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Xiaomi Redmi 9 Smartphone Review- Upmarket package at a bargain price

130-Euro (~$154) price-to-performance champion with a Full HD screen. The 130-Euro (~$154) Redmi 9 offers a quad-camera system, NFC module, 3.5-mm headphone jack, dual SIM functionality, fast-charging and a 5020-mAh battery. It is hard to believe that such a cheap device can offer such a complete package, but the Redmi 9 actually does. Read our review to learn whether the smartphone proves to be as impressive as its specifications sheet in day-to-day use.
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review

The Redmi 9 is the latest smartphone in Xiaomi’s budget Redmi series. Unlike the predecessor (Redmi 8), which we reviewed at the beginning of the year, the Redmi 9 features a 6.53-inch LCD screen with a native resolution of 2340x1080, which is unheard of in the sub-150-Euro (~$177) price segment. The quad-camera system is another noteworthy feature, because most sub-150-Euro (~$177) smartphones offer a single or dual-camera system. 

Our review device comes with the MediaTek Helio G80, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage space. There is also a version with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. The Redmi 9 features a large 5020-mAh battery. 

The 3 GB version of the Redmi 9 currently retails for 130 Euros (~$154). The model with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory costs about 10 Euros more (€140/~$165). Those who can stomach the risk of importing a smartphone from Asia will be able to get the Redmi 9 for 100-110 Euros (~$118-130).   

Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Redmi 9 Series)
Processor
Mediatek Helio G80 8 x 2 GHz, Cortex-A75 / A55
Graphics adapter
Memory
3 GB 
Display
6.53 inch 19.5:9, 2340 x 1080 pixel 395 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, IPS LCD, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, glossy: yes, 60 Hz
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 19 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5-mm headphone jack, Card Reader: microSD up to 512 GB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: proximity sensor, accelerometer, e-compass, USB-C, IR blaster, OTG, Miracast
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0, GSM: B2/3/5/8, WCDMA: B1/2/4/5/8, LTE-FDD: B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/28, LTE-TDD Version 1: B38/40/41, Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9.1 x 163.3 x 77 ( = 0.36 x 6.43 x 3.03 in)
Battery
5020 mAh Lithium-Polymer
Charging
fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Android 10
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix (f/2.2, 28mm, 1/3.1", 1.12µm) + 8 MP (f/2.2, 118˚, 1/4.0", 1.12µm) + 5 MP (f/2.4) + 2 MP (f/2.4)
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix (f/2.0, 27 mm)
Additional features
Speakers: Mono, Keyboard: virtual, power supply, protective case, 5-V, 2-A charger, USB Type-C cable, SIM card removal tool, warranty information, MiUI 11, 12 Months Warranty, SAR (head:0.78 W/kg. body: 1.07 W/kg), Widevine L1, fanless
Weight
198 g ( = 6.98 oz / 0.44 pounds), Power Supply: 45 g ( = 1.59 oz / 0.1 pounds)
Price
149 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Comparison Devices

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Drive
Size
Resolution
Best Price
77.8 %
09/2020
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2
198 g32 GB eMMC Flash6.53"2340x1080
78.2 %
06/2020
Realme 6i
Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2
199 g128 GB eMMC Flash6.50"1600x720
73.9 %
08/2020
Huawei Y5p
Helio P22 MT6762, PowerVR GE8320
144 g32 GB eMMC Flash5.45"1440x720
74.3 %
01/2020
Nokia 2.3
Helio A22 MT6761, PowerVR GE8300
183 g32 GB eMMC Flash6.20"1520x720
76.4 %
08/2020
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1
192 g32 GB eMMC Flash6.50"1600x720
80.7 %
05/2020
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
SD 720G, Adreno 618
209 g128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash6.67"2400x1080

Case - Xiaomi smartphone with Corning Gorilla Glass

Colour scheme of the Redmi 9
Colour scheme of the Redmi 9
Colour scheme of the Redmi 9
Colour scheme of the Redmi 9

The screen of the Redmi 9 is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The smartphone features a plastic frame and a concave ribbed back, which is also made of plastic. The back does not feel cheap. 

The 6.53-inch IPS display comes with a teardrop notch, which houses an 8 MP image sensor. Because the smartphone has relatively small bezels, it offers an impressive screen-to-body ratio (83%) for a device in this price range.

The build quality of the Redmi 9 is very good, considering the price. The physical buttons sit firmly in their cutouts. The Redmi smartphone does not have an IP certification, which means that it is neither dust- nor waterproof.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review

Size Comparison

165.8 mm / 6.53 inch 76.7 mm / 3.02 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 209 g0.4608 lbs164.4 mm / 6.47 inch 75.4 mm / 2.97 inch 9 mm / 0.3543 inch 199 g0.4387 lbs163.7 mm / 6.44 inch 75.3 mm / 2.96 inch 8.9 mm / 0.3504 inch 192 g0.4233 lbs163.3 mm / 6.43 inch 77 mm / 3.03 inch 9.1 mm / 0.3583 inch 198 g0.4365 lbs157.69 mm / 6.21 inch 75.41 mm / 2.97 inch 8.68 mm / 0.3417 inch 183 g0.4034 lbs146.5 mm / 5.77 inch 70.9 mm / 2.79 inch 8.35 mm / 0.3287 inch 144 g0.3175 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity - Redmi 9 with FM radio

The Xiaomi smartphone has a USB Type-C port on the bottom, which operates at USB 2.0 speeds. The Xiaomi smartphone supports USB OTG functionality. This means that users can connect various peripheral devices to the Redmi 9. For wireless screen mirroring, buyers can utilise Miracast. 

Our review device does not have an LED indicator and does not support AOD (Always-On Display) functionality. However, the Redmi 9 offers a 3.5-mm headphone jack, FM radio tuner, face recognition and an IR blaster.

The price of the Redmi 9 becomes obvious when examining the internal storage. The Xiaomi smartphone features 32 GB of eMMC 5.1 memory. However, only 19 GB of internal storage is available to the user, because the rest is occupied by the operating system and preinstalled applications. Those who need more memory can either get the 64 GB version or expand the storage capacity with the help of a microSD card.

Left side
Left side
Top
Top
Bottom
Bottom
Right side
Right side

Software - Xiaomi smartphone with Android 10

The Redmi 9 runs Android 10 with a custom launcher (MiUI 11) from Xiaomi. We do not know whether the launcher will be updated to the latest version (MiUI 12). The security patches of our review device are up to date. They were last updated in August of 2020.

The slightly outdated launcher (MiUI 11) offers a lot of customisation and an easy-to-use interface. Buyers can watch movies in HD quality on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, because the Redmi 9 supports Widevine L1 DRM. However, an imported version will only support Widevine L3 DRM.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone review

Communication and Geolocation - Redmi 9 with NFC

The low-priced Xiaomi smartphone features dual SIM functionality, Bluetooth 5.0 and an NFC chip for contactless payments through Google Pay. 

The Redmi 9 supports 11 LTE bands, which is not a lot, but it is not unusual for a smartphone in this price range. Having said that, it supports all the LTE bands, which are relevant for Germany, including the increasingly important LTE band 28. 

The Redmi 9 offers very good Wi-Fi speeds for a smartphone in this price segment. With our reference-grade router Netgear Nighthawk AX12, the Xiaomi smartphone, which features Wi-Fi 5, achieves data transfer rates of over 300 Mb/s.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mali-G52 MP2, Helio G80, 32 GB eMMC Flash
348 (325min - 355max) MBit/s
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Mali-G52 MP1, Exynos 850, 32 GB eMMC Flash
310 (269min - 342max) MBit/s -11%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Adreno 618, SD 720G, 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
256 (247min - 263max) MBit/s -26%
Huawei Y5p
PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22 MT6762, 32 GB eMMC Flash
155 (145min - 159max) MBit/s -55%
Realme 6i
Mali-G52 MP2, Helio G80, 128 GB eMMC Flash
66.5 (34min - 69max) MBit/s -81%
Nokia 2.3
PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash
61.3 (10min - 110max) MBit/s -82%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s +22%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Mali-G52 MP1, Exynos 850, 32 GB eMMC Flash
326 (280min - 333max) MBit/s +6%
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mali-G52 MP2, Helio G80, 32 GB eMMC Flash
308 (290min - 337max) MBit/s
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Adreno 618, SD 720G, 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
286 (225min - 321max) MBit/s -7%
Huawei Y5p
PowerVR GE8320, Helio P22 MT6762, 32 GB eMMC Flash
155 (135min - 160max) MBit/s -50%
Nokia 2.3
PowerVR GE8300, Helio A22 MT6761, 32 GB eMMC Flash
70.6 (53min - 109max) MBit/s -77%
Realme 6i
Mali-G52 MP2, Helio G80, 128 GB eMMC Flash
36.1 (9min - 57max) MBit/s -88%
020406080100120140160180200220240260280300320340Tooltip
Xiaomi Redmi 9; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø308 (290-337)
Xiaomi Redmi 9; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø348 (325-355)
GPS Test indoors
GPS Test indoors
GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test outdoors

In order to determine how accurate our review device is when it comes to geolocation, we take it with us on a bike ride. During this ride, we are also accompanied by the professional navigator Garmin Edge 520. There is only a 30-metre difference between the low-priced smartphone and the Garmin Edge 520 at the end of our 4-km ride. The Redmi 9 did not deviate too much from the professional navigator and had no trouble accurately mapping the route we took. This is why the Xiaomi smartphone is suited for navigation when driving. For geolocation, our review device relies on the following global navigation satellite systems: GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and QZSS. The Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) is also supported. Even indoors, the user’s location is acquired relatively quickly and with a margin of error of about four metres.

GPS Garmin 520
GPS Garmin 520
GPS Garmin 520
GPS Garmin 520
GPS Garmin 520
GPS Garmin 520
Redmi 9
Redmi 9
Redmi 9
Redmi 9
Redmi 9
Redmi 9

Telephony and Call Quality - Xiaomi Redmi 9 with dual SIM functionality and VoLTE

Review of the Redmi 9
Review of the Redmi 9

The call quality of the Redmi 9 is on a good level. Our call partner describes the quality of the microphone as good - voices are reproduced clearly. Thanks to Wi-Fi Calling, users can make phone calls even in areas with poor cellular reception over Wi-Fi networks. Because the smartphone supports dual SIM dual VoLTE technology, buyers can make calls over LTE networks with the SIM card of their choice. 

We encountered no problems when making Skype video calls with the front-facing camera, which is not always the case in this price range. The audio quality in such calls is on a good level.

Camera - Redmi 9 with a quad-camera system

Shot taken with the front-facing camera of the Redmi 9
Shot taken with the front-facing camera of the Redmi 9

For an entry-level smartphone, the Redmi 9 features a lot of rear cameras. On the back, there are a 13-megapixel main sensor, which comes from OmniVision (OV13B10), an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera, a 5-megapixel camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera, which is also used for depth detection. 

The main camera of the Redmi 9 offers a solid level of performance. The colour accuracy and the dynamic range are quite impressive. However, the 13-megapixel images appear quite blurry, especially at the edges. Under low-light conditions, the camera does not produce usable images. The exposure is also suboptimal, which is why images do not appear well-detailed. The Redmi 9 does not feature a night mode, which means that it cannot take multiple images and then stitch them together to improve the quality of night-time shots. 

The 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle lens offers a field of view of 118°. It takes considerably worse shots than the main camera. It fails to preserve much of the detail. However, the Redmi 9 has an ultra wide-angle camera and this is not something that other similarly priced smartphones offer.  

The video quality is also poor. However, the smartphone can record video at 1080p30. The videos are full of artifacts, which are especially pronounced during motion. The electronic image stabilisation does not help at all. Users cannot switch between the wide-angle lens and the ultra wide-angle camera while recording.

The 8-megapixel front-facing camera can also record video at 1080p. The sharpness is good for an entry-level smartphone and the skin tones also look natural. Under normal lighting conditions, the front-facing camera takes photographs that are suitable for social media platforms. Nevertheless, the images are not well-exposed.

Ultra wide-angle camera
Ultra wide-angle camera
Main camera
Main camera
2x zoom
2x zoom
10x zoom (max)
10x zoom (max)
Redmi 9 review
Redmi 9 review
Redmi 9 review
Redmi 9 review

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraLow-light photographyMain cameraUltra wide-angle lens
click to load images

The main camera produces colour-accurate photographs under controlled lighting conditions. We use the ColorChecker Passport to further analyse the colour reproduction of the 13-megapixel image sensor. The images appear very colour-accurate for a device in this price range, even though they are a bit overbrightened. The light and dark tones are especially well-reproduced.

The fine lines do not appear very sharp in the photographs of our test chart, and at the edges the sharpness drops even further.

ColorChecker
15 ∆E
14.6 ∆E
19.5 ∆E
14.1 ∆E
18.7 ∆E
13 ∆E
14.3 ∆E
23.4 ∆E
14.9 ∆E
11.7 ∆E
10.7 ∆E
13.5 ∆E
17.8 ∆E
13.9 ∆E
16.2 ∆E
10.4 ∆E
16.3 ∆E
19.4 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
8.4 ∆E
12.8 ∆E
11.3 ∆E
6.2 ∆E
4.6 ∆E
ColorChecker Xiaomi Redmi 9: 13.46 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 23.35 ∆E
ColorChecker
29.4 ∆E
54.6 ∆E
39.6 ∆E
36.3 ∆E
45.1 ∆E
61.9 ∆E
53.8 ∆E
35.7 ∆E
42.8 ∆E
28 ∆E
64.5 ∆E
63.5 ∆E
31.1 ∆E
47.7 ∆E
36.5 ∆E
76 ∆E
42.8 ∆E
44.1 ∆E
93.7 ∆E
71 ∆E
52 ∆E
37 ∆E
23.9 ∆E
13.5 ∆E
ColorChecker Xiaomi Redmi 9: 46.85 ∆E min: 13.46 - max: 93.71 ∆E

Accessories and Warranty - Redmi 9 with a protective cover

The box contains a modular 10-watt charger with an appropriate USB cable and a protective case.

The Redmi 9 comes with a 12-month warranty. However, in Germany, the warranty duration amounts to 24 months in accordance with the German laws.

Input Devices and Handling - Xiaomi smartphone with facial recognition

The capacitive touchscreen of the Redmi 9 functions well, except in the very corners. The fingerprint sensor on the back leaves a rather good impression. It is not particularly fast, which is not unusual in this price range. However, it is very reliable. As a matter of fact, it is more reliable than in-display fingerprint sensors in many mid-range smartphones. The Redmi 9 also supports facial recognition. The 2D face unlock works reliably and quickly.  

Redmi 9 review
Redmi 9 review
Redmi 9 review

Display - Budget smartphone with a 1080p screen

Pixel arrangement
Pixel arrangement

The 6.53-inch LCD screen has a Full HD resolution (2340x1080) and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. This is why the pixel density amounts to over 400 PPI, which means that the screen content appears sharp in day-to-day use.  

The screen brightness is on a normal level for a smartphone in this price range. The brightness distribution is quite poor. With auto brightness enabled and the ambient light sensor engaged, we measured a brightness of 476 cd/m². In our realistically oriented APL50 test, in which the screen displays a pattern that consists of evenly distributed dark and bright areas, the brightness is 1 cd/m² lower.

We observed PWM flickering at 15% brightness and below. However, the frequency of 500 Hz is very high.

433
cd/m²
439
cd/m²
411
cd/m²
426
cd/m²
476
cd/m²
422
cd/m²
428
cd/m²
454
cd/m²
432
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 476 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 435.7 cd/m² Minimum: 1.95 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 476 cd/m²
Contrast: 710:1 (Black: 0.67 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.51 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
93% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.166
Xiaomi Redmi 9
IPS LCD, 2340x1080, 6.53
Realme 6i
IPS, 1600x720, 6.50
Huawei Y5p
IPS, 1440x720, 5.45
Nokia 2.3
IPS, 1520x720, 6.20
Samsung Galaxy A21s
PLS, 1600x720, 6.50
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
IPS, 2400x1080, 6.67
Screen
-26%
-9%
-28%
-31%
-5%
Brightness middle
476
518
9%
515
8%
515
8%
540
13%
622
31%
Brightness
436
484
11%
502
15%
488
12%
509
17%
612
40%
Brightness Distribution
86
89
3%
89
3%
92
7%
91
6%
94
9%
Black Level *
0.67
0.26
61%
0.17
75%
0.23
66%
0.36
46%
0.56
16%
Contrast
710
1992
181%
3029
327%
2239
215%
1500
111%
1111
56%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.51
5.8
-65%
5.85
-67%
6.1
-74%
6.58
-87%
3.98
-13%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.38
11
-17%
12.84
-37%
13.4
-43%
11.55
-23%
7.33
22%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.5
7.3
-387%
7.4
-393%
7.7
-413%
6.4
-327%
4.5
-200%
Gamma
2.166 102%
2.23 99%
2.331 94%
2.26 97%
2.206 100%
2.206 100%
CCT
6485 100%
8037 81%
8473 77%
8639 75%
8482 77%
7361 88%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
114.9

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 500 Hz ≤ 15 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 500 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 15 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 500 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The IPS panel offers a black value of 0.67 cd/m². The black value is similarly high in the APL50 test. The contrast ratio is well below 1000:1, because of a high black value of 0.68 cd/m².

Our CalMAN test reveals good colour (Delta E: 3.5) and grayscale (Delta E: 1.5) performance, especially for a product in this price range. The colour temperature of 6485 K is also very good.

Colour accuracy (profile: auto, colour space: sRGB)
Colour accuracy (profile: auto, colour space: sRGB)
Colour accuracy (profile: standard, colour space: sRGB)
Colour accuracy (profile: standard, colour space: sRGB)
Colour-space coverage (profile: auto, colour space: AdobeRGB)
Colour-space coverage (profile: auto, colour space: AdobeRGB)
Colour-space coverage (profile: auto, colour space: P3)
Colour-space coverage (profile: auto, colour space: P3)
Colour-space coverage (profile: auto, colour space: sRGB)
Colour-space coverage (profile: auto, colour space: sRGB)
Grayscale (profile: auto, colour space: sRGB)
Grayscale (profile: auto, colour space: sRGB)
Grayscale (profile: standard, colour space: sRGB)
Grayscale (profile: standard, colour space: sRGB)
Saturation (profile: auto, colour space: sRGB)
Saturation (profile: auto, colour space: sRGB)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
24 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 13 ms rise
↘ 11 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 48 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
46 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 25 ms rise
↘ 21 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 75 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Outdoors, the Redmi 9 leaves a mixed impression. While the screen content is barely readable in direct sunlight due to a poor contrast ratio, the display is legible in the shade.

Redmi 9 review
Redmi 9 review

The viewing angles of the IPS panel are very wide. The screen content appears dimmer at acute angles. However, there are no issues with colour distortion.

Redmi 9 review

Performance - Xiaomi smartphone with Helio G80

The MediaTek Helio G80 is made using the 12-nm manufacturing process and offers eight CPU cores in two clusters. There are two high-performance ARM Cortex-A75 cores with a frequency of up to 2 GHz and six low-energy ARM Cortex-A55 cores with a frequency of up to 1.8 GHz. Thanks to heterogeneous multi-processing, all eight cores can work at the same time. The Mali-G52 is a Bifrost-based GPU from ARM. It supports such APIs as OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.0.

The system feels relatively responsive during normal use. However, when demanding applications are running in the background, the smartphone slows down considerably. In RAM-intensive applications, the Redmi 9 with 3 GB of RAM sometimes completely freezes for a few seconds. Because of slow eMMC internal memory, applications do not launch particularly quickly.  

In the system benchmarks, the Xiaomi smartphone performs as well as the realme 6i, which also comes with the Helio G80. However, because the realme smartphone has a 720p screen, it should perform somewhat better in graphically demanding applications. We are only guessing here, because such benchmarking applications as GFXBench and 3DMark cannot be utilised with Xiaomi’s MiUI software.  

In the browser benchmarks, we see a similar picture. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G in the Redmi Note 9S is significantly ahead. Even though the Redmi 9 loads webpages without any errors, the scrolling on demanding websites is very laggy, which is not unusual for a device in this price range. 

Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
363 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
387 Points +7%
Nokia 2.3
Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761, PowerVR GE8300, 2048
Points -100%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
182 Points -50%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
559 Points +54%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (300 - 387, n=12)
357 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (119 - 2138, n=212, last 2 years)
902 Points +148%
Multi-Core (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
1281 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
1348 Points +5%
Nokia 2.3
Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761, PowerVR GE8300, 2048
Points -100%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
1081 Points -16%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
1690 Points +32%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (790 - 1370, n=12)
1275 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (473 - 6681, n=212, last 2 years)
2950 Points +130%
Vulkan Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
1109 Points
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
565 Points -49%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (1109 - 1203, n=10)
1160 Points +5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (79 - 9992, n=90, last 2 years)
4078 Points +268%
OpenCL Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
1124 Points
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
593 Points -47%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (1100 - 1168, n=10)
1134 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (434 - 10711, n=82, last 2 years)
3875 Points +245%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
11534 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
12043 Points +4%
Huawei Y5p
Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762, PowerVR GE8320, 2048
5337 Points -54%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
7113 Points -38%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
9027 Points -22%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (11534 - 12043, n=2)
11789 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +31%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
8795 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
8733 Points -1%
Huawei Y5p
Mediatek Helio P22 MT6762, PowerVR GE8320, 2048
4292 Points -51%
Nokia 2.3
Mediatek Helio A22 MT6761, PowerVR GE8300, 2048
4868 Points -45%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
5457 Points -38%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
7673 Points -13%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (6168 - 8795, n=3)
7899 Points -10%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points +24%
VRMark - Amber Room (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
1330 Score
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
1352 Score +2%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
994 Score -25%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
2416 Score +82%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (1330 - 1369, n=3)
1350 Score +2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (1010 - 10071, n=14, last 2 years)
5281 Score +297%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
2273 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
2216 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
1644 Points -28%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
3542 Points +56%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (2072 - 2400, n=8)
2243 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +151%
System (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
4865 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
4516 Points -7%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
3382 Points -30%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
6828 Points +40%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (4045 - 5452, n=8)
4853 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +98%
Memory (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
2654 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
2542 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
1884 Points -29%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
4295 Points +62%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (2343 - 3101, n=8)
2643 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +135%
Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
1759 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
1735 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
1159 Points -34%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
3807 Points +116%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (1735 - 1818, n=8)
1790 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +690%
Web (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi 9
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 3072
1243 Points
Realme 6i
Mediatek Helio G80, Mali-G52 MP2, 4096
1211 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy A21s
Samsung Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1, 3072
990 Points -20%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618, 6144
1410 Points +13%
Average Mediatek Helio G80
  (1002 - 1243, n=8)
1122 Points -10%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +20%
Jetstream 2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=167, last 2 years)
104.5 Points +242%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S (Chrome 81)
48.53 Points +59%
Average Mediatek Helio G80 (29 - 40, n=8)
34 Points +11%
Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Chrome 85)
30.52 Points
Realme 6i (Chrome 81)
28.96 Points -5%
Samsung Galaxy A21s (Chrome 84)
19.15 Points -37%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points +261%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S (Chrome 81)
89.5 Points +66%
Average Mediatek Helio G80 (54 - 60.8, n=6)
56.8 Points +5%
Realme 6i (Chrome 81)
54.3 Points +1%
Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Chrome 85)
54 Points
Samsung Galaxy A21s (Chrome 84)
28.01 Points -48%
Speedometer 2.0 - Result
Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=151, last 2 years)
105.7 runs/min +276%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S (Chome 81)
44.1 runs/min +57%
Average Mediatek Helio G80 (21.8 - 32, n=8)
28.3 runs/min +1%
Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Chrome 85)
28.1 runs/min
Realme 6i (Chrome 81)
27.7 runs/min -1%
Samsung Galaxy A21s (Chome 84)
15 runs/min -47%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Average of class Smartphone (37 - 304, n=119, last 2 years)
131.8 Points +193%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S (Chrome 81)
69 Points +53%
Average Mediatek Helio G80 (43 - 60, n=7)
49.7 Points +10%
Xiaomi Redmi 9
45 Points
Realme 6i (Chrome 81)
43 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy A21s (Chrome 84)
35 Points -22%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +221%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S (Chrome 81)
17303 Points +66%
Average Mediatek Helio G80 (10432 - 12744, n=9)
11574 Points +11%
Realme 6i (Chrome 81)
10485 Points +1%
Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Chrome 85)
10432 Points
Samsung Galaxy A21s (Chrome 84)
4976 Points -52%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Samsung Galaxy A21s (Chrome 84)
9174 ms * -125%
Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Chrome 85)
4076 ms *
Realme 6i (Chrome 81)
3938 ms * +3%
Average Mediatek Helio G80 (3227 - 4076, n=8)
3513 ms * +14%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S (Chrome 81)
2794 ms * +31%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +59%

* ... smaller is better

Xiaomi Redmi 9Realme 6iHuawei Y5pNokia 2.3Samsung Galaxy A21sXiaomi Redmi Note 9SAverage 32 GB eMMC FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
53%
-16%
1%
16%
68%
-24%
483%
Sequential Read 256KB
289.9
309.5
7%
276.5
-5%
261.8
-10%
307
6%
496.6
71%
242 ?(25.8 - 452, n=247)
-17%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
406%
Sequential Write 256KB
119.8
256.4
114%
84.9
-29%
149.2
25%
104.3
-13%
214.8
79%
100.5 ?(14.8 - 196, n=247)
-16%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
799%
Random Read 4KB
49.09
73.5
50%
55.2
12%
69.6
42%
77.2
57%
137
179%
43.2 ?(3.59 - 117.2, n=247)
-12%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
391%
Random Write 4KB
60.7
150.9
149%
19.3
-68%
30.33
-50%
89.5
47%
123.6
104%
22.4 ?(0.75 - 91, n=247)
-63%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
337%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
84.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
84.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
0%
82.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-2%
83.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-1%
80 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-5%
74.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-12%
71.8 ?(8.2 - 96.5, n=178)
-15%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
65 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
64.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-1%
63.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-2%
63.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-2%
66.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
2%
54.9 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-16%
52.9 ?(3.4 - 87.1, n=178)
-19%

Gaming - Redmi 9 with Mali-G52

Both the touchscreen and the motion sensor work very well while gaming. This is why the gameplay experience is quite good, at least on low settings. The Redmi 9 can even achieve a stable 60 FPS in Dead Trigger 2.  

