gaming and streaming

General speed tests (such as Speedtest) do not always reflect the real quality of the connection for online games (such as PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact) or streaming services (Twitch, YouTube).

• 🎮 Ping (latency): For games, a value below 50 ms is critical. Check it in Game Turbo (Settings) → Special facilities → Game Turbo).
• 📶 Connection Stability: Use nPerf or NetAnalyzer to plot the speed fluctuations.
• 🔄 Packet Loss: Even at a high packet loss rate >1% They'll lead to lags, check through ADB: adb shell ping -c 20 8.8.8.8

🔹 Advice for gamers: Xiaomi with Snapdragon processors 8 Gen (e.g. Black Shark) 5 Xiaomi 13 Pro) Enable High Performance Mode in Settings → Display. → Update frequency and disable Network Optimization for Game Turbo games – this will reduce ping on the Internet 10-20 miss.

7. Frequent errors when checking speed on Xiaomi

Even experienced users make mistakes that distort test results, and here are the most common:

• 📶 Testing near the router: If you are standing 1 meter away from the router, the speed will be overestimated).
• 🔋 Low battery charge: At charge level <20% MIUI automatically reduces network performance. Charge your smartphone before the test.
• 📱 Active downloads: If you are updating apps or syncing Google Photos during the test, the results will be underestimated.
• 🌐 In Speedtest, select your operator’s server (e.g. Beeline or Beeline). MTS), Not the closest geographically.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones Xiaomi with double SIM-Card (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, POCO X5 Pro) speed may drop with both cards active. SIM In Settings → SIM-pre-test.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions