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The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime is a 2017 entry-level Android phone, not a current budget model. It has a 5.5-inch 720p screen, Snapdragon 435, 13MP rear and 16MP front cameras, dual nano-SIM slots and a dedicated microSD slot. In 2026, consider one only as a very low-cost basic or secondary device: battery age, outdated software and region-specific network compatibility are the main risks.
What “Redmi Note 5A Prime” means
“Prime” identifies the higher-spec version of the Redmi Note 5A, also called the Redmi Note 5A High Edition in some markets. At least one international version is identified as model MDG6S, but the retail name alone does not establish a phone’s region or radio bands. Xiaomi’s international user guide lists MDG6S and European radio information; confirm the model number on the actual handset.
| Model | How it differs |
|---|---|
| Redmi Note 5A | Standard, lower-spec version, including Snapdragon 425 configurations; its camera and available memory differ from the Prime. Xiaomi specifications. |
| Redmi Note 5A Prime | Higher-spec Note 5A, with Snapdragon 435, a 16MP front camera and fingerprint reader. Xiaomi specifications. |
| Redmi 5A | A separate, smaller entry-level model, not another name for the Note 5A Prime. |
| Redmi Note Prime | A different 2015 phone; “Prime” in its name does not make it part of the Note 5A family. |
| Redmi Note 5 / Redmi 5 Plus | Later, different devices. The similar names do not indicate the same hardware. |
The Note 5A Prime was announced in August 2017 and reached some markets in September. It was positioned as an affordable large-screen phone with selfie features, two SIMs and expandable storage. Launch coverage reported Chinese prices of 899 yuan for 3GB/32GB and 1,199 yuan for 4GB/64GB; those were original China-market prices, not current values. GSMchoice launch report.
Redmi Note 5A Prime specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor and graphics | Qualcomm Snapdragon 435, octa-core Cortex-A53 up to 1.4GHz; Adreno 505 GPU |
| Memory and storage | 3GB RAM/32GB storage or 4GB RAM/64GB storage, depending on market. Usable internal storage is lower than the advertised capacity. |
| Display | 5.5-inch IPS LCD, 1280 × 720; Xiaomi lists up to 450 nits brightness and 1,000:1 contrast |
| Rear camera | 13MP, f/2.2, phase-detection autofocus |
| Front camera | 16MP, f/2.0, 76.4-degree field of view, with dedicated soft selfie light |
| Video | Up to 1080p or 720p at 30fps |
| Battery | 3,080mAh typical; 3,000mAh minimum |
| SIM and expansion | Two nano-SIM slots and a separate microSD slot; one SIM uses 4G at a time |
| Connections | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, AGPS, GLONASS and BeiDou |
| Other hardware | Rear fingerprint reader, infrared blaster, gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity and light sensors, compass and Hall sensor |
| Size and weight | 153 × 76.2 × 7.7mm; approximately 153g |
Specifications and configurations vary by region. The figures above are drawn principally from Xiaomi’s Italian specifications and Chinese high-edition specifications; check the page and model applicable to the unit you are considering.
#1 Best Overall
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- nano SIM 1 + Hybrid (nano SIM or microSD) Dual standby , n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/26/28/38/40/41/48/66/77/78 4G : B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/26/28/32/66 4G: LTE TDD: B38/40/41/42/48 3G: WCDMA: Band 2/4/5/8 2G: GSM: Quad Band.
- 6.77" AMOLED displayResolution: 2392 × 1080Refresh rate: Up to 120HzTouch sampling rate: 240HzBrightness: 3200 nits peak brightness, 800 nits (typ)Colour depth: 12 bitContrast ratio: 8,000,000:1DCI- P3 wide color gamutSunlight displayReading mode3840Hz PWM dimming｜16,000-level brightness adjustmentScreen-to-body ratio: 92%*Data obtained from Xiaomi Internal Labs. Actual results may vary.TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certified TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certified TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform4nm manufacturing process technologyCPU: Octa-core processor, up to 2.4GHzGPU: Adreno
- Virtual proximity sensor | Ambient light sensor | Accelerometer | Electronic compass | IR blaster | Gyroscope / GPS: L1 | GLONASS: G1 | BDS: B1I | Galileo E1 / Wireless NetworksBluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi Protocol: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi | 5GHz Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Direct / In-screen fingerprint sensorAI Face Unlock
Screen and everyday performance
The 5.5-inch 720p panel is serviceable for calls, messaging, maps and basic video, but text and images are less sharp than on modern 1080p phones. The phone’s 16:9 screen and broad bezels also make it look dated beside current designs. Its practical strengths are the light body, fingerprint reader, infrared blaster and separate SIM and memory-card slots. Do not assume a headphone jack from a generic listing; verify that the specific unit has one.
The Snapdragon 435 is an older entry-level chip. It can handle basic phone tasks, music, ordinary browsing and light games, but modern heavy apps, demanding 3D games and extensive multitasking can feel slow. No current benchmark result is established here, so a benchmark score would not be a sound basis for judging a used unit.
Rank #2
- USA MARKET ONLY WORK ON TMOBILE MINT TELLO OR ANY UNDER TMOBILE NETWORK PHONE NEEDS A SIM CARD ALREADY ACTIVATED ,OUTSIDE USA WORKS ANY GSM CARRIER SIM GSM FCC ID: 2AFZZRA8E
- Dual SIM (nano SIM + nano SIM or nano SIM + eSIM) (NoT MICRO SD SLOT) 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41/48/66/77/78 / 4G: LTE FDD:1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/26/28/32/66 -- 4G: LTE TDD:38/40/41/42/48 -- 3G: 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 -- 2G Quad Band - Bluetooth 5.4Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6/6E/Wi-Fi 5/Wi-Fi 4/802.11a/b/g Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi | 5GHz Wi-Fi Supports 2x2 MIMO，Wi-Fi Direct
- 6.83" CrystalRes AMOLED displayResolution: 1.5K (2772 x 1280)Refresh rate: Up to 120HzTouch sampling rate: Up to 480HzInstantaneous touch sampling rate: 2560Hz*Activated in Game Turbo modeBrightness: 3200 nits peak brightnessBrightness: HBM 1800 nitsColor depth: 12bitContrast ratio: 8000000:1DCI- P3 wide color gamut447PPICorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Sunlight displayHDR10+ | Dolby Vision16,000-step automatic brightness adjustment3840Hz PWM dimming｜TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certified | TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certified | TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified
- Snapdragon 7s Gen 44nm manufacturing process technologyCPU: Octa-core processor, up to 2.7GHzGPU: Adreno GPU
- 200MP main cameraOptical Image Stabilization (OIS)0.56μm, 16in1, 2.24μmf/1.77P lens1/1.4" sensor size8MP ultra-wide cameraf/2.2Rear camera video recording4K at 30 fps1080p at 30/60 fps720p at 30 fps - 32MP front camera1/3.6" sensor sizef/2.24P lensFront camera video recording1080p at 30/60 fps720p at 30 fps
Choosing 3GB/32GB or 4GB/64GB
If buying this model for regular use, prefer the 4GB/64GB version: more RAM can reduce app reloads, and extra internal storage gives more room for apps. A microSD card is useful for photos, music and other files, but it does not fully replace internal storage because not every app can be moved to removable storage. Xiaomi’s cited Chinese specification describes microSD support up to 128GB under stated file-system conditions, so do not assume every larger or differently formatted card will work.
Cameras: the selfie light is the standout
Rear camera
The 13MP rear camera includes f/2.2 optics and PDAF. It is best treated as a basic daylight camera for snapshots and documentation. Its older hardware limits low-light results and dynamic range, and it lacks the extra lenses and newer image processing found on current phones. Xiaomi lists video recording up to 1080p at 30fps; that specification alone does not establish stabilization or sound quality.
Rank #3
- USA MARKET ONLY WORK ON TMOBILE MINT TELLO OR ANY UNDER TMOBILE NETWORK PHONE NEEDS A SIM CARD ALREADY ACTIVATED ,OUTSIDE USA WORKS ANY GSM CARRIER SIM GSM FCC ID: 2AFZZRN76L
- SIM 1 + Hybrid (SIM or microSD) Dual standby , supports dual 4G : 4G: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/26/28/66 4G: LTE TDD: Band 38/40/41 3G: WCDMA: Band 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 2G: GSM: Quad Band.
- 6.77" AMOLED displayResolution: 2392 × 1080Refresh rate: Up to 120HzTouch sampling rate: 240HzBrightness: 3200 nits peak brightness, 800 nits (typ)Colour depth: 12 bitContrast ratio: 8,000,000:1DCI- P3 wide color gamutSunlight displayReading mode3840Hz PWM dimming｜16,000-level brightness adjustmentScreen-to-body ratio: 93%*Data obtained from Xiaomi Internal Labs. Actual results may vary.TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certified TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certified TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified
- MediaTek Helio G100-Ultra6nm manufacturing process technologyCPU: Octa-core processor, up to 2.2GHzGPU: Mali-G57 MC2
- Proximity sensor | Ambient light sensor | Accelerometer | Electronic compass | IR blaster | Gyroscope / Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi Protocol: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac / Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi | 5GHz Wi-Fi Supports Wi-Fi Direct
Front camera
The 16MP front camera and dedicated soft selfie light were central selling points. The resolution does not guarantee modern selfie quality: processing, low-light performance, dynamic range and skin tones are constrained by the older sensor and platform. Xiaomi highlights the selfie camera on its product page.
Battery condition matters more than the original rating
Xiaomi specifies 3,080mAh typical capacity (3,000mAh minimum) and published laboratory figures of up to 10 hours of video playback, 12 hours of gaming and 21 hours of reading. Those are manufacturer test claims from the original specification, not a prediction of how long a used phone will last today. Xiaomi’s test and specification page.
Rank #4
- USA MARKET ONLY WORK ON TMOBILE MINT TELLO OR ANY UNDER TMOBILE NETWORK PHONE NEEDS A SIM CARD ALREADY ACTIVATED ,OUTSIDE USA WORKS ANY GSM CARRIER SIM GSM FCC ID: 2AFZZRA8E
- Dual SIM (nano SIM + nano SIM or nano SIM + eSIM) (NoT MICRO SD SLOT) 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41/48/66/77/78 / 4G: LTE FDD:1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/26/28/32/66 -- 4G: LTE TDD:38/40/41/42/48 -- 3G: 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 -- 2G Quad Band - Bluetooth 5.4Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6/6E/Wi-Fi 5/Wi-Fi 4/802.11a/b/g Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi | 5GHz Wi-Fi Supports 2x2 MIMO，Wi-Fi Direct
- 6.83" CrystalRes AMOLED displayResolution: 1.5K (2772 x 1280)Refresh rate: Up to 120HzTouch sampling rate: Up to 480HzInstantaneous touch sampling rate: 2560Hz*Activated in Game Turbo modeBrightness: 3200 nits peak brightnessBrightness: HBM 1800 nitsColor depth: 12bitContrast ratio: 8000000:1DCI- P3 wide color gamut447PPICorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Sunlight displayHDR10+ | Dolby Vision16,000-step automatic brightness adjustment3840Hz PWM dimming｜TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certified | TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certified | TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified
- Snapdragon 7s Gen 44nm manufacturing process technologyCPU: Octa-core processor, up to 2.7GHzGPU: Adreno GPU
- 200MP main cameraOptical Image Stabilization (OIS)0.56μm, 16in1, 2.24μmf/1.77P lens1/1.4" sensor size8MP ultra-wide cameraf/2.2Rear camera video recording4K at 30 fps1080p at 30/60 fps720p at 30 fps - 32MP front camera1/3.6" sensor sizef/2.24P lensFront camera video recording1080p at 30/60 fps720p at 30 fps
Because this model dates to 2017, an individual battery’s condition may matter more than its original capacity. Check for rapid percentage drops, unexpected shutdowns, unreliable charging and a lifting rear cover. Swelling is a safety concern: do not keep using or charging a swollen phone. The port is micro-USB, so inspect it for looseness and confirm that charging works with a suitable cable. A battery replacement may not be economical if the repair and accessories approach the cost of a newer supported phone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Software and security in 2026
The phone launched with Android 7.1-era software and MIUI 9 in at least some markets. Later official builds varied by region, and a newer Android version shown on a used device may come from an unofficial custom ROM rather than Xiaomi. Secondary software-history listings are not proof of the current status of a particular handset. XiaomiUpdate history.
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Best Value
- USA MARKET ONLY WORK ON TMOBILE MINT TELLO OR ANY UNDER TMOBILE NETWORK PHONE NEEDS A SIM CARD ALREADY ACTIVATED ,OUTSIDE USA WORKS ANY GSM CARRIER SIM GSM FCC ID: 2AFZZRAD4G
- nano SIM 1 + Hybrid (nano SIM or microSD) Dual standby , n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/26/28/38/40/41/48/66/77/78 4G : B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/26/28/32/66 4G: LTE TDD: B38/40/41/42/48 3G: WCDMA: Band 2/4/5/8 2G: GSM: Quad Band.