In demanding titles such as Asphalt 9 Legends, the Mali-G52 really struggles to maintain a stable 30 FPS even on low settings and frame-rate drops to as low as 10 FPS are quite common. In PUBG Mobile, the Redmi 9 also has trouble hitting 30 FPS on the lowest settings. However, in this title, the performance is more stable as the results of our benchmarks with GameBench show.

Asphalt 9 Legends
Asphalt 9 Legends
PUBG Mobile
PUBG Mobile
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2
PUBG MOBILE
051015202530Tooltip
Xiaomi Redmi 9; Smooth: Ø29.7 (24-31)
Xiaomi Redmi 9; Balanced: Ø28.8 (16-31)
Xiaomi Redmi 9; HD: Ø29.5 (16-31)
Asphalt 9 Legends
051015202530Tooltip
Xiaomi Redmi 9; Standard / low: Ø27.6 (2-31)
Xiaomi Redmi 9; High Quality: Ø24.4 (4-31)
Dead Trigger 2
051015202530354045505560Tooltip
Xiaomi Redmi 9: Ø59.9 (51-61)

Emissions - Xiaomi smartphone produces a lot of heat

Temperature

The surface temperatures of the Redmi 9 reach 45 °C (113 °F) under continuous load. However, the temperatures should be much more reasonable in day-to-day use. Normally, we use GFXBench to examine how much heat the SoC produces under constant load. Unfortunately, Xiaomi’s MiUI software does not support this application.

Max. Load
 43.9 °C
111 F
40.2 °C
104 F
39 °C
102 F
 
 43 °C
109 F
40.3 °C
105 F
38.8 °C
102 F
 
 42.4 °C
108 F
40.4 °C
105 F
39.4 °C
103 F
 
Maximum: 43.9 °C = 111 F
Average: 40.8 °C = 105 F
36.8 °C
98 F
38.6 °C
101 F
44.8 °C
113 F
37.5 °C
100 F
38.9 °C
102 F
41.1 °C
106 F
37.6 °C
100 F
39.5 °C
103 F
40.5 °C
105 F
Maximum: 44.8 °C = 113 F
Average: 39.5 °C = 103 F
Power Supply (max.)  35.2 °C = 95 F | Room Temperature 21.6 °C = 71 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 40.8 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.9 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 44.8 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.8 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Redmi 9 review
Redmi 9 review

Speakers

Frequency response
Frequency response

The mono-speaker on the bottom has a satisfactory maximum volume of almost 84 dB(A). The mids are overrepresented. Nevertheless, they are far from being linear. All in all, the sound reproduction is on a normal level for a device in this price range.

For a stereophonic sound experience, buyers can use a set of headphones, which can be connected via the 3.5-mm headphone jack that functions very well and provides a good volume. Thanks to Bluetooth 5.0, users can also take advantage of wireless headphones and speakers.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.745.92537.338.33129.230.34032.430.6503236.76323.626.98021.722.710021.922.912522.524.216018.528.720014.83425012.341.331512.549.840011.957.250013.163.163014.568.480018.772.3100019.377.3125018.277.4160016.472.5200014.371.5250014.968.6315014.663.4400015.464.7500016.169.2630016.770.9800017.771.11000018.667.81250019.467.91600020.357.5SPL66.463.728.783.7N19.118.1154.6median 16.7median 64.7median 14.9median 69.2Delta2.912.913.814.632.825.826.225.823.324.121.929.32831.319.926.819.123.219.93016.532.919.639.717.538.817.545.413.95113.954.215.861.515.265.51471.4147313.971.513.470.813.869.314.370.81472.914.579.914.680.414.57314.769.915.172.21568.414.852.426.586.40.862.4median 14.6median 69.31.19.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseXiaomi Redmi 9Realme 6i
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Xiaomi Redmi 9 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 69.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 69.2% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 69.2% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (119.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 86% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 4% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 96% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Realme 6i audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 33% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 59% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 53% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 39% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Life - Redmi 9 with a long-lasting battery

