Let's take a look back at a true classic that defined the budget smartphone market in 2016: the Xiaomi Redmi 4 (Standard), codenamed `prada`. This phone was a sensation, especially in markets like Nigeria, for packing a premium-feeling metal body, a compact 5-inch screen, and a massive 4100 mAh battery into an incredibly affordable package. It was a durable, reliable, and long-lasting device that became a legend.
In 2025, this classic device has long since reached its end of life. Its official software journey concluded with MIUI 10, based on the very old Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This guide is a restoration manual for the enthusiasts and long-time owners who want to revive this budget king. A clean firmware flash is the best way to restore its excellent battery life, unbrick it from a failed flash, and prepare it for a new life with a more modern, lightweight custom ROM.
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi 4
For a classic like `prada`, flashing is about restoration and unlocking its hidden potential.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: prada)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware to serve as your recovery tool and the stable base for all future customization.
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 10 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
This is the universal unbricking tool and the foundational first step for all `prada` owners.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 10 system.
Method 2: Installing a Custom Recovery (TWRP)
This is the gateway to the `prada`'s amazing second life with modern, lightweight Android.
➡ With TWRP installed, you can now explore the huge library of custom ROMs on forums like XDA and bring modern, secure Android to your classic device.
FAQs
Q1: How do I tell the difference between the standard Redmi 4 (`prada`) and the Redmi 4 Prime (`markw`)?
The easiest way is to check the screen or the "About phone" section. The standard `prada` has an HD (720p) screen and a Snapdragon 430 processor. The high-end `markw` (Prime/Pro) has a sharper Full HD (1080p) screen and a more powerful Snapdragon 625 processor. Their firmware is not interchangeable.
Q2: Why was this phone a hit in Nigeria?
It was the perfect compact phone for its time. It had a strong metal body that could withstand daily life, the size was very comfortable, and the battery could easily last two days, which was a huge advantage when power wasn't constant. It offered a premium feel and incredible battery life for a very low price.
Q3: Is the Redmi 4 (`prada`) safe to use in 2025?
On its stock software, no. It is very insecure. However, its huge popularity means it has a great custom ROM community. If you install a modern custom ROM (like a recent version of LineageOS) that receives security patches, it can be made much safer for light, non-critical use.
Q4: Can I get newer Android versions on this phone?
Not officially. But the `prada` has a fantastic and long-lasting custom ROM community. You can find many unofficial builds of newer Android versions, which is the best way to keep this classic phone functional.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
In 2025, this classic device has long since reached its end of life. Its official software journey concluded with MIUI 10, based on the very old Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This guide is a restoration manual for the enthusiasts and long-time owners who want to revive this budget king. A clean firmware flash is the best way to restore its excellent battery life, unbrick it from a failed flash, and prepare it for a new life with a more modern, lightweight custom ROM.
- ✔ A definitive guide to the Standard Redmi 4 (`prada`) and how it differs from the Prime version
- ✔ Download links for the final official MIUI 10 (Android 6.0) firmware
- ✔ A path to a new life for your `prada` through its active custom ROM community
- ✔ All the essential tools and drivers to revive this vintage device
- ✔ Device-specific troubleshooting for common `prada` issues
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi 4
For a classic like `prada`, flashing is about restoration and unlocking its hidden potential.
- Restore Its Incredible Battery Life → A clean flash is the best way to fix software-related battery drain and bring back the legendary endurance that the Snapdragon 430 and 4100 mAh battery are known for.
- Prepare for Modern Custom ROMs → The `prada` has a fantastic custom ROM community. Flashing the latest stock firmware is the perfect first step before installing a newer, more secure version of Android.
- Unbrick a Bricked Device → The universal recovery tool for a classic tinkerer's phone that may be stuck in a bootloop or completely dead.
- Fix Lag and Slowness → A clean installation of MIUI 10 will make the stock experience as smooth as it can possibly be on the classic hardware.