- 6.77" AMOLED displayResolution: 2392 × 1080Refresh rate: Up to 120HzTouch sampling rate: 240HzBrightness: 3200 nits peak brightness, 800 nits (typ)Colour depth: 12 bitContrast ratio: 8,000,000:1DCI- P3 wide color gamutSunlight displayReading mode3840Hz PWM dimming｜16,000-level brightness adjustmentScreen-to-body ratio: 92%*Data obtained from Xiaomi Internal Labs. Actual results may vary.TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) Certified TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certified TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certified
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform4nm manufacturing process technologyCPU: Octa-core processor, up to 2.4GHzGPU: Adreno
- Virtual proximity sensor | Ambient light sensor | Accelerometer | Electronic compass | IR blaster | Gyroscope / GPS: L1 | GLONASS: G1 | BDS: B1I | Galileo E1 / Wireless NetworksBluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi Protocol: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi | 5GHz Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Direct / In-screen fingerprint sensorAI Face Unlock
No current official security-support statement is established by the cited sources. Assume support is limited or ended unless the exact device’s update record shows otherwise; do not choose it for security-sensitive primary use on the assumption that patches continue.
- Open Settings → About phone and note the MIUI and Android versions.
- Open Settings → About phone → System update (labels can vary by build) to check for an update offered to that handset.
- Ask the seller whether the software is the original regional ROM or a custom ROM; do not treat an unofficial Android version as official Xiaomi support.
SIM, storage and network compatibility
The three-slot layout accepts two nano-SIM cards and a dedicated microSD card at the same time. The official specifications say only one SIM can use 4G at a time, so this is dual-SIM use, not simultaneous LTE data on both lines.
Radio bands differ by region. Xiaomi’s Italian page lists GSM bands 2/3/5/8, WCDMA 1/2/5/8, LTE FDD 1/3/4/5/7/8/20 and LTE TDD 38/40. The Chinese specification lists a different regional set, including Chinese TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE bands. These profiles should not be merged into a universal band list. Italian regional specification; Chinese regional specification.
For the US, do not assume service with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or an MVNO from the name or a generic claim that the phone has LTE. Check the exact model, supported bands and IMEI with the intended carrier before paying. LTE data support does not guarantee voice calls: VoLTE compatibility, carrier approval, IMEI acceptance and network shutdown policies can all matter. The phone has no 5G.
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- No 5G, USB-C, high-refresh-rate display or wireless charging.
- No IP water-resistance rating is documented in the cited specifications.
- NFC is not documented in the official specification pages cited here; do not count on contactless payments.
- No current security support or US carrier compatibility is guaranteed.
- It has no contemporary multi-camera setup or modern biometric hardware beyond the rear fingerprint reader.
Used-phone inspection checklist
- Open Settings → About phone; record the model name, model number, MIUI and Android versions, and storage capacity.
- Dial the IMEI code and compare the number with Settings and any box or paperwork. Have the carrier check that IMEI before purchase, particularly for an imported phone.
- Test each SIM slot, then test calls and mobile data on the intended network. A matching LTE band alone is not enough to establish voice service.
- Test Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, rear and front cameras, speaker, microphone, vibration, fingerprint reader and—if present—the headphone jack.
- Insert a microSD card and confirm the phone detects it. Check the screen for cracks, dead pixels, touch failures or image retention.
- Inspect the micro-USB socket, charge from a low battery and check for unexpected shutdowns, rapid drain, overheating or a separating rear cover.
- Confirm the previous owner has removed their Xiaomi account and any activation lock. Resolve this before payment; reset only after account removal is confirmed.
Who should consider it—and who should not
It may fit
- A very low-cost secondary phone for basic calls and messaging where the carrier confirms compatibility.
- An offline music or video player, a temporary replacement or a repair project.
- A basic device for a child only after checking required apps, parental controls and network service.
- Someone in a region where the specific model’s LTE bands remain supported and who accepts old software and micro-USB.
Choose something newer instead if
- You need dependable banking, work, authentication or other security-sensitive apps.
- You need modern gaming, heavy multitasking, a current camera, USB-C or several years of software support.
- The listing omits the model number or IMEI, or the seller claims 5G, Android 14 or current Xiaomi support without device-specific evidence.
- The battery is swollen, overheats or drains rapidly; the phone is locked to an unknown carrier; or the ROM and account status are unclear.
- The total cost of the handset, shipping, repair and accessories approaches that of a recent refurbished or new entry-level phone.
There is no dependable current 2026 price established for this model, so its value depends on live local listings and repair costs. A newer budget Android phone or recent refurbished handset will generally be the safer primary-phone choice for newer software, network support, USB-C and battery life.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