Energy Consumption

Even though the Redmi 9 supports 18-watt fast-charging, the box contains only a 10-watt charger, which takes more than 2.5 hours to fully charge the device. Our review device is not particularly energy-effective under load or when idle.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.4 / 1.7 / 2.1 Watt
Load midlight 5.7 / 8.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Xiaomi Redmi 9
5020 mAh
Realme 6i
5000 mAh
Huawei Y5p
3020 mAh
Nokia 2.3
4000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy A21s
5000 mAh
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
5020 mAh
Average Mediatek Helio G80
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
33%
30%
-6%
-6%
8%
16%
Idle Minimum *
1.4
0.37
74%
0.63
55%
1.5
-7%
1.5
-7%
1.025 ?(0.37 - 1.6, n=8)
27%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
36%
Idle Average *
1.7
1.62
5%
1.73
-2%
2.1
-24%
2.1
-24%
2.04 ?(0.9 - 4.22, n=8)
-20%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
15%
Idle Maximum *
2.1
1.69
20%
1.76
16%
2.9
-38%
2.5
-19%
2.35 ?(1.6 - 4.37, n=8)
-12%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
22%
Load Average *
5.7
3.61
37%
3.79
34%
4.6
19%
5.2
9%
4.18 ?(2.8 - 6.12, n=8)
27%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
2%
Load Maximum *
8.5
5.9
31%
4.66
45%
6.6
22%
7.5
12%
6.95 ?(4.9 - 9.14, n=8)
18%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
3%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Even though the battery of the Redmi 9 has a very similar capacity to that of the realme 6i, the Xiaomi smartphone fails to achieve similarly impressive battery runtimes. Because of the very high power consumption, the 5020-mAh battery lasts only 13.5 hours in our practically oriented Wi-Fi test, in which the display brightness is limited to 150 cd/m². In our video test, in which the Wi-Fi module is disabled, the Redmi 9 lasts almost 20 hours, which is a very impressive result.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
38h 57min
WiFi Websurfing
13h 24min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
19h 31min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 49min
Xiaomi Redmi 9
5020 mAh
Realme 6i
5000 mAh
Huawei Y5p
3020 mAh
Nokia 2.3
4000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy A21s
5000 mAh
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
5020 mAh
Battery Runtime
64%
1%
14%
-1%
13%
Reader / Idle
2337
2009
-14%
2263
-3%
H.264
1171
1087
-7%
1269
8%
WiFi v1.3
804
1318
64%
812
1%
919
14%
943
17%
1187
48%
Load
289
287
-1%
279
-3%

Pros

+ very nice overall package (3.5-mm jack, NFC, BT 5.0, Widevine L1, etc.)
+ 1080p IPS panel
+ great battery life
+ good build quality
+ relative fast Wi-FI
+ reliable biometric authentication
+ solid SoC coupled with...

Cons

- ...slow storage (eMMC)
- low display brightness
- poor contrast ratio
- PWM
- speaker
- energy consumption

Verdict for the Redmi 9: Powerful budget smartphone

Redmi 9 review. Device provided courtesy of: notebooksbilliger.de.
Redmi 9 review. Device provided courtesy of: notebooksbilliger.de.

The package that Xiaomi brings to the table with the Redmi 9 is considerable. No other entry-level smartphone offers a similar assortment of features. An NFC chip, a quad-camera system or a high-resolution IPS panel cannot be found in another similarly priced smartphone.     

Nevertheless, the Redmi 9 suffers from the usual weaknesses of entry-level smartphones.  Even though the camera system and the speaker are on a normal level for a smartphone in this price range, objectively they are quite bad. The very slow eMMC memory, the low display brightness and poor performance are all hallmarks of an entry-level device, which is what the Redmi 9 is after all.

There is not much to criticise about the Redmi 9. The Xiaomi smartphone offers a good overall package for price-conscious buyers.

Despite its very good price-to-performance ratio, the Redmi 9 is not alone in this market space. The Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi offers a wide assortment of entry-level smartphones in its Redmi product range. In Europe, there are such devices as the Redmi 9, the Redmi 9A and the Redmi 9C, to say nothing of the Redmi Note 9, the Redmi Note 9 Pro and the Redmi Note 9S. The Note 9S currently retails for about 180 Euros (~$213). This is not far away from what the 4 GB version of the Redmi 9 costs. However, the Note 9S offers more powerful hardware, faster memory and a brighter IPS screen.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 - 09/12/2020 v7
Marcus Herbrich

Chassis
80%
Keyboard
65 / 75 → 87%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
48 / 70 → 69%
Weight
88%
Battery
91%
Display
84%
Games Performance
14 / 64 → 22%
Application Performance
62 / 86 → 72%
Temperature
86%
Noise
100%
Audio
75 / 90 → 83%
Camera
60%
Average
72%
78%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Xiaomi Redmi 9 Smartphone Review- Upmarket package at a bargain price
Marcus Herbrich, 2020-09-14 (Update: 2020-09-18)