- Install a Clean, Ad-Free MIUI (Xiaomi.eu) → For those who want to stick with MIUI, the Xiaomi.eu ROM offers a debloated and optimized experience.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: prada)
- Model: Xiaomi Redmi 4 (Standard)
- Release Year: 2016
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430
- Display: 5.0” HD IPS LCD
- Battery: 4100 mAh
- Key Feature: Compact metal body, legendary battery life, huge custom ROM support
- OS at Launch: MIUI 8 on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Final Official OS: MIUI 10.2 on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (End of Life)
- Codename: prada
CRITICAL WARNING: This firmware is ONLY for the Standard Redmi 4 (`prada`). It is NOT for the Redmi 4 Prime/Pro (`markw`) or the Redmi 4A (`rolex`). Flashing the wrong firmware will brick your device. Due to its ancient Android 6.0 software, this phone is NOT secure for online use with personal data.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware to serve as your recovery tool and the stable base for all future customization.
| Tool / File | Purpose / OS Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Flash Tool | For flashing official Fastboot ROMs. | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Ensures your PC can communicate with your phone. | Driver Pack |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Required to unlock the bootloader. | Official Unlock Page |
| Custom Recovery (TWRP) | The gateway to all custom ROMs. | Official TWRP for Prada |
| Fastboot ROM (China) | Official MIUI 10.2 (Android 6.0) | V10.2.2.0.MCECNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 10.2 (Android 6.0) | V10.2.2.0.MCEMIXM |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | Clean MIUI 10.2 (Android 6.0) | V10.2.1.0.MCECNXM |
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 10 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
This is the universal unbricking tool and the foundational first step for all `prada` owners.
- Unlock Bootloader: Your device's bootloader must be unlocked. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool. This will erase your data.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your Redmi 4. Press and hold Power + Volume Down until the Fastboot logo appears.
- Extract Firmware: On your PC, extract the downloaded `.tgz` Fastboot ROM twice until you have a folder with an `images` directory.
- Launch Mi Flash Tool: Open the tool as an administrator. Click "select" and choose the extracted firmware folder.
- Connect Device & Flash: Connect your phone to the PC, click "refresh", ensure "clean all" is selected at the bottom, and click "flash".
➡ Your phone will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 10 system.
Method 2: Installing a Custom Recovery (TWRP)
This is the gateway to the `prada`'s amazing second life with modern, lightweight Android.
- Unlock Bootloader: Ensure your bootloader is unlocked.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off the phone and boot into Fastboot by holding Power + Volume Down.
- Flash TWRP: Download the official TWRP `.img` file. Flash it using the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.1_12-0-mi8937.img - Boot into Recovery: After flashing, hold Power + Volume Up while the phone reboots to enter the newly installed TWRP.
➡ With TWRP installed, you can now explore the huge library of custom ROMs on forums like XDA and bring modern, secure Android to your classic device.
FAQs
Q1: How do I tell the difference between the standard Redmi 4 (`prada`) and the Redmi 4 Prime (`markw`)?
The easiest way is to check the screen or the "About phone" section. The standard `prada` has an HD (720p) screen and a Snapdragon 430 processor. The high-end `markw` (Prime/Pro) has a sharper Full HD (1080p) screen and a more powerful Snapdragon 625 processor. Their firmware is not interchangeable.
Q2: Why was this phone a hit in Nigeria?
It was the perfect compact phone for its time. It had a strong metal body that could withstand daily life, the size was very comfortable, and the battery could easily last two days, which was a huge advantage when power wasn't constant. It offered a premium feel and incredible battery life for a very low price.
Q3: Is the Redmi 4 (`prada`) safe to use in 2025?
On its stock software, no. It is very insecure. However, its huge popularity means it has a great custom ROM community. If you install a modern custom ROM (like a recent version of LineageOS) that receives security patches, it can be made much safer for light, non-critical use.
Q4: Can I get newer Android versions on this phone?
Not officially. But the `prada` has a fantastic and long-lasting custom ROM community. You can find many unofficial builds of newer Android versions, which is the best way to keep this classic phone functional.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth Not Working After Custom ROM Flash: This is a classic `prada` issue. It often happens if you flash a custom ROM without having the latest official firmware base installed first. The fix is to use Method 1 to flash the latest official MIUI 10 ROM, which will restore the correct `persist` partition and firmware files. After that, you can re-flash your custom ROM.
- Phone Gets Very Hot: The Snapdragon 430 can get warm under load. If your phone is getting unusually hot on the stock ROM, it may be due to old software. A clean flash can often fix this by eliminating background processes. On custom ROMs, this can be due to an unoptimized kernel.
- Mi Flash Tool "sahara" or "xbl" error: This is a common error on very old Qualcomm devices. It often indicates that the eMMC (internal storage) chip has physically degraded from years of use and is failing. Before concluding this, always try a different USB 2.0 port and cable.
- Yellow Tint on Screen: Some batches of the Redmi 4 were known to have display panels that developed a yellow tint around the edges over time due to adhesive aging. This is a hardware issue and cannot be fixed by flashing new software